Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Lars Brownworth is a historian, teacher, podcaster, and author specializing in Viking history, medieval Europe, and the Byzantine Empire.
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*Transcript:*
lexfridman.com/lars-brownworth-transcript

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*EPISODE LINKS:*
Lars's Website: larsbrownworth.com
The Sea Wolves (book): amazon.com/Sea-Wolves-History-Vikings/dp/1909979120
Lars's Books: amzn.to/4sHY0xw
12 Byzantine Rulers Podcast : 12byzantinerulers.com
Norman Centuries Podcast: apple.co/4sgSxNi

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*OUTLINE:*
0:00 - Episode highlight
1:17 - Introduction
2:37 - The start of the Viking Age
12:30 - Viking military strategy, tactics & technology
26:13 - Ragnar Lothbrok
35:40 - The Great Heathen Army
40:23 - Rollo and Normandy
50:34 - Viking religion and Valhalla
1:01:06 - Viking explorers
1:06:13 - Vikings in North America
1:19:35 - Vikings in the East
1:39:14 - Byzantine Empire
1:47:57 - History and human nature

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