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{{Middle Ages}}

{{Middle Ages}}

"Viking" is the name used for the warrior/trader people of [[Scandinavia]] ([[Norway]], [[Sweden]], and [[Denmark]]) from about 750 A.D. to 1050 A.D. In their own culture, the word "viking" referred only to their pillaging raids on other people, usually carried out by sea in distinctive boats that were advanced for their time. These raids were famously devastating, and had a major impact on the history of [[Britain]] and [[France]]. The spread of [[Christianity]] through the [[British Isles]] had led to the building of many large and wealthy [[Monastery|monasteries]] which were attractive and easy targets for Viking raids. The contemporary [[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]] describes the first Viking raid on the coast of Britain, at the monastery at [[Lindisfarne Abbey]] in 793 A.D., and gives a clear impression of how the local inhabitants were caught unawares and did not know how at first to respond to the approaching [[Longship]]s:

"Viking" is the name used for the warrior/trader people of [[Scandinavia]] ([[Norway]], [[Sweden]], and [[Denmark]]) from about 750 A.D. to 1050 A.D. In their own culture, the word "viking" referred only to their pillaging raids on other people, usually carried out by sea in distinctive boats that were advanced for their time. These raids were famously devastating, and had a major impact on the history of [[Britain]] and [[France]]. The spread of [[Christianity]] through the [[British Isles]] had led to the building of many large and wealthy [[Monastery|monasteries]] which were attractive and easy targets for Viking raids. The contemporary [[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]] describes the first Viking raid on the coast of Britain, at the monastery at [[Lindisfarne Abbey]] in 793 A.D., and gives a clear impression of how the local inhabitants were caught unawares and did not know how at first to respond to the approaching [[Longship]]s:

Along with their destructive habits, Vikings were also well-known traders, explorers and settlers. They settled the islands of [[Iceland]] (870) and [[Greenland]] (985), and tried to start a settlement in North America (1000), almost 500 years before [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus]]. They founded the city of [[Dublin]], Ireland, as a trading center. Vikings also expanded toward the East. They were involved in the founding of [[Russia]], and were important in the history of the Eastern Roman Empire at [[Constantinople]].

Along with their destructive habits, Vikings were also well-known traders, explorers and settlers. They settled the islands of [[Iceland]] (870) and [[Greenland]] (985), and tried to start a settlement in North America (1000), almost 500 years before [[Christopher Columbus|Columbus]]. They founded the city of [[Dublin]], Ireland, as a trading center. Vikings also expanded toward the East. They were involved in the founding of [[Russia]], and were important in the history of the Eastern Roman Empire at [[Constantinople]].

 

At home, Vikings were industrious farmers and fishermen. They had a distinctive culture that valued honor, hospitality, and generosity.

At home, Vikings were industrious farmers and fishermen. They had a distinctive culture that valued honor, hospitality, and generosity.