[Fiji Hill]

Much of the population of Britain, Ireland, and Russia has Norse blood, which may account for the daring and aggressive behavior of those nations in later centuries.

Most of the population of Scandinavia also has Norse blood, yet since 1720 those nations have been largely peaceful and at times even supine.

[hellbender]

During the era of Norse expansion, the Scandinavian homeland was overpopulated. The most aggressive elements, and younger sons who had little opportunity thanks to primogeniture, went overseas to rape, loot, conquer, and settle. That might have something to do with the wimpiness of today's Scandinavians.

I've often wondered about the effect of colonialism and expansion on Euro countries. The Brits were exhausted after WW I, but the Germans (despite suffering greater casualties) were soon ready for another round. Maybe it's because the most ambitious, daring, and aggressive Brits had been emigrating to America, Canada, Australia, Africa, etc. for generations, while the Germans, lacking a colonial empire, did not do so.