The Vikings

The Vikings

The VikingsThe Vikings began leaving their homeland in the 8th century AD.They are from the modern day countries of Denmark, Norway & Sweden.People debate whether they left because it was too crowded, political pressure or in search of riches.

The VikingsFor nearly two centuries there was hardly a church in northern Europe that did not echo with the prayer: "Deliver us O Lord from the wrath of the Northmen."They took advantage of the decline of the Frankish empire after Charlemagne's death.

The VikingsThe Vikings were very good sailors. They built boats that were very long and narrow called longships.They began by raiding monasteries.They settled in an area of England called the Danelaw and in an area of France called Normandy (they were called Normans in France).

The VikingsThe only English kingdom to survive the Viking raids was the Kingdom of Wessex.In the 9th century, Alfred the Great, the King of Wessex defeated the Vikings and became the first King over all of England. The only English king with the title of Great.

The VikingsAnother name for Vikings is Norsemen (north men).They traveled west to Ireland, Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland, Canada.They also traveled to the Mediterranean Sea & Russia to trade.

The VikingsThe Irish women that Viking men took as slaves to live in Iceland formed the modern ethnic group that lives in Iceland.These Irish women were responsible for converting the Vikings to Christianity, which spread as the Viking culture spread.

The VikingsOther Vikings (known as the Rus) founded the first Russian state centered around Kiev. From there, they raided the Byzantine Empire. Later, Byzantine missionaries followed them back to Russia, bringing with them Christianity, Byzantine architecture and the Cyrillic alphabet, all of which became vital elements of Russian culture.

The VikingsAccording to the saga of Erik the Red, when Erik was exiled from Iceland he sailed west and pioneered Greenland.Leif Erickson, Eriks son, was one of the most important Viking leaders. He was the one that sailed to America.When it became too cold around 1300 AD, they couldnt sail the icy waters of the North Atlantic, the colony of Greenland died off . The Danes control Greenland to this day.

The VikingsUpper class Vikings were called Jarls (from which we derive our word Earl). Below them were a class of farmers and craftsmen called Karls. At the bottom of the heap were a class of slaves called thralls.

The VikingsWoman were very important members of the Viking culture. Because their men were away for long periods of time, the women were the ones that ran the household & farms. Viking woman also knew how to protect themselves, and they could pick out any man they wanted to be their husband.

The VikingsMerchants imported glass & silk from the Byzantines. They also imported spices, fine wool & wine. They exported slaves, furs, beeswax, honey & walrus ivory. Craftsmen included blacksmiths, bronze smiths, coopers, leather tanners, saddlers, & shoemakers. They also had jewelers & men who carved bowls from soapstone. They carved bone & antler into goods like combs.

The VikingsVikings wore iron helmets. Some of them also wore chain mail. They also carried round wooden shields. They fought with spears, bows, axes and swords. In battle Vikings stood in rows and formed a wall of shields called a skjaldbogr.Some Vikings were called Berserkers . They spent the hours before a battle working themselves into a frenzy. They also built fortresses. They dug a ditch & created an earth bank then erected a wooden stockade on top.

The VikingsWomen spun & wove cloth at home & made the families clothes. Women wore a dress like garment called a shift made of linen or wool with a dress open at the sides, held with shoulder straps. In cold weather they wore cloaks or shawls. Clothing was held in place by brooches. Viking women often had their hair plaited or held under a head scarf.Viking men wore trouser like garments and linen shirts & tunics. They usually wore beards. Both sexes wore jewelry.

The VikingsThe Vikings grew wheat, barley and rye and apples, plums & berries. They made bread & porridge. They also ate cabbages, onions & leeks & herbs like dill & coriander. They ate pork, beef, horsemeat, goat meat and deer. They also hunted whales & seals.Meat was roasted on a spit. Vikings women also boiled food in an iron cauldron.

The VikingsThey drank mead (made from honey, water & yeast), beer & (if they could afford it) wine.They ate from wooden bowls and dishes. Spoons were made of horn or (for the well off) metal. The Vikings also ate with knives but there were no forks. They often drank from hollow horns called drinking horns.

The VikingsA normal house often consisted of just one room.In the centre of the hut was a hearth where the cooking was done. However there was no chimney & the smoke just escaped through a hole in the roof.Viking homes had little furniture. In the hut there would be a table & stools but chairs were a luxury. Chests were used to store tools & clothes.

The VikingsPopular sports were swimming, wrestling, skiing & ice-skating. They also practiced archery. Vikings also enjoyed hunting and falconry. They were also fond of horse fighting.They played dice, a board games called Hnefatafl, chess, & a game similar to backgammon.They were also fond of listening to stories & telling riddles.Their musical instruments included harps, horns & wooden pipes.

The VikingsEven before they converted to Christianity, religion was a very important part of their culture. They had many gods & goddesses. Since the Vikings were people who were known warriors, it makes sense that their version of heaven included fighting all day. If a Viking was a good & true warrior, then they would be able to go to Valhalla, or heaven. After fighting all day long, their nights were spent feasting.

The VikingsThere were 9 worlds in Norse mythology:Niflheim: World of FogMuspelheim: The Land of FireAsgard: Home of the GodMidgard (middle earth): Home of the HumansJotunheim: Home of the GiantsVanaheim: Home of the VanirAlfheim: Home of the Light ElvesSvartalfheim: Home of the Dark ElvesNidavellir: Home of the Dwarves

The VikingsMajor Viking deitiesFrigg: goddess of love & fertilityLoki: god of thieves; half brother of ThorOdin: king of the gods; god of war, poetry, wisdom & deathThor: god of thunder; half brother of LokiTyr: god of war

The VikingsViking writing is very different than English. The Vikings used Runes which were inscribed on wood or stone.Viking coins have been found with various inscriptions that tell us a little about their history.

The VikingsWhen the Vikings invaded England and lived in the Danelaw (NE England), the English borrowed many (1,000) of their words:anger-muggyawkward-outlawberserk-racebirth -ransackchoose -rottendie -sagafog -scarfgeyser -skinhusband -takeknife -wantleg -window

The VikingsSagas and Skaldic Verse: These have givens some insight into the beliefs and history of the Vikings, however much of it is obviously mythological.Archeological diggings: Which have lead to findings about their Viking settlements and way of life.

The Vikings

The VikingsThe Vikings began leaving their homeland in the th century AD.They are from the modern day countries of , & .People debate whether they left because it was too , political pressure or in search of .

The VikingsFor nearly two there was hardly a church in northern Europe that did not echo with the : "Deliver us O Lord from the wrath of the ."They took advantage of the decline of the empire after death.

The VikingsThe Vikings were very good . They built boats that were very long & narrow called .They began by raiding .They settled in an area of England called the & in an area of France called (they were called Normans in France).

The VikingsThe only kingdom to survive the Viking raids was the Kingdom of .In the th century, the Great, the King of Wessex defeated the Vikings and became the first King over all of England. The English king with the title of .

The VikingsAnother name for Vikings is (north men).They traveled west to Ireland, , and Newfoundland, .They also traveled to the Mediterranean Sea & to .

The VikingsThe Irish that Viking took as slaves to live in Iceland formed the modern group that lives in Iceland.These Irish women were responsible for the Vikings to , which as the Viking culture spread.

The VikingsOther Vikings (known as the ) founded the first Russian state centered around . From there, they raided the Empire. Later, Byzantine followed them back to Russia, bringing with them , Byzantine architecture and the alphabet, all of which became vital elements of Russian .

The VikingsAccording to the saga of the Red, when Erik was from Iceland he west & pioneered. Erickson, Eriks son, was one of the most important Viking leaders. He was the one that sailed to.When it became too around AD, they couldnt sail the icy waters of the North Atlantic, the of Greenland off . Thecontrol Greenland to this day.

The VikingsUpper class Vikings were called (from which we derive our word Earl). Below them were a class of & called Karls. At the bottom of the heap were a class of called thralls.

The Vikings were very important members of the Viking culture. Because their men were away for periods of time, the women were the ones that the household & . Viking woman also knew how to themselves, & they could pick out any man they wanted to be their .

The VikingsMerchants imported glass & from the They also imported spices, fine wool & wine. They exported , furs, beeswax, & walrus . Craftsmen included , bronze smiths, coopers, leather , saddlers, & . They also had jewelers & men who carved from soapstone. They carved bone & antler into goods like .

The VikingsVikings wore helmets. Some of them also wore chain . They also carried round shields. They fought with , bows, axes and swords. In battle Vikings stood in rows and formed a wall of shields called a skjaldbogr.Some Vikings were called . They spent the hours before a battle working themselves into . They also built . They dug a ditch & created an earth then erected a wooden stockade on .

The VikingsWomen spun & wove at home & made the clothes. Women wore a like garment called a shift made of or with a dress open at the sides, held with straps. In cold weather they wore or shawls. Clothing was held in place by . Viking women often had their hair plaited or held under a head .Viking men wore like garments & linen shirts & . They usually wore . Both sexes wore.

The VikingsThe Vikings grew , barley & rye & , plums & . They made bread & . They also ate , onions & leeks & like dill & coriander. They ate , beef, horsemeat, meat & deer. They also hunted & .Meat was on a spit. Vikings women also boiled food in an iron .

The VikingsThey drank (made from , water & yeast), & (if they could afford it) .They ate from bowls and dishes. Spoons were made of or (for the well off) . The Vikings also ate with but there were no . They often drank from hollow called drinking horns.

The VikingsA normal often consisted of just room.In the of the hut was a where the was done. However there was no & the smoke just escaped through a hole in the roof.Viking homes had little . In the hut there would be a & stools but chairs were a luxury. U were used to store tools and .

The VikingsPopular sports were , wrestling, & ice-skating. They also practiced Vikings also enjoyed & falconry. They were also fond of fighting.They played , a games called Hnefatafl, chess, & a game similar to .They were also fond of to stories & telling riddles.Their musical instruments included , horns & wooden .

The VikingsEven before they to Christianity, religion was a very important part of their . They had gods & goddesses. Since the Vikings were people who were known , it makes sense that their version of included all day. If a Viking was a good & true warrior, then they would be able to go to , or heaven. After all day long, their nights were spent .

The VikingsThere were worlds in Norse mythology:Niflheim: World of Muspelheim: The Land of : Home of the Gods: (middle earth): EarthJotunheim: Home of the Vanaheim: Home of the Alfheim: Home of the ElvesSvartalfheim: Home of the Dark ElvesNidavellir: Home of the .

The VikingsMajor Viking :: goddess of love & fertility: god of thieves; half brother of ThorOdin: of the gods; god of war, poetry, wisdom & deathThor: god of ; half brother of .: god of war

The VikingsViking is very different than English. The Vikings used which were inscribed on or .Viking have been found with various inscriptions that tell us a little about their .

The VikingsWhen the Vikings England & lived in the Danelaw (NE England), the English borrowed many (1,00) of their :--- - - - - - - - -

The Vikings and Skaldic Verse: These have givens some insight into the & of the Vikings, however much of it is obviously .Archeological diggings: Which have lead to findings about their Viking and way of .