Rebels in the Medieval North Atlantic

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Rising Up Against Authority: Archaeological Approaches to Rebellion" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

From the 8th to the 14th centuries, the regions of the North Atlantic witnessed a myriad of political changes, including the development of large-scale trade networks, urban foundations, and some significant migratory processes. Some of these changes were through invasions, such as the Scandinavian occupations of parts of present-day Britain and the Norman invasion, whereas others were achieved through rebellious acts. This paper, however, will look at some of the failed attempts to cause political change throughout this region, using historical and archaeological sources. From the Battle of Clontarf in Ireland to the Eyjarskeggjar rebels during the Norwegian Civil War, several uprisings in the Medieval North Atlantic aimed to overthrow kingdoms and reorganize the power structures that ruled the region. Although the rebellions discussed in this paper ultimately failed, many of the attempts continue to live on in myth and legend, shaping how present-day peoples view their past.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Rising Up Against Authority: Archaeological Approaches to Rebellion   •
• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 51030