WHERE DID THE VIKINGS TRAVEL?
The Vikings raided and settled along the coasts of Britain,
Ireland, and continental Europe. They crossed the Atlantic
to reach Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland. Viking
merchants travelled through Russia to Constantinople,
exchanging the amber, furs, and whale oil of the north for
wine, silks, spices, and silver coins from the Middle East.HOW DID THE VIKINGS GET THEIR FIERCE REPUTATION?
The Vikings were not Christian and they saw isolated
monasteries and churches as easy targets for hit-and-run
raids. But the first people to write about the Vikings were
monks who had suffered in these raids. As a result, Viking
atrocities were better recorded than Viking achievements.HOW DID THE VIKINGS WORSHIP THEIR GODS?
The Vikings worshipped their gods in the open air, choosing
natural landmarks such as big rocks, unusual trees, and waterfalls.
Their most important gods were Odin, the god of knowledge, Thor,
the god of metalwork and thunder, and Frey, the goddess of fertility.
After around 1000, Viking peoples became Christian.Late in the 8th century, Viking raiders from Norway,
Denmark, and Sweden began to sweep across Europe.
In their versatile. LONGSHIPS, the Vikings sailed
vast distances. Their golden age of trade, exploration,
and colonization lasted until 1100 CE.
388 History
FIND OUT MORE. Byzantine Empire 385 • Exploration 400–401
Tall prow
stopped ship
diving into
waves in
rough seas1 CARVED SILVER CHARM
This silver head of a bearded man, wearing
a Viking helmet, was made to hang from
a chain, probably as a good luck charm.
The Vikings prized silver. We do not know
whose face it is meant to represent.2 VIKING WEAPON
This sword from Denmark has a double-edged
iron blade. Viking warriors took great pride in
their swords, which were handed down through
families, and sometimes placed in graves.ROUND TOWER AT ARDMORE 1
This tower stands in a cemetery
at Ardmore, County Waterford,
Ireland. It was built around
1100 by monks, as a refuge from
Viking raiders. The doorway is
4.5 m (15 ft) above the ground,
and was reached by a ladder that
could be pulled inside.LONGSHIPS
Viking ships were the best in Europe. Besides the
longships used for raiding and war, they had special
fishing boats. For long-distance voyages, they
built deeper, broader ships called knorrs.HOW WERE VIKING SHIPS BUILT?
Viking ships were made of planks of oak or pinewood,
nailed to a heavy central keel (supporting timber). This
made them strong but flexible. The mast was made
from a tall tree trunk and supported a huge square
sail. There were oars for each crew man, to row the
ship when there was no wind.4 REPLICA OF A VIKING LONGSHIP
The shallow hull of a longship made it less likely to
capsize. It could be sailed in shallow water close to land, to
make a surprise attack. Its planks overlapped for extra strength. Tarred
wool was crammed between the planks to keep water out.CARVED PICTURE STONE 3
Stones like this, showing the
brave deeds and epic voyages of
Viking heroes, were raised by
proud relatives.Vikings
Vikings