When you hear “Vikings,” your brain probably auto-loads horned helmets, flaming funerals, and someone drinking mead out of a skull while yelling at the ocean. I’m sorry geeks, but history would like a word.

This video slices straight through the longboat-sized pile of Viking myths and breaks down what life in the Viking Age was actually like. From misunderstood helmets and overhyped funerals to global trade networks, and a society way more complex than pop culture suggests, it explores five of the biggest misconceptions we’ve been clinging to for centuries. Turns out the real Vikings didn’t need fantasy props to be fascinating… or terrifying! Check it out!