Vikings show: How accurate is it? - Historian explains | Lars Brownworth and Lex Fridman
Historian Lars Brownworth discusses the historical accuracy of the Vikings TV series with Lex Fridman, noting that while well-done dramatically, the show takes significant liberties like making Ragnar and Rollo brothers when they were actually born 80 years apart. The conversation explores the challenges of studying Viking history due to limited historical records.
Summary
The discussion begins with an evaluation of the Vikings TV series' historical accuracy. Brownworth acknowledges the show is well-executed but points out a major historical inaccuracy: Ragnar and Rollo are portrayed as brothers in the series when historical evidence suggests they were born approximately 80 years apart. He appreciates this as a storytelling device that consolidates multiple Viking figures into a cohesive narrative centered around Ragnar.
Brownworth explains the fundamental challenge of writing about Viking history - the lack of comprehensive organizational frameworks due to severely limited historical documentation. Historians only have access to fragmentary evidence, primarily from raid accounts, which provides mere glimpses into what was likely a rich and complex civilization. This scarcity of sources makes it difficult to understand the broader historical context and development of Viking culture.
The conversation touches on deeper historical mysteries, such as the origins of Viking warrior culture and the evolution of their concepts of honor in battle. Brownworth suggests there may have been influence from Roman military traditions that traveled north to Scandinavia, though concrete evidence is lacking. The discussion concludes with an interesting historical note about the very name 'Scandinavia' originating from Roman authors who mistakenly believed it was a single island inhabited by one tribe called the Scandia.
Key Insights
- Brownworth states that Ragnar and Rollo were not actually brothers as portrayed in the Vikings series, but were born 80 years apart according to some historical accounts
- Brownworth explains that the Vikings TV series consolidates all major Viking figures together to tell Ragnar's story as a dramatic storytelling device
- Brownworth reveals that the hardest part of writing about Vikings was developing an organizational scheme due to lack of comprehensive historical information
- Brownworth suggests that Roman military ideals and concepts of honor in battle may have traveled north to influence Scandinavian warrior culture
- Brownworth notes that even the name 'Scandinavia' comes from Roman authors who mistakenly thought it was an island with one tribe called the Scandia
Topics
Transcript
[0:03] As a small aside, since Ragnar is the star of the Vikings TV series, I don't know if you've gotten a chance to watch any of it. Is there any accuracy to it? I think it's well done. My one quibble Ragnar's brother is Rollo in the show, right? Yeah. They weren't brothers. In fact, by some accounts, they were born 80 years apart. Um but as a storytelling device, I [0:33] applaud that. Yeah, they basically take all the main Vikings and put them all together and just tell the story of Ragnar. >> Honestly, in writing a book about it, the hardest part was coming up with an organizational scheme. Like, what's what's the overarching thing that…
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