1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:03,080 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 2 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:07,240 {\an7}Narrator: IN THE DARK AGES, 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,160 {\an7}SEABORNE RAIDERS LEFT THEIR \h\hSCANDINAVIAN HEARTLAND, 4 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:12,680 {\an7}SPREADING TERROR ACROSS \hTHE COASTS OF EUROPE. 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:16,920 {\an7}FEARSOME VIKING WARRIORS \h\h\h\hHAD A REPUTATION 6 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:21,440 {\an7}AS RUTHLESS PAGAN PILLAGERS WHO LEFT THEIR WIVES BEHIND. 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,280 {\an7}BUT NEW ARCHEOLOGICAL \h\h\h\h\hDISCOVERIES 8 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:27,240 {\an7}REVEAL A STARTLING TWIST TO HISTORY, 9 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:28,800 {\an7}VIKING WARRIOR WOMEN. 10 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:32,680 {\an7}\h\hFOR CENTURIES, HISTORIANS BELIEVED 11 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,040 {\an7}ALL VIKING WARRIORS WERE MEN. 12 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:37,560 {\an7}UNTIL A SMALL ISLAND \h\hIN CENTRAL SWEDEN 13 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,520 {\an7}GAVE UP AN ASTONISHING SECRET 14 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,360 {\an7}THAT IT HAD BEEN HIDING \hFOR OVER 1000 YEARS. 15 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:45,640 {\an7}THE ISLAND WAS HOME TO BIRKA, 16 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,160 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE LARGEST AND MOST IMPORTANT VIKING TRADING TOWN. 17 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:50,560 {\an7}AROUND ITS GARRISON, 18 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:54,480 {\an7}\h\h\hOVER 4,500 VIKING GRAVES WERE DISCOVERED. 19 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:56,480 {\an7}Hedenstierna-Jonson: HERE WITHIN EYESIGHT FROM THIS 20 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:58,960 {\an7}HILL FORT RAMPART AND THE \hGARRISON JUST BELOW IT, 21 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,040 {\an7}THERE IS A GRAVE OF A VERY, \h\hVERY IMPORTANT WARRIOR. 22 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,680 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: BURIED WITH THE BIRKA WARRIOR WERE TWO HORSES, 23 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,440 {\an7}A SWORD, AN AX AND SPEARS. 24 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:09,480 {\an7}\h\hHedenstierna-Jonson: OTHER THINGS WITHIN THE GRAVE INCLUDE 25 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:11,520 {\an7}A BUNCH OF ARMOR PIERCING ARROWS. 26 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,120 {\an7}SO IT IS THIS COMPLETE SET OF ALL THE WEAPONS 27 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:18,240 {\an7}THAT WE WOULD EXPECT FROM \hA PROFESSIONAL WARRIOR. 28 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:19,920 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: BUT RIGOROUS FORENSIC, 29 00:01:19,960 --> 00:01:23,600 {\an7}SCIENTIFIC AND DNA TESTING REVEALED A STARTLING FACT, 30 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,520 {\an7}THIS WAR CHIEF WAS A WOMAN. 31 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:28,560 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE DISCOVERY CHALLENGED CENTURIES 32 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:30,480 {\an7}OF ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT VIKINGS. 33 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:36,200 {\an7}BASED ON THESE REMARKABLE, NEW ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDINGS, 34 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,640 {\an7}WE TELL THE STORY OF A FICTIONAL VIKING WARRIOR NAMED SIGNE, 35 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:42,520 {\an7}\h\hWHO GOES ON AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY 36 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,280 {\an7}AS AN EXPLORER, AND RAIDER. 37 00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:48,480 {\an7}(INTENSE HORN MUSIC) 38 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:58,280 {\an7}IN THE MID-10TH CENTURY, 39 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:02,280 {\an7}20-YEAR-OLD SIGNE IS THE ONLY \hDAUGHTER OF A VIKING CHIEF. 40 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,120 {\an7}\h\h\h\hSHE HAS GROWN UP HUNTING FOR FUR AND FOOD 41 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,600 {\an7}IN THE DENSE FORESTS \hOF CENTRAL SWEDEN. 42 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,200 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 43 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:23,720 {\an7}TOUGH AND FEARLESS, 44 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:28,400 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hSIGNE IS PART OF A MALE-DOMINATED WARRIOR SOCIETY. 45 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:30,320 {\an7}Gardela: FROM THE EARLY DAYS \h\h\h\h\hOF THEIR CHILDHOOD, 46 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,200 {\an7}\h\hCHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO SEEING 47 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,520 {\an7}ALL ASPECTS OF WAR AND \hMILITARY ACTIVITIES. 48 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,640 {\an7}\h\h\hAND THIS IS ALSO CLEAR FROM ARCHEOLOGY. 49 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:40,440 {\an7}WE HAVE SMALL WEAPONS. 50 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,640 {\an7}WE HAVE MINIATURE SHIELDS. 51 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:45,080 {\an7}THEY ARE TYPICALLY \h\hMADE OF SILVER. 52 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,600 {\an7}\h\h\hAND THEY’RE BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED WITH SPIRAL MOTIFS. 53 00:02:49,640 --> 00:02:52,840 {\an7}AND WHAT I HAVE HERE \hIS A MINIATURE AX, 54 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:55,160 {\an7}OFTEN BURIED WITH YOUNG BOYS. 55 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:56,640 {\an7}BUT THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE 56 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,480 {\an7}COMES FROM A FEMALE GRAVE FROM NORWAY. 57 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:03,680 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: SIGNE AND HER FATHER’S MEN 58 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,520 {\an7}\hARE ON THEIR ANNUAL TRIP TO TAKE THEIR PRECIOUS FURS 59 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:08,480 {\an7}TO THE VIKING TOWN OF BIRKA. 60 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,600 {\an7}BIRKA WAS ONE OF THE MOST \hIMPORTANT MARKET TOWNS 61 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:15,080 {\an7}IN THE VIKING WORLD, 62 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,400 {\an7}WITH A PROTECTED INLAND HARBOR THAT CONNECTED IT 63 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:18,680 {\an7}TO THE BALTIC SEA. 64 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,560 {\an7}CLUES TO THE LIFESTYLE \hOF OUR IMAGINED HERO 65 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,240 {\an7}ARE PROVIDED BY THE WARRIOR WOMAN FOUND BURIED AT BIRKA. 66 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,200 {\an7}\h\hHER REMAINS ARE KEPT IN STOCKHOLM. 67 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,600 {\an7}Kjellstrom: THE SKELETON IS \hRATHER POORLY PRESERVED, 68 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,760 {\an7}\hSO WHEN I TRIED TO DO A SEX ESTIMATION, 69 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,520 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHERE WEREN’T THAT MANY FEATURES THAT I COULD LOOK AT. 70 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,160 {\an7}\h\hBUT THERE IS THIS PART OF THE HIP BONE, 71 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,880 {\an7}THAT IS VERY BROAD AND OPEN. 72 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:53,680 {\an7}AND THEN YOU HAVE A SCAR, THE PREAURICULAR SULCUS, 73 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:55,920 {\an7}\hSO THIS SUGGESTS THAT IT’S A FEMALE. 74 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,800 {\an7}WE TOOK SAMPLES FROM HER MOLARS. 75 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,320 {\an7}SINCE THE TEETH DEVELOP \hDURING OUR CHILDHOOD, 76 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,760 {\an7}WE CAN SEE IF PEOPLE HAVE MOVED. 77 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,600 {\an7}Hedenstierna-Jonson: SHE’S NOT A LOCAL TO THE BIRKA CONTEXT, 78 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:15,560 {\an7}SHE’S PROBABLY FROM THE SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE VIKING WORLD, 79 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:17,040 {\an7}THE SOUTHWESTERN PARTS. 80 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,520 {\an7}SO, SHE’S LIVED THIS KIND OF MOBILE LIFE 81 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:22,600 {\an7}\hTHAT WE WOULD ALSO EXPECT FROM SOMEBODY 82 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:24,520 {\an7}VERY HIGH UP IN SOCIETY. 83 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:33,520 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL HUNT, 84 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,200 {\an7}THE CHIEF IS PLEASED \hWITH HIS DAUGHTER. 85 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:39,400 {\an7}(SOMBER STRING MUSIC) 86 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:04,560 {\an7}Gardela: AXES PLAYED A \h\hVERY SYMBOLIC ROLE 87 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,520 {\an7}IN THE VIKING WORLD. 88 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,600 {\an7}TO BUILD A BOAT, TO CONSTRUCT \hA HOUSE, TO PREPARE DINNER. 89 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:12,640 {\an7}\hBUT YOU CAN ALSO USE IT AS A WEAPON. 90 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,920 {\an7}WE KNOW FROM NORWEGIAN \h\h\hVIKING AGE GRAVES 91 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,440 {\an7}THAT ON OCCASION WOMEN WERE ALSO GIVEN AXES. 92 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,600 {\an7}\h\hAND THESE AXES SERVED AS SYMBOLS OF STATUS AND POWER. 93 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,240 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 94 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,200 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: THE ROADS TO BIRKA WERE DANGEROUS. 95 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,640 {\an7}THIEVES WOULD PREY ON \hTHE TRADER’S GOODS. 96 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,760 {\an7}(THIEVES SCREAMING) 97 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,000 {\an7}(WOMAN SCREAMING) 98 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:49,720 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 99 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:25,400 {\an7}AS SHE WATCHES IN HORROR, 100 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,400 {\an7}\h\h\hSIGNE CAN TELL BY THE LEADER’S DISTINCTIVE OUTFIT 101 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,520 {\an7}THAT HE IS A SLAV FROM ACROSS THE BALTIC SEA. 102 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,120 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 103 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,080 {\an7}VIKINGS WITH NO MEANS OF INCOME 104 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:51,680 {\an7}COULD TURN TO BANDITRY ON LAND AS WELL ON SEA. 105 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,000 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 106 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:06,440 {\an7}ALL ALONE, SIGNE HIDES HIS \h\hBODY FROM WILD ANIMALS. 107 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,720 {\an7}SHE IS THE CHIEF’S ONLY CHILD. 108 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:13,560 {\an7}ACCORDING TO VIKING TRADITION, 109 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,280 {\an7}SHE MUST NOW SAVE THE FAMILY HONOR 110 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:18,120 {\an7}\h\hAND AVENGE HER FATHER’S SLAUGHTER. 111 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,520 {\an7}\h\hA MASSIVE TASK LIES AHEAD OF HER. 112 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,000 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 113 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,280 {\an7}Ramirez: VIKING SOCIETY \hIS RIGIDLY STRUCTURED 114 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:33,040 {\an7}ON POINTS OF HONOR. 115 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,960 {\an7}\hSIGNE HAS A DUTY TO MAKE THE PEOPLE 116 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:38,560 {\an7}\h\hWHO HAVE LED TO HER FATHER’S DEATH 117 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,120 {\an7}PAY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. 118 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:50,840 {\an7}Narrator: REVENGE AND HONOR KILLINGS 119 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,600 {\an7}HAPPENED ALL OVER THE VIKING WORLD, 120 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:56,840 {\an7}BUT NOWHERE WERE THEY BETTER \h\hRECORDED THAN IN ICELAND. 121 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,640 {\an7}THE UNYIELDING LANDSCAPES \h\h\h\hAND DARK WINTERS 122 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:03,880 {\an7}\h\h\hINSPIRED MANY STORIES OF REVENGE. 123 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,520 {\an7}Ward: IN ICELAND YOU HAVE \hVERY MANY SMALL VALLEYS 124 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,680 {\an7}\hLIKE THIS WHERE PEOPLE AND NEIGHBORS WOULD LIVE 125 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:09,560 {\an7}CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. 126 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:14,680 {\an7}THEY ALL KNOW EACH OTHER \h\hFOR A VERY LONG TIME. 127 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:18,440 {\an7}\h\hAND THIS COULD LEAD TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT DISPUTES. 128 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:19,960 {\an7}Narrator: DURING THE LONG WINTERS, 129 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,760 {\an7}VIKINGS WOULD LIVE IN COMMUNAL SPACES 130 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,960 {\an7}\hWHERE MANY STORIES OF CONFLICT WERE TOLD 131 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:26,760 {\an7}THAT WERE LATER RECORDED. 132 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,760 {\an7}THESE HAVE BECOME KNOWN AS THE ICELANDIC SAGAS. 133 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:32,400 {\an7}Ward: FROM THE ICELANDIC \h\h\h\h\h\hFAMILY SAGAS, 134 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:36,640 {\an7}\h\hWE HAVE A SET OF RULES OF HOW REVENGE 135 00:08:36,680 --> 00:08:37,920 {\an7}IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE. 136 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:39,840 {\an7}THERE IS NO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. 137 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,800 {\an7}THERE IS NO POLICE YOU CAN CALL. 138 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,960 {\an7}SO, IF A FATHER IS KILLED, IF THE BROTHERS ARE KILLED, 139 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,440 {\an7}THEN IT WILL FALL TO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS 140 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,480 {\an7}\h\hTO MAINTAIN THE FAMILY HONOR AND TO SEEK REVENGE. 141 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,800 {\an7}BUT IN A SITUATION WHERE \h\hYOU’RE FAR FROM HOME 142 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:59,520 {\an7}\hTHEN THAT OBLIGATION WOULD ALWAYS BE PRIMARILY YOUR OWN. 143 00:08:59,560 --> 00:09:02,320 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 144 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:08,520 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 145 00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:10,880 {\an7}Narrator: BEREFT \hAND DESTITUTE, 146 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,760 {\an7}SIGNE ARRIVES AT BIRKA. 147 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:16,520 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 148 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:24,640 {\an7}Hedenstierna-Jonson: BIRKA \h\h\h\hIN THE 10TH CENTURY 149 00:09:24,680 --> 00:09:28,800 {\an7}\h\hWOULD BE A FULLY BLOOMING VIKING TOWN. 150 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:30,680 {\an7}\h\hIT WAS A VERY, VERY WEALTHY PLACE. 151 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:35,480 {\an7}\h\h\hIT GATHERED RICHES, BOTH IN TERMS OF SILVER, 152 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:39,240 {\an7}BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF EXOTIC \h\hOBJECTS AND KNOWLEDGE. 153 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,600 {\an7}\h\hSO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WORTH DEFENDING. 154 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,440 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 155 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:54,120 {\an7}\h\hNarrator: AS THE LARGEST EASTERN PORT 156 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:55,840 {\an7}OF THE VIKING HEARTLAND, 157 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,560 {\an7}BIRKA SPECIALIZED IN \hTRADE TO THE EAST. 158 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:01,320 {\an7}\h\hHedenstierna-Jonson: THAT’S VERY CLEAR FROM THE ARCHEOLOGY 159 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:02,560 {\an7}THAT THEY HAD 160 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,120 {\an7}AN EASTERN WAY OF DRESSING. 161 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,560 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTHEY HAD EXOTIC OBJECTS FROM THE EAST. 162 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:10,360 {\an7}Narrator: COLORFUL BEADS FROM INDIA, 163 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:12,920 {\an7}THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA \hWERE FOUND IN THE GRAVES 164 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:14,880 {\an7}OF THE BIRKA VIKING ELITE. 165 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,720 {\an7}THEY WERE A RARE LUXURY ITEM. 166 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:22,480 {\an7}\hHedenstierna-Jonson: WHAT THE TOWN DOES, IS TO REFINE THINGS. 167 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:24,200 {\an7}ADVANCED CRAFTS. 168 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,520 {\an7}THERE’S A LARGE PRODUCTION OF TEXTILES ON THE ISLAND. 169 00:10:27,560 --> 00:10:29,360 {\an7}IT TAKES RAW MATERIAL. 170 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:33,480 {\an7}IT TAKES EXPERTISE IN ONE PLACE \h\hAND THAT BECOMES THE TOWN. 171 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,400 {\an7}Narrator: EXHAUSTED BY HER LONG JOURNEY, 172 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,880 {\an7}SIGNE SEEKS AN AUDIENCE WITH THE POWERFUL CHIEF OF BIRKA. 173 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,520 {\an7}Ward: A VIKING AGE LEADER HAD \h\h\hTO BE BEYOND REPROACH. 174 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:53,120 {\an7}\h\hSOMEBODY THAT PEOPLE REALLY GENUINELY ADMIRED. 175 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,520 {\an7}IT WASN’T JUST BASED ON YOUR TITLE OR YOUR RANK. 176 00:10:55,560 --> 00:10:58,560 {\an7}YOU ALWAYS HAD TO BE PROVING \h\h\hYOUR WORTH AS A LEADER. 177 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,840 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 178 00:11:07,560 --> 00:11:09,760 {\an7}Ramirez: VIKING CHIEFS WOULD’VE \h\h\hLIVED UNDER THE SAME ROOF 179 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:11,920 {\an7}AS THEIR CLOSEST WARRIORS. 180 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:15,560 {\an7}THIS IS A CONTAINED WORLD OF THE HALL. 181 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,280 {\an7}SIGNE AS AN OUTSIDER WOULD \h\hHAVE FOUND IT VERY HARD 182 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,600 {\an7}\hTO GET THE ATTENTION OF THIS IMPORTANT MAN. 183 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:25,360 {\an7}Narrator: THE UNKNOWN \hVISITOR IS WATCHED 184 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,280 {\an7}BY THE CHIEF’S TRUSTED WARRIOR, 185 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,760 {\an7}AALGUT, COMMANDER OF THE BIRKA GARRISON. 186 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:35,120 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 187 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,760 {\an7}SIGNE NEEDS THE CHIEF \hTO PAY FOR A BURIAL 188 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,280 {\an7}SUITABLE FOR A MAN OF HER FATHER’S STANDING. 189 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,400 {\an7}\hALONE, SURROUNDED BY ARMED STRANGERS, 190 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,560 {\an7}SIGNE RISKS EVERYTHING FOR HER FAMILY’S HONOR. 191 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,720 {\an7}IN THE 10TH CENTURY \h\hTOWN OF BIRKA, 192 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,640 {\an7}THE VIKING WOMAN SIGNE \h\hFACES A CHALLENGE. 193 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,680 {\an7}SIGNE DEMANDS THAT THE BIRKA \h\hCHIEF BURIES HER FATHER. 194 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,640 {\an7}NOTICING HER AX, HE REALIZES 195 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:19,640 {\an7}THAT SHE MUST COME FROM A HIGH-RANKING FAMILY. 196 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:24,400 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 197 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:27,200 {\an7}Signe: SIGNE. 198 00:12:28,680 --> 00:12:30,640 {\an7}Ward: THE PART OF SIGNE’S STORY 199 00:12:30,680 --> 00:12:32,360 {\an7}THAT I FIND THE MOST COMPELLING 200 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,920 {\an7}IS THE DESIRE TO HAVE \hHER FATHER BURIED. 201 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,560 {\an7}\h\hAND TO DO WHATEVER SHE COULD TO MAKE SURE 202 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:42,280 {\an7}THAT HE IS TREATED WITH HONOR IN THE AFTERLIFE. 203 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:44,760 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 204 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:53,120 {\an7}Narrator: THE CHIEF SENDS HIS SERVANTS 205 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:56,360 {\an7}\hTO RETRIEVE THE BODY OF HER FATHER AND PREPARE THE GRAVE. 206 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,880 {\an7}ALL SHE HAS LEFT TO OFFER, \h\hIS HER FATHER’S SHIELD. 207 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,640 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 208 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:25,360 {\an7}SIGNE IS NOT THE ONLY MOURNER. 209 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,880 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 210 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:38,880 {\an7}\hTHE BIRKA CHIEF HONORS HER FATHER 211 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:42,000 {\an7}\h\hBY PROVIDING COSTLY WEAPONS AS GRAVE GOODS. 212 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:46,520 {\an7}Ramirez: MOST ORDINARY VIKINGS 213 00:13:46,560 --> 00:13:48,200 {\an7}WOULD PROBABLY ONLY \hHAVE ONE WEAPON. 214 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:52,200 {\an7}IT COULD BE A SPEAR, OR A SHORT SWORD, OR AN AX, 215 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,760 {\an7}BUT TO HAVE A COMPLETE \h\h\h\hSET OF WEAPONS 216 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,520 {\an7}DEPOSITED AS GRAVE GOODS WAS ESSENTIAL 217 00:13:57,560 --> 00:14:00,320 {\an7}FOR A HIGH-STATUS CHIEF. 218 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:02,240 {\an7}THOSE WOULD BE THE WEAPONS \h\hHE WOULD TAKE WITH HIM 219 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,320 {\an7}TO THE AFTERLIFE TO VALHALLA, 220 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,160 {\an7}THAT SPECIAL PLACE WHERE \hONLY THE BEST WARRIORS 221 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:09,520 {\an7}WOULD FIGHT AND FEAST \h\hFOR ALL ETERNITY. 222 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,920 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT THE CHIEF HAS PLANS FOR SIGNE. 223 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:15,520 {\an7}NOTHING IS FOR FREE. 224 00:14:15,560 --> 00:14:18,200 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 225 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,120 {\an7}SIGNE IS GRATEFUL. 226 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,400 {\an7}\hTOGETHER THEY PRAY TO THE GODDESS FREYA. 227 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,840 {\an7}Eriksson: FREYA, SHE WAS THE \h\h\h\h\h\hGOD OF FERTILITY. 228 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:42,600 {\an7}SHE WAS VERY IMPORTANT. 229 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:44,600 {\an7}SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE HARVESTS. 230 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:46,920 {\an7}\hAND ALSO WHEN A WOMAN GAVE BIRTH. 231 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,520 {\an7}\h\hBUT FREYA IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH WAR, 232 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:54,680 {\an7}BECAUSE DURING A BATTLE HALF OF THE MEN WENT TO VALHALLA 233 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:57,400 {\an7}TO THE HOME OF ODIN AFTER DEATH. 234 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,920 {\an7}BUT THE OTHER HALF WENT TO FREYA AND HER HOME. 235 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,520 {\an7}SO SHE ACTUALLY TOOK CARE OF THE SOLDIERS. 236 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:07,040 {\an7}\hNarrator: FROM THE 6TH CENTURY, 237 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:10,720 {\an7}\hGAMLA UPPSALA WAS THE BURIAL PLACE OF THE PRE-VIKING KINGS. 238 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:14,480 {\an7}WITHIN SIGHT OF THE MOUNDS, 239 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,880 {\an7}OLD UPPSALA BECAME THE MEETING \h\h\hPLACE OF VIKING LEADERS. 240 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:21,520 {\an7}THE SITE HAD A TEMPLE \hDEDICATED TO FREYA, 241 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:23,960 {\an7}PROBABLY IN ONE OF \hTHE GREAT HALLS, 242 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,520 {\an7}LIKE THE ONE THAT STOOD HERE. 243 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,640 {\an7}Eriksson: DURING THE VIKING AGE, GAMLA UPPSALA WAS THE ROYAL SEAT 244 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:31,880 {\an7}AND IT WAS OFTEN UNDER ATTACK. 245 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:33,880 {\an7}\h\h\hTHERE WERE ENEMIES COMING TO GAMLA UPPSALA. 246 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,640 {\an7}AND I THINK EVERYONE, NOT ONLY THE SOLDIERS, 247 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,720 {\an7}ALL MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN \h\h\hHAD TO GRAB WEAPONS. 248 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:43,240 {\an7}\hNarrator: NEW EVIDENCE FOR WOMEN TAKING UP ARMS 249 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:48,120 {\an7}COMES FROM THE EXCAVATED VIKING \hGRAVES AROUND GAMLA UPPSALA. 250 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,360 {\an7}Eriksson: WHEN ARCHAEOLOGISTS \h\h\h\h\h\hFIND CHAIN-MAIL, 251 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,080 {\an7}THEY’RE ALWAYS IN MALE GRAVES, 252 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,480 {\an7}BUT WE HAVE TWO EXCEPTIONS \h\hHERE IN GAMLA UPPSALA. 253 00:15:56,520 --> 00:16:00,400 {\an7}RECENTLY ARCHAEOLOGISTS \hDISCOVERED TWO GRAVES 254 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,920 {\an7}\hWHERE THERE WERE WOMEN BURIED WITH CHAIN MAILS, 255 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,240 {\an7}AT LEAST THEY THINK THAT THEY WERE WOMEN 256 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,200 {\an7}BECAUSE IN BOTH GRAVES \h\h\hWERE FEMALE STUFF 257 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,920 {\an7}SUCH AS GLASS BEADS AND BROOCHES 258 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:13,880 {\an7}AND OTHER KINDS OF JEWELRIES. 259 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:20,920 {\an7}Narrator: SIGNE IS CALLED TO THE BIRKA CHIEF’S HALL. 260 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,560 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 261 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,000 {\an7}IN RETURN FOR ARRANGING \hHER FATHER’S BURIAL, 262 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:35,800 {\an7}HE HAS A TASK FOR HER. 263 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:45,640 {\an7}THE CHIEF HAS IDENTIFIED \h\hHER FATHER’S KILLER. 264 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,840 {\an7}NOW HE SEES AN OPPORTUNITY \h\h\h\h\hTO USE HER DESIRE 265 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,200 {\an7}TO TRACK DOWN THE SLAVIC TRADER. 266 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:00,680 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 267 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,160 {\an7}\h\hBY ELIMINATING THE SLAVIC TRADER, 268 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:04,680 {\an7}HE CAN TAKE CONTROL 269 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,600 {\an7}OF THE MOST LUCRATIVE TRADE IN EUROPE, SILK. 270 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:11,920 {\an7}SILK WAS AN EXPENSIVE RARITY IN THE NORTH, 271 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:15,640 {\an7}COMING ONLY FROM TRADERS \h\hDEEP IN WESTERN ASIA. 272 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:18,720 {\an7}IF THE BIRKA CHIEF CAN CONTROL THE SILK TRADE, 273 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:20,400 {\an7}HE WILL BE RICH. 274 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,840 {\an7}\h\hHE ASKS SIGNE TO JOIN A RAID ACROSS THE BALTIC SEA 275 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,880 {\an7}TO FIND THE SOURCE OF SILK. 276 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:30,120 {\an7}Ramirez: VIKING SOCIETY WAS \h\h\h\hFOUNDED ON FAVORS. 277 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:31,440 {\an7}SO AS A MATTER OF HONOR, 278 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:34,760 {\an7}A YOUNG, PENNILESS \hWOMAN LIKE SIGNE 279 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:37,560 {\an7}\h\hWITH NO POWERFUL CONNECTIONS IN BIRKA 280 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,400 {\an7}HAD LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT THIS MISSION 281 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,000 {\an7}IN ORDER TO REPAY HER DEBT. 282 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,040 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: SIGNE NEEDS A GUIDE TO HELP HER TRACK DOWN 283 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:50,040 {\an7}THE SLAVIC TRADER WHO \hKILLED HER FATHER. 284 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,000 {\an7}SHE STARTS WITH THE SLAVIC \hSLAVES IN THE WORKSHOPS. 285 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,920 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 286 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:03,560 {\an7}\h\h\hMALUSHA AND HER FATHER WERE CAPTURED 287 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:04,840 {\an7}AND SOLD TO THE WORKSHOP 288 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,240 {\an7}AS SLAVES BY THE SLAVIC TRADER. 289 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:11,480 {\an7}Gardela: HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SLAVIC PEOPLE WAS VERY COMMON 290 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,280 {\an7}IN THE VIKING AGE. 291 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:17,080 {\an7}WE CAN SEE IT IN A VAST AREA SPANNING FROM WHAT IS TODAY 292 00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:20,680 {\an7}\h\hGERMANY ALL THE WAY THROUGH POLAND TO WHAT IS TODAY RUSSIA. 293 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:24,200 {\an7}\h\h\hTO THE POINT THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE TERM SLAVE 294 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,280 {\an7}\h\h\hDERIVES FROM SLAV, WHICH IS AN ETHNIC TERM. 295 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:35,360 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 296 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:39,560 {\an7}\h\h\h\hNarrator: MALUSHA CAN ONLY WATCH IN TERROR 297 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:41,920 {\an7}\h\hAS HER COLLAPSED FATHER IS TAKEN AWAY. 298 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:47,720 {\an7}\h\h\hA SLAVE THAT IS UNABLE TO WORK, WOULD BE SHOWN NO MERCY. 299 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:54,520 {\an7}\h\hGardela: WHEN YOU BECOME A SLAVE, YOU BECOME A COMMODITY. 300 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:56,120 {\an7}YOU HAVE NO IDENTITY. 301 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:57,880 {\an7}YOU’RE JUST ONE OF THOUSANDS. 302 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,600 {\an7}Ramirez: VIKING SOCIETY WOULD NOT FUNCTION WITHOUT SLAVES. 303 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:06,240 {\an7}\h\hTHEY DID SO MANY JOBS, THEY WORKED IN FARMS, IN WORKSHOPS, 304 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:09,120 {\an7}AND IN HOUSEHOLDS AS \hPERSONAL SERVANTS. 305 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,480 {\an7}\h\h\h\hOR THEY MIGHT EVEN PROVIDE WIVES AND CHILDREN 306 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:12,600 {\an7}FOR UNMARRIED MEN. 307 00:19:18,120 --> 00:19:19,880 {\an7}\h\hIF THEY WERE ILL OR AT THE POINT OF DYING, 308 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:23,000 {\an7}\h\hTHEY MAY SIMPLY JUST BEEN LEFT TO DIE IN THE ELEMENTS. 309 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:32,560 {\an7}Narrator: BRAVE AND IMPULSIVE, \h\hMALUSHA IS NOW IN TROUBLE. 310 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,280 {\an7}\hNO SLAVE HAS THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE THEIR OWNER. 311 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:38,840 {\an7}AS SHE IS DRAGGED AWAY TO BE BEATEN, 312 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,800 {\an7}\hSIGNE REALIZES THAT THE SLAVE GIRL IS KEY 313 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:44,320 {\an7}\h\h\h\hTO FINDING THE MURDERER OF HER FATHER. 314 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:51,560 {\an7}\hIN THE 10TH CENTURY VIKING TOWN OF BIRKA, LIFE IS CHEAP. 315 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:55,160 {\an7}BUT A BEATEN SLAVE GIRL \hMAY BE ABLE TO GUIDE 316 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:57,040 {\an7}A VIKING RAID TO ITS TARGET. 317 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,800 {\an7}SIGNE AND AALGUT ARE LED \hTO THE SLAVE QUARTERS. 318 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:09,040 {\an7}SIGNE BELIEVES THE SLAVE \hMALUSHA MAY BE THE KEY 319 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:10,560 {\an7}\h\hTO FINDING HER FATHER’S MURDERER. 320 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,360 {\an7}IN THE BRAVE SLAVE GIRL, 321 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:23,640 {\an7}SHE SEES A KINDRED SPIRIT WHO ALSO LOST HER FATHER. 322 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,600 {\an7}LIKE HER, MALUSHA WOULD \hLIKE TO TAKE REVENGE 323 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:31,280 {\an7}ON THE SLAVIC TRADER. 324 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:37,240 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 325 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:38,080 {\an7}Signe: AALGUT 326 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:43,560 {\an7}\h\hNarrator: AALGUT BUYS MALUSHA FOR THE MISSION. 327 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:48,320 {\an7}Ramirez: FOR A SLAVE \h\h\h\hLIKE MALUSHA 328 00:20:48,360 --> 00:20:50,360 {\an7}THERE WERE WAYS IN WHICH SHE COULD MOVE HER WAY UP 329 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,320 {\an7}THROUGH VIKING SOCIETY. 330 00:20:52,360 --> 00:20:55,880 {\an7}\hIF SHE WORKED REALLY HARD, IF SHE SHOWED GREAT LOYALTY, 331 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:59,360 {\an7}SHE COULD IN FACT BE TAKEN IN ALMOST LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER. 332 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:00,440 {\an7}SHE COULD MOVE UP \hTHROUGH SOCIETY 333 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:03,200 {\an7}AND PERHAPS EVEN \h\h\h\hBE FREED. 334 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:04,880 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 335 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:06,360 {\an7}\h\hNarrator: WITH THEIR SLAVIC GUIDE 336 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:08,120 {\an7}AND TRANSLATOR ON BOARD, 337 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,000 {\an7}\hTHE RAIDING PARTY IS READY TO DEPART. 338 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:12,920 {\an7}UNDER COMMANDER AALGUT, 339 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,920 {\an7}THEY PREPARE THEIR BOATS TO CROSS THE BALTIC SEA. 340 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,760 {\an7}\hHedenstierna-Jonson: THE BIRKA WARRIORS WOULD HAVE BEEN ACTIVE, 341 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:24,520 {\an7}EVEN TRAVELLING ALONGSIDE \h\hTHESE TRADING GROUPS, 342 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:28,040 {\an7}DEFENDING THEM AND LOOKING \h\hAFTER THEIR INTERESTS. 343 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:29,240 {\an7}Ward: WE KNOW IN THE \h\h\h\hVIKING WORLD 344 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:30,760 {\an7}THAT WOMEN WERE \hPARTICIPATING 345 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,640 {\an7}IN EXPLORATION AND IN TRADE, 346 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:35,400 {\an7}AND SO IT DOES NOT SEEM UNREASONABLE 347 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,080 {\an7}THAT THEY WOULD ALSO BE ABLE \hTO PARTICIPATE IN RAIDING. 348 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:41,040 {\an7}\hRamirez: THE VIKINGS WOULDN’T HAVE REFERRED 349 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:42,640 {\an7}TO THEMSELVES AS VIKING, 350 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,840 {\an7}\h\hBUT THEY WOULD HAVE USED THIS TERM 351 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,280 {\an7}IN REFERENCE TO THE ACTION \h\h\hOF ’GOING A VIKING,’ 352 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,760 {\an7}THAT IS TO GO OUT ON THE WATERWAYS 353 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:52,760 {\an7}AND DEPENDING ON WHO \h\hTHEY ENCOUNTERED, 354 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,120 {\an7}THEY COULD EITHER RAID \hOR THEY COULD TRADE. 355 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,320 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE EXPEDITION LEAVES BIRKA 356 00:21:59,360 --> 00:22:01,400 {\an7}BEFORE THE AUTUMN STORMS SET IN. 357 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,080 {\an7}Zachrisson: IT WOULD BE NORMAL \h\h\hTO GO OUT WHEN THE WINTER 358 00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:11,160 {\an7}WAS NOT THAT HARSH AND WHEN THE ICE WAS AWAY. 359 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:15,400 {\an7}AND WHEN YOU WERE OUT, YOU COULD STAY OUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. 360 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:19,760 {\an7}Narrator: PASSING THROUGH \hTHE LAKE MALAREN AREA, 361 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,480 {\an7}THE BIRKA SHIPS CROSS THE GULF OF BOTHNIA. 362 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:25,840 {\an7}THE SIX-WEEK JOURNEY \h\hWILL TAKE THEM ALONG 363 00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,120 {\an7}THE SHELTERED COAST OF FINLAND, 364 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,640 {\an7}\hDEEP INTO THE RIVER NETWORKS OF THE EAST. 365 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,600 {\an7}\hGardela: THE AREA OF TODAY’S RUSSIA, BELARUS AND THE UKRAINE 366 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,000 {\an7}IN THE VIKING AGE WAS KNOWN AS RUS. 367 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:40,920 {\an7}THE RIVER NETWORK OF THE RUS 368 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:43,360 {\an7}CONNECTED THE BALTIC \hWITH THE BLACK SEA 369 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,920 {\an7}AND THIS CREATED FANTASTIC \hOPPORTUNITIES FOR TRADE. 370 00:22:54,120 --> 00:22:57,640 {\an7}Narrator: THE FURTHER INLAND \hTHE BIRKA WARRIORS TRAVEL, 371 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:00,200 {\an7}THE MORE UNPREDICTABLE \h\h\h\h\hAND DANGEROUS 372 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:01,920 {\an7}THE ENVIRONMENT BECOMES. 373 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:06,560 {\an7}Gardela: THE NAME RUS \h\hPROBABLY REFERRED 374 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,960 {\an7}TO A GROUP OF SCANDINAVIAN VIKINGS FROM MIDDLE SWEDEN 375 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:14,280 {\an7}WHO IN THE COURSE OF TIME \h\hSTARTED TO ASSIMILATE 376 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,280 {\an7}WITH THE ETHNICALLY DIVERSE POPULATION. 377 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:20,280 {\an7}\h\h\hTHERE WERE SLAVS, FINNS, NOMADIC WARRIORS 378 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:24,560 {\an7}\h\h\hFROM AS FAR AS ASIA AND REGIONS AROUND THE BLACK SEA. 379 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:26,640 {\an7}THEY HAD DIFFERENT RELIGIONS, \h\h\h\hDIFFERENT LANGUAGES, 380 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:27,920 {\an7}AND DIFFERENT LIFE WAYS. 381 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:32,720 {\an7}Narrator: THE BIRKA VIKINGS TAKE TURNS 382 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:34,800 {\an7}AT ROWING AND RESTING. 383 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,760 {\an7}\h\h\hUNLIKE THE OTHERS, SIGNE DOES NOT CARE MUCH 384 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:40,320 {\an7}\hABOUT THE RICHES TO BE GAINED FROM TRADE. 385 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,160 {\an7}SHE USES THE LONG DAYS OF ROWING 386 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:46,920 {\an7}TO BUILD UP HER STRENGTH, 387 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:48,920 {\an7}IN PREPARATION FOR THE CONFRONTATION 388 00:23:48,960 --> 00:23:50,680 {\an7}WITH THE KILLER OF HER FATHER. 389 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:55,880 {\an7}OTHER STRONG VIKING WOMEN ARE MENTIONED 390 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,880 {\an7}BY THE MEDIEVAL WRITER \h\h\hSAXO GRAMMATICUS 391 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,000 {\an7}WHO RECORDED THE VIKING AGE FOR THE DANISH KING. 392 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:06,920 {\an7}Gardela: SAXO GRAMMATICUS TALKS \h\h\h\h\h\hABOUT VIKING WOMEN. 393 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:10,040 {\an7}THEY PREFERRED CONFLICTS \h\h\hINSTEAD OF KISSES. 394 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:13,200 {\an7}THAT THEY TASTED BLOOD NOT LIPS. 395 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,320 {\an7}WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT \h\hWOMEN WARRIORS, 396 00:24:15,360 --> 00:24:19,200 {\an7}HE SAYS THAT THEY ARE AS SKILLED AS MEN IN BATTLE. 397 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:22,680 {\an7}HE ALSO MENTIONS THAT SOME \h\hOF THOSE WOMEN LED MEN, 398 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,640 {\an7}AND THEY STOOD IN THE FOREFRONT OF ARMIES. 399 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:28,720 {\an7}THEY HAD THE SAME FIGHTING SKILLS. 400 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:32,640 {\an7}HE MENTIONS THE FAMOUS LAGERTHA, 401 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:36,680 {\an7}A FEMALE WARRIOR WHO FOUGHT WITH FLOWING LOCKS OF HAIR, 402 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:38,280 {\an7}FLEW OVER THE ARMIES 403 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:40,440 {\an7}AND WAS ONE OF THE BRAVEST \h\h\h\hON THE BATTLEFIELD. 404 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:44,600 {\an7}Narrator: FURTHER EVIDENCE \hOF VIKING WOMEN WARRIORS 405 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,560 {\an7}IS HELD IN THE ARCHIVES \h\hOF CONSTANTINOPLE, 406 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:49,520 {\an7}CAPITAL OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE. 407 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:52,320 {\an7}Ramirez: THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE, 408 00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:54,600 {\an7}WHO ACTUALLY HAVE QUITE \hA STRONG RELATIONSHIP 409 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,560 {\an7}\h\hWITH THE VIKINGS, THEY TRADE WITH THEM. 410 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:57,800 {\an7}THEY EVEN INCLUDE SOME OF THEM 411 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:00,520 {\an7}IN THEIR OWN ARMY \hAS MERCENARIES. 412 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,200 {\an7}THERE’S A PARTICULAR SOURCE THAT RECORDS 413 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,600 {\an7}THAT ON THE DEFEAT OF THE VIKING ARMY 414 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:07,520 {\an7}THEY WALKED AROUND \h\hTHE BATTLEFIELD 415 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:09,520 {\an7}AND ALONGSIDE MALE DEAD WARRIORS 416 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:11,800 {\an7}\hTHERE WERE IN FACT FEMALE WARRIORS TOO. 417 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:18,680 {\an7}\h\hNarrator: AMONG THE EXPERIENCED BIRKA CREW 418 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:20,200 {\an7}IS A FEMALE FIGHTER. 419 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:27,040 {\an7}WEEKS OF TRAVEL IN A CONFINED \h\h\h\hSPACE TAKES ITS TOLL. 420 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:29,640 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 421 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:38,560 {\an7}Woman: NAY 422 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:42,280 {\an7}Ward: DURING THE VIKING AGE, \hIF YOU WERE IN A SITUATION 423 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:43,720 {\an7}ON A VIKING BOAT, 424 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:45,560 {\an7}\h\h\hYOU WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE TO PROVE YOUR WORTH 425 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:47,040 {\an7}AND STAND UP FOR YOURSELF. 426 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:49,120 {\an7}AND IF A WOMAN WERE \hABLE TO DO THAT, 427 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:50,600 {\an7}\h\hSHE WOULD BE AN EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN 428 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:52,000 {\an7}THAT WOULD BE WELL RESPECTED. 429 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:02,840 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: OVER HALF WAY INTO THEIR 900 MILE JOURNEY, 430 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,280 {\an7}THE BIRKA VIKINGS \hREACH THE DNEPR 431 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:08,480 {\an7}THAT FLOWS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BLACK SEA. 432 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:10,120 {\an7}ALTHOUGH THE RIVER IS VAST, 433 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:12,520 {\an7}IT DOES NOT ALLOW AN EASY PASSAGE. 434 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:19,520 {\an7}THE DNEPR HAD MANY IMPASSABLE RAPIDS. 435 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:22,440 {\an7}LIKE THE RIVER TRADERS \h\hTHE BIRKA WARRIORS 436 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:25,880 {\an7}\h\h\hARE FORCED TO DRAG THEIR BOATS ACROSS LAND. 437 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,760 {\an7}THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. 438 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:32,560 {\an7}\h\h\hTHE RAPIDS PROVIDE AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY FOR AN AMBUSH BY RUS 439 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:36,520 {\an7}OR NOMAD WARRIORS THAT PREY ON MERCHANT SHIPS. 440 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:40,760 {\an7}Ramirez: THE DNIEPER WAS A VITAL LINK BETWEEN THE VIKING WORLD 441 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:42,240 {\an7}AND THE MAINLAND CONTINENT. 442 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:45,400 {\an7}BY NAVIGATING ALONG THAT ROUTE, THEY COULD TRADE 443 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,760 {\an7}WITH THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE, \h\h\hWITH THE ARAB WORLDS 444 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:53,480 {\an7}AND COULD EVEN REALLY GET AS FAR AS ASIA AND THE FAR EAST. 445 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,560 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: EXHAUSTED FROM THEIR LONG JOURNEY, 446 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:02,400 {\an7}THE BIRKA VIKINGS ARE GETTING \h\h\hCLOSE TO THEIR TARGET. 447 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:06,280 {\an7}COMMANDER AALGUT ORDERS THEM TO RESTOCK SUPPLIES 448 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:07,640 {\an7}AND REPAIR THE BOATS. 449 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:14,320 {\an7}SIGNE NEEDS TO IMPROVE \hHER FIGHTING SKILLS. 450 00:27:14,360 --> 00:27:15,760 {\an7}SWALLOWING HER PRIDE, 451 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:18,440 {\an7}\hSHE ASKS COMMANDER AALGUT TO TRAIN HER. 452 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:23,640 {\an7}\h\hSINCE SHE HASN’T GOT THE UPPER BODY STRENGTH OF A MAN, 453 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:25,600 {\an7}HE FOCUSES ON HER MOVEMENTS. 454 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,400 {\an7}\hRamirez: THERE WERE SOME ADVANTAGES TO SMALLER WOMEN 455 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:33,400 {\an7}\h\hFIGHTING AGAINST GREAT BIG STRONG MEN. 456 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:35,240 {\an7}A WOMAN HAS A LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY, 457 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,520 {\an7}THEY COULD USE THEIR SIZE AND \hAGILITY TO THEIR ADVANTAGE. 458 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:41,920 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: THE FULL SET OF WEAPONS 459 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:45,560 {\an7}FOUND IN THE BIRKA WOMAN’S \h\hGRAVE INCLUDES A SPEAR, 460 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,120 {\an7}AX, SWORD AND BATTLE KNIFE, 461 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:51,000 {\an7}USED FOR TYPICAL VIKING \hCOMBINATION FIGHTING. 462 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:58,640 {\an7}Gardela: WE HAVE NOW ABOUT 30 \hFEMALE GRAVES WITH WEAPONS, 463 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:01,720 {\an7}MOSTLY FROM NORWAY, BUT ALSO FROM SWEDEN AND FROM DENMARK. 464 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,680 {\an7}\hIN ADDITION TO THE BIRKA GRAVE THERE IS ALSO A GRAVE 465 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:08,560 {\an7}IN NORWAY WHICH APPEARS \hTO BE A FEMALE GRAVE 466 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:10,400 {\an7}WITH A FULL SET OF WEAPONS. 467 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:12,680 {\an7}Narrator: IT WAS DISCOVERED 468 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:15,120 {\an7}IN THE 19TH CENTURY BY A FARMER. 469 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,720 {\an7}Gardela: BURIED WITH THIS \h\h\hPERSON WAS A SWORD, 470 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,520 {\an7}ALSO AN AX, A SPEAR. 471 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,800 {\an7}AND AT THE WOMAN’S FEET THERE \hWAS ALSO A HORSE SKELETON. 472 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,360 {\an7}SO, THIS IS QUITE SIMILAR \hTO THE CASE FROM BIRKA. 473 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:32,840 {\an7}Zachrisson: I THINK \h\hTHE LIFE STORY 474 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:34,680 {\an7}OF THE WOMAN IN THE BIRKA GRAVE 475 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:37,080 {\an7}WOULD HAVE BEEN SPECIAL. 476 00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:41,480 {\an7}NORMALLY IN WARRIOR BURIALS \hTHERE ARE ONLY STALLIONS, 477 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:45,720 {\an7}BUT IN THIS BURIAL, THERE IS A MARE AND A STALLION. 478 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:48,080 {\an7}BOTH SEXES, THEY IMPLY 479 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:51,400 {\an7}\h\h\hTHAT IT’S SOMETHING SPECIAL WITH THIS BURIAL. 480 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:54,000 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 481 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,680 {\an7}Narrator: THE BIRKA WARRIORS \h\h\hCONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY, 482 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:01,080 {\an7}\hFINALLY REACHING MALUSHA’S HOMELAND 483 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:03,560 {\an7}WHERE SHE WAS CAPTURED BY THE SLAVIC TRADER. 484 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:06,680 {\an7}AALGUT KNOWS THEY ARE GETTING CLOSE 485 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:09,280 {\an7}\hTO THE SOURCE OF THE EXPENSIVE SILK. 486 00:29:14,560 --> 00:29:18,160 {\an7}\h\hTHE VIKING RAIDERS ARE CLOSE TO THEIR DESTINATION. 487 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:22,560 {\an7}FOR SIGNE, THE TIME FOR REVENGE IS DRAWING NEAR. 488 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:24,400 {\an7}Ward: WITHIN THE SAGAS THEMSELVES 489 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:27,760 {\an7}\h\hYOU HAVE WOMEN THAT ARE EXPLORERS. 490 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:31,560 {\an7}\hYOU HAVE WOMEN THAT ARE GOING OUT ON EXPEDITIONS. 491 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:35,440 {\an7}Narrator: THE MOST FAMOUS \hVIKING FEMALE EXPLORER 492 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,600 {\an7}IS FREYDIS, WHO SET OFF WITH \h\hHER BROTHER LEIF ERIKSON 493 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:41,520 {\an7}FROM GREENLAND TO DISCOVER AMERICA, 494 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:44,600 {\an7}\h\h500 YEARS BEFORE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 495 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:48,400 {\an7}Ward: FROM THE ARCHEOLOGICAL \h\h\h\hFINDS IN NEWFOUNDLAND 496 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:50,480 {\an7}\h\h\hWE KNOW THAT THERE WERE WOMEN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING 497 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:52,960 {\an7}IN THE EXPLORATION OF NORTH AMERICA. 498 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,600 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 499 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,440 {\an7}\h\hWard: FREYDIS IS THE DAUGHTER OF ERIK THE RED 500 00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:01,920 {\an7}WHO LIVED HERE IN THIS HOUSE. 501 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:05,560 {\an7}HERE HE GOT IN FIGHTS \hWITH HIS NEIGHBORS 502 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:09,320 {\an7}AND ACTUALLY HAD TO BE OUTLAWED \h\h\h\hAND MOVED TO GREENLAND. 503 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:11,600 {\an7}\h\h\h\hERIK IS KNOWN FOR HAVING A TERRIBLE TEMPER 504 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:13,080 {\an7}AND HIS DAUGHTER FREYDIS 505 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:15,560 {\an7}APPEARS TO HAVE HAD THE SAME SORT OF REPUTATION. 506 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:19,240 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE EXPEDITION MAKES LANDFALL. 507 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:22,680 {\an7}SIGNE SCOUTS AHEAD \hFOR SILK TRADERS 508 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:24,800 {\an7}\h\hWHO COULD LEAD TO HER FATHER’S KILLER. 509 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:27,640 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 510 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:34,240 {\an7}THEY COME ACROSS A NOMADIC TRADER. 511 00:30:34,280 --> 00:30:36,640 {\an7}HE CLAIMS TO HAVE NO SILK, 512 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:39,040 {\an7}BUT OFFERS EXPENSIVE WEAPONS, 513 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:42,720 {\an7}\h\h\hHOPING THAT THE UNARMED SIGNE IS CARRYING VALUABLES. 514 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:49,320 {\an7}MALUSHA IS SUSPICIOUS. 515 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:51,920 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 516 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:02,120 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 517 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,680 {\an7}SIGNE OWES HER LIFE TO A SLAVE. 518 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:16,040 {\an7}MALUSHA HAS PROVEN HER LOYALTY. 519 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:19,640 {\an7}\h\hAND THE NOMAD’S LAST WORDS INDICATE 520 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:23,200 {\an7}THAT THEY ARE WITHIN REACH OF THE SLAVIC TRADER’S VILLAGE. 521 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:33,240 {\an7}AT DUSK, AALGUT SILENTLY \h\h\hMOVES HIS WARRIORS 522 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:34,680 {\an7}CLOSER TO THE VILLAGE. 523 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:40,920 {\an7}\h\hHE SENDS SIGNE AND MALUSHA TO SCOUT AHEAD 524 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:42,960 {\an7}UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS. 525 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,680 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 526 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:59,360 {\an7}\h\h\hOUTSIDE THE VILLAGE, A LITTLE GIRL FETCHES FIREWOOD. 527 00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:04,760 {\an7}MALUSHA TRIES TO BEFRIEND HER \hAND FIND OUT WHAT SHE CAN. 528 00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:11,680 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 529 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:17,960 {\an7}MALUSHA ASKS IF SILK WAS DELIVERED TO THE VILLAGE. 530 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,600 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 531 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:24,160 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 532 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:30,640 {\an7}SIGNE HAS ALL SHE NEEDS TO KNOW. 533 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:40,640 {\an7}\h\hTHE NEXT MORNING THE VIKINGS SURROUND 534 00:32:40,680 --> 00:32:42,600 {\an7}THE LIGHTLY DEFENDED VILLAGE. 535 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:47,680 {\an7}\h\h\hCOMMANDER AALGUT HAS DECIDED TO CAPTURE THE SILK 536 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:49,080 {\an7}WITH A SURPRISE ATTACK. 537 00:32:51,520 --> 00:32:55,520 {\an7}\h\hSIGNE’S ONLY GOAL IS TO FIND HER FATHER’S MURDERER 538 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:56,960 {\an7}AND KILL HIM. 539 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,600 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 540 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,640 {\an7}(MEN SCREAMING) 541 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:17,840 {\an7}THE BIRKA VIKINGS FACE LITTLE RESISTANCE FROM THE VILLAGERS. 542 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:23,480 {\an7}SIGNE SEARCHES FOR THE SLAVIC TRADER. 543 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:27,120 {\an7}SOMETHING IS WRONG. 544 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:32,440 {\an7}(MEN SCREAMING) 545 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:33,880 {\an7}IT’S AN AMBUSH! 546 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:35,680 {\an7}RUS VIKINGS HAVE BEEN \h\hWAITING FOR THEM. 547 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:37,560 {\an7}HIDDEN IN THE GREAT HALL. 548 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:40,600 {\an7}(MEN SCREAMING) 549 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:43,240 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 550 00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:50,000 {\an7}THE BIRKA WARRIORS ARE \hHEAVILY OUTNUMBERED. 551 00:33:57,880 --> 00:33:59,880 {\an7}EVEN THE GREAT COMMANDER AALGUT 552 00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:02,640 {\an7}STRUGGLES AGAINST THE \hOVERWHELMING FORCE. 553 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:05,480 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 554 00:34:16,640 --> 00:34:18,320 {\an7}KNOWING THE BATTLE IS LOST, 555 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:20,520 {\an7}SIGNE HEADS TOWARDS \h\hTHE GREAT HALL 556 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:23,200 {\an7}\h\hIN A DESPERATE SEARCH FOR HER FATHER’S KILLER. 557 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:30,680 {\an7}BUT SIGNE IS TOO LATE. 558 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:36,680 {\an7}THE BIRKA VIKINGS HAVE BEEN DEFEATED 559 00:34:36,720 --> 00:34:39,680 {\an7}BY MERCENARIES FIGHTING \hFOR THE RUS VIKINGS. 560 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:46,840 {\an7}\hTHE DEFEATED SURVIVORS ARE TAKEN TO THE RUS VIKING CHIEF 561 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:50,520 {\an7}\h\h\h\hWHO SEES VALUE IN THE WELL-TRAINED BIRKA WARRIORS. 562 00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:56,520 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 563 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:03,960 {\an7}WHILE THE BIRKA MEN ARE READY TO BECOME WELL PAID SOLDIERS. 564 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:06,880 {\an7}SIGNE REFUSES TO SUBMIT. 565 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:10,600 {\an7}HER HONOR WILL NOT ALLOW \hHER TO JOIN HER ENEMY. 566 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:20,640 {\an7}\hAS SHE REMEMBERS HER FATHER’S FAITH IN HER, 567 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:24,600 {\an7}SHE COMES UP WITH A PROPOSAL THAT WILL ALLOW HER TO LIVE 568 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:26,360 {\an7}AND TAKE REVENGE. 569 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:31,360 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 570 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:40,360 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE RUS VIKING CHIEF CAREFULLY CONSIDERS HER OFFER. 571 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:42,040 {\an7}BY CUTTING OUT THE SILK TRADER 572 00:35:42,080 --> 00:35:44,240 {\an7}AND DEALING DIRECTLY WITH BIRKA, 573 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:46,600 {\an7}HIS PROFITS WOULD BE FAR HIGHER. 574 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:48,480 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 575 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:51,080 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 576 00:35:53,640 --> 00:35:55,680 {\an7}THE RUS CHIEF TAKES A CHANCE. 577 00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:04,520 {\an7}WITH HER LIFE SAVED, SIGNE PURSUES HER DEEPEST DESIRE. 578 00:36:05,720 --> 00:36:09,480 {\an7}(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) 579 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:11,600 {\an7}THE RUS CHIEF DECREES THAT SHE HAS THE RIGHT 580 00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:15,600 {\an7}\hTO CHALLENGE THE TRADER TO AN ANCIENT VIKING TRADITION, 581 00:36:15,640 --> 00:36:17,240 {\an7}A DUEL. 582 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:19,440 {\an7}Ward: HOLMGANGIR MEANS \h\h\h\h\h\hTO GO OUT, 583 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:21,360 {\an7}USUALLY TO SORT OF \h\h\h\hAN ISLAND. 584 00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:23,640 {\an7}IT WOULD BE ANY KIND \hOF CLOSED OFF AREA 585 00:36:23,680 --> 00:36:26,320 {\an7}\h\h\hWHERE TWO PEOPLE COULDN’T ESCAPE EASILY. 586 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:28,120 {\an7}YOU COULD CHALLENGE A PERSON TO A DUEL 587 00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:29,800 {\an7}IF THEY HAD AFFRONTED \h\h\h\hYOUR DIGNITY. 588 00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:31,520 {\an7}\hAND THERE WOULD BE A POINT SYSTEM 589 00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:33,840 {\an7}ABOUT WHERE YOU WOULD \hHIT ANOTHER PERSON. 590 00:36:33,880 --> 00:36:35,640 {\an7}SO IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY FORMAL, 591 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:38,680 {\an7}RITUALIZED WAY TO STAND UP 592 00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:41,600 {\an7}FOR YOUR OWN RIGHTS \h\hAND REPUTATION. 593 00:36:41,640 --> 00:36:44,240 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 594 00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:51,600 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: BUT SIGNE DOES NOT CARE 595 00:36:51,640 --> 00:36:54,200 {\an7}ABOUT POINTS AND DIGNITY. 596 00:36:54,240 --> 00:36:56,080 {\an7}SHE WANTS BLOOD. 597 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:58,680 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 598 00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:02,160 {\an7}AFTER A 900 MILE JOURNEY, 599 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:05,520 {\an7}\h\h\h\hSIGNE CHALLENGES HER FATHER’S MURDERER TO A DUEL. 600 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:08,120 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 601 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:25,960 {\an7}\h\hSHE USES HER AGILITY AND DETERMINATION TO FIGHT BACK. 602 00:37:26,000 --> 00:37:28,640 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 603 00:37:43,760 --> 00:37:45,720 {\an7}HER HONOR IS RESTORED. 604 00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:50,520 {\an7}HER FATHER’S DEATH IS AVENGED. 605 00:37:56,560 --> 00:37:58,520 {\an7}WITH THE SLAVIC TRADER DEAD, 606 00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:01,320 {\an7}SIGNE CAN NOW FOCUS ON THE SILK TRADE. 607 00:38:03,720 --> 00:38:06,560 {\an7}THE RUS AGREE TO OPEN A TRADE LINK WITH BIRKA. 608 00:38:09,240 --> 00:38:13,760 {\an7}SIGNE IS GRANTED THE RIGHTS TO TAKE SILK, SLAVES AND SILVER, 609 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:16,360 {\an7}\h\h\hAND TO RETURN WITH GOODS NEEDED BY THE RUS. 610 00:38:18,720 --> 00:38:21,640 {\an7}Gardela: DIFFERENT TRADE GOODS \h\h\hTRAVELED FROM SCANDINAVIA 611 00:38:21,680 --> 00:38:24,360 {\an7}\h\hTO THE BLACK SEA AREA AND TO THE DIFFERENT SETTLEMENTS 612 00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:25,920 {\an7}ALONG THE RIVER ROUTES. 613 00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:29,080 {\an7}\hTHE TRADERS BROUGHT WITH THEM EXOTIC NORTHERN FURS, 614 00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:30,840 {\an7}CRAFTS AND MERCENARIES. 615 00:38:34,120 --> 00:38:35,560 {\an7}Narrator: WITH AALGUT DEAD, 616 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:38,040 {\an7}SIGNE IS NOW LEADER \h\hOF THE MISSION. 617 00:38:39,240 --> 00:38:41,560 {\an7}ON THE LONG JOURNEY \h\hBACK TO BIRKA, 618 00:38:41,600 --> 00:38:44,520 {\an7}SIGNE PROVES HERSELF \h\hA TRUE COMMANDER. 619 00:38:45,640 --> 00:38:48,280 {\an7}Gardela: TRADERS RETURNING \h\hTO BIRKA FROM THE EAST 620 00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:50,320 {\an7}WOULD HAVE BECOME VERY PROMINENT 621 00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:52,400 {\an7}AND VERY HIGH-STATUS \h\h\h\hINDIVIDUALS, 622 00:38:52,440 --> 00:38:55,400 {\an7}\h\hBECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE HAD ACCESS TO EXOTIC GOODS 623 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:57,360 {\an7}THAT WERE UNAVAILABLE \h\h\h\hIN THE NORTH. 624 00:38:59,240 --> 00:39:00,840 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE VIKINGS IMPORTED WARES 625 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:02,880 {\an7}FROM MANY DISTANT LANDS. 626 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:05,520 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hEVIDENCE OF THEIR WIDESPREAD TRADE WAS FOUND 627 00:39:05,560 --> 00:39:08,280 {\an7}IN THE GRAVES AROUND BIRKA. 628 00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:11,560 {\an7}Hedenstierna-Jonson: THE MOST \h\hEXOTIC GRAVE GOODS TO ME, 629 00:39:11,600 --> 00:39:15,400 {\an7}\h\hIS A RING WITH A STONE THAT SAYS ALLAH 630 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:17,680 {\an7}\hTHAT IS AN IMPORT FROM THE CALIPHATE. 631 00:39:17,720 --> 00:39:19,320 {\an7}AND IT’S JUST BEAUTIFUL. 632 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:24,360 {\an7}Narrator: OVER THE YEARS, 633 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:27,360 {\an7}\h\h\hSIGNE BECOMES A WELL-KNOWN EXPLORER, 634 00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:30,040 {\an7}\h\hOPENING UP MORE TRADE WITH EACH OF HER JOURNEYS 635 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:32,240 {\an7}TO THE LANDS OF THE RUS VIKINGS. 636 00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:35,920 {\an7}AS A NEW MEMBER OF \hTHE BIRKA ELITE, 637 00:39:35,960 --> 00:39:37,280 {\an7}SHE WOULD PLAY BOARD GAMES 638 00:39:37,320 --> 00:39:39,520 {\an7}\h\h\h\h\hWITH EQUALLY IMPORTANT TOWNSPEOPLE. 639 00:39:40,640 --> 00:39:42,040 {\an7}Hedenstierna-Jonson: GAMES AT THIS TIME 640 00:39:42,080 --> 00:39:44,360 {\an7}SIGNALED A SOCIAL \h\h\h\hSTANDING. 641 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:49,280 {\an7}IT SIGNALED THE LIFESTYLE THAT IS WARRIOR RELATED, 642 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:52,080 {\an7}BUT IT ALSO SHOWS THAT \h\hYOU WERE PRACTICING 643 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:53,760 {\an7}TACTICS AND STRATEGY. 644 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:54,680 {\an7}IT’S A WAR GAME. 645 00:39:54,720 --> 00:39:55,600 {\an7}IT’S A BATTLE GAME. 646 00:39:55,640 --> 00:39:57,640 {\an7}(INTENSE MUSIC) 647 00:39:57,680 --> 00:39:59,520 {\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: AS A WEALTHY TRADING TOWN, 648 00:39:59,560 --> 00:40:02,120 {\an7}BIRKA IS UNDER CONSTANT THREAT. 649 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:06,640 {\an7}WHEN UNDER ATTACK, SIGNE, NOW AN EXPERIENCED WARRIOR LEADER, 650 00:40:06,680 --> 00:40:07,840 {\an7}IS CALLED UPON. 651 00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:11,400 {\an7}BUT DEATH CATCHES UP WITH SIGNE. 652 00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:18,480 {\an7}IN HER LIFETIME SIGNE HAD BECOME 653 00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:20,600 {\an7}A PILLAR OF BIRKA’S SOCIETY. 654 00:40:20,640 --> 00:40:22,360 {\an7}UNLIKE HER FATHER, 655 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:26,240 {\an7}SHE IS BURIED WITH THE FULL HONORS OF A VIKING LEADER. 656 00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:33,440 {\an7}Hedenstierna-Jonson: IT \hWAS DURING A FUNERAL 657 00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:35,360 {\an7}THAT YOU SHOWED OFF 658 00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:40,560 {\an7}YOUR STATUS IN SOCIETY, YOUR \h\hWEALTH, YOUR CONNECTIONS. 659 00:40:40,600 --> 00:40:44,160 {\an7}\hIT’S VERY MUCH A SHOW FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING. 660 00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:46,680 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 661 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:52,440 {\an7}Narrator: LIKE SIGNE, 662 00:40:52,480 --> 00:40:56,520 {\an7}THE BIRKA WOMEN ALSO HAD VERY \h\hSTRONG LINKS TO THE EAST. 663 00:40:56,560 --> 00:40:58,360 {\an7}Hedenstierna-Jonson: SHE \h\h\hWAS DRESSED IN GEAR 664 00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:00,120 {\an7}THAT WAS CONNECTED 665 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:02,080 {\an7}TO THE EASTERN ROOT \h\hOF THE VIKINGS. 666 00:41:02,120 --> 00:41:06,960 {\an7}SHE HAD A SPECIAL KIND OF HEAD \h\hGEAR MADE OF SAMITAN SILK. 667 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:10,200 {\an7}SO SHE CONTINUED THROUGHOUT HER LIFETIME TO MOVE ABOUT. 668 00:41:13,120 --> 00:41:15,680 {\an7}ON THE LAP OF THE \hDECEASED PERSON 669 00:41:15,720 --> 00:41:18,240 {\an7}IS THE GAMING BOARD AND GAMING PIECES. 670 00:41:18,280 --> 00:41:21,320 {\an7}\h\h\h\hSO WE FIND GAMING PIECES IN GRAVE MATERIAL 671 00:41:21,360 --> 00:41:24,360 {\an7}THAT’S QUITE COMMON, BUT TO HAVE A COMPLETE SET, 672 00:41:24,400 --> 00:41:26,680 {\an7}\h\hINCLUDING DICE, IS SOMETHING ELSE. 673 00:41:26,720 --> 00:41:29,440 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 674 00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:35,400 {\an7}IF YOU’RE A PROFESSIONAL \h\hWARRIOR YOUR IDENTITY 675 00:41:35,440 --> 00:41:36,760 {\an7}IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. 676 00:41:38,920 --> 00:41:41,680 {\an7}THERE WAS A RITUAL WHERE \hYOU THREW A SPEAR OVER 677 00:41:41,720 --> 00:41:43,280 {\an7}OR INTO THE GRAVE, 678 00:41:43,320 --> 00:41:46,120 {\an7}SIGNALING THIS LINK TO ODIN, THE WARRIOR GOD. 679 00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:51,840 {\an7}Narrator: IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY 680 00:41:51,880 --> 00:41:54,280 {\an7}MANY BIRKA GRAVES WERE EXCAVATED 681 00:41:54,320 --> 00:41:57,320 {\an7}BY SWEDISH ARCHEOLOGIST \h\h\h\hHJALMAR STOLPE. 682 00:41:58,480 --> 00:42:03,640 {\an7}\hTHE 581ST GRAVE HE DUG UP, BELONGED TO THE BIRKA WOMAN. 683 00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:05,320 {\an7}Hedenstierna-Jonson: WHEN \h\h\h\hIT COMES TO BJ581 684 00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:07,200 {\an7}IT STANDS OUT BECAUSE 685 00:42:07,240 --> 00:42:08,680 {\an7}IT’S SO EXTENSIVELY FURNISHED, 686 00:42:08,720 --> 00:42:10,680 {\an7}BUT EVERYTHING IS LINKED 687 00:42:10,720 --> 00:42:14,120 {\an7}TO BEING A PART OF A MARTIAL SOCIETY. 688 00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:15,560 {\an7}NO HOUSEHOLD EQUIPMENT. 689 00:42:15,600 --> 00:42:17,040 {\an7}IT’S JUST WEAPONS. 690 00:42:17,080 --> 00:42:18,640 {\an7}Zachrisson: THE WOMAN \hIN THE BIRKA GRAVE 691 00:42:18,680 --> 00:42:22,760 {\an7}HAS BEEN GIVEN A RATHER \hEXTRAORDINARY BURIAL, 692 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:27,560 {\an7}\h\h\hHALFWAY BETWEEN THE HARBOR WHERE THE SHIPS AND THE GARRISON 693 00:42:27,600 --> 00:42:29,600 {\an7}WOULD OF BEEN VISIBLE \h\h\hFROM THE HARBOR 694 00:42:29,640 --> 00:42:33,080 {\an7}\hSINCE IT WAS MARKED WITH A GIANT BOULDER, 695 00:42:33,120 --> 00:42:35,680 {\an7}\h\h\hMORE THAN TWO METERS IN DIAMETER. 696 00:42:35,720 --> 00:42:38,400 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 697 00:42:44,640 --> 00:42:47,600 {\an7}\hNarrator: BUT THERE IS A FINAL VISITOR TO THE GRAVE. 698 00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:56,120 {\an7}\h\hSIGNE’S LOYAL FRIEND, NOW A SUCCESSFUL TRADER, 699 00:42:56,160 --> 00:43:00,560 {\an7}PAYS HER RESPECTS TO THE WOMAN WHO ONCE GRANTED HER FREEDOM. 700 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:03,080 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 701 00:43:05,600 --> 00:43:08,680 {\an7}SURROUNDED BY HER MOST \hPRECIOUS BELONGINGS, 702 00:43:09,480 --> 00:43:13,080 {\an7}SIGNE CAN FOLLOW HER VIKING \h\h\hWARRIOR GODDESS FREYA 703 00:43:14,280 --> 00:43:15,520 {\an7}INTO THE AFTERLIFE. 704 00:43:15,560 --> 00:43:18,240 {\an7}(SOMBER MUSIC) 705 00:43:19,160 --> 00:43:20,840 {\an7}Zachrisson: IN A WAY \h\h\hIT’S FANTASTIC 706 00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:26,560 {\an7}THAT ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC \h\hVIKING WARRIOR BURIALS 707 00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:29,880 {\an7}TURNED OUT TO BE A WOMAN. 708 00:43:29,920 --> 00:43:31,520 {\an7}Hedenstierna-Jonson: I THINK \h\h\hIT’S TIME TO RECOGNIZE 709 00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:35,040 {\an7}THE FULL ROLE PLAYED BY WOMEN IN VIKING SOCIETY 710 00:43:35,080 --> 00:43:37,520 {\an7}AND REWRITE SOME OF THE VIKING HISTORY. 711 00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:41,320 {\an7}Gardela: WE WILL NEVER KNOW \hWHO THE BIRKA WOMAN WAS, 712 00:43:41,360 --> 00:43:43,280 {\an7}BUT THE REINTERPRETATION \h\h\hOF THE BIRKA GRAVE 713 00:43:43,320 --> 00:43:47,400 {\an7}FORCES US TO REVISIT OUR IDEAS OF THE VIKING AGE. 714 00:43:47,440 --> 00:43:50,520 {\an7}(INTENSE STRING MUSIC)