The West: Fragmentation and Resilience - Western Kingship in an Age of Fragmentation - Scandinavia

7 important questions on The West: Fragmentation and Resilience - Western Kingship in an Age of Fragmentation - Scandinavia

Which European-style kingdoms developed in Scandinavia around the year 1000?

Denmark and Norway.

What did the Vikings take home?

The Vikings took home with them not only Europe's plundered wealth but also its prestigious religion, with all its implications for royal power and state-building.

Where did the impetus for conversion in Scandinavia came from?

  • From the south, missionaries such as the Frankish monk Ansgar (d.865) came to preach Christianity, seconded by German bishops, who imposed what claims they could make.
  • Within Scandinavia itself, kings found it worth their while to ally with these Christian representatives to enhance their own position. 
  • Higher grades + faster learning
  • Never study anything twice
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Discover Study Smart

What did Harald Bluetooth do?

When Danish King Harald Bluetooth (r.c.958-c.986), converted, he announced it with a meaningful ritual. Harald graphically turned a pagan site into a Christian one and, at the same time, announced that he was the ruler of a state that extended into what is today southern Sweden and parts of Norway.

Why is the conversion of kingly rule in Norway less traceable?

Because there are fewer sources from the time.

What did Olav Haraldsson do?

  • After King Olav Haraldsson (r.1015-1030) was baptized, he helped organize the Norwegian Church, evangelize Sweden, and managed through war and alliance to rule most of Norway.
  • Building on those successes, Olav's son Magnus the Good and then his half-brother, Harald Hardrada (r.1046-1066) established a stable dynasty that lasted for four generations. 

What was Swedish Christianization like?

Swedish Christianization was a slow and often voluntary process on the ground - quite literally "on the ground" because it is best traced through runestones erected by free commoners over burials and other important sites.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

  • A unique study and practice tool
  • Never study anything twice again
  • Get the grades you hope for
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.
Trustpilot Logo