VIKING TECHNOLOGY Ellie and Riley
SHIPS
Long Ships
o Commonly used for travel, exploration and warfare
o Lightweight wooden ships with a long, narrow design
oBuilt for speed
oSquare Sails that could be raised and lowered
oUnique Viking innovation – side rudders
TYPES OF SHIPS
Knarr
oBuilt for Atlantic voyages – longer and more dangerous trips
oUsed to transport livestock, produce and people
Karve
oSimilar uses and design to Knarr
oDesigned more specifically for shallower waters and shorter
trips
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
Vikings had their own units of measurement including:
oDistance/Length (eg. Vika - A sea-mile, Tylpt - Lterally
"dozens", used to mean "dozens of vika/sea-miles" - to
circumnavigate Iceland was fjórtán tylptir or "fourteen dozens“)
oArea (eg. Dagsslátta – three days mowing, equivalent to ¾ an
acre)
oWeight (eg. Fjórðungr – about 10lbs)
oMoney
oRates of exchange (eg. 6 ewes, 2 being two years old and 4
older, thick-haired without bald spots, with their lambs = 1
cow)
EVERYDAY TECHNOLOGY
Fire – fire steels and striking stones were manufactured and
used to create fire for cooking and warmth
Animal bones
ocommon material – durable, flexible and readily available
oUsed for everything from knife handles to ice skates
oHair combs (usually large and ornate,
symbols of status) were generally made
of deer antler
SOURCES
ohttp://www.vikinganswerlady.com/measurement.shtml
ohttp://theconversation.com/vikings-were-pioneers-of-craft-and-
international-trade-not-just-pillaging-37599
ohttp://vikings-socialstudies.weebly.com/technology.html
ohttp://www3.gettysburg.edu/~tshannon/hist106web/site9/jeff/vikin
g_boat_builders_employed_te.htm

Viking technology