None of the things that he presents are fantasy, Cassandra. They have historical backing, and he cites those sources. Again, you don't have room to criticize anything regarding Heathenry as "fantasy" with some of the stuff you've put out.
"Historical backing". hmmmmm... I guess that is vague enough.
And if European scholars really dreaded American scholars so much, he wouldn't have been a consultant on several projects regarding Norse culture from folks in Sweden.
On scripture, no doubt.
So where's your PhD, Cassandra?
I admit, I have no Ph D in Norse Archeology, and neither has Dr. Crawford. The difference is that I am not making videos on the subject. Here is another
video of on Norse life and he admits he is not Archeologist. Still that does not stop him from fantasizing.
Like when he is talking about the Norse eating potatoes or meat. Potatoes? Does he not even know that potatoes come from the America's and were introduced in Europe only in the second half of the 16th century (by the Spanish). So how were Norsemen eating potatoes? Or are they fantasy potatoes?
Do I need a Ph d. in archeology to tell, this guy is making it up?
Then the picture he paints of Norse people fighting all the time because they are so manly, they even have to fight their own neighbors. Surely the man understands very little of the dynamics of living in a harsh environment. The only way to survive is not to fight each other, but stick together and be social. They need each other to survive in the harsh environment.
Yes they need to be manly. But not because they have to fear their neighbor (who is family), but because there are very dangerous gangs roaming and pillaging the countryside. Especially the wild young men calling themselves the bearmen and wolvesmen. So you absolutely need the community for protection. As far as infighting goes, what you have is feuds. That is a problem. Feuds between powerful families can go on for generations.
That is also why people are outlawed when they are perceived as a danger to the community. This is a very hard sentence. You can not survive on your own, and either these people are forced to live in even more inhabitable places, or they join a gang, or go pillaging other territories, or they die get killed or die.
It may have some similarities with picture painted in westerns, with an important exception. these people are heavily related, they are not newcomers. In such communities all people are related. If you are not born there, you might as well be from another country. They have their own social system and they take care of their own. if you are not married into it, you are excluded from it.
And remember they have no internet, no television, no books. These people gather. they eat and drink together. They are not private like modern people, they like company. They love to eat, drink and sing together. they form strong bonds. They like musicians and good story tellers. These people are excellent storytellers. They like visitors for their stories. As some of them travel far, they have lots of interesting stories. And they have a memory for stories, much better than people today. Nothing beats a good story around the fire place. dr Crawford would have been a good storyteller.
People of Upaladik: Let me tell you about the land beyond the great sea, Vinland... It is strange land. There, people are quarreling and fighting all the time, especially their neighbors. And they hear lies most of the time. They have no regard for the truth. Their king trumps them all, and he is chosen because he wins the lying contest. They regularly wage war, but they are not very courageous, They only pick a fight when there is no chance of losing. They rely on their superior weapons, magic and cunning. When a small part of their army dies, they no longer want to fight. They worship a demon God whose slaves they are made into from birth. To get entrance into his realm, they do not have to show bravery or even fight, just admit to slavery. It is a strange land, Vinland.