Facts About Northern Region Of Europeans
The North 🌬❄️ was well integrated into European trade and politics throughout the Middle Ages (and even before then).
Despite popular belief, the northern regions of Europe were not just a distant and unknown land swarming with barbarians.
In fact, since Roman times, there were permanent trade connections between the North and the rest of Europe 🤝 Our museums are bursting with Roman treasures, acquired through trade, plundering or as salary for serving in the continental armies. These connections continued long after the central power of Rome had crumbled.
There was a well-established trading network around the North Sea in the 7th and 8th centuries 💶💷 And when Scandinavians raided their southern neighbors in the 9th and 11th centuries ⚔️💥 they were traveling along well-known trading routes, and making enemies as well as alliances among rulers, with whom they were already well-acquainted.
The worst recent example of the myth of the ‘far and distant North’ is in the first chapters of the popular TV-show ‘Vikings’. While the series is quite entertaining, it claims that Scandinavians didn't even know that England existed 🏴🤯
That is absurd, they were a few days sailing apart, and had traded and stayed in touch for centuries. They could even understand most of each other's languages.
So, let's set the record straight - there was no "far and mysterious North", instead there were regular trade and communication throughout history.
Picture: Roman statues of gods and emperors, found at Gudme, Southern Funen, present day Denmark. You see, right? Lots of contacts across the continent. Photo by L. Larsen, The National Museum of Denmark, CC BY-SA.
Source: European History
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