Short History Of... Introducing: Real Vikings - Episode 1
Mar 18, 2026
A tense murder on an English shingle sparks a journey into Viking raids and maritime power. Experts unpack who the Vikings really were beyond pillagers. Ships, trade networks, and why monasteries were targeted feature prominently. Archaeological finds and shifting tactics trace how coastal hit-and-run raids grew into systematic campaigns.
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Beadahard Murder That Announced The Northmen
- Beadahard's murder on Chesil Beach in 789 AD shows an early violent encounter between Anglo-Saxons and arriving Scandinavians.
- Iain Glen narrates how three longships landed, the reeve confronted traders, and an axe killed him before the Vikings sped away with bodies and furs.
Vikings Were More Than Savage Raiders
- The popular image of Vikings as mere savage raiders is only part of the story.
- Iain Glen and guest experts emphasize Vikings were also master navigators, traders, craftsmen, storytellers, and explorers across four continents.
Sea As The Viking Superhighway
- Water shaped Scandinavian life and enabled Vikings to expand beyond their rugged homelands.
- The sea served as a highway for travel, trade, raiding, and connecting fjords, rivers, and distant markets across the North Sea.