Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Vikings, NOVA 2000 (Grade C+)

sez says:  Vikings have long been portrayed as horned-helmeted barbarians. Well their helmets didn't have horns and their major accomplishment was that they were master boat builders.   This"Nova" episode shows the Vikings to have been civilized and sophisticated people. Startling new research indicates that the 8th century Norsemen were, in fact, also shrewd merchants, accomplished artisans and superbly creative. They traveled extensively and colonized large sections of eastern Europe, all the way to Constantinople.They also populated the British Isles, Northern France, Iceland and Greenland--and made their way into the Mediterranean.   Part of the time they were raiding, even more of the time they were trading--and regularly they settled and melted into the local population--often dominating.  You come away from this thinking they played a much bigger role in the history and peopling of Europe than is generally taught.  Interesting stuff. Fairly well presented--but no where near brilliant.