The history of the Vikings

1. Who were the Vikings?
 The Vikings.
 Why did the Vikings start exploring the world?
 Raiding, trading and exploring.

2. The Vikings.
The Vikings were from the countries of
Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
These three countries are known as
Scandinavia, these countries contain
many rivers and lakes and are bordered
by seas.
Surrounded by all this water, the Vikings
became excellent boat builders and
navigators, which means people who
explore the sea.

3. Why did the Vikings start
exploring the world?
By the end of the 8th century, the
Vikings were looking for new places to
live.
Scandinavia was becoming very
crowded. There was not enough good
farmland for everyone.
Also, the eldest son usually inherited all
of his father land, so the younger sons
had to leave home to find wealth, they
travelled to other lands to start farms or
to steal.

4. Raiding, trading and
exploring.
The Vikings travelled long distances in
their boats.
Some of their trips were violent raids.
Gangs of Vikings attacked towns and
villages near the coast or next to rivers.
They stole anything of value such as
gold, jewels, books, food, cattle, clothes
and tools.
The Vikings made frequent raids by boat
across Europe and beyond, even going
as far as the Mediterranean Sea to raid
Sicily and southern Italy they also
attacked France and the coast of
Britain.

5. Raiding, trading and
exploring.
The Vikings were not just fierce
warriors. They were also skilled
fishermen, farmers and craftspeople.
They made beautiful jewellery, furniture
and metal work.
Women were skilful weavers who
produced fine, warm, patterned cloth.

6. Raiding, trading and
exploring.
The Vikings were also great explorers.
They set up villages and farms in places
such as Britain and France. They also
started new settlements in Iceland,
Greenland and Russia, and they were
the first to reach North America, it was
nearly 500 years before the Europeans
reached this continent again.