While researching the Vikings and what made them such fierce warriors, I learned that the cause of their behavior came from their code of ethics. ethics as well as their ideals and religion. The Vikings had a code of ethics that dictated the behavior of any respectable warrior, especially those who wanted to be heroes among their people. This is proven in the book Vikings: Raiders From The North which states: "Self-respect, honor and reputation were necessary above all, and these could not exist without a solid foundation of loyalty to family and comrades. Conventions governed everything in life. conventions about hospitality and gift-giving, about keeping oaths and avenging wrongs, about doing good deeds for the neighborhood, like building bridges and churches. Leaders of men must demonstrate courage, courage, camaraderie, honesty, eloquence, and zest for life. with the ability to face death with a serene mind. All of these demands, and countless others, were incorporated into the Old Norse poem Havamal, literally “the speech of the highest,” which comprises the entire Viking Age code of conduct. from simple little homilies to declarations of the true meaning of eternal honor." (34) The use of this code of ethics to guide them and the fact that this code is so deeply ingrained in their way of life is also demonstrated when the book states: "He could never become king if he did not have both income and honor. He needed both to inspire his warriors. Honor decreed that he led his warriors. own troops in combat, and... middle of paper ... is when Donovan states: “Yet the Viking movement made remarkable contributions to European civilization Among them, the ideals of loyalty, courage and. of individual freedom, which are shared by the descendants of the Vikings in many countries, are remarkable. (25) In conclusion, it is ultimately that the code of ethics, religion and ideals of the Vikings were the reasons. why they were such a fierce people Works Cited Donovan, Frank R. and Thomas D. Kendrick The Vikings. London: Cassell, 1964. Print. Haworth-Maden, Clare, Judith Millidge and Wayne Humphries. Viking gods. Edison, NJ: Chartwell, 1999. Print. Kingsley, Rebecca. Viking myths and legends. New Jersey: Chartwell, 1999. Print. Odijk, Pamela. The Vikings. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Silver Burdett, 1990. Print.Vikings: Raiders of the North. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life, 1993. Print.