W Civ Final
Throughout the late tenth century in Scandinavia, many societies were adversely affected by the spread of Christianity. The Vikings were traditionally a pagan community believing in many gods and heathen rituals, such as human and material sacrifice. Through the influence of powerful Christian rulers many Vikings did convert to Christianity during the tenth century. Some converted from their heathen ways by choice and others were forced to except these ideas or be killed by order of the king. But as the new millennium approached, Christians and Pagans believed that an apocalypse would truly decide the future of the rightful belief.By the tenth century, the Roman Empire, France, and England had already been Christianized. In 962 A.D., Otto II, the Holy Roman Emperor, decided to try and spread the religion into Scandinavia. "Sending word to the Danish king Harald Bluetooth that the king must convert, the German emperor demanded that Denmark become Christian or he would invade"(84). This threat eventually led to an invasion on Denmark by the Saxons. Bluetooth called upon his heathen brother to help defend their country, but Otto's troops prevailed. Without much choice, the two heathen brothers opened up to Chris
, Olaf became king of Norway and his first mission was to ensure that "all of Norway will be Christian or die"(30). His first accomplishment was to Christianize the Orkney Islands. Between the heathens "there had been talk of Ragnarok, that terrible end-time when the world sinks into moral chaos, into anxiety and greed, into an intoxication with gold, when brothers kill brothers and incest is rampant. Upon meeting the hermit, Olaf was pleased to hear that he would be king and "many men wilt thou bring to baptism"(17). It did not clearly distinguish any winner or loser. How Swede it is, to be a Christian Viking Marty FrankT. Christianity failed to offer anything of substantial value to the heathens, except for the certainty that the king would not kill them. If you refuse, I'll have you killed on the spot, and I swear that I'll ravage every island with fire and steel'"(22). "Confronting the earl of the Orkneys, Sigurd, he said: 'I want you and all your subjects to be baptized. "Thereafter, the region voted for Christianity and the people were baptized"(31). Being that Norway was very sparsely populated, Olaf made his way to the Vik, the most populated region of the Frank 3country. "Ragnarok and Armageddon were conjoined; the battle was between men, but it was also a battle between gods and between good and evil"(103). This intrigued Olaf and he had to meet this mysterious man. These speakers were organized by local chiefs and when it came time for them to present their arguments, some thing "supernatural" came over them and they were unable to carry on.
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Acceptance Essays
