“The Vikings tended to have a short-term perspective. Raiders always do.
Later in the cycle their attacks were more in the line of attempted conquest by kings or great lords.
But in the early days they were essentially smash and grab artists.”
- This is correct.
They were also very clearsighted and eager to learn from other cultures, especially in the field of military techniques.
After they were beaten by the French, who used superior, heavily armoured cavalry, they quickly adopted these methods of warfare. In the beginning of Scandinavia’s medieval period, Swedes and Danes fought each other with the most modern military techniques and strategies around in Europe of those days, even though Scandinavia in general was underdeveloped in most areas.
Yup. Sweden especially punched well above it weight for hundreds of years.
Until Russia got too big for them to handle.
“After they were beaten by the French..”
AWK!!!!!!!
The FRENCH beat the VIKINGS???!!!!!
Then why did they pay off Hrolf the Ganger (Rollo) with Normandy to protect them from other Vikings?
(Back then they were probably Franks anyway - Germans not FRENCH!!! Hate the FRENCH!!! I hates them precious!!!!)