History Profiles episodes
The Viking Crusades: Did the Vikings Use Drugs?

The Viking Crusades: Did the Vikings Use Drugs?

Explore the fascinating intersection of Viking history and the spread of Christianity through the lens of substance use. This episode delves into the alliances, battles, and religious shifts during Sigurd the Crusader's campaign with King Niels of Denmark against the pagans of Småland. Uncover what the historical record tells us about the use of substances like Amanita muscaria, Henbane, and Mead among the Vikings.

Highlights include:
- The conflict between Norse paganism and Christianity
- The use of psychoactive substances in Viking culture

While much was lost during the religious upheavals of the Middle Ages, this episode aims to recover some of the knowledge and cultural practices wiped away by history.

#Viking Crusades, #Sigurd the Crusader, #King Niels of Denmark, #Småland, #Paganism, #Christianity, #Norse history, #Amanita muscaria, #Henbane, #Mead, #Viking substances, #pagan persecution, #Viking beliefs


Timeline

00:undefined:Introduction - The Spread of Christianity

03:02:undefined:Chapter 1 - Amanita muscaria

05:22:undefined:Chapter 2 - Henbane

07:41:undefined:Chapter 3 - Mead & Other Substances

10:17:undefined:Chapter 4 - Conclusion