Kinder, Gentler Vikings? Not According to Their Slaves

National Geographic ^ | Monday, December 28, 2015 | Andrew Lawler

[JimRed]

They were the first people to create real estate fraud...calling Greenland GREENLAND...when it is covered in ICE..

IIRC, they first visited and occupied it during a warm period when the coastal region was green. (I know...said in jest...)

[BenLurkin]

Depends on what kind of mood they were in...

[colorado tanker]

I’m not sure where the idea came from of “kinder and gentler” Vikings. The sacking of monasteries and churches and coastal towns is well known. I’m not at all surprised they were brutal to slaves.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Say until the twelfth century.

And yes.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The sacking of monasteries and churches and coastal towns is well known.

Don't you know that our ancestors had nothing better to do with their time then make parchment, ink and pens and spend their time writing down horror fiction about people who did them no harm?

I can see reading some historical accounts with a certain amount of skepticism but the "modern" way is to regard all written accounts as outright lies unless there are major archaeological finds that firmly support them.

[gleeaikin]

Wasn’t there a standard prayer that ended: and God save us from the wrath of the Northman. Does anyone know the original.

[SunkenCiv]

“From the Fury of the Northmen, O Lord Deliver Us”

http://irishfireside.com/2011/09/14/the-vikings-in-ireland-from-the-fury-of-the-northmen-o-lord-deliver-us/