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The Age

CORNELL MODEL CONFERENCE 2021

Copyright © 2021 by the Cornell Model United Nations Conference

All rights reserved. This document or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Cornell Model United Nations Conference (CMUNC) except when used for educational purposes.

Commercial reproduction or reference to this document requires the express written consent of the current Secretary-General of CMUNC. Further terms of use for commercial purposes be determined on a case-by-case basis.

For more information on CMUNC, use the Contact Us page located at: cmunc.net

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CMUNC 2021 Secretariat

Secretary-General Malvika Narayan

Director-General Bryan Weintraub

Chief of Staff James “Hamz” Piccirilli

Director of Events Alexandra Tsalikis

Director of Outreach Akosa Nwadiogbu

Director of Communications Annie

Director of Finance Daniel Bernstein

Director of Operations Andrew Landesman

Under-Secretary Generals Robyn Bardmesser Avery Bower John Clancy Mariana Goldlust

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From Your Chair

Dear Delegates,

My name is Amanda Amornwichet and I will be your crisis director for this committee. I hope you appreciate the work we put into this committee and really make this committee your own. We tried to leave it as open ended as possible, I hope to see some collaboration among the members of the Alliance. As for my expectations for the committee, I neither expect nor want this to follow in any way; however, I expect you to follow your character’s positions, and stay in character. I know the background guide and blurbs might be a bit confusing so if you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to shoot me an email.

Outside of CMUNC, I am a Senior studying Materials Science and Engineering with minors in Thai and Sustainable Energy Systems. In addition to the Cornell International Affairs Society (CIAS), I am an Engineering Ambassador and I am involved in Swing Dance, the Food Recovery Network, and Engineers for a Sustainable World. Within CIAS I have competed in three Model UN competitions, and staffed four. I also was fortunate enough to visit China as a director for WEMUN, a high school model UN competition in Beijing, China. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions about CMUNC, college, or life in general. I am so excited to see what innovative ideas you will bring to the committee. Best of luck to all of you!

Amanda Amornwichet The Chair CMUNC 2021

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From Your Vice Chair

Dear Delegates,

My name is Byron Sleight and I will be your Vice Chair for this committee. I hope you appreciate the work we put into this committee and hope that you will make it your own and hopefully learn some fun facts along the way. This is my first conference but not my first rodeo. After many years of out and befriending most members of CIAS as Ben Inbar’s “zany” roommate, I have decided to participate in the legendary CMUNC. I look forward to sharing my love of Old culture with all of you via this background guide, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Outside of CIAS I am a senior graduating this spring with a degree in physics, and after graduation plan on attending graduate school pursuing research in the field of quantum computing. I also may have accidentally obtained a minor in Astronomy. Around campus, I’m known for being the former president of Libertarians at Cornell and an undergraduate physics TA. I enjoy working out, hiking, and playing the drums. The Crisis Director, Chair, and I have started a band this semester and currently have a punk inspired cover of the classic indie track “In the Aeroplane Over the ” in the works. I also hold the distinction of being the biggest Weezer fan here at Cornell, so if anyone has some hot takes about the Blue Album or any other of their fantastic albums please share them with me. Feel free to ask me any questions about Viking-Age , politics, life, Weezer, or any aspect of our boundless but finite universe, feel free to send me a message. I hope you have as much fun as I am writing this!

Bryan Sleight The Viking Age Vice Chair CMUNC 2021

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From Your Crisis Director

Dear Delegates,

My name is Ben Inbar and it is my honor and pleasure to welcome you to CMUNC. I am a senior studying Mechanical Engineering and minoring in the Environment and Sustainability and History. Next year I am gonna be starting my Master’s of Engineering here at Cornell. Model UN has been a part of my life for the past 8 years ever since I joined my high school’s team for its inaugural year in 2013. Quickly being drawn to the faster paced Specialized and Crisis committees I went from being unsure if MUN was for me, to a seasoned and experienced Crisis delegate. I am now so incredibly excited to be able to give all of you the opportunity to debate, backstab, scheme, and compromise in what are truly some of the best and most imaginative committees I have ever been a part of creating.

I joined the Cornell International Affairs Society my freshman year and it has quickly grown from something I did every to an integral part of my Cornell experience. I have staffed Star Wars JCCs and AdHocs, Chaired and CD’ed committees ranging from the liberation and creation of Gran Colombia to a look into the fictional universe of Jurassic Park. I have also served on the secretariat of our Collegiate Conference as a USG, the Director General and this coming year as Secretary General. I am hoping to bring my experience and knowledge of MUN to all of my committees in order to make sure each and every one of you can have the same incredible experiences that I have had as a travelling delegate.

Feel free to reach out to me with any questions about CMUNC, your committee, life, help with your Algebra II homework, or anything else you may need (Just put CMUNC - - Your Position Name). I love hearing from my delegates and since I won’t get to meet you all in person this year I would love any chance to get to meet all of you. Can’t wait to go raiding with you this April.

Ben Inbar The Viking Age Crisis Director CMUNC 2021

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Introduction

As a short overview, please watch this video on the Vikings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc5zUK2MKNY

The Vikings lived in Northern , in a called . The modern countries of , Norway, , , and compromise Scandinavia. About one quarter of the ,

Europe’s largest peninsula, is located within the Circle. Various large bodies of water including the , the , the , and the surround the peninsula. While hazardous ice flows threaten to wreck most which venture into these waters, the Vikings could navigate these waters without fear of destruction. A mountain range divides the

Peninsula, creating a rough border between Sweden and Norway.

Map of Scandinavia (Wikimedia Commons)

At this time (800 A.D.), Scandinavia’s usable natural resources included timber, and copper. Southern Sweden contained the best spots of arable

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land, where farming could occur. Many islands sat in the Baltic Sea, offering resources and potential opportunities for to many travelers. However, settlers who wanted to live and farm these islands could face a distinct possibility of flooding, making living in this area difficult.

Hunter-gatherer tribes settled early Scandinavia and roamed the region.

Soon enough, these people developed herding and farming techniques and communities in the Germanic . These civilizations gained complexity during the . The Iron Age in had three phases: pre-

Roman, Roman, and Germanic. During the time of the , the

Scandinavian tribes barely made contact with the Romans. After ’s fall in

476 A.D., these tribes acquired Roman from other Germanic tribes who sacked Rome and brought their loot north. At this point in time, the Vikings most often lived as farmers, hunters, and fur trappers.

A Reconstructed Lojsta Hall, from the Iron Age, in Sweden. (Wikimedia

Commons)

Looking to the era of the committee, the Vikings have amassed more power in the region, and have begun raids on the . In 793,

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arrived at in and raided the , claiming gold, jewels, books, and art for themselves. The Vikings murdered several monks and burned buildings to the ground. This only begins these types of adventures and the Vikings stand ready to take much wealth and excellent farmland. However, the tribes must band together in order to attain these unimaginable riches.

You, the Viking clan leaders, stand on the precipice of power, fortune, and notoriety. A summit has been called, and will meet in the next year (800 A.D., the starting point for the committee) to discuss the possibility of inter-tribe alliances for greater conquest and control of Europe. Each of you must know the interests of his clan, and pursue them ruthlessly in search of glory and the favor of the gods. The rest of Europe sits weakly by, full of wealth, and ripe for the taking! May each of you find fortune on your voyages.

Raids

The Vikings considered raiding an honorable challenge to fight. The would often know in advance of an incoming , and would prepare to retaliate and fight to defend their belongings. A Viking would never consider these acts as theft. In fact, the Nordic cultures heavily condemned theft and robbery. Spoils were earned, not stolen. The Vikings saw raiding as a necessary consequence of growing communities. This type of expansion by violence seemed natural to the Vikings, and mirrors later forms of , such as

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under imperial . For the purpose of this committee, Raids may be seen as part of the culture of the Vikings. The Vikings branded a successful raider as wealthy and famous, adored by their followers and respected by their foes. However, some Vikings often pursued raiding as a part-time job, in addition to their other responsibilities in their community.

A tombstone with Viking Raiders (National Geographic)

Vikings often conducted their raids at sea. Vikings sailed on longships, and initially did not send many to attack at once. In smaller coastal towns or , no standing navies existed to stop them. Raiding parties typically worked as close groups who shared spoils equally, and ranged from one to two long ships worth of men. A Viking Raid would often gain more ships along the way as it progressed on its journey. The Vikings relied on the superiority of these

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ships to make stealthy attacks on their targets. They would sail up, land, raid, and sail away again. This “hit and run” tactic became the dominant style for raiders, and thereby they relied on the sea to make their attacks. However, as time progressed, they began to move further inland and engage more with land and territory.

Vikings looted objects of value, but they needed to be compact enough for their ships to carry. Raiders saw gold and as obvious targets, but weapons, iron, clothes, livestock, and food also served as effective spoils for raiders. Slaves would also be claimed in some raids and remained a significant motivation in raiding.

The first important Viking raid of this committee occurred in 793, against the monastery of Lindisfarne on the English coast. Monasteries served as a frequent target for raiders in general because they kept tithe collections, consolidating a good portion of wealth in one place. Vikings focused on coastal towns where they could easily land, as well as active trading centers, where large amounts of goods or valuables might be stored.

Potential raids for this summit may start with related sites along the coast of the European mainland. This includes the coasts of England, France, Spain, and Northern Europe, as far North as Iceland and , and into the

Mediterranean, North , and . Around the Baltic and Caspian

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could also emerge as targets. The Vikings strayed all over the world and in this committee, it will be your job to complete that adventure.

Colonies

While raids were unquestionably considered a quintessential aspect of the

Viking lifestyle, could also be viewed as vital in maintaining the success and longevity of the Viking people. As the Viking people emerged as a new superpower, large populations of , , and may have wanted to leave Scandinavia to begin new lives elsewhere. Historians debate the many causes that drove the Scandinavian people toward expansion. Some possible reasons include a spike in population in Scandinavia that caused agricultural shortages, the decline of profitability on older trade routes, or simply the exploitation of unstable and decentralized rule in neighboring European . In the current period (800 A.D.), the Vikings have undergone an increased interaction with the world outside of Scandinavia and gained a newfound knowledge of sailing technology. These factors allowed the Vikings to take advantage of surrounding land, affluent trade routes, and

European wealth.

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Britain and

Map of England (Indymedia)

Up until the A.D., the Vikings remained focused on expanding into nearby European nations that were suffering from internal conflict. The

Viking saw England, Ireland, and as the easiest potential targets, and have begun brutal and frequent transgressions into this territory. However, some forward looking Vikings saw the potential for long-term settlement into these regions as well. The Danes had their eyes on England and the Norwegians saw the potential for the settling of Scotland. Others plan the possibility of a full

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colonization of Ireland, with the forging coastline bases along the oceans and major trading towns, such as and . The Vikings saw colonization as cultural as well, and intermarriage among local rulers may be a distinct possibility (Archaeological Institute of America).

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Other Areas

Beyond England, Scotland, and Ireland, the Vikings may desire to voyage even further into , settling into Frankia (modern-day France and

Germany) and . Some Vikings may even want to penetrate further, delving into , , and . As the Viking seafaring technology advances, they may better be able to venture to Iceland and Greenland and settle into communities around the coast. Rumors also abound of land even beyond these isles, a vast , full of uncharted land and timber, ready for the taking.

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Settled Life

Though notoriously bloodthirsty during pillages and land conquests, the settled life of the Vikings, particularly, was surprisingly tame. Every member of the family maintained a role within the village: men worked jobs to provide for the family, and also fought to protect the village. Women completed domestic work; and children did not go to school, but instead stayed home to learn necessary skills from their parents. As evident in the Poetic , an enforced social hierarchy existed consisting of , jarls (nobles/chiefs), karls (freemen), and (slaves). Additionally, Vikings constructed their own style of law and government. The Vikings referred to their own version of a judicial court as

“,” where they would settle disputes and make executive legal decisions under the observance of the law-speaker (a judge or chieftain). Another more unorthodox form of resolution in Scandinavian culture became the , or a that decided the outcome of a disagreement (BBC).

Some Vikings raiders suggested as a way to rule their newfound collections of territory. As raiding harmed both trade routes and agricultural production, feudalism held potential for creating a stable structure of life.

Landholders (lords) could settle in the area and give land to vassals () in exchange for loyalty and defense. The system would be effective in not only blocking marauders, but also settling disputes among neighbors. Eventually peasants could even possibly partake in holding land and fueling serfdom in

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settled regions in return for protection under the lords and vassals. This feudalistic form of land protection could make lords some of the most powerful leaders within a kingdom and transform knights into a new form of jarl

(Fsmitha.com). However this idea remained controversial among the Vikings.

Religion

Nordic Religion Centered around the conflict between the Gods, such as

Odin and , and their conflict with the Giants. Cunning was a common tactic for God's triumph over the Giants, and can be seen as represented in the stealth and speed of the raids of the Vikings. However, mischievousness could be seen as a problem in some circumstances, when gods such as harmed their community. The Vikings believed in a sort of rapture called “Ragnarok” which would to the end of times and a sweeping fire, incinerating mankind, until life began anew.

Odin on his horse (BBC).

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Norse Mythic Figures

Odin – Ruler of all gods with special powers over poetry, war, and magic.

Said to be slayed by the Fenris Wolf in the end of times. Vikings made sacrifices to him in times of war, hoping to win his fortune.

Frigg – The goddess of foresight and wisdom, often depicted as the wife of

Odin. She also has been heavily associated with the earth and Christianized in many depictions.

Thor – An important god, described as one who, “governs thunder and lightning, winds and storms, fine weather and fertility.” When plague or famine occurred, people would often give sacrifices to Thor to ward off the tough times.

Thor’s representation was considered heavily sacred and damaging it could produce dangerous results in the Viking community.

Loki – A god who supported both the Gods and the Giants, never fitting into either good or evil. He is commonly described as a shapeshifter, appearing as fish, horses, and even a woman in some tales.

Fenrir Wolf – A monster in in the form of a wolf.

Possibly the son of Loki, he is seen as creating discord among communities and peoples, bringing conflict among tribes and foreigners.

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Christianity

As the Vikings encountered other lands, they also encountered

Christianity. As Viking settle in other lands, some may be open to calling this new religion their own, or merging different systems of beliefs. While Vikings attacked monasteries, they did not out of rejection of Christianity, but out of a need to locate easier targets. Some Norse raiders saw adopting the Christian god as just adding another God to the growing pile, not seeing any issues with incorporating this new belief system into their own. Indeed welcoming

Christianity could help reduce the spread of conflict in the conquered colonies.

In some areas of the world, Christians were prohibited from trading with pagans such as the Norse. In order to gain trading advantage, some Vikings deemed it profitable to convert to Christianity or open their communities up to priests. As Vikings also may have wanted to intermingle with the local populations, learning Christianity was prerequisite to settling down and becoming part of a foreign community. Intermarriage, for example, may have also needed some type of conversion to be deemed acceptable among local

Christian populations. Local chieftains could carry much sway in this process. If the chief converted, there was a good chance the population may have converted as well. In this way, intermarriage and chief conversion could even open up the spread of Christianity to Scandanvia, as raiders come back with new belief in one this different system of religion.

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Viking Figures Due to shaky historicity and a lack of primary sources from the peoples of the North who went a viking, some positions may not have lived during the exact time period in question. The committee however will operate on the fiction that all listed positions are currently alive at the onset of the conference. Additionally, due to the inclusion of figures who historically are outside of the time period of the committee all positions will assume the personality and ambitions of their figures, but will be assumed to start from positions of relatively equal strength. All positions have war bands and control a in the land of the Danes (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, etc). No position has any territory in Europe, or the British Isles.

Positions: 1. 2. Naddodd 3. Kveldulf Bjalfason 4. Berle-Kari 5. Helgasson 6. 7. Ozur Toti 8. Sigtryg Eysteinsson 9. 10. Björn Ironside 11. 12. Hring 13. Eystein Glumra 14. Harald Wartooth 15. 16. , of Södermanland 17. Högne, King of Östergötland 18. Skallagrimsson 19. Freydis Eiríksdóttir 20. Halfdan Ragnarsson 21. Ragnarsson 22. Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye 23. 24. 25.

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Works Cited

Atwood, Roger. "The Vikings in Ireland." Magazine. Archaeological Institute of America, 10 Mar. 2015. Web. 14 June 2017.

History.com Staff. "Vikings." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 14 June 2017.

Ritchie, Anna. "History - in depth: Viking Colonists." BBC. BBC, 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 14 June 2017.

"Vikings." The . Historiska, n.d. Web. 14 June 2017.

"Vikings, Magyars, Warlords and Feudalism." Macrohistory and World Timeline. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 June 2017.

"What was life like in Viking Britain?" BBC Bitesize. BBC, n.d. Web. 14 June 2017.

“Viking Religion. Garreth Williams. BBC History. BBC. Web July 2017.

“Scandinavian Peninsula,” Encyclopedia. Web. June 2017.

“Where Did the Vikings Come From?” Bright Hub Education. Web. June 2017.

“Denmark.” The World CIA Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. June 2017.

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