House of Eratosthenes

It’s a new one on me that the written history’s scarcity is due to the Christians disallowing it from being recorded. We’d noticed this about our family tree: Kids within an immediate family sharing a name; nobody remembering a single thing about the woman who bore ten, twelve, sixteen of these kids who couldn’t all be named. No journals, notes or diaries. No letters.

We figured it was just a matter of Swedes and Norsks not being much into that readin’ and writin’ stuff. I would imagine it would be an even bigger factor back in the days when the long ships were being launched and the Norsks were invading all those other countries. Who’s got time for writing with all that raping, burning and pillaging to do.

Scandinavia, 21st century, superpower status: 0%
Political correctness: 100%

Scandinavia, 10th century, superpower status: 100%
Political correctness: Are negative numbers allowed?

During our recent snow piles, I commented to someone that “we must be in the Fimbulwinter, but at least the Midgard Serpent hasn’t risen.” All I got were blank stares.

Well, I’m already teaching mythology to my children. Got to know which gods they’re summoning when playing D&D.
- Physics Geek | 03/10/2010 @ 10:52
Scandinavia wasn’t a “superpower” by any stretch of the imagination even in the 10th century Yes, it’s said that Vikings had (temporarily) set up colonies as far away as Canada, Russia, and even Palestine. So what? Today the Northmen (as they were called at the time) were a civilization remembered mostly for raiding coastal towns, taking what they wanted, burning down innocent people’s homes and churches, and generally being a bunch of bullying barbarians. This despite the fact that yes, they got a little more organized in the later years.

The word “superpower” ought to be reserved for actual first-rate powers of the day – the Roman Empire, the British Empire, the Mongol Empire, the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, the United States of America. You know, countries that are/were more that just a regional player in their own corner of the globe.

It’s interesting too that Christianity got dragged into the discussion, because based on what I’ve read, the faith is what ultimately put an end to the Viking raids and other aggression. At some point, missionaries brought the message of Jesus to the Northmen, and over the course of a few generations, the old pagan warrior values had died out.

Course, today, Sweden is said to be one of the most irreligious countries on Earth. Go figure.
- cylarz | 03/11/2010 @ 01:29
“Superpower” refers to a state with a supreme influence on events within the international community, and the ability to control the outcome of those events in its own interest. From what I’ve read about it, Harald Hardrada’s incursion into England during 1066 and the ensuing Battle at Stamford Bridge was almost certainly responsible for the success of William the Conqueror’s invasion that year. William’s descendant, Edward Longshanks, started what today would be considered a major conflict and the issue was succession to the Norwegian throne, something nobody would really care too much about nowadays. And a few hundred years after that, during the Great Northern War, Peter The Great’s primary antagonist was Charles XII of Sweden. This, also, requires explanation to the history student who happens to be knowledgeable of Sweden & Norway’s status currently, to overcome a bit of a “what the?” moment in the class. Yes, these nations in their heyday fell short of the power of the Roman Empire, but they were even more distant (in the other direction) from what they are in the present.

In my reckoning, you are a superpower if the benefits of being your friend are great, and the cost involved in being your enemy is also very great. And I’ve noticed that definition works even better in the middle ages than it does today…although it always works pretty well. The Vatican, according to my definition, would be a superpower. They didn’t campaign militarily, but it’s quite impossible to argue against the Pope being a superpower.

That is really what liberalism is all about — to de-fang yourself. Disarmament, cap-and-trade, no drilling, pour cream in ditches while your own babies starve to death, make children into liabilities instead of assets so the smart people are afraid to procreate. Break treaties, announced deadlines for “responsible” withdrawal, leaving the freedom-fighters in a lurch…until such time that nobody gives a shit what you have to say about anything anymore.

And then when you’re completely disrespected, act all surprised. On the international front, that’s what it’s all about.
- mkfreeberg | 03/11/2010 @ 06:42

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Norse Mythology and VikingsWednesday, March 10th, 2010

Norse Mythology and Vikings
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010