Social Classes System of The Vikings Essay

Roesdahl's (1998) work, 'The Vikings,' reveals the Vikings' social class system as one that has been structured into three levels. These levels include the nobles/warlords (jarl), the farmers/freemen (Karl), and the slaves (thrall). For many years of the Viking's age, people fell in one of these three categories. The pursuit of understanding the operation and way of life of the three classes draws millions of people to Norway to visit the Viking Ship Museum. Notwithstanding the many works on Viking's social class structure, Roesdahl's (1998) account provides one of the most detailed Viking identity and lifestyle accounts. The Viking's social structure remains one of the unique traits of people who lived at this age (Roesdahl 37). 

This social structure, which split the people into three classes, resembles other communities' culture that lived at the time. However, the Vikings put their signature on how they organized their sociopolitical affairs. Roesdahl (1998) explains how the three societal classes existed in most parts of the Viking age. This happened before the later ages when a new social structure was developed to comprise kings and queens. At the lowest level where the slaves (thrall). Slaves in the Viking age made up almost a third of the population. This was the lowest stratum of this society, and the society mainly used them for farming. 

They could also be sold within the home of the slave owner or abroad through the slave trade practice that was popular at the time in Europe and Asia. In other contexts, when the ruler/master of the slave died, the slave will be sacrificed and buried with him (Winroth 54). This practice was upheld based on the belief that the slave will accompany and serve the master in the afterlife. To be a slave was undesirable since it was the absolute lowest position that a member of the Viking society could have. As Roesdahl (1998) explains, slaves had no rights. The law disregarded this group, making them subject to sale when the owner wishes. There were various ways that one could become a slave in Viking society (Roesdahl 34). 

These include the case where one becomes a slave because they were born from slave parents. The second method is where a person becomes a slave after being captured in war. The last way to become a slave involved the case where one loses enough wealth and falls into debt that they cannot pay (Brink 32). The person becomes a slave to pay off the debt. The next social strata of people in the Viking social class model are the farmers/ free men (Karl). This category of people formed the most considerable fraction of the Viking society. They were the free men who engaged in carrying out various functions. Most of them carried farming of lands. Some of these people worked and farmed their land. Others worked on the lands of other wealthier farmers (Thurston 24). They sought permission to engage in farming a section of the land belonging to wealthier farmers. Besides farmers, other free men included merchants, artisans, and soldiers. A significant contrast between the Karl's and slaves was the application of the law. Roesdahl (1998) explains that the law protected the interests of the Karl's. This protection was as opposed to the slaves who had no legal standing. Free men (Karl) also produced warriors. The warriors of the Viking society comprised of young men with little wealth. As a result of this limitation, they went raiding to gain more wealth. Many soldiers were unmarried and did not have duties to conduct at the domestic level or farms. The Karl's were free and heavily protected by the law (Roesdahl 33). This defining factor saw many of them engage in farming their lands or become warriors for Viking society. A Majority of the Norsemen fell under this group. These men were farmers, smiths, soldiers, or just plain folks. They lived with their families located in clusters of two or more buildings. In conclusion, Roesdahl (1998) explains the nobles as the group of people at the peak of all the social classes. These were the quite wealthy people who did not perform hard labor in their entire lives. They participated in battles if they wished, but as chieftains and warlords and not standard warriors. Traditionally, they acted as chieftains and warlords who amerced great wealth. Besides, they had a good following of loyal warriors because of their success in battle and raiding. In the later period of the Viking Age, the nobles took on a different role as aristocrats. As aristocrats, they were considered subordinate to the king. They held land for the kings at their pleasure. A noteworthy observation is that the nobles remained influential even after kings emerged. The latter happened because they were wealthy and respected. Over the years, the nobles were the rulers and remained powerful in governing the state of affairs during the Viking age. 

 Works Cited

Brink, Stefan. Slavery in the Viking Age. In the Viking World.Routledge, 2012.Print. Roesdahl, Else. The Vikings. NewYork: Penguin Books Limited, 1998. Print. Thurston, Tina. Social Classes in the Viking Age: Contentious Relations. London: Springer, 2001. Print. Winroth, Anders. The Age of the Vikings. London: Routledge, 2014.Print.