Viking Invasions: The Vikings lived in the cold lands around Norway. Although many people now think that the Vikings were uncivilized, they were neither terrible pagans nor unorganized barbarians. They had a government that kept the country in order and many good laws that would help modern countries if they were enforced there. Kings had to come from a certain family line, but any male who was directly related to that line could become a king. The kings were elected from that line, but the son of the previous king was not necessarily the new king. When the reigning king died, a group of free farmers gathered together. They chose whomever they thought would be the best king from the certain line and elected him as the next king. The king needed to uphold the honor of his people. He needed to protect the people and their properties. He must be a leader who could speak well in public, fight bravely in battle, and inspire his men on to good causes. The king ruled under the law and could be judged by the law. A group of men watched the king and checked his rule so that he could not become all-powerful. The people believed that the king was the mediator between the gods and the people. If the crops did not grow well or if ruin came upon the people, then the king was accused of not mediating well. When Christianity came to the land, the king was ready to accept it, since then he would not be blamed for tragedies. As the gospel spread through the Vikings lives, they did not have as much to change as some countrymen, and adulterers were legally killed as soon as they were shown to be guilty. The Vikings invaded Europe in a very different way than any other country in their time. They made small, fast boats to transport their things. When they attacked, they came along rivers and stayed within reach of their boats. If they were forced to retreat, then they went back to their boats and sailed away. Their enemies had large armies, but they attacked in places that were far from protection. When the army came to protect the land, the Vikings sailed to another place and attacked there. Because the army could not protect every part of Europe, the people had to make their own protections. Castles were built and lords ruled over one or two castles. Each castle had its own protection and they could defend themselves from the Vikings. The castle protection system was the beginning of feudalism.
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