(10-06-2013, 02:45 PM)Barristan link Wrote:I know that there has been a fair amount of revisionist history about the Vikings, portraying them as traders not raiders and certain of aspects of their society seem remarkably different and interesting. However, I personally sit with Simon Schama's view that if you look at a people long enough, you will find something nice to say about them.
And if some people terrorized your ancestors you're likely to find more negative things to say about them. That vikings raided, plundered and whatnot does not mean that their societies weren't sophisticated. That's why I wrote: "I dislike that they're depicting the vikings yet again as harsh savages in ways that they were not". You can easily make up a story about vikings with plenty of war, sex and cruelty without having to twist history and enforce stereotypes.