The Vikings


Week 11: Medieval Europe IDs

 

The Vikings

 

The Vikings were ship-borne marauders, traders, explorers, and warriors. They were of Scandinavian descent and focused on attacking from the British Isles to Sicily between the 8th and 11th centuries (known as the Viking Age). Because of this, they came to be known as the "Scourge of Europe". Their sailing skills were known far and wide and this helped them colonize areas like Shetland, Orkney, the Faroe Islands (Nordic Islands in the North Atlantic), Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland by 1000. There is also belief that they were the true discoverers of America, not Columbus (The find is attributed to Leif Ericsson).

 

The Vikings began to move down to Constantinople, through Russia, establishing a trade route and eventually helping to start the first colonization of Russia, Kievan Rus. Their trading helped develop the commerce in Medieval Ireland. Trade items of note include: walrus ivory, soap stone, falcons, Arab furs, honey, amber, sword blades, and timber. The Vikings adopted the language of their raided areas, and eventually became French, Scottish, Russian, and Irish.