Slaves in the Viking Age: Functions, Social Roles and Regional Diversity
Slaves in the Viking Age: Functions, Social Roles and Regional Diversity Sarah Elizabeth Haga Master’s Thesis in Viking and Medieval Studies VMS4190 (60 Credits) Spring 2019 Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies (ILN) UNIVERSITY OF OSLO 15.05.2019 I II Slaves in the Viking Age: Functions, Social Roles, and Regional Diversity Sarah Elizabeth Haga Master’s Thesis in Viking and Medieval Studies Supervisor: Ildar Garipzanov, University of Oslo Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies University of Oslo Spring 2019 III © Sarah Elizabeth Haga 2019 Slaves in the Viking Age: Functions, Social Roles, and Regional Diversity Sarah Elizabeth Haga http://www.duo.uio.no Printer: Reprosentralen, Universitetet i Oslo IV V VI Summary Slavery in the Viking Age was a common practice throughout Scandinavia and the Scandinavian diaspora with the use of slaves socially, culturally, and economically, depending on the region in which they existed. Their different functions and roles—such as concubines, domestic and agricultural labourers, captives, rebels, and sacrificial victims— addressed different societal demands. In this thesis, such functions and roles are analyzed through the examination of the evidence from three related regions, namely Northwestern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia. These regional examinations rely on Viking Age written texts and archaeological evidence, as well as other sources that pertain to the period, such as the saga materials. Textual sources from Northwestern Europe, such as the Annals of Ulster and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, provide a Christian perspective on the Scandinavian raids and settlements in the region. The Arab writers, such as Ibn Fadlān and Ibn Rusta, provide information about the Eastern Vikings known as Rūs and their interactions with slaves.
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