How They Did It - Growing Up Viking DOCUMENTARY
A history documentary on what it was like to grow up Viking. Get Surfshark VPN at Surfshark.deals/invicta and enter promo code INVICTA for 83% off and 3 extra months for free!
In this history documentary we explore the world of the ancient Viking Age from the perspective of a child. This is a topic that all too often gets overlooked when talking about the military history of the vikings or that gets cartoonized in films such as how to train your dragon.
We begin with an overview of the viking world of Scandinavia by looking at its geography and ethnography. This is a land shaped by the Ice Age with many fjords, valleys, lakes, and islands with cold winters and mild summers. This environment played a large part in shaping the viking civilization of medieval scandinavia. What we find is a general lack of centralization with most people living out in small farm-based communities. These viking village groups were composed of longhouses with additional outbuildings and facilities surrounded by a wall. Roads and waterways would connect them to the world beyond but for the most part they remained highly independent. At the start of the viking age it would only be the kingdom of Denmark which was unified to large degree with the regions of Sweden and Norway only doing so by the end of the Viking age.
We then talk about Viking society which was broken down into groups of jarls, karls, and thralls. Its into this mix that viking children would be born. The history documentary covers the practices of childbirth and how to name a viking baby. These viking names had all kinds of conventions. Next we cover how Viking children grew up playing games, doing chores, and receiving an education. We talk about what it was like to begin to date within the viking community and eventually marry.
We produced this viking documentary in anticipation for the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Stay tuned for more viking history content and Valhalla gameplay.
#Viking
#History
#Documentary
Bibliography and Suggested Reading
"Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga" by Smithsonian Institution Press
"Viking Age: Everyday Life During the Extraordinary Era of the Norsemen" by Kirsten Wolf
Yes, yes. The viking nickname 'Bigtits' are widely used even today.
Aslaug Bigtits
@Ivore Surkuri I fear it may have gone down the road of "Evolution of the Roman army"
Must be Danish
I was on a comping trip with some friends and i got the nickname Snotbeard, because of a rather runny nose. So I was known as Torstein Snørrskjegg (Snotbeard).
I want to know more about the nickname bigtits.
Viking son: Mom why is my last name "bigtits"? Viking mom: Dont look at me, your father named you that.
More like... Norse girl: Mother! Why do the boys of the village call me *"bigtits",* it is embarrassing and I hate it! Norse mother: Ooohh...that? Why it is because you've blossomed into such a beautiful young woman. You should be happy my child, why I was known as *"bigrump",* in my youth! Norse girl: ...I regret asking. **nearly dies of secondhand embarrassment** But anyway on a more serious note I believe he (Invitus) stated that such descriptive names were for later in one's life among Norse society, basically it's a nickname or a colloquial title.
The art style is just delightful.
Thanks! The characters are all done by Beverly Johnson. We make these available for download to Patrons
Truly a top job being done here
were definetly pretty top quality compared to a lot of history channels that choose to make use of graphics
You guys should do this series on pacific islanders or specific ethnic groups
@@InvictaHistory thought I recognized her work! beautiful
I love that the northerners are depticted wearing many colors, not just the drabest of greys or blacks! Because if possible - depending on wealth and social status - they did wear almost garish clothing by modern western standards.
And i if they had blue or red. They where rally wealthy. Blue and red was expensive for the vikings.
@@slothtasticgames More like purple and red were the expensive ones. Blue or atleast light blue were very common, same with green, pink, light yellow and brown. they liked to look good and were quite fashionable.
Don't forget about the FURS
Modern nordic fashion with its greys and blacks very much has its roots in lutheranism.
@@asmundsand2565 yes it is purple, but if i remember correct dark blue was also a simi expensive color, but i'm not 100% sure.
Fun Fact: Ivar the Boneless was most likely called 'boneless' from having E.D.S. ( ehlers-danlos syndrome) a genetic disorder of the collagen that can make your joints appear almost 'boneless' from the range of hyperflexibility. 🦓
It’s believed that it’s was E.D.S, or because of erectile disfunction
Luffy kin
Or if you belive Assassins Creed he was jut really wiggly on the battlefield
I'd like to see a How They Did It Growing Up episode on Ancient Egypt.
I agree! What was it like growing up or being a teenager in ancient egypt isnt talked about much.
that series should've been made when "AC origins" was released, then xD
imho doing it on ancient egypt is hard, because the society was much more complex with lots of different growin up experiences
I wanna see how it was growing up in mongolia or some tribes of N. America
@@karl-heinzgrabowski3022 also what time of Ancient Egipt, cleopatra ancian or piramids ancian
on the nickname part, my ancestor was named Ulgard the Ugly
Huh
Thats rough
Sound like a fallen trollhunter.
Ouch
He'll be disappointed to see you haven't inherited his head. ;)
Love this series...the lives of ordinary folks of ancient civilizations are too often lost in the hype of great battles and noteworthy figures. These series about the nuts and bolts of ancient civilizations are why I subscribe.
That's what I thought. But when historians say "too much attention on great battles" they mean that medieval and ancient generals knew that winning a war was done through sieges, not battles. Many medieval generals had the opportunity to fight a battle with an enemy, but deliberately avoided it. But I get the context you mean it in. History often focuses on great events and glamourous figures not on the real people, which is what we are.
bruh I hate your profile picture Xd
@@modlio745 Eh? Blame Google. It's not my fault they didn't retake that shot of an "s" after that fly photobombed it.
@@sarysa fair, smh
4
Last time I was this early, Lindisfarne still had its shiny treasu-- I mean, holy relics.
How would you rate your viking experience? We strive to improve our -raiding- cruise experience.
Good thing the Danes came to rescue the relics when the monastery mysteriously caught fire and all the monks died.
@@Rallarberg yeah luckly it happen to Paris too the relic are saved now
Monasteries: exist Vikings: it’s free treasure
Supermarket sweep - Lindisfarne Abbey edition
Soooo there could genuinely have been a batch of vikings nicknamed Hiccup, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, and even Dogsbreath? Cool. Imagine what Astrid’s nickname could’ve been lol
Wow, didn't think of that one. I'd imagine Astrid's nickname would depict her fierceness as a warrior. At least I hope so...
She was blonde so possibly fair hair
In the books isn’t Astrids Mom’s name “_______ the Big Boobied”? Lol I haven’t read the books since 4th grade so I might be mistaken
@@lissamissa8618 i think it's Bertha and then boob something
Thanks to this video now I realise how accurate "How to train your dragon" is
Your "Growing Up..." videos are easily my favorites, I love this kind of new perspective about people in the past, much more close than any political quarrel or war.
Me too, the perspectives that aren't all war are so fascinating and can sometimes be quite inspiring!
I swear when I heard the word "skills" at 10:31 I thought there was about to be a smooth transition to talking about Skillshare.
That's trauma for us KZhead audiences.
I was on a comping trip with some friends and i got the nickname Snotbeard, because of a rather runny nose. So I was known as Torstein Snørrskjegg (Snotbeard).
Now you must build a longship and raid the Isles
Snotbeard and their friend Bigtits
@@jadedmist Go forty, conquer the lands and fight for the motherland
now that's what i'd call a true viking name
I love that you’ve used your name as your username
Great informative video as always. Just want to add one thing that Vikings did weekly. Every Saturday Vikings took baths to clean them self, Saturday was called laugardagur, in old Norse. Laugardagur litterly means "poolday" or in more common english, "washing day"
And to add further on that. Derivatives of laugardagur is still in use in most (i think all?) scandinavian languages.
Same in baltic lands, I lived whole my life in village, and my grandpa always prepared bathhouse on Saturdays. I even asked him why we bathed on Saturdays, he said that he did not know, it was always like that, even when he himself was a child, his dad and grandpa did the same.
@@J35P3R95 we in the Faroe Islands say "leygardagur" which, as yourself says, is a derteritiv of "laugerdagur"
We have that in Finnish and Estonian too, lauantai, laupäev.
@@liveforever141 saturday = day of rest ... bible / hebrews / jewsz
It’s interesting how accurate Vinland Saga is. The mangaka did a lot of research for sure
Besides the super strength and all, it’s pretty good
@Noon Well it’s more historically accurate than the Vikings show for sure
Yea even in the anime they use period accurate art pieces that we learned about in AP Art History, very good anime.
Just finished it today and wow what an anime. Loved the accuracy and the almost mythical features of some characters
Is it worth the watch?
I just love so much how you cover non-WARWARWAR history.
The channel has gone so far from where it’s started so glad too see all the hard work and effort is being recognized well done
Kinda funny actually; I grew up in rural Norway during the 90's and it's oddly similar to how they did it back in the viking era according to this video. People "identity" were mostly based on which town they were from, communites were tightly knit, farming and fishing were prominent, generation lived together in long houses, kids played and explored the outside world without any adult supervision and helped at home with everything from farm work to fishing etc. I don't live there anymore but I visit from time to time and sadly it seems to vanish very quickly because of urbanization, immigration, globalization etc.
Things are still like this in Sweden as well, depending of course where you grow up and potential differences in family. The further south, the more.. let's say "modern" it gets, while the further north, the more 'Viking' it got.
Its a centuries old culture, that doesnt just die out, even with globalization
@@alexzander7386 You'll be surprised. Creating things takes a long time, destroying them not so much.
@@Dial8Transmition it pains me to say you are right
@@Zeithri Wait is there any Norsemen left? I thought Sweden now become Iraqis, Syrians or Afghans and changing their country name as Swedishtan
I love how even today you can see remnants of that Viking-naming system with names today.
How tall are you
I agree with Artur M. I have really liked Beverly's artwork in your videos. She really gives such personality into each character. It was especially nice to see in this video. Ancient Norse people are often portrayed as grim. She shows that there was also an aspect to their lives that was full of joy and compassion, as well as the serious moments.
Can you please do a video about the Finnish Tribes? I never hear anything about them.
Because they, along with the Estonian and Latvian tribes were subjugated and 'crusaded' by the 10th-13th century Swedish and Danish kings...
And the written sources about them are virtually non-existent, only the chronicles left by the same crusaders that subjugated them. History is not about conjectures and suppositions, is about evidence and written accounts.
Great idea!
@@cesargonzalez4146 Gotta disagree with you. History most definitely is about conjecture. Historians make conjectures all the time. I agree with you on supposition though. I agree with what the op is saying a video on the finns would be interested. Even though they didn't have writing there is still archeology and what others wrote about them. So we still have a reasonable amount of information on them. Hell, the viking didn't really write much. What we know about them comes from archeology and what others wrote about them.
I would love to see a video on them. I happen to be a descendent of Finnish tribes. And I often hear very little about them too.
Viking growing up, seems to be the best so far :D I saw Roman, this and Aztec.
Jarl was not synonymous with noble. Think of the jarl more as a Nordic shogun. And karl simply means man. Ulf/Ulv is not just a wolf, but specifically a male wolf. The female wolf was called Ylva, wich to this day is a popular girls name.
Carloman - man man
@@end8316 Precisely.
Jarl means Earl
How do you consistently make me nostalgic for a time that not even my great-great-great-great-great grandparents could remember
I love the "Growing Up" videos! They make me imagine what is beeing narrated and kind of put myself in it... Also, I love the art.
Bluetooth is a mistranslated, it should be "Blacktooth" - which can happen after bad dental problems. Nicknames were often that simple, but also more ironic and funny. As the case with one famous Viking chieftain who had brittle bone's disease, was nicknamed "strong". But I think we all hope in our heart of hearts that bigtits did actually have big tits.
i'm sure a murderous viking warrior with the name "Bigt!ts" struck fear into the hearts of many.
The anime vinland saga is a delightful story based on the life of vikings. This video matches it so well. The art was so adorable and pleasing!
The artwork here is absolutely stunning and the authenticity of the clothing is fantastic. Usually when we see Vikings depicted, we see them wearing leather armour with a piece of fur or two, along with ridiculous hairstyles.
northern Europe was heavily restricted by the geography( particularly climate) but still managed to create advanced nations.
That not true Aztecs were advance in Mexico before Spanish came
11:05 - I recently lived in a small communal-style neighborhood outside town for two years. Think of it as a small isolated HOA-style neighborhood with 17 houses on 14 acres and a ton of kids. All the kids, mine included, would run around from early morning until it was past dark, never had to worry unless bear or moose were coming through. All the kids would watch one another, they were all running around as kids should without a worry in the world. The problem this caused after moving back into town (health issues) was our children are now feral. My son is rough, likes to scrap, and has been on several fights in school this year, non that he caused, but he has layed out a couple kids trying to pick on him or a friend. He is all muscle, runs around with no shoes outside, etc. He makes hammers, axes, spears, and has even crafted his own bow and arrow. The neighbors call him Tom Sawyer. He is a smart kid with lots of love, however, he is all boy. My daughter will run around without shoes but is still a girly girl who can hold her own without worry. I feel my kids would have fit right in with the Viking children.
Fantastic as always! You really went all out on the art this time; definitely one of the best in the series. Thank you again, because this series is definitely my favorite.
Me: *Is very excited* Also me: *REALIZES I HAVE 3% AND NO EARPHONES* NNNNNOOOOOO
i was early....without notifications! as i like this channel so much i regularly check for new and old videos! Im a big fan of your content
It's amazing how much research went into this, especially with the visuals, truly amazing
Just came from the total war online battle series. You got me hooked on ancient history through those. You were literally asking 5/6 years ago whether you should do more history videos - I'm glad you have!
Omg! Thank you so much for this! I remember looking to see if you did a video about the Vikings when you first posted your Growing up Aztec video...
Amazing video all round.!! The narrating The art The information Look forward to many more Never a let down video invicta!!
Outstanding! I had no idea about how Vikings grew up. It was really fascinating and entertaining. Great history, as always. Please keep the outstanding videos coming and God bless you, my friend!
The art style already commented on by others is truly fantastic, particularly the territorial maps and information presented. Great work.
I love these types of videos that showcase the more day to day life of ancient and medieval cultures, and I am especially excited to see you dipping your toes into the Nordic and Scandinavian viking culture. Thor's blessing upon this video!
Liked before the video started.... thats how awesome this channel is! Thank you!
Thanks for the upload man, your videos are always great and I can really use the distraction right now
Ay Florian wassup man you ok
@@sabriele Yea man I'm good just nervous about the election stuff, ty for checking
@@sabriele pretty awesome of you. Great job.
Its finally here!! I've long awaited the start of this series :)
God-damn dude, the art style is amazing!
I love your way of explaining simple things of history!🙏🏼👍🏼
Fascinating! I love delving into this angle of history. The art is fantastic as well!
The map and art style is fine as hell, so visually appealing
I love your channel!! You have a great speaking voice and your information is well put together. I often rewatch your video about ancient roman pets
So do I!
Is always delightful to learn about the common life of the ancient civilizations
There are many who believe that, Thrall means slave But it actually means Servant. for example, if you had a debt you could not pay off. Then you could work it off. Like helping in the field, cleaning or taking care of the animals. Thus, you temporarily become a servant = thrall.
Many soceities practiced slavery like that, such as the Romans; someone might be enslaved in order to pay off debts, or as punishment for a crime, or something like that. Generally, most forms of slavery in history didn't much resemble the post-colonial European version that we think of today.
This is the older form of slavery yeah. Slavery as we know it today is more permanent. Although I'm sure both forms of slavery involved significant amounts of physical and verbal abuse if you got a bad owner.
@@yetanother9127 Exactly, modern ignorance plagues history.
Indentured servitude.
@@jxslayz6663 There is no such thing as "old slavery" like it was some uniform definition everyone abided by. The truth of the matter is where the person in question was taken since you could be a confidant of a rich patrician or a house hold servant, a celebrity gladiator or athlete... or you could be the majority of classical and medieval slaves, a cheap laborer working in the fields or mines. Plenty of kingdoms have each had plenty of slave revolts after all... To make this a little shorter, it's not exactly the chattel slavery of the early modern age but it was still incredibly cruel and painful; more so for the masses who were conquered and taken from their homes to be slaves. And it is a fair bit ignorant to sweep it all under the rug because some rich dudes in Rome talked more about their personal aids instead of the other guys who aren't even their slaves.
The art style in this video is wonderful. Also, really interesting to watch. Thank you.
such a wonderfully insightful video!! The couple at 13:26 look especially SO good
This was amazing thank you
As always,interesting and easy to understand. Thank you.
This video is amazing!! Well done! 👏👏👏
Imagine, being a monk at a monastery. You’re copying and preserving scripture, painting icons of Jesus and just minding your own business. All of sudden, an illiterate Norseman (probably high on shrooms) storms in, kills your best friend and then enslaves you. Literally no chill.
Lmao. That’s horrible but the imagery you give is badass. I appreciate your writing
I imagine that would wreck the monk's entire day...
... bro, most could read just fine
@@louisea.s6985 really? I assumed it was just the nobility & people with status
@@witchypoo7353 haha yeah its easy to think that and i guess its kind of right in a way. They didnt use the alphabet we use today, but nordic runes (that we actually learn in school in Norway😅)
It's finally out and I love it
Damn, I was waiting for this
I love these videos. The art work is superb.
Really like your videos! I appreciate the viking age videos a lot too, since I participate in viking age reenactment
Cool, Does that mean you're fighting as one? I prefer to fight with Swords and Shields. What about you?
@@1q2w3e4r404 I've fought for a bit, but now I prefer the crafts and daily life part of living history. I've fought with axe and shield and a bit with spear.
These are my favorite videos you do. Would like to see more childhood videos
This is Amazing!!! Im a young viking reenactor and when I came to this world, my parents decided to give me the name Harald, witch is for me an honour. It is amazing to see that not everybody thinks Vikings where ruthless killer barbarians, but humans too. Keeo it up
That's a cool name, good luck with reenacting!
Great vid! Nice to know more about our ancestors
Love the video and the artwork :)
Very cool insights, thank you! Please make more! :D
Growing up in Ancient Greece would be a welcome addition to your channel
the -Son name is still used sort of in Norway, the most common surname is Hansen (we call it Sen-names) and is the same as Son ... but we are not using Hansen and Hansdottir (Icelanders still practice that I believe). Common Surnames in Norway is Hansen, Olsen, Halvorsen, Johansen ... so namy ends with sen, there is one surname I kinda like don't know if it is used yet tough ... but Morgenstierne as in Munthe af Morgenstierne... its a nobel name and for those who are interested .. morgenstierne means morningstar (devils name in Lucifer). Whats also quite common in Norway is 2 names, like Odd Gunnar, or Trond Asbjørn and so on ... but we are often named after someone special like a grand-dad or older.
Awesome content, but a huge salute to the visual artist, such beautiful, colored pictures.
I love the art in this episode
I think this is my favorite topic
I foresee a new assassin's creed sponsored vid coming up. I'm ready to snag that promo code lol. Great video as always
Pls do growing up as a Norman, I love this series!
Beverly is an absolutely outstanding artist
Great video!
Intresting video. More about vikings. It would be intresting to watch about there journeys.
Nice video! Very interesting topic
love the art style
It's nice to see a video that illustrates what life would have been like for my ancestors.
Nice video, basically exactly what they will tell you in school and the national museum here in DK. Vikings were largely just picked out for being the best fighters in the village and probably the nobles who sponsored the raid. There were no professional soldiers back then so they just picked who wanted and could. The guards of the king would likely be other nobles which meant they could afford or just had time for more practice.
Crusader Kings definitely made me learn very much about the Vikings, especially their ruling titles and naming systems.
HONOR, COURAGE. STRENGTH🔥🔥
i looove this art style
Wow, the viking naming tradition is really cool.
Yeah my family has been Gustafson for several generations... thanks great grandpa Gustav... and great-great grandpa Gustav... and great-great grandpa Gustav... it goes for a loooooong while
this artstyle makes it seem so happy i wanna be a viking damn
Thank you
I like how in the art, everyone looks so confused except the grandma who is smiling which just makes me happy
The art in the video is Vera well made! The person behhind it should make a game :)
The animations are a really nice flourish,
I love the art
Scandinavians have such an amazing history, Invaded England, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, North Africa, Discovered Cananda. They would go on the established Kingdom of England (Normans) Kingdom of Sicily (Normans) Dukedom of Normany (Norsemen under Rollo), Danelaw in england, Ivar the boneless in Ireland, They even invaded Spain, France, Russia (Norsemen would establish the rus kingdoms, Norsemen king Harald Hadradaa would serve as Varangian guard under Byzantine emperor, and so many more things!
This videos are soooo gooooooooood
Please do what it was like growing up in ancient Egypt
I’d love to see how they did growing up in Egypt, Carthage, and Greece. Also, if they even cover this region, places in east Asia like China or Japan
Welcome to my home. This is my husband thorbjorn and our children Aegirfast, Asta and astrid. Damn that sounds like a legit family
In before Viking is the name of the profession not their ethnicity.
how is it groing up as a pirate! where they born with a parrot on their sholders ??? or an eye patch????
"well, to go "a'viking" was to go out raiding. The etymology may stem from vik meaning creek in old english, or from wīc meaning camp or dwelling place"
Mocking myself here as I was halfway to typing that as its own comment
1:21 Boot to the head!
@@MajesticSkywhale The Old Norse spending a weekend "capmping" was a bit more violent than the modern version then!
As a viking descendant I really appreciated this video. It could have been three times as long.
Scandinavian*
@@somedesertdude1308 pedantic. Nobody cares that Viking is a verb. It's a noun now. Languages evolve. So I'm a Viking descendant. Don't get Lindisfarn'd assling
Cool stuff
That's my heritage right there!