Viking Social Structure - Living in a Norse World

Viking social structure was highly stratified, with three ranks or classes which were written directly into Scandinavian mythology, as slaves (called thrall in Old Norse), farmers or peasants (karl), and the aristocracy (jarl or earl). Mobility was theoretically possible across the three strata—but in general, slaves were an exchange commodity, traded with the Arab caliphate as early as the 8th century CE, along with furs and swords, and to leave slavery was rare indeed.   That social structure was the result of several changes within Scandinavian society during the Viking age. Key Takeaways: Viking Social Structure The Vikings in and outside of Scandinavia had a three-tier social structure of slaves, peasants, and elites, established and confirmed by their origin myth.The earliest rulers were military warlords called drotten, who were selected from warriors based on merit, only in power during wartime, and subject to assassination if they gained too much power.  Peacetime kings were selected from the elite class and they traveled throughout the region and met people in halls built in part for that purpose. Most provinces were largely autonomous of the kings, and the kings were also subject to regicide. Pre-Viking Social Structure According to archaeologist T.L. Thurston, Viking social structure had its origins with the warlords, called drott, which had become established figures in Scandinavian society by the late 2nd century. The drott was primarily a social institution, resulting in a pattern of behavior in which warriors selected the most adept leader and pledged fealty to him. The drott was an ascribed (earned) title of respect, not an inherited one; and these roles were separate from the regional chieftains or petty kings. They had limited powers during peacetime. Other members of the drotts retinue included: drang or dreng—a young warrior (plural droengiar)  thegn—a mature warrior (plural thegnar)  skeppare—captain of a chiefly vesselhimthiki—housekarls or the lowest rank of elite soldiersfolc—the population of a settlement Viking Warlords to Kings Power struggles among Scandinavian warlords and petty kings developed in the early 9th-century and these conflicts resulted in the creation of dynastic regional kings and a secondary elite class which competed directly with the drotts. By the 11th century, Late Viking societies were led by powerful, aristocratic dynastic leaders with hierarchical networks including lesser religious and secular leaders. The title given to such a leader was that of respect rather: old kings were frea, meaning respected and wise; younger ones were drotten, vigorous and warlike. If an overlord became too permanent or ambitious, he could be assassinated, a pattern of regicide which continued in Viking society for a long time.   An early important Scandinavian warlord was the Danish Godfred (also spelled Gottrick or Gudfred), who by 800 CE had a capital at Hedeby, inherited his status from his father and an army set to attack his neighbors. Godfred, probably overlord over the federated south Scandinavia, faced a powerful enemy, the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne. But a year after victory over the Franks, Godfred was assassinated by his own son and other relations in 811. Viking Kings Most Viking kings were, like warlords, chosen based on merit from the earl class. The kings, sometimes called chieftains, were primarily itinerant political leaders, who never had any permanent role over the whole realm. The provinces were almost entirely autonomous, at least until the reign of Gustav Vasa (Gustav I of Sweden) in the 1550s.   Each community had a hall where political, legal and perhaps religious matters were dealt with, and banquets were held. The leader met his people in the halls, established or reestablished bonds of friendship, his people swore oaths of allegiance and gave the leader gifts, and proposals of marriage were made and settled. He may have held a high priest role in cultic rituals.   Norse Halls Archaeological evidence concerning the roles of jarl, karl, and thrall is limited, but medieval historian Stefan Brink suggests that separate halls were constructed for the use of the different social classes. There was the house of the thrall, the banqueting hall of the peasant, and the banqueting hall of the nobleman.   Brink notes that in addition to being places where the itinerant king held court, halls were used for trade, legal, and cultic purposes. Some were used to house specialized craftsman in high-quality forging and skilled handicrafts or to present cult performances, attendance by specific warriors and housecarls, etc.   Archaeological Halls The foundations of large rectangular buildings interpreted as halls have been identified in numerous sites through Scandinavia and into the Norse diaspora. Banqueting halls ranged between 160–180 feet (50–85 meters) long, and 30–50 ft (9–15 m).  Ã‚  Some examples are: Gudme on Fyn, Denmark, dated to 200–300 CE, 47x10 m, with ceiling beams 80 cm in width and equipped with a double doorway, located east of the Gudme hamlet.  Lejre on Zealand, Denmark, 48x11, thought to represent a guild hall; Lejre was the seat of Viking age kings of ZealandGamla Uppsala in Uppland, central Sweden, 60 m long built on a man-made platform of clay, dated to the Vendel period CE 600–800, located near a medieval royal estateBorg on Vetvagoy, Lofoten in northern Norway, 85x15 m with cultic thin gold plates and imports of Carolingian glass. Its foundations built over an older, slightly smaller (55x8 m) hall dated to the Migration Period 400–600Hogom in Medelpad, 40x7–5 m, includes a high seat in the house, an elevated base in the middle of the building, thought to have had several purposes, high seat, banqueting hall room and assembly hall   Mythic Origins of Classes According to the Rigspula, a mythic-ethnologic poem collected by Saemund Sigfusson at the end of the 11th or beginning of the 12th century CE, Heimdal, the sun god sometimes called Rigr, created the social classes at the beginning of time, when the earth was lightly populated. In the tale, Rigr visits three houses and engenders the three classes in order.   Rigr first visits Ai (Great Grandfather) and Edda (Great Grandmother) who live in a hut and feed him husk-filled bread and broth. After his visit, the child Thrall is born. The children and grandchildren of Thrall are described as having black hair and an unsightly countenance, thick ankles, coarse fingers, and of being a low and deformed stature. Historian Hilda Radzin believes this is a direct reference to the Lapps, who were reduced to a state of vassalage by their Scandinavian conquerors. Next, Rigr visits Afi (Grandfather) and Amma (Grandmother), who live in a well-built house where the Afi is making a loom and his wife is spinning. They feed him stewed calf and good food, and their child is called Karl (freeman). Karls offspring have red hair and florid complexions.   Finally, Rigr visits Fadir (Father) and Modir (Mother) living in a mansion, where he is served roast pork and game birds in silver dishes. Their child is Jarl (Noble). The nobles children and grandchildren have blond hair, bright cheeks, and eyes as fierce as a young serpent. Sources Brink, Stefan. Political and Social Structures in Early Scandinavia: A Settlement-Historical Pre-Study of the Central Place. TOR 28 (1996): 235–82. Print.Cormack, W. F. Drengs and Drings. Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society. Eds. Williams, James and W. F. Cormack, 2000. 61–68. Print.Lund, Niels. Scandinavia, c. 700–1066. The New Cambridge Medieval History c.700–c.900. Ed. McKitterick, Rosamond. Vol. 2. The New Cambridge Medieval History. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1995. 202–27. Print.Radzin, Hilda. Names in the Mythological Lay Rigspula. Literary Onomastics Studies 9.14 (1982). Print.Thurston, Tina L. Social Classes in the Viking Age: Contentious Relations. C. Ed. Thurston, Tina L. Fundamental Issues in Archaeology. London: Springer, 2001. 113–30. Print.

Marquis de Montcalm in the French and Indian War

Things we Carry essay Free Essays

My thing carried is a cellophane. It’s convenient, awesome, and Just great to have around. It represents everyone’s social status. We will write a custom essay sample on Things we Carry essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Keeping up with friends is also ten times easier. I carry it with me always to keep in contact with everyone I know. My phone also serves as a multi-purpose fun machine. I get to play silly games when I’m bored, watch movies I put on my phone. Fight Club, mostly. Every night I make sure to charge my phone. A day without my phone Is worse than It should be, but most people depend on their phone. So It doesn’t bother me. A person’s phone In a small way defines a person. I have seen a ton of different phones In my day. If you see someone with a 2005 cherry red flip phone, you’re never going to assume they could be a CEO of a major company. He would have a Blackberry, and every girl in high school that wears jug boots Instantly has an Phone from the last 2 generations, minimum. It represents your class and how social you are. A perfect fit for high school. Kids definitely judge you on your phone to a certain extent, if it’s â€Å"cool† or â€Å"in†. No one will actually say something or bully someone based on a phone but the intense judging is still very present. I feel like it would really fun if no one had cell phones. People would actually have to talk to other people to accomplish things. Everyone would feel more social, alive, and joyful. Of course, this dream will never happen so as long as cellophanes are still in every single persons pocket. I will continue to keep my cell phone on me at all times if for no other reason than to keep in touch with everyone, because everyone else loves phones. Phones are definitely not all bad, they are really amazing to have on you. It Just doesn’t seem worth it to miss out on the social parts of high school. This opinion doesn’t seem to e too common among most high-choler’s. Its only because they don’t understand how fun it would be to actually go on adventures with friends and be focused on what you’re doing at all times. No side testing or checking Faceable. Friendships would be created faster. People would actually get to know each other. It’s a tiny bit sad actually, so many people use so many phones every day, that not having a phone Is pretty much socially unacceptable, and to not have a phone In high school Is to be cut off from all news and gossip. People almost always Just get the phone their friends have. It’s a class thing. We do this, we sit here, we dress this way, and we use this phone. Phones will never stop though, next Its Google Glass, then Its self-driving cars, before anyone knows It everyone Is the chairs from WALLET on a giant spaceship. Don’t worry too badly though, that’s a long way away. Also, It doesn’t even seem Like that bad of a way to go. My thing carried is a cellophane, it’s great to have. Comes with a few small drawbacks but as long as everyone else carries a cell phone every day, I don’t really mind also using my cellophane to be able to contact anyone at any time. Cellophanes you when bored. Cellophanes are amazing, Just not perfect. How to cite Things we Carry essay, Essays

Breakfast At Tiffanys Essay Research Paper Breakfast free essay sample

Breakfast At Tiffany`s Essay, Research Paper Breakfast at Tiffany? s by Truman Capote is about the idea that friendly relationship can do a individual take drastic steps in assisting a friend. The scene is New York City. The point of position is first individual limited. Seen through the eyes of the storyteller, called? Fred? ( the chief character ) , who is a starting author. I enjoyed the narrative because it was really interesting to larn and experience life in old New York. The narrative starts out, likely in the present clip, when? Fred? , who had now been populating in New York for a great trade of clip, goes into his friend Joe Bell? s saloon for a drink. There he learns the his long clip friend, Holly Golightly, is still alive by the usage of a exposure from an adventurer which shows a wood carving made by a tribesman which bears the eldritch resemblance to Holly. We will write a custom essay sample on Breakfast At Tiffanys Essay Research Paper Breakfast or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page After this brush, ? Fred? begins to reminisce about his yesteryear with Holly and all of their wild escapades. ? Fred? s? first meeting with Holly was through his flat window. Holly Golightly is a 19 year-old self-sufficing adult female. Some of her personality traits are admirable, fond, while cold hearted. She is motivated in life by endeavoring for her intent in life, which is to be rich and celebrated while maintaining her self-importance. She believes that love is non sexual. Holly, seeking to get away a atrocious day of the month, decides to see her new downstairs neighbour. There she practically Tells? Fred? everything about her life. Fred was a name Holly chose for? Fred? because he looked like her brother Fred, but since the point of position is first individual, the storyteller refers to himself throughout the narrative as? I? , but Holly by and large refers to him as? Fred? . In ? Fred? s? flat, Holly tells? Fred? about her engagement with a imprisoned drug smuggler name Sally Tomato, a stock gangster character who pays Holly to see him. ? Fred? learns more about Holly? s friends when he attends a party hosted by Holly. There he meets Rusty Trawler, Holly? s current fellow, Mag Wildwood, a cunning southern bell from Arkansas who would finally steal away Holly? s fellow. ? Fred? realizes that Holly? s friends are non the usual type of people that attend parties. Which is described when Mag foremost enters the party and says in her southern speech pattern, You b-b-boys non vexed at me for bordering in on you R p-p-party. Mag says this even though everybody knows she was go toing. The tone of the narrative is amusing and sarcastic. The action so suddenly alterations when Holly, Mag, Rusty, and Mag? s fellow, Jose` Ybarra-Jaegar, an bizarre Brazilian politician, went on a trip to Brazil. There Mag bargains Holly? s fellow, Rusty, and Holly does the same with Mag? s fellow, Jose` . When they get back, Holly is detected by her former hubby. ? Fred? so learns that Holly? s existent name was Lulamae Barnes before she was married as a kid bride to a Southerner named Doc Golightly. Besides, over this period of clip, Holly? s engagement with Mag? s ex-boyfriend thrusts Mag off. This is a really unsmooth clip for Holly. In order to ease the hurting and go through the clip, Holly spend more and more clip with? Fred? imbibing in Joe Bell? s saloon. Joe Bell is a diffident saloon proprietor who conceals his experiencing about the boisterous Holly. Even though he is in love with her, Joe maintain his feelings hidden. Everything is all right till one twenty-four hours after horse-back siting. After? Fred? has a sever accident, affecting a Equus caballus and an abrupt trip business district, Holly is all of a sudden arrested for being involved in a drug trigon with Sally Tomato. Apparently, Sally was utilizing Holly to relay information from him to his drug imperium outside the prison walls. At this same minute? Fred? discoveries out that Jose` is go forthing Holly and he has to state her the intelligence. The subject is reinforced in these chapters by the manner the storyteller goes out of his manner to do things for his friend, Holly. They go horse back equitation, even though ? Fred? is uneasy about siting. They besides decide to steal masks from a costume shop. After all of these atrocious things happen to Holly, she decides to interrupt out of gaol and travel to Brazil. Even though? Fred? knows she is likely neer coming back, he still has hope for Holly? s return. And he portions that hope with Joe Bell at his saloon. ? Fred? knows that he would hold done anything to maintain his and Holly? s relationship strong. Which is the subject of the narrative: friendly relationship can do a individual take drastic steps in assisting a friend. Holly Golightly was merely a lost romantic. A phantasmagoric individual populating in a existent word. Covering with existent people and jobs in an irregular manner. So, if you? re of all time in Brazil and you happen to see Holly, state her that? Fred? is making mulct.