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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Children of Ash and Elm summary
Neil Price
A History of the Vikings
20 mins
Brief summary
Children of Ash and Elm delves into the Viking world, tracing their history, culture, and impact. Neil Price vividly illustrates their social structures, myths, and legacy, revealing a nuanced portrait of these legendary people.
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Children of Ash and Elm
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Viking societies had deep roots in Scandinavia
The Viking Age, which lasted from around 750 to 1050 CE, was the latest chapter in Scandinavia’s long prehistory that stretched back to the end of the Ice Age around 12,000 BCE.
By the Iron Age, defined around 500 BCE to 400 CE, Scandinavia had established itself apart from the influence of the Roman Empire, cultivating a landscape dotted with farms and villages, particularly in its northern territories. This period saw Scandinavians engaging in widespread trade with peoples to their south, importing goods ranging from weapons to luxury items like wine sets, which linked them culturally and economically to the Mediterranean world.
The socio-political landscape of Scandinavia was heavily influenced by its geographical features, with water playing a crucial role. The rise of water levels made the region a nexus of archipelagos and natural harbors, facilitating the Vikings’ mastery of maritime navigation. However, elite power centers remained primarily land-based, characterized by significant settlements and monumental buildings known as halls. These halls, which evolved from the traditional longhouse, were centers of social and political life, where rulers displayed their wealth and reinforced their social status through feasts and rituals.
The mid-sixth century brought significant turmoil to Scandinavia due to volcanic eruptions that led to severe climate changes, causing crop failures and abrupt depopulation in some areas. This period of strife, known as the “dust veil,” left a profound impact on the region, both environmentally and culturally. The social upheaval of this time is believed to have influenced Viking mythology, including tales of a great winter that foreshadowed the end of the world.
Despite these challenges, the late sixth century marked a period of recovery and reorganization. New social structures emerged, characterized by pronounced social stratification and the development of land ownership rights. These changes set the stage for the Viking Age, a time when Scandinavia saw the consolidation of regional polities and the rise of powerful kings who controlled large territories through diplomatic and military means.
As the Viking Age progressed, Scandinavia continued to be a dynamic and multicultural hub, evidenced by bustling market centers where traders from across Europe and beyond converged. Viking society, with its complex web of social, economic, and political ties, was an integral part of the medieval world, leaving a legacy still evident in the historical and archaeological record today.
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What is Children of Ash and Elm about?
Children of Ash and Elm (2020) provides a sweeping and nuanced exploration of the Viking Age, spanning the years 750 to 1050. Rather than relying on the distorted narratives shaped by historical biases, it delves deeply into the Vikings' culture, politics, and cosmology, offering a more authentic portrayal of their world. It highlights the Vikings’ profound impact as traders, raiders, explorers, and colonists, tracing their influence across an astonishingly vast region – from the eastern shores of North America to the Asian steppe.
Who should read Children of Ash and Elm?
- History enthusiasts fascinated by Viking culture and expansion
- Readers interested in authentic, archaeologically-backed historical narratives
- Scholars exploring pre-Christian religions and ancient cosmologies
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