Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Examples of Scandinavian Unification - Coggle Diagram
Examples of Scandinavian Unification
Building Projects
Danvirke
Large defensive earthworks built during the Viking age along the border with Germanic Kingdoms, showed that the people of Denmark saw the need for defensive from central Europe and show an combined effort to defend Denmark. Consolidated power and unification as it shows Danes top start to create a national identity, and therefore Kingship.
Ribe
Jelling
Hedeby
The king allowed Hedeby to mint its own coins due to its important, this consolidated power as kings could protect or attack towns and villages depending on their loyalty.
Birka
The most important trading center in Scandinavia and was protected by royal charters because it was close to the royal courts. Piracy forced Birka to have it's own wall
Kanhave Canal
A canal built by the Danes to speed up sailing in the area, it shows kingship and unification developing as the Canal was only deep enough for Viking Warships, yet there was a port at the canal which was used. Suggesting that the Danes saw this as must so that could quickly mobilized a defensive fleet. Furthermore this project continued even after the death of the monarch showing how people though they needed it in the area.
How Kingship was Viewed in Scandinavia
As feudalism traveled across Europe it filtered into Scandinavian Society making the class system more rigid.
Kings were not viewed as choose by god in Scandinavia society they were chosen by the War leading ability and other skills. Such as Leadership.
Unity through Defense
The Leiding was a shared coastal defensive fleet comprising of local vessel introduced by Hakkon, showing how the Danes saw the need to protect themselves from outsider invaders promoting unity through nationality in Denmark.
Christianity
Scandinavia started to Christianize during the period with many missionaries travelling to major trading areas to promote Christianity. This consolidated unification in the region as a whole as Christianity taught that the king was chosen by god and therefore supported a central monarch on the throne.
Taxation
To enter a trading town or center you would have to pay a tax towards the king of the town, this taxation throughout the kingdom shows clear support and acceptance of the unified kingdom.
Threats of Invasion
Many of the smaller kingdoms around Scandinavia which were ruled under petty kings which were unable to defense the county.