Vikings, Ragnar, Berserkers, Valhalla & the Warriors of the Viking Age | Lex Fridman Podcast #495

Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep495-sa See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. 0:00 - Episode highlight 1:17 - Introduction 2:37 - The start of the Viking Age 12:30 - Viking military strategy, tactics & technology 26:13 - Ragnar Lothbrok 35:40 - The Great Heathen Army 40:23 - Rollo and Normandy 50:34 - Viking religion and Valhalla 1:01:06 - Viking explorers 1:06:13 - Vikings in North America 1:19:35 - Vikings in the East 1:39:14 - Byzantine Empire 1:47:57 - History and human nature *Transcript:* https://lexfridman.com/lars-brownworth-transcript *CONTACT LEX:* *Feedback* - give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey *AMA* - submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama *Hiring* - join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring *Other* - other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact *EPISODE LINKS:* Lars's Website: https://larsbrownworth.com/ The Sea Wolves (book): https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Wolves-History-Vikings/dp/1909979120 Lars's Books: https://amzn.to/4sHY0xw 12 Byzantine Rulers Podcast : https://12byzantinerulers.com/ Norman Centuries Podcast: https://apple.co/4sgSxNi *SPONSORS:* To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: *Larridin:* Measure AI adoption in your business. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/larridin-ep495-sa *BetterHelp:* Online therapy and counseling. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/betterhelp-ep495-sa *LMNT:* Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep495-sa *Fin:* AI agent for customer service. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep495-sa *Shopify:* Sell stuff online. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep495-sa *Perplexity:* AI-powered answer engine. Go to https://lexfridman.com/s/perplexity-ep495-sa

More history episodes please. It’s a great escape

As a Danish historian I want to comment on the fact that the underlying background and evolution of the vikings that Lex is asking about cannot be separated from Germanic history, paganism and European culture and context of their day in general. As much as you cannot separate Denmark/Norway and Sweden from today's European context, you also could not separate the Germanic pagan Norse peoples from their context back in the day. What made them special is that they preserved the older Germanic iron age way of life from antiquity, in contrast to most other Germanic tribes who christianized. See, taking the monks words as verbatim overlook the fact that the Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Frisians and all the tribes in present day Germany were all related peoples to the Norse, who knew perfectly well about each other, and of course the people who inhabited the Norse lands. The Norse of course spoke a language closely related to old Anglo-Saxon, and even the oldest story we have in old Anglo-Saxon, is Beowulf. A story about a Swede (geat/goth) who helps a Danish king. There was an element of a religious wars, against the christianized former brethren peoples, which is missing from this Lex episode. Almost like the Norse are going, "Wtf are you guys doing with that sissy god". And Charlemagne had even persecuted some German tribes for their paganism. Also taking the old "Lindisfarne start date", also overlooks the continuity in history of the Germanic peoples all the way from before roman times/iron age and to the vikings. The norse people also carried perhaps the most amount of Yamnaya DNA in medieval Europe, indicating a strong link between Germanic/Norse peoples to the original indo european "invaders" from the neolithic/bronze age. Many Indo-European religions and myths had so much in common, which is why so many similarities exist between the Norse, Roman, Greek and also the old Hindu pantheon and stories. Also, I am sorry, but saying the Danes only "went south", is simply wrong. The Danelaw in England had Danish kings. Svend Tveskæg (forkbeard) and Knud Den Store (Canute the great) e.g. I love this episode, but I have to point out that Lars Brownworth has some significant large holes in his professional knowledge around early viking age. To any expert, it would not have been a surprise that the Norse also went east. I really like his perspectives on the Normans and the afterwards impact of the Norse though. I would urge you to make another episode and flesh it out with an expert on the subject of origin/early Germanic/viking history. Heck even Dan Carlin would be great on this.

Havent even pressed play and already pissed this isn't 3+ hours

Please more history podcasts, would be psyched if you did an entire podcast with Lars on the Byzantine Empire.

Just when much isn’t making a lot of sense, Lex comes in with a historical episode, and all feels well again.

This was an excellent conversation. One thing I wish got explored more is the real philosophical depth in Norse/Germanic thinking. While we often focus on the warriors and raids, the old North had a remarkably coherent worldview: an acceptance that life is hard and fate is real, but that meaning is found by meeting reality with courage, honor, and rootedness in your people and ancestors. It wasn’t about escaping suffering or the world (like some Eastern or Christian traditions), but about leaning fully into it, building strong communities, honoring lineage, and living with dignity inside a harsh existence. Their philosophy feels surprisingly modern and grounded compared to many transcendental systems. It’s less “how do I transcend this life?” and more “how do I become fully human inside this life?” Would love to hear Lars expand on the philosophical side of Norse culture in a future episode. The Vikings weren’t just fighters, they had a whole way of seeing existence that still resonates.

fine ill watch vikings and the last kingdom again

As an Englishman living far away from my England for 10 yrs now in Edmonton Canada,thanks for this The Vikings & Norman history of my Island is very dear to me.Blessings from this Englishman,and thanks once again 😊

It’s a crime this podcast isn’t longer 🔥