When most people think of Vikings, they picture horned helmets, brutal raiders, and longships cutting through stormy seas. But the real Viking Age is far more complex, fascinating, and nuanced than popular culture would have you believe.

This introductory session is designed for anyone curious about the Viking Age, whether you’ve just discovered the field or have been interested for years but never had the chance to discuss it before. No prior knowledge is needed — just an open discussion!

We’ll cover the basics of Viking Age history: who the Vikings actually were, where they came from, and how far their reach extended across Europe, the North Atlantic, and beyond. We’ll look at what archaeology and runic inscriptions tell us about how they actually lived, and how that compares with the myths and legends preserved in Old Norse literature. We’ll also touch on Norse mythology: the gods, the cosmology, the…