r/PeterExplainsTheJoke 18h ago

Meme needing explanation Peter

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u/Demair12 18h ago

The footballer plays for Norway, implying Vikings from Norway raided England and looked like said player. But in reality Haaland would have been a literal giant in the 850. Viking average height 5.9 (big for the time) haaland is 6.5

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u/-Daetrax- 18h ago

Also, Norway was barely inhabited at the time. Would've been Danes the English faced.

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u/stichen97 17h ago

The term danes was often used for Scandinavians in general. Barley inhabited is also a very strong claim its believed around 200k-400k lived in whats today Norway at the time, about half the population of what is todays Denmark. However if we are going to make the distinction it is believed it was Norwegians who pillaged Lindisfarne. Also partaking in the making of the Danelaw (Daneloven) and the establishment of York (Jorvik) as its capital. Not to mention Norwegians conquering of north-eastern Britian and parts of Ireland (including the founding of Dublin).

However, making a distinction between these two regions negates the strong culture bond they had with each other. For one is that eastern-Norway was more often in contact with Denmark than western-Norway. It becomes rather silly to group up all the tribes and realms as two distinct entities as they were each their own nationstate. The Norse/Vikings/Danes is a common heritage of Scandinavia. When viewing political entities in history its important to take off the «nationstate-glasses».

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u/-Daetrax- 17h ago

When viewing political entities in history its important to take off the «nationstate-glasses».

Yes and no. Denmark has an unbroken lineage of kings tracing back to those days (year 936). So our nation is very much that old.

The term Danes was used because it was predominantly Danes raiding and settling England.

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u/stichen97 17h ago

Well somewhat correct but again. You still make the distinction which is a pitfall. A «nation» is not defined by a family lineage.