Abstract
Roskilde was founded around ad 1000 with the
intention to mark and strengthen the position of
church and king as the imperative ideological,
religious and power factor in the waning Viking-Age society. Initially it was not a commercial
hub, and therefore it was hardly considered that
the inhabitants 50 or 100 years later had to work
hard to make the terrain smoother, drier and thus
usable, as the place had assumed urban character
and expanded rapidly. Urban settlements of the
same type as Roskilde were Lund and Viborg and - we assume - Odense. The names of Viborg and Odense point to a continuation of pagan shrines, while in the case of Roskilde and Lund it can only be postulated. The four cities contain some common topographical and archaeological-historical characteristics indicating that around the year1000 they were part of an overall plan. The aim was to establish bridgeheads that - mentally and physically - marked the connection between the ancestors’ customs and the young Christian kingdom, which unconditionally contained the seeds of massive societal change. It is hardly a coincidence that the four specially selected localities are in their respective “countries”.
intention to mark and strengthen the position of
church and king as the imperative ideological,
religious and power factor in the waning Viking-Age society. Initially it was not a commercial
hub, and therefore it was hardly considered that
the inhabitants 50 or 100 years later had to work
hard to make the terrain smoother, drier and thus
usable, as the place had assumed urban character
and expanded rapidly. Urban settlements of the
same type as Roskilde were Lund and Viborg and - we assume - Odense. The names of Viborg and Odense point to a continuation of pagan shrines, while in the case of Roskilde and Lund it can only be postulated. The four cities contain some common topographical and archaeological-historical characteristics indicating that around the year1000 they were part of an overall plan. The aim was to establish bridgeheads that - mentally and physically - marked the connection between the ancestors’ customs and the young Christian kingdom, which unconditionally contained the seeds of massive societal change. It is hardly a coincidence that the four specially selected localities are in their respective “countries”.
| Translated title of the contribution | Bydannelse i et vanskeligt terræn. |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Publication date | 5 Apr 2022 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Publication status | Published - 5 Apr 2022 |
| Event | From Central Space to Urban Place (2:2) : Spaces, places and the earliest urbanization of South Scandinavia - Lindholm Høje Museet, Nørresundby, Denmark Duration: 30 Nov 2021 → 1 Dec 2021 |
Conference
| Conference | From Central Space to Urban Place (2:2) |
|---|---|
| Location | Lindholm Høje Museet |
| Country/Territory | Denmark |
| City | Nørresundby |
| Period | 30/11/2021 → 01/12/2021 |