Warriors Without Boundaries

Twelve hundred years ago Norsemen, also known as Vikings, launched their ships from Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The Viking warriors came not to conquer but to sack and pillage and, finally, to make concessions for trade agreements. The Norsemen ventured to Afghanistan, Africa, Arabia, Canada, China, England, France, Greenland, Newfoundland and Russia. They were an 8th century Super Power! Since no one had told them that the world was flat, they had no travel boundaries. The Norsemen planned their raids in advance, and were very successful. Because of their stealth and swiftness, the Viking’s fierce attacks were almost always a total surprise, equivalent to our modern-day “shock and awe” tactics. The Vikings were fearless – they would attack on foot with battle gear such as shields, axes, spears, and knives, but their favorite weapon was the sword. The “Ulfberht” was a sword for heroic warriors and it was 1,000 years ahead of its time – it was made of pure steel (most swords were made of iron with steel strips), and its blade’s steel had purity and carbon content higher than the other swords of the period, making it stronger and more durable. The Ulfberht’s craftsman that created the blades kept the secret well – the crafting of the blade was as much a mystery to the ancient world as it is today. Unfortunately, the secret of the Ulfberht blade has been lost to history. It is an 8th century mystery as to how they were able to obtain the material to craft a slag-free sword. Many people also wondered what happened to the Norsemen. As with everything, time passes and society changes. Eventually, they settled in some of the areas they discovered. Many returned to Denmark, Norway and Sweden and peacefully traded with the known world. But from the 8th century to the 11th century, the Vikings were a “Super Power” to contend with around the globe.