Following the Raven Banner

Ver heill ok sæll and welcome to my thesis. My name is Hayden Shaw and at the time of this project’s creation, I am a 2nd year M.A. student at Ball State University, majoring in History with a focus in Medieval History and the Digital Humanities. As you will undoubtedly come to realize, I am primarily a Medievalist and focus largely on Scandinavia from the Early Middle Ages until about the end of the eleventh century (The Viking Age). This project is the culmination of several years of research and hopes to display the various skills that I have gained during my time at Ball State University. The vast majority of this work has taken place during the last year from September of 2016 until the Summer of 2017.

Way back in the archaic past that was the early 2000s, long before I became obsessed with Vikings and traded my fantasy novels in for historiographies, I remember reading the above quote. This sentiment was undoubtedly not conjured by the trials and tribulations of creating a master’s thesis, but nonetheless, I associated it with mine. One of the hardest things in the world as a historian is to resist the urge to be swept off one’s feet by the past. At times, it was difficult to rein this passion in: the quote becomes the paragraph, the paragraph turns into the chapter and the chapter a monograph in the blink of an eye. Truthfully, when creating something one is passionate about, it is almost a spiritual event. In those moments, a historian outpours all of the research, theories and wild ideas that have been rolling around in their heads, honing until they shine like a rock tumbler turning rough stone into polished beauty. This digital thesis was no different.

Lastly, there are a few people I would like to thank. Foremost my friends and family to whom I am indebted more than words can express. In particular, I would like to thank my Mom and Dad. Without your support and belief in me, I would never have come as far as I have. It all begins with you guys. Next, I’d like to thank Lisa Hensell, my own personal Norn, for providing me with much needed mental, emotional and caffeine-beverage-related support during the creation of this project. Secondly, I would like to thank Kenny Shields for being my coding guru/technomancer-in-chief: if it weren’t for you I’d still be trying to turn hyperlinks blue. Then, I would, of course, like to thank my academic mentors, Dr. Seefeldt, Dr. Suppe, and Dr. Alves, during my time at Ball State you all have taught me through example and instruction what it means to be a true scholar and whatever I achieve from here on out is due in part to the faith you placed in me. Finally, I would like to thank Angela Gibson at the Ball State GIS lab for teaching me the map-making craft and helping me find all those hidden menus.

For any comments, critiques, or interesting tidbits of information that you wish to share, my contact information is posted below:

haydencshaw@gmail.com