The Ascent of Civilization
This episode explores the Vikings not as ruthless raiders but as groundbreaking seafarers, traders, and explorers. Master shipbuilders, they forged vast networks of commerce stretching from Europe to Asia and even reached the shores of America centuries before Columbus. By challenging the stereotype of violent marauders, the documentary presents the Vikings as a tolerant and skilled people whose innovations in navigation and trade reshaped medieval exploration and left an enduring mark on global history.