Learnings: The Thing, or Assembly
Things were held throughout the year. The chieftain, or king, presided overy session. He was sometimes joined or replaced by a lawmaker, the gothi, who knew all laws by heart. Laws had to be remembered because the Scandinavians had no written legal code at this time.
Every freeman had the right to speak freely at the thing. He could share his opinions, ask questions, and weigh in on issues of social interest. He could also demand justice for crimes or slights.
Even though all the freemen had the right to be heard, the wealthier members of the thing could use their influence to steer the assembly's decisions their way.
When the Scandinavians settled in Iceland, they held their thing in a place called the Thingvellir: the "assembly field". Here is a photograph of Thingvellir today.