ættbálki
Ættbálki is an Old Norse term that translates to "family group" or "kinship circle." It refers to a fundamental social unit in early Scandinavian societies, encompassing a broader network of relatives than just the immediate nuclear family. This extended kinship group typically included parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and sometimes even more distant relations who were bound by blood ties and shared obligations.
The ættbálki played a crucial role in various aspects of life, including legal matters, social standing, and
Legal systems in the Viking Age often recognized the ættbálki as a collective entity. For instance, blood