Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin

More than 50 SAHSWI members and visitors participated in the Fika meeting on Saturday January 27 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, where SAHSWI Vice President John Elliott presented the program about the Vikings. 

John discussed the definition of the Viking as a member of the Scandinavian seafaring warriors who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the 9th to the 11th century and whose disruptive influence profoundly affected European history. The word Viking entered the modern English language in 1807, at a time of growing nationalism and empire building. In the decades that followed, enduring stereotypes about Vikings developed, such as wearing horned helmets and belonging to a society where only men wielded high status. Vikings were a specific group of traders defined by their mobility, and this did not include the bulk of the Scandinavian population that stayed at home.

Viking crews would frequently lose members and pick up new recruits as they traveled, combining dissident elements from different backgrounds and cultures. Vikings were not a race but an ethnic diverse group. Only 10% of the Scandinavian population today has Viking DNA.

John further explored the unauthorized use of Nordic (Viking) imagery by some less than honorable groups and the impact it has on the overall image of the Vikings.  He discussed who the Vikings were and the misunderstandings that prevail today.

Please find here the complete Viking presentation

The presentation generated a lot of interest and discussion, followed by the traditional Fika with food and baked goods brought by meeting participants.