Welcome to the British History Podcast.

My name is Jamie.

And this is Episode 156, an off of marriage.

This show is free and independent due to member support.

And as thanks for helping keep the community going, I offer members only content such as

extra episodes and rough transcripts.

If you're interested in supporting the show and helping us out, you can do so over at

the British History Podcast.com.

And thank you very much to Jason, Kerry, and other Jason for contributing already.

And here's what we're talking about over on the members' feed this week.

Starting in the late 8th century, while the rest of Europe went in one direction, the cultures

that were growing in Scandinavia went another way.

Their art, literature, and religion all developed on a different path.

Perhaps it was this unique perspective that allowed them over the course of several hundred

years to open brand new trade routes and dramatically expand existing ones.

It could be why they had the audacity to settle new regions, while also taking other territory

from stunned and overpowered Western kingdoms.

It can't be denied that what came out of Scandinavia from the late 8th century to the

11th century was a culture that was overflowing with energy at a time when much of the rest

of Europe was suffering from periods of instability due to the relatively recent reinvention of

governmental structure, religion, and culture.

They were poised to change everything.

...