What Did the Vikings Call the First Nations? A Look Into Viking Encounters

Well, let’s talk about something fascinating: what did the Vikings actually call the First Nations people they encountered? If you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered about this, especially since the Viking exploration of North America is often glossed over in mainstream history.

The First Contact: Vikings Meet the Indigenous Peoples

So, here's the thing. When Vikings arrived in North America, specifically in places like Newfoundland (which they called Vinland), they weren’t exactly making nice with the local First Nations people. The records we have about these encounters mostly come from the sagas, those old Norse tales, written centuries after the fact.

Honestly, these sagas are a bit tricky, because they were written with a lot of exaggeration and bias. Still, they do offer some hints about what the Vikings thought of the First Nations people they encountered.

What Did the Vikings Call the First Nations People?

In the sagas, the Vikings referred to the Indigenous people of North America as "Skraelings." This term is often translated as “barbarians” or “savages,” which, to be honest, is pretty harsh. The word "Skraeling" comes from the Old Norse term skrælingr, which was used to describe people who were considered to be outside the Viking world – like those from Greenland or further south.

But here’s the kicker: it’s unclear exactly how the First Nations people were seen by the Vikings. Were they viewed with curiosity, or did the Vikings genuinely consider them to be enemies? Honestly, it’s hard to say. Some scholars think the term might have just been a catch-all for anyone unfamiliar to the Vikings, rather than a direct insult. But, considering the violent nature of some encounters, I’m inclined to believe that there was some level of hostility involved.

The Viking Sagas: What Can We Really Trust?

Okay, let's be real. The Viking sagas are like the tabloid gossip of the medieval world. They’re full of exaggerations, embellishments, and dramatizations. So, when reading about Viking interactions with the First Nations, it’s important to take everything with a grain of salt. These sagas were written long after the fact and were meant to entertain as much as they were to inform.

Still, they give us some interesting details about how the Vikings viewed the indigenous people. For example, in the Vinland Sagas, the Vikings describe how they encountered “Skraelings” who were armed with bows and arrows. These encounters didn’t always end well, with the Vikings fighting off groups of First Nations people in some instances.

The First Nations Response: Resistance or Curiosity?

From what we can tell, the First Nations were just as curious about the Vikings as the Vikings were about them. Imagine being a First Nations person and suddenly encountering these tall, armored strangers with ships! The Vikings, on the other hand, were probably just as baffled. The Norse weren’t the only ones who had a new and unfamiliar world to explore, and their "Skraeling" term likely reflects that sense of cultural misunderstanding.

I remember talking with a friend recently who is a historian, and we both agreed that the word "Skraeling" might not carry the same weight as "savage" in today’s sense. It might have just been a description of a people they didn’t understand. But, when it came to direct contact, well, things got tense.

Were the Vikings Really the First Europeans in North America?

Here’s something I’ve been pondering for a while. Everyone talks about Columbus, right? But the Vikings were likely the first Europeans to land in North America around the 11th century, centuries before Columbus set foot in the Americas. The Vikings didn't exactly stick around, but they definitely made their mark, and the First Nations people they encountered must have left an impression on them too.

And here's where it gets even more interesting. Some believe that the Vikings and First Nations people might have traded with each other at certain points. They could have exchanged goods, like furs, food, and maybe even knowledge. While most of the sagas focus on the violent side of things, I think there's room for more nuanced interpretations.

The Viking Legacy: How They Influenced Our View of the First Nations

The Viking legacy is more complicated than most people realize. They were explorers, sure, but they were also colonizers in many ways. They didn’t always leave the best impression, and unfortunately, their portrayal of the First Nations people didn’t do them any favors. Still, it's important to remember that these were the first encounters between Europeans and the indigenous peoples of North America.

In the end, I think the term "Skraeling" might tell us more about the Vikings than the First Nations. It shows how the Vikings saw themselves – as a warrior culture, always encountering the unknown and facing challenges. Maybe they were just trying to make sense of a world that was beyond their understanding.

Conclusion: What Did the Vikings Really Think?

Honestly, we’ll never know exactly what the Vikings thought about the First Nations people. The sagas are filled with both dramatic and practical accounts, but they were written for a specific audience and with certain intentions. The Vikings didn’t exactly see these people as equals, but they didn’t necessarily think they were inferior either. The term "Skraeling" could have just been the closest approximation they had for a group of people they’d never encountered before.

So, next time you hear about Vikings and their adventures in North America, remember: their view of the First Nations people was complicated, just like any of our interactions with a foreign culture. It’s a bit more nuanced than just calling them “savages.”

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.