SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. Refer to SOURCE3 .What were the three main layers of Viking society? 2. Who were the jarls and what were their main responsibilities? 3. How were thralls typically acquired and treated in Viking society?
SOURCE3 The hierarchy in Viking society: the jarl, the karl and the thrall
7.4.2 Equal rights? Women were important in Viking communities. Some had control over their households and were buried with their belongings in longboats. The Oseberg ship burial is a famous example, where a respected woman, sometimes called ‘Oseberg Queen’, was buried in a grand ship. Viking women often had keys, showing they managed the pantry, which was crucial for surviving the harsh winters. Women also went on sea voyages and even participated in Viking raids. In 2017, a grave of a high- status warrior turned out to be a woman’s. She was buried with a horse, weapons and a board game. Viking women had more rights compared to women in other European countries at the time. They could own land, marry as equals, divorce if they wanted, and were protected by law from unwanted advances. There is some evidence that women fought as warriors. We know little about Viking children. It is likely that girls and boys helped with farm chores, milking cows, making clothes, preparing food and hunting. There were no schools, so boys were probably taught skills by their fathers, such as handling weapons, building, and sailing boats.
SOURCE4 An illustration of a Viking grave
162 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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