How did vikings settle their arguments???

Question: How did vikings settle their arguments!?!?!?
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This Norse concept of "honor" and of a "good name" and the extraordinary lengths that a Norseman went to in order to protect his good name require a far lengthier explanation than I can give here!. In part, that's because similar concepts don't exist in modern western culture!. Thus, English language translations of the Norse words are clumsy and imprecise!. For the best explanation, I suggest reading the chapter in Sigureur Nordal's Icelandic Culture!.

The range of behaviors in Norse society ran the gamut from drangskapur to níer!. The first is usually translated as "honor" and the second as "shame"!.

At one extreme, the state of drengskapur was admired, and the actions of a drengur would be emulated and praised!.

At the other extreme, the state of níer was despised, and the actions of a níeingar would be avoided and reviled!.

Snorri Sturluson wrote, "Valiant men who exert a good influence are called drengur!." A drengur possessed bravery, nobility, magnanimity, a sense of fair play, respect for others, the strength to do what is right, and a sense of personal honor!. Physical bravery was taken for granted!. More important was self-control!. A drengur showed equanimity in the face of danger, not because of insensitivity or stupidity, but because the danger and the possible risk to life and limb was unimportant compared to the need to maintain self-respect and the respect of the community!. There was a practical side to such imperturbability, because not only was it unmanly to show concern or fear in the face of danger, but also useless!.

A níeingr was the object of hate and scorn!. He was an outcast!. A typical cause for such disgrace was treachery toward a friend!. When one man placed his trust in another man, only to be let down by that other man, then that other man would be called a níeingar!.

A man's fame and honor in life, and his good name after death, was so important that a man would be hypersensitive to the opinion of the community!. He might not otherwise fear anything nor flinch at death, but the respect of the community was of paramount importance!. Any offence in word or deed, or anything that might blot one's honor had to be dealt with firmly in order to maintain that respect!. So a Norseman was constantly on the alert for wrongs against his person or his name!. Those wrongs were proclaimed openly, and then avenged!.

Vengence was not a punishment for the person on whom it was inflicted!. Rather, it was a reparation to the honor of the person who was being avenged!. Vengeance repaired the honor of the injured person!. Vengeance need not even be worked upon the individual who caused the offense!. Killing a close family member was nearly as good as killing the responsible party!. For instance, in Hrafnkels saga Freysgoea, Hrafnkel saw Sámur's brother walk by and killed the innocent fellow to avenge himself on Sámur!.

Since the power of the state was weak, vengeance was sanctioned and even encouraged by the laws!. And even when the law forbade vengeance, there were cases when public opinion demanded it!.

Duels were an accepted way of making good on verbal injuries!. The less formal form of dueling was known as einvígi (single combat), while the more formal duel was called a hólmganga (going to the island) because duels were frequently fought on small, deserted islands!. The islands prevented cowards from running away, and limited possible interference from third parties!. The island on which duels were fought at Tingvellir (the site of Iceland's national parliament) no longer exists, due to the geological changes in the landscape, although its location is known!. The area is now flooded by Tingvallavatn, the lake adjacent to the site (left)!.

Duels were conducted according to formal rules!. The injured party said, "You are not a man's equal and not a man at heart!." The second party responded, "I am as much a man as you!."

The time and place for the duel was set!. If either party failed to show for any reason, he was branded a níeingar!.

For the duel, a cloak was laid on the ground, about three meters square!. If either man stepped off the cloak, he lost the duel, and was deemed to be níeingar!.

Weapons used were swords, spears, and axes!. Each man was allowed three shields, in the likely possibility of breakage!. If either man's blood fell on the cloak, he was permitted to withdraw from the duel!. The man with the worse wound could buy himself off!. However, if a man died, all his property went to the winner, so most fights were to the death!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

contrary to popular belief, the vikings were primarily traders!. Although they were also warriors, they were no more violent then any other army at the time!.

The thing that most people hated about the vikings was that they would wait until an area was weak and then attack!. Then they would either marry the locals or send their own women and start trading posts!.

They also made the places they conquered pay taxes and since many of the areas were little more then tribes wen they were conquered they werent exactly happy!. Case in point, england was a bunch of warring tribes (the anglos vs the saxons) until the vikings took over and established law!.

also the vikings were known to be more fair to women!. Women could even divorce their husbands and keep their wealth if they needed!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Wait a second!. We are all familar with the Viking's fearsome repuation, but Vikings settled Iceland!.

Iceland has the oldest legislative and judiciary parliament still in existance!. It was founded over a thousand years ago!. Parilament sounds a lot like law and order to me!.

Maybe Vikings focused on busting other peoples' heads and debated with each other,,Www@QuestionHome@Com

Two 8 year old viking boys ran a race, the loser became so enraged, that he killed the other boy, he later went on to become a chief!. How do you think they settled their arguments!?

With names like Eric Skullsmasher, what do you expect!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Battle axe!. No Viking racism here, or believing what you see in movies - they really were as violent as you think they were!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

They argued two times!. One while drinking wine or beer, and the second time after that in the morning!. Then they compared the decisions and chose the correct one!.))Www@QuestionHome@Com

drinking ale until they could barely stand!. then have a fist fight to the deathWww@QuestionHome@Com

Axe or chopper with men friend and rape with lady friends!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

By fighting to finish!.Www@QuestionHome@Com