No, the Vikings did not believe the Earth was round; they understood it as a flat disc or plane.
A Common Ancient Worldview
The Viking perception of the Earth's shape was consistent with that of many other ancient cultures. Like the early ancient Greeks, Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians, the Vikings conceived of the Earth as a flat disc or plane, often envisioned as being surrounded by water. This widespread belief was primarily based on direct observation of their surroundings—the visible horizon appears flat, and the vastness of land and sea offers no immediate indication of a curve to the unaided eye.
For people living without modern scientific instruments or a global perspective, the most compelling "evidence" was what they could see daily. The ground stretched out flat, the sea seemed boundless, and celestial bodies appeared to move across an overhead dome or plane. This understanding was often interwoven with their rich mythology, where the world they inhabited, Midgard, was a flat realm surrounded by the great World Serpent, Jörmungandr, a cosmic border separating it from the chaotic outer regions.
The Horizon and Navigation
Despite their renowned prowess as seafarers and explorers, Viking sailors' extensive voyages across vast oceans did not necessarily lead them to conclude that the Earth was spherical. Their practical understanding of navigation relied on observable phenomena, such as:
- Visual Horizon: The apparent flatness of the land and sea horizon.
- Celestial Navigation: Using the sun, moon, and stars for direction, which could be explained within a flat-Earth model where these bodies moved above a flat plane.
- Landmarks and Features: Relying on known coastlines, islands, and specific natural indicators for guidance.
While Vikings were exceptional navigators who pushed the boundaries of exploration, their experiences were not interpreted through a lens of global sphericity. The subtle curvature of the Earth over vast distances was not easily discernible or widely conceptualized by their direct observations or tools.
Flat Earth vs. Spherical Earth: A Historical Contrast
While many ancient cultures, including the Vikings, held a flat-Earth view, the concept of a spherical Earth emerged much earlier in other parts of the world. This illustrates a key divergence in scientific and philosophical thought across different civilizations.
| Characteristic | Ancient Flat Earth View (including Vikings) | Later Spherical Earth Understanding |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Direct visual observation, cultural myths | Scientific observation, mathematics, astronomy |
| Shape | Disc or plane, often surrounded by water | Sphere or oblate spheroid |
| Primary Evidence | What the eye could see directly | Celestial observations, ships disappearing hull-first, circumnavigation |
| Notable Proponents | Various ancient civilizations | Ancient Greek philosophers (e.g., Pythagoras, Aristotle), later scholars and explorers |
It's important to note that ancient Greek philosophers such as Pythagoras and Aristotle theorized about a spherical Earth centuries before the Viking Age. Moreover, Eratosthenes famously calculated the Earth's circumference with remarkable accuracy around 240 BCE. However, this advanced understanding was not universally known or accepted across all cultures or throughout every historical period. The Viking worldview, shaped by their environment and cultural narratives, maintained a flat-Earth model during their era.
