The Viking Age CONFERENCE 2021 - CORNELL MODEL UNITED NATIONS - Cornell Model UN Conference
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The Viking Age
CORNELL MODEL UNITED NATIONS
CONFERENCE 2021
Copyright © 2021 by the Cornell Model United Nations Conference
All rights reserved. This document or any portion thereof may not be reproduced
or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the
Cornell Model United Nations Conference (CMUNC) except when used for educational
purposes.
Commercial reproduction or reference to this document requires the express
written consent of the current Secretary-General of CMUNC. Further terms of use
for commercial purposes will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
For more information on CMUNC, use the Contact Us page located at: cmunc.net
2
CMUNC 2021 Secretariat
Secretary-General
Malvika Narayan
Director-General
Bryan Weintraub
Chief of Staff
James “Hamz” Piccirilli
Director of Events
Alexandra Tsalikis
Director of Outreach
Akosa Nwadiogbu
Director of Communications
Annie Rogers
Director of Finance
Daniel Bernstein
Director of Operations
Andrew Landesman
Under-Secretary Generals
Robyn Bardmesser
Avery Bower
John Clancy
Mariana Goldlust
3
From Your Chair
Dear Delegates,
My name is Amanda Amornwichet and I will be your crisis director for this
committee. I hope you appreciate the work we put into this committee and
really make this committee your own. We tried to leave it as open ended as
possible, I hope to see some collaboration among the members of the Alliance.
As for my expectations for the committee, I neither expect nor want this to
follow history in any way; however, I expect you to follow your character’s
positions, and stay in character. I know the background guide and blurbs might
be a bit confusing so if you have any questions at all, do not hesitate to shoot me
an email.
Outside of CMUNC, I am a Senior studying Materials Science and Engineering
with minors in Thai and Sustainable Energy Systems. In addition to the Cornell
International Affairs Society (CIAS), I am an Engineering Ambassador and I am
involved in Swing Dance, the Food Recovery Network, and Engineers for a
Sustainable World. Within CIAS I have competed in three Model UN
competitions, and staffed four. I also was fortunate enough to visit China as a
director for WEMUN, a high school model UN competition in Beijing, China.
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions about CMUNC, college, or life in
general. I am so excited to see what innovative ideas you will bring to the
committee. Best of luck to all of you!
Amanda Amornwichet
The Viking Age Chair
CMUNC 2021
4
From Your Vice Chair
Dear Delegates,
My name is Byron Sleight and I will be your Vice Chair for this committee. I
hope you appreciate the work we put into this committee and hope that you will
make it your own and hopefully learn some fun facts along the way. This is my
first conference but not my first rodeo. After many years of hanging out and
befriending most members of CIAS as Ben Inbar’s “zany” roommate, I have
decided to participate in the legendary CMUNC. I look forward to sharing my
love of Old Norse culture with all of you via this background guide, and please
do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Outside of CIAS I am a senior graduating this spring with a degree in physics,
and after graduation plan on attending graduate school pursuing research in the
field of quantum computing. I also may have accidentally obtained a minor in
Astronomy. Around campus, I’m known for being the former president of
Libertarians at Cornell and an undergraduate physics TA. I enjoy working out,
hiking, and playing the drums. The Crisis Director, Chair, and I have started a
band this semester and currently have a punk inspired cover of the classic indie
track “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” in the works. I also hold the distinction of
being the biggest Weezer fan here at Cornell, so if anyone has some hot takes
about the Blue Album or any other of their fantastic albums please share them
with me. Feel free to ask me any questions about Viking-Age Norway, politics,
life, Weezer, or any aspect of our boundless but finite universe, feel free to send
me a message. I hope you have as much fun as I am writing this!
Bryan Sleight
The Viking Age Vice Chair
CMUNC 2021
5
From Your Crisis Director
Dear Delegates,
My name is Ben Inbar and it is my honor and pleasure to welcome you to
CMUNC. I am a senior studying Mechanical Engineering and minoring in the
Environment and Sustainability and History. Next year I am gonna be starting
my Master’s of Engineering here at Cornell. Model UN has been a part of my
life for the past 8 years ever since I joined my high school’s team for its inaugural
year in 2013. Quickly being drawn to the faster paced Specialized and Crisis
committees I went from being unsure if MUN was for me, to a seasoned and
experienced Crisis delegate. I am now so incredibly excited to be able to give all
of you the opportunity to debate, backstab, scheme, and compromise in what are
truly some of the best and most imaginative committees I have ever been a part
of creating.
I joined the Cornell International Affairs Society my freshman year and it has
quickly grown from something I did every Wednesday to an integral part of my
Cornell experience. I have staffed Star Wars JCCs and AdHocs, Chaired and
CD’ed committees ranging from the liberation and creation of Gran Colombia to
a look into the fictional universe of Jurassic Park. I have also served on the
secretariat of our Collegiate Conference as a USG, the Director General and this
coming year as Secretary General. I am hoping to bring my experience and
knowledge of MUN to all of my committees in order to make sure each and
every one of you can have the same incredible experiences that I have had as a
travelling delegate.
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions about CMUNC, your committee,
life, help with your Algebra II homework, or anything else you may need (Just
put CMUNC - Vikings - Your Position Name). I love hearing from my delegates
and since I won’t get to meet you all in person this year I would love any chance
to get to meet all of you. Can’t wait to go raiding with you this April.
Ben Inbar
The Viking Age Crisis Director
CMUNC 2021
6Introduction
As a short overview, please watch this video on the Vikings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc5zUK2MKNY
The Vikings lived in Northern Europe, in a region called Scandinavia. The
modern countries of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland
compromise Scandinavia. About one quarter of the Scandinavian Peninsula,
Europe’s largest peninsula, is located within the Arctic Circle. Various large
bodies of water including the Baltic Sea, the Norwegian Sea, the Barents Sea,
and the North Sea surround the peninsula. While hazardous ice flows threaten
to wreck most ships which venture into these waters, the Vikings could navigate
these waters without fear of destruction. A mountain range divides the
Peninsula, creating a rough border between Sweden and Norway.
Map of Scandinavia (Wikimedia Commons)
At this time (800 A.D.), Scandinavia’s usable natural resources included
timber, iron and copper. Southern Sweden contained the best spots of arable
7land, where farming could occur. Many islands sat in the Baltic Sea, offering
resources and potential opportunities for trade to many travelers. However,
settlers who wanted to live and farm these islands could face a distinct
possibility of flooding, making living in this area difficult.
Hunter-gatherer tribes settled early Scandinavia and roamed the region.
Soon enough, these people developed herding and farming techniques and
communities in the Germanic Bronze Age. These civilizations gained complexity
during the Iron Age. The Iron Age in Northern Europe had three phases: pre-
Roman, Roman, and Germanic. During the time of the Roman Empire, the
Scandinavian tribes barely made contact with the Romans. After Rome’s fall in
476 A.D., these tribes acquired Roman gold from other Germanic tribes who
sacked Rome and brought their loot north. At this point in time, the Vikings
most often lived as farmers, hunters, and fur trappers.
A Reconstructed Lojsta Hall, from the Iron Age, in Sweden. (Wikimedia
Commons)
Looking to the era of the committee, the Vikings have amassed more
power in the region, and have begun raids on the British Isles. In 793, longships
8arrived at Lindisfarne in England and raided the monastery, claiming gold,
jewels, books, and art for themselves. The Vikings murdered several monks and
burned buildings to the ground. This only begins these types of adventures and
the Vikings stand ready to take much wealth and excellent farmland. However,
the tribes must band together in order to attain these unimaginable riches.
You, the Viking clan leaders, stand on the precipice of power, fortune, and
notoriety. A summit has been called, and will meet in the next year (800 A.D.,
the starting point for the committee) to discuss the possibility of inter-tribe
alliances for greater conquest and control of Europe. Each of you must know the
interests of his clan, and pursue them ruthlessly in search of glory and the favor
of the gods. The rest of Europe sits weakly by, full of wealth, and ripe for the
taking! May each of you find fortune on your voyages.
Raids
The Vikings considered raiding an honorable challenge to fight. The
mainland would often know in advance of an incoming raid, and would prepare
to retaliate and fight to defend their belongings. A Viking would never consider
these acts as theft. In fact, the Nordic cultures heavily condemned theft and
robbery. Spoils were earned, not stolen. The Vikings saw raiding as a necessary
consequence of growing communities. This type of expansion by violence
seemed natural to the Vikings, and mirrors later forms of colonialism, such as
9under imperial Great Britain. For the purpose of this committee, Raids may be
seen as part of the culture of the Vikings. The Vikings branded a successful
raider as wealthy and famous, adored by their followers and respected by their
foes. However, some Vikings often pursued raiding as a part-time job, in
addition to their other responsibilities in their community.
A tombstone with Viking Raiders (National Geographic)
Vikings often conducted their raids at sea. Vikings sailed on longships,
and initially did not send many to attack at once. In smaller coastal towns or
monasteries, no standing navies existed to stop them. Raiding parties typically
worked as close groups who shared spoils equally, and ranged from one to two
long ships worth of men. A Viking Raid would often gain more ships along the
way as it progressed on its journey. The Vikings relied on the superiority of these
10ships to make stealthy attacks on their targets. They would sail up, land, raid,
and sail away again. This “hit and run” tactic became the dominant style for
raiders, and thereby they relied on the sea to make their attacks. However, as
time progressed, they began to move further inland and engage more with land
and territory.
Vikings looted objects of value, but they needed to be compact enough for
their ships to carry. Raiders saw gold and silver as obvious targets, but weapons,
iron, clothes, livestock, and food also served as effective spoils for raiders. Slaves
would also be claimed in some raids and remained a significant motivation in
raiding.
The first important Viking raid of this committee occurred in 793, against
the monastery of Lindisfarne on the English coast. Monasteries served as a
frequent target for raiders in general because they kept tithe collections,
consolidating a good portion of wealth in one place. Vikings focused on coastal
towns where they could easily land, as well as active trading centers, where large
amounts of goods or valuables might be stored.
Potential raids for this summit may start with related sites along the coast
of the European mainland. This includes the coasts of England, France, Spain,
and Northern Europe, as far North as Iceland and Greenland, and into the
Mediterranean, North Africa, and Italy. Around the Baltic and Caspian seas
11could also emerge as targets. The Vikings strayed all over the world and in this
committee, it will be your job to complete that adventure.
Colonies
While raids were unquestionably considered a quintessential aspect of the
Viking lifestyle, colonization could also be viewed as vital in maintaining the
success and longevity of the Viking people. As the Viking people emerged as a
new superpower, large populations of Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians may
have wanted to leave Scandinavia to begin new lives elsewhere. Historians
debate the many causes that drove the Scandinavian people toward
expansion. Some possible reasons include a spike in population in Scandinavia
that caused agricultural shortages, the decline of profitability on older trade
routes, or simply the exploitation of unstable and decentralized rule in
neighboring European regions. In the current period (800 A.D.), the Vikings
have undergone an increased interaction with the world outside of Scandinavia
and gained a newfound knowledge of sailing technology. These factors allowed
the Vikings to take advantage of surrounding land, affluent trade routes, and
European wealth.
12Britain and Ireland
Map of England (Indymedia)
Up until the 9th century A.D., the Vikings remained focused on expanding
into nearby European nations that were suffering from internal conflict. The
Viking saw England, Ireland, and Scotland as the easiest potential targets, and
have begun brutal and frequent transgressions into this territory. However,
some forward looking Vikings saw the potential for long-term settlement into
these regions as well. The Danes had their eyes on England and the Norwegians
saw the potential for the settling of Scotland. Others plan the possibility of a full
13colonization of Ireland, with the forging coastline bases along the oceans and
major trading towns, such as Dublin and Waterford. The Vikings saw
colonization as cultural as well, and intermarriage among local rulers may be a
distinct possibility (Archaeological Institute of America).
14Other Areas
Beyond England, Scotland, and Ireland, the Vikings may desire to voyage
even further into Western Europe, settling into Frankia (modern-day France and
Germany) and Normandy. Some Vikings may even want to penetrate further,
delving into Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. As the Viking seafaring technology
advances, they may better be able to venture to Iceland and Greenland and settle
into communities around the coast. Rumors also abound of land even beyond
these isles, a vast continent, full of uncharted land and timber, ready for the
taking.
15Settled Life
Though notoriously bloodthirsty during pillages and land conquests, the
settled life of the Vikings, particularly, was surprisingly tame. Every member of
the family maintained a role within the village: men worked jobs to provide for
the family, and also fought to protect the village. Women completed domestic
work; and children did not go to school, but instead stayed home to learn
necessary skills from their parents. As evident in the Poetic Edda, an enforced
social hierarchy existed consisting of kings, jarls (nobles/chiefs), karls (freemen),
and thralls (slaves). Additionally, Vikings constructed their own style of law and
government. The Vikings referred to their own version of a judicial court as
“Thing,” where they would settle disputes and make executive legal decisions
under the observance of the law-speaker (a judge or chieftain). Another more
unorthodox form of resolution in Scandinavian culture became the Holmgang,
or a duel that decided the outcome of a disagreement (BBC).
Some Vikings raiders suggested feudalism as a way to rule their newfound
collections of territory. As raiding harmed both trade routes and agricultural
production, feudalism held potential for creating a stable structure of life.
Landholders (lords) could settle in the area and give land to vassals (knights) in
exchange for loyalty and defense. The system would be effective in not only
blocking marauders, but also settling disputes among neighbors. Eventually
peasants could even possibly partake in holding land and fueling serfdom in
16settled regions in return for protection under the lords and vassals. This
feudalistic form of land protection could make lords some of the most powerful
leaders within a kingdom and transform knights into a new form of jarl
(Fsmitha.com). However this idea remained controversial among the Vikings.
Religion
Nordic Religion Centered around the conflict between the Gods, such as
Odin and Thor, and their conflict with the Giants. Cunning was a common tactic
for God's triumph over the Giants, and can be seen as represented in the stealth
and speed of the raids of the Vikings. However, mischievousness could be seen
as a problem in some circumstances, when gods such as Loki harmed their
community. The Vikings believed in a sort of rapture called “Ragnarok” which
would lead to the end of times and a sweeping fire, incinerating mankind, until
life began anew.
Odin on his horse (BBC).
17Norse Mythic Figures
Odin – Ruler of all gods with special powers over poetry, war, and magic.
Said to be slayed by the Fenris Wolf in the end of times. Vikings made sacrifices
to him in times of war, hoping to win his fortune.
Frigg – The goddess of foresight and wisdom, often depicted as the wife of
Odin. She also has been heavily associated with the earth and Christianized in
many depictions.
Thor – An important god, described as one who, “governs thunder and
lightning, winds and storms, fine weather and fertility.” When plague or famine
occurred, people would often give sacrifices to Thor to ward off the tough times.
Thor’s representation was considered heavily sacred and damaging it could
produce dangerous results in the Viking community.
Loki – A god who supported both the Gods and the Giants, never fitting
into either good or evil. He is commonly described as a shapeshifter, appearing
as fish, horses, and even a woman in some tales.
Fenrir Wolf – A monster in Norse mythology in the form of a wolf.
Possibly the son of Loki, he is seen as creating discord among communities and
peoples, bringing conflict among tribes and foreigners.
18Christianity
As the Vikings encountered other lands, they also encountered
Christianity. As Viking settle in other lands, some may be open to calling this
new religion their own, or merging different systems of beliefs. While Vikings
attacked monasteries, they did not out of rejection of Christianity, but out of a
need to locate easier targets. Some Norse raiders saw adopting the Christian god
as just adding another God to the growing pile, not seeing any issues with
incorporating this new belief system into their own. Indeed welcoming
Christianity could help reduce the spread of conflict in the conquered colonies.
In some areas of the world, Christians were prohibited from trading with
pagans such as the Norse. In order to gain trading advantage, some Vikings
deemed it profitable to convert to Christianity or open their communities up to
priests. As Vikings also may have wanted to intermingle with the local
populations, learning Christianity was prerequisite to settling down and
becoming part of a foreign community. Intermarriage, for example, may have
also needed some type of conversion to be deemed acceptable among local
Christian populations. Local chieftains could carry much sway in this process. If
the chief converted, there was a good chance the population may have converted
as well. In this way, intermarriage and chief conversion could even open up the
spread of Christianity to Scandanvia, as raiders come back with new belief in
one this different system of religion.
19Viking Figures
Due to shaky historicity and a lack of primary sources from the peoples of
the North who went a viking, some positions may not have lived during the exact
time period in question. The committee however will operate on the fiction that
all listed positions are currently alive at the onset of the conference.
Additionally, due to the inclusion of figures who historically are outside of the
time period of the committee all positions will assume the personality and
ambitions of their figures, but will be assumed to start from positions of
relatively equal strength. All positions have war bands and control a petty
kingdom in the land of the Danes (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, etc). No
position has any territory in Europe, or the British Isles.
Positions:
1. Harald Fairhair
2. Naddodd
3. Kveldulf Bjalfason
4. Berle-Kari
5. Ingjald Helgasson
6. Turgesius
7. Ozur Toti
8. Sigtryg Eysteinsson
9. Eysteinn Beli
10. Björn Ironside
11. Ivar the Boneless
12. Sigurd Hring
13. Eystein Glumra
14. Harald Wartooth
15. Harald Klak
16. Granmar, King of Södermanland
17. Högne, King of Östergötland
18. Egil Skallagrimsson
19. Freydis Eiríksdóttir
20. Halfdan Ragnarsson
21. Ubba Ragnarsson
22. Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye
23. Sweyn Forkbeard
24. Harald Hardrada
25. Cnut the Great
20Works Cited
Atwood, Roger. "The Vikings in Ireland." Archaeology Magazine. Archaeological
Institute of America, 10 Mar. 2015. Web. 14 June 2017.
History.com Staff. "Vikings." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web.
14 June 2017.
Ritchie, Anna. "History - Ancient History in depth: Viking Colonists." BBC. BBC,
17 Feb. 2011. Web. 14 June 2017.
"Vikings." The Swedish History Museum. Historiska, n.d. Web. 14 June 2017.
"Vikings, Magyars, Warlords and Feudalism." Macrohistory and World Timeline.
N.p., n.d. Web. 14 June 2017.
"What was life like in Viking Britain?" BBC Bitesize. BBC, n.d. Web. 14 June 2017.
“Viking Religion. Garreth Williams. BBC History. BBC. Web July 2017.
“Scandinavian Peninsula,” New World Encyclopedia. Web. June 2017.
“Where Did the Vikings Come From?” Bright Hub Education. Web. June 2017.
“Denmark.” The World CIA Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Web. June
2017.
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