viking.ages.im · part of ages.im
The Viking Age, without the opera helmets
Farmers, traders and raiders from Scandinavia changed the map of Europe and reached as far as Newfoundland. Every fact here is tied to a museum, a heritage body or a reference work, and we say so when the sources disagree.
Most Vikings were actually ordinary farmers, not full-time raiders. Nat. Mus. Denmark The Vikings were mainly farmers, fishers, hunters and skilled craft workers. British Museum Many Vikings traded with Europe, Russia and Asia, exchanging furs, walrus ivory, amber and slaves for silver, gold and luxury goods. British Museum
The Old Norse word vikingr usually meant "pirate" or "raider." Britannica Britannica describes the Vikings as raiders, traders, explorers and colonizers during the 9th to 11th century. Britannica
England's Key Stage 2 history programme includes "the Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England to the time of Edward the Confessor." GOV.UK
The age
Start dates, end dates, and why good sources do not pick the same years.
Ships
Longships, traders of up to 60 tons, and the Gokstad ship in numbers.
England
Lindisfarne, the Danelaw, Alfred, Cnut and Stamford Bridge.
Across the sea
Iceland, Greenland, L’Anse aux Meadows, Ireland and the eastern routes.
Life
Farmers, towns, women, runes, gods and the coming of Christianity.
Isle of Man
Tynwald, thing-fields, and a wealthy burial at Balladoole.