Viking age revisionism and fetishisation of Nordic culture

[Crimson Winds]

At least the Mongols had the good sense to leave most of the complicated civilizational business of administration, trade and engineering to the more civilized peoples they conquered. They were also quite instrumental in unifying much of the Eurasian continent economically and were famously religiously tolerant, ushering in an era of cultural fusion and religious syncretism (the good kind, in my opinion). I don't think you could make the same lofty claims for the Viking age.

Totaly agree.

[Ayetooey]

At least the Mongols had the good sense to leave most of the complicated civilizational business of administration, trade and engineering to the more civilized peoples they conquered. They were also quite instrumental in unifying much of the Eurasian continent economically and were famously religiously tolerant, ushering in an era of cultural fusion and religious syncretism (the good kind, in my opinion). I don't think you could make the same lofty claims for the Viking age.

In a sense yes; Mongols spread their civilisation far and wide and still have massive modern day impact. Vikings never truly held onto any land beyond their homeland; and in most nations history are seen as a temporary pest. Compare Viking expansion to say Slavic expansion, it's a pretty easy answer how successful the vikings truly were.

[Morena]

At least the Mongols had the good sense to leave most of the complicated civilizational business of administration, trade and engineering to the more civilized peoples they conquered. They were also quite instrumental in unifying much of the Eurasian continent economically and were famously religiously tolerant, ushering in an era of cultural fusion and religious syncretism (the good kind, in my opinion). I don't think you could make the same lofty claims for the Viking age.

Is that a fair comparison? Outside of a few luminaries, like Canute, most Vikings/Norsemen were not interested in building Empires. They were interested in 1. Finding new farmland to settle and 2. Raiding and finding loot. Others saw fighting as a religious exercise. Others loved to fight, and became Mercenaries.
Genghis Khan actually wanted to build an empire, so they went about administering things differently.

[AmazingHazén]

Is that a fair comparison? Outside of a few luminaries, like Canute, most Vikings/Norsemen were not interested in building Empires. They were interested in 1. Finding new farmland to settle and 2. Raiding and finding loot. Others saw fighting as a religious exercise. Others loved to fight, and became Mercenaries.
Genghis Khan actually wanted to build an empire, so they went about administering things differently.

Well, yeah. That's why it's so strange to me that vikings get so much credit for all kinds of seminal accomplishments while the Mongols are far more likely to be vilified these days, despite the Mongols' achievements being infinitely greater. I've even seen a German documentary called "The Founders of Europe" where vikings are put on the same level as Greeks and Romans in defining European culture as we know it today.

[Anthony PV]

At least the Mongols had the good sense to leave most of the complicated civilizational business of administration, trade and engineering to the more civilized peoples they conquered. They were also quite instrumental in unifying much of the Eurasian continent economically and were famously religiously tolerant, ushering in an era of cultural fusion and religious syncretism (the good kind, in my opinion). I don't think you could make the same lofty claims for the Viking age.

PWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

[AmazingHazén]

PWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Umm, what's so funny? I'm perfectly aware the Mongols could also be genocidal maniacs but that doesn't take away from the fact that not all of the things they did were unambiguously bad.

[Daco Celtic]

Don't think I've ever heard an Anglo call themselves viking mate, put down that pipe; 2015 study showed Viking admixture in England is insignificant; only place it exists in a significant level is from Norge Vikings up in Orkney.

Anglo similarities comes from Saxon/Anglo germanic blood.

The Irish have a fair amount of viking influence. Lets not leave them out.

[Anthony PV]

Umm, what's so funny? I'm perfectly aware the Mongols could also be genocidal maniacs but that doesn't take away from the fact that not all of the things they did were unambiguously bad.

You're one funny fella: you think people worship Vikings and everything while the vast majority don't give a shit about them. And to counter the supposed ongoing Viking worship, you worship Mongols instead.

[Ayetooey]

The Irish have a fair amount of viking influence. Lets not leave them out.

I talk more about Britain in that post; I don't know too much about Ireland and its viking influence; I understand that they have high Norse in certain regions.

[AmazingHazén]

You're one funny fella: you think people worship Vikings and everything while the vast majority don't give a shit about them. And to counter the supposed ongoing Viking worship, you worship Mongols instead.

Maybe people don't worship vikings here but you can't deny their overwhelming prevalence in pop culture. Vikings are probably among the most frequently LARPed historical groups along with the Romans. Not sure how I "worship the Mongols" when all I said was the historically undisputed fact that they had an extremely expansive empire.