People seem forever reimagining the seafaring Vikings from northern Europe, but 'the Viking Age' is one of the most confusing periods in European history. When did it really start and why? What does 'Viking' really mean? What kind of helmets did they actually wear?

One of the best ways to delve into these questions is to delve into the most common misconceptions, often conjured up from how Vikings are depicted in film and TV, and run through why these myths exist, and the historical reality. James Carson runs through 10 of the biggest myths he's encountered after a few months getting close to the Vikings.

Expert opinion expressed on History Hit podcasts Gone Medieval and Dan Snow's History Hit are used to help shape our understanding of the Viking Age. You can go deeper by listening to the following links:

Professor Caroline Larrington - Ragnar Lodbrok - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ragnar-lothbrok-the-viking-legend/id1564113746?i=1000617851865

Dr Stephen Ashby - Rise of the Vikings https://shows.acast.com/gone-medieval/episodes/rise-vikings ALSO Viking Hair https://play.acast.com/s/gone-medieval/vikings-whatdoestheirhairtellus-

Dr Roderick Dale - The Beserkers https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-berserkers/id1564113746?i=1000526345533

Dr Tom Horne - Raiding and Trading in Viking Britain https://shows.acast.com/gone-medieval/episodes/viking-market-kingdoms-in-britain-ireland

Dr Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir - Valkyries - https://shows.acast.com/gone-medieval/episodes/the-valkyries-handmaids-of-the-gods

Professor Gordon Campbell - Vikings in America - https://play.acast.com/s/dansnowshistoryhit/vikingsinamerica

Also, check out Dr Cat Jarman's book River Kings https://www.amazon.co.uk/River-Kings-Catrine-Jarman/dp/0008353077

Here are the 10 Big Myths About the Vikings chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:50 - 1. Horned Helmets
02:25 - 2. Ragnar Lodbrok
04:48 - 3. It All Began in 793
08:32 - 4. It Took Place in the Dark Ages
11:55 - 5. Beserkers Took Magic Mushrooms
14:24 - 6. There Was One Viking Empire
16:12 - 7. They Called Themselves Vikings
18:22 - 8. They Were All Raiders
21:07 - 9. Women Warriors Were Commonplace
24:55 - 10. Leif Erikson Landed in America


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