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From: slb@drutx.UUCP (Sue Brezden)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: Vikings
Message-ID: <408@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 31-Oct-85 11:25:09 EST
Article-I.D.: drutx.408
Posted: Thu Oct 31 11:25:09 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Nov-85 03:47:44 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 37

>Mike Banahan :
>I'm not so sure that the Vikings were uncivilised. ``Njal's Saga'' (admittedly
>Icelandic rather than Viking) makes the place look a damn sight
>more pleasant to live in, and better run, than most of the rest of the world
>looks today. Or is my view pessimistic?

I tend to agree with you.  I would qualify it by using a different word
than Vikings, though.  The "Vikings" proper were those Scandinavians who
took to coastal raids.  If we say Scandinavians in general of that period,
you are probably right that it was better than many places today.  You are
certainly right that they were civilized.  

Most were small farmers, living in fairly isolated areas, and lived lives of 
calm, but possibly boring, usefulness.  They had enough to eat, and produced 
wonderful artifacts and sagas.  They had a deep, if rather grim, religious 
life, beautiful scenery to look at and a good sense of humor.  They certainly 
were happier in general than many in the world today.  I wouldn't trade places 
myself, but if I were an Ethiopian refugee or a slum dweller in any city in 
the world, it would look damn good.

You would have to exclude the serfs, though.  And those who did go into
raiding and conquering had short, bloody lives.  Personally, the main
reason I've never wanted to trade times with anyone is modern medical
and dental care!

By the way, can anyone recommend a good textbook, dictionary, or grammar
of Old Norse?  (I have a character in a live-action fantasy game who is
a Norse cleric--and I'd like to say my spells in it.)
-- 

                                     Sue Brezden
                                     ihnp4!drutx!slb

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I march to the beat of a different drummer, whose identity,
   location, and musical ability are as yet unknown.
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