Viking Age

The Viking Age was a period in early European history when Norse people traveled across seas to trade, explore, and settle new lands. Norse refers to people from areas that are now Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. This age began around the late 700s and continued until the 1000s. During this time, long-distance travel by sea helped connect different regions.

Vikings used longships for their journeys. A longship is a long, narrow boat with a shallow bottom that helps it move quickly through water. These ships could travel across the open ocean or move up rivers. This allowed Vikings to reach far places, such as the British Isles and the coasts of western Europe. Some groups sailed even farther, to places like Iceland and Greenland. Their skill in building strong ships made long voyages possible.

Life in Viking societies was based on farming, fishing, and simple trade. Trade is the buying and selling of goods. People grew crops, raised animals, and made tools from wood and metal. Some Vikings traveled overseas to trade items such as fur, cloth, and metalwork. Others settled in new lands, where they built homes, planted fields, and formed small communities. A community is a group of people who live together in the same area.

The Viking Age also saw conflict. Some Vikings attacked coastal towns and took goods by force. These attacks are often called raids. A raid is a sudden attack on a place. Raids happened because people wanted land, wealth, or supplies. Over time, some Viking groups formed larger settlements and took part in local politics. Politics refers to the ways people make decisions about leadership and laws.

Vikings also shared stories, beliefs, and language. Old Norse, their language, spread to the places where they settled. Some of their stories, called sagas, describe voyages, family life, and famous events. A saga is a long story about past heroes or families. These writings help historians learn about how Vikings lived.

The Viking Age ended as societies in northern Europe changed. Many Vikings became part of the communities where they settled. Some accepted new leaders and new religions. By the end of the 1000s, the period of wide Viking travel and raids had slowed, and different kingdoms grew stronger. Even so, the Viking Age left a lasting mark on culture, language, and place names across Europe.