THE VIKINGS!THE VIKINGS!

How observant are you?How observant are you?

• What is the mood at the beginning of What is the mood at the beginning of the scene? How do you know?the scene? How do you know?

• What is the first thing the villagers What is the first thing the villagers see?see?

• What is their reaction?What is their reaction?

• What do the Vikings take?What do the Vikings take?

• Why does Kermit get hit with a frying Why does Kermit get hit with a frying pan? pan?

Who were the Vikings?Who were the Vikings?• The Vikings were a group of The Vikings were a group of

people from a region of people from a region of Northern Europe called Northern Europe called ScandinaviaScandinavia..

• Today, Scandinavia includes Today, Scandinavia includes the nations of Norway, the nations of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, & Sweden, Finland, Denmark, & Iceland.Iceland.

• During the Middle Ages, During the Middle Ages, people who came from people who came from Northern Europe, like the Northern Europe, like the Vikings, were known as Vikings, were known as NorsemenNorsemen..

• They were most active during They were most active during the years 793 AD to 1066 ADthe years 793 AD to 1066 AD

How did Vikings make a How did Vikings make a living?living?

• SailingSailing

• FishingFishing

• Raising livestockRaising livestock

• Craftwork Craftwork

• BeekeepingBeekeeping

• Trade: silver, gold, fursTrade: silver, gold, furs

• Raiding Raiding

Why did Vikings go on Why did Vikings go on raids?raids?

1.1. Increased wealth and Increased wealth and trading within Europetrading within Europe

2.2. Fine treasures in Fine treasures in monasteries & churchesmonasteries & churches

3.3. Political instability in Political instability in ScandinaviaScandinavia

4.4. Time of political unrest Time of political unrest with frequent warfare with frequent warfare among kings, nobles, & among kings, nobles, & would-be kingswould-be kings

5.5. Over-population (only Over-population (only 3% of Norway’s land is 3% of Norway’s land is good for farming & good for farming & grazing)grazing)

How did Vikings travel?How did Vikings travel?• Longboats:Longboats:

– Long & narrowLong & narrow– Carved prowsCarved prows– Carried 50 menCarried 50 men– Bank of oars & a sailBank of oars & a sail– Shallow keel allowed Shallow keel allowed

boats to travel up boats to travel up rivers easily & make rivers easily & make inland raidsinland raids

– Made for quick Made for quick getawaygetaway

Where did the Vikings travel Where did the Vikings travel and settle outside of and settle outside of Scandinavia?Scandinavia?• Perhaps the most well-traveled of all Perhaps the most well-traveled of all

Medieval EuropeansMedieval Europeans

• North Sea, Baltic Sea, North Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea, North Atlantic, Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea

• Visited & settled lands that would become Visited & settled lands that would become Russia, Germany, France (Normandy), Russia, Germany, France (Normandy), England, Scotland, Iceland, & CanadaEngland, Scotland, Iceland, & Canada

How do we know about the How do we know about the Vikings?Vikings?1. 1. runestonesrunestones: large stones w/inscriptions written : large stones w/inscriptions written

in runes (Northern European alphabet created in runes (Northern European alphabet created before the period of Christian conversion)before the period of Christian conversion)

2. 2. annalsannals or or chronicleschronicles: histories written by monks : histories written by monks whose monasteries were attackedwhose monasteries were attacked

3. 3. sagassagas: Vikings’ stories based on oral history : Vikings’ stories based on oral history (retold from memory). Ex. Vinland Saga(retold from memory). Ex. Vinland Saga

4. a4. archaeologyrchaeology: bone artifacts from Viking : bone artifacts from Viking settlements (Ex. Viking ship burials)settlements (Ex. Viking ship burials)

Did Vikings travel to America Did Vikings travel to America before Christopher Columbus?before Christopher Columbus?• The Vikings were the first Europeans to travel to The Vikings were the first Europeans to travel to

North America.North America.• A Viking named A Viking named Eirik the RedEirik the Red discovered Greenland discovered Greenland

in 985 after he was exiled from Icelandin 985 after he was exiled from Iceland• Eirik’s son, Eirik’s son, Leif EirikssonLeif Eiriksson, was the first European to , was the first European to

reach North America in 1000 AD. reach North America in 1000 AD. • He made several landings, including an area that He made several landings, including an area that

he called “Vinland”. he called “Vinland”. • It is thought to be modern-day Newfoundland, It is thought to be modern-day Newfoundland,

Canada.Canada.• The story of this discovery is retold in the The story of this discovery is retold in the Vinland Vinland

SagasSagas..• Evidence has been found of a short-term Viking Evidence has been found of a short-term Viking

settlement in Newfoundland at a site called settlement in Newfoundland at a site called L’anse L’anse aux Meadowsaux Meadows..

Вы говорите по-русски?Вы говорите по-русски?(Vy govorite po Rossii)(Vy govorite po Rossii)

• The Swedish Vikings The Swedish Vikings influenced the growth influenced the growth of the early Russian of the early Russian state around Kiev. state around Kiev.

• The Slavic people The Slavic people called them “Rus”. called them “Rus”. They were ruled by They were ruled by Vikings for a long time Vikings for a long time that the land was that the land was named Russia.named Russia.

•The Swedes went beyond the Baltic away The Swedes went beyond the Baltic away from Christian Europe into Russia, from Christian Europe into Russia, Constantinople, an Baghdad.Constantinople, an Baghdad.

What are the modern impacts What are the modern impacts of the Vikings?of the Vikings?

• Days of the week: Days of the week:

– Tyr’s day = the god of warTyr’s day = the god of war– Woden’s day = the chief godWoden’s day = the chief god– Thor’s day = god of thunderThor’s day = god of thunder– Frigga’s day = Woden’s wifeFrigga’s day = Woden’s wife