| In common sense, Scandinavia consists of Denmark,Sweden,Norway,Finland,Iceland,Faroe Islands and all of the other areas of Scandinavia. The origin of this word is the peninsula which Sweden and Norway lie in. In this dissertation, we got it's meaning in narrow sense in Viking Age and it only includes the three countries of Denmark,Sweden and Norway. The Scandinavians lived in an outlying,lost and heathenish world in the north end of the Europe from the ancientry. Untile A.D 9-10 century, they came into the sight of the Europeans as pirates and rapidly became a notability political force in Europe. The heathenen's influence spread all over the continent of the Europe including the kingdom of the Frankish England,Ireland,Scotland and many islands and islets, even Constantinople, the capital of Byzantine, was threatened by these pirates. In some 200 hundred years, the Vikings had accomplished a series of notable feats. Not only the Europe, but also the north atlantic ocean had been tract by the Vikings.Just as what Alcuin had said, the Vikings who first got into the civilized Europe were heathens absolutely. At that time, their belief was a kind of polytheistic which exist from remote antiquity in Scandinavia. When they extended their orbit, they began to contact with other kinds of cultures, especially Christ, a new and mature developing religion. Thus they knew that the outer world was rich and colorful and they also took cognizance of the mightiness and richfulness of the Chirist world. Then, more and more missionaries went to Scandinavia. Under their influence, the Scandinavians began to receive baptism from top to bottom for the political intention. To the end of the Viking Age, Denmark, Norway and Sweden had established their own absolute ecclesiastic. Christianization had been accomplished on the whole and Scandinavia was brought into the Christ world. Even though, some traditionalism of heathenism was kept down for many years. The Christianization of Scandinavia was a long, complex and flexuous course. There are five part in this dissertation.In the prolegomenon, the research actuality of Scandinavia and the Vikings were retrospect, the outline was account for. What are Scandinavia and the Vikings? We know that it was a long period from Viking to king and Christianization was also far-flung. In theory, Christianization was a thorough negation to the traditional religion and culture of Scandinavia. But it didn't mean that Scandinavians abandoned tradition drastically. In fact, the transformation of ideology was more complicated.Chapter one, reciting the process of the pirates invading. For many years, the academicians debated why did the Scandinavians launch forth on the adventure and they were unable to decide which is right. But every one must acknowledge that the trade between the west and north Europe made prophase preparations for the Scandinavians. The pirates was divided into two routes: one sailed westwardly in north Atlantic, plundered large number of wealth, and founded many settlements. Another marched eastwardly, mostly Sweden, robbed, traded and colonized and in the end they founded Russia.Chapter two, accounting for the course of how to found national countries. In middle ages, the Vikings also disintegrated, developed and advanced in the course of overseas aggression. They not only plundered slaves and wealth, but also affected by the advanced civilization and the most important was accepting of Christianism and the conception of the feudal monarchism. In the end of Viking Age, national countries founded from barbarism tribes. The Knut Empire, which the Vikings founded, was the most important event before the three national countries came into existence. Just on the base of the Knut Empire, Denmark, Norway and Sweden engendered. The course of country founding was the course of consolidating. Barbarism tribes associated with each other stage by stage. Finally counry came forth., The church accelerate this course. It took ashort time in Denmark and Norway, but long in Sweden comparatively. Chapter three, focus on the society and paganism in Scandinavia. When they came into the Viking Age, the Scandinavia society was a orderly one in politicis and economy aspects. To study the structure of the society was very essential. Scandinavia society changed in every sides and the interclass differentiation became more and more distinct. In Viking Age, the male and female had divided the work and there were slaves in Scandinavia. Until the middle age of 9th century, Scandinavians were all pagans. The heathenism had deep influence in the life, culture and family of Scandinavians. In Vikings Age, the Vikings contacted with the Christianism. At the same time, many missionaries were sent to Scandinavia to missionize. Thus the Christianization in Scandinavia began.Chapter four, discussing the foundation of self-governed Scandinavia church and the latter's acceleration for the three kindoms. After the Christianization, self-governed Scandinavia church began to establish. It was necessity but spending a long time. The significance was what the church brought to the foundation of the national country. In some degree, Christianization and the foundation of the national country were contemporary event. They infected each other. Both the extensive spread of Christianism and the accomplishment of Christianization need the sustainization of the regime. In reverse, the church helped kings achieve the uphold from God. After Christianization, there were great changes in Scandinavia society. Most pagan customs were forbidden. Henceforth, Scandinavia became one part of the world of Christianity. At the same time, the Vikings infected the culture of the Europe. |
