norrænir

Norrænir is an Old Norse term that translates to "Nordic" or "Northmen." It broadly refers to the peoples and cultures of Scandinavia, encompassing what are now Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and sometimes extending to include Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Historically, the term is most closely associated with the Viking Age, a period from the late 8th to the mid-11th century, during which these seafaring peoples undertook extensive voyages for trade, exploration, settlement, and raiding across Europe and beyond.

The concept of "norrænir" is deeply intertwined with a shared cultural heritage, including language (Old Norse), mythology (the Æsir and Vanir gods, creation myths), legal systems, and social structures. While distinct kingdoms and tribal affiliations existed, a sense of common identity was present among these groups. Their influence spread through trade routes, colonization in areas like Iceland, Greenland, and parts of the British Isles and Russia, and through their interactions, both peaceful and violent, with other European societies. The legacy of the norrænir continues to be studied in fields like history, archaeology, linguistics, and literature, particularly through the sagas and Eddic poetry.