Final answer:
Banishment in historical societies such as Rome and among the Vikings did not invariably result in death, but rather represented a significant change in social and living status. It stripped individuals of rights within their own society and required them to seek refuge or adjust to life in new communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of banishment in historical societies such as Rome and those of the Vikings did not necessarily equate to a certain death sentence for the exiled individual. Banishment from Rome could be a form of avoiding more severe punishments or at times served as a voluntary exile. In the Roman context, individuals such as Ovid and Cicero experienced banishment, with the former due to offending the emperor and the latter as a result of political conflict. In these cases, banishment served as a penalty that stripped individuals of their rights in their society but did not directly lead to death; rather, it was a significant change in social and living status.
Similarly, for the Vikings, while being exiled could be dangerous and set individuals adrift in a challenging environment, it did not immediately signal their demise. Exile could offer the opportunity to find refuge or a new community elsewhere, though it did come with its own risks, including the loss of one's original community support and resources.