The Vikings

A Brief history of the Vikings

The Vikings (Norsemen or Northmen) were Germanic people from Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark). After a rapid population growth and conflict among local groups, the Vikings began to raid western Europe in search of wealth. The Vikings were a warlike group who worshiped pagan gods.

Between 800 and 1000AD the Vikings raided villages from Ireland to Russia. The long, light ships of the Vikings enabled them to attack, plunder, and disappear before the Europeans could organize resistance.

During the 900's the Vikings began to replace raiding with trading. When the Vikings were at home they were farmers. The Vikings began to settle in Normandy and England, they converted to Christianity and began to led more peaceful lives. A warming trend in Europe allowed them to settle and prosper in Iceland and Greenland. This reduced their need to find new lands for conquest.

Viking poets called skalds recorded their heroic deeds of their warrior leaders. The Class of 2002 created thier own poems about Viking adventures.

The Viking Network - links to readings and maps on the Vikings

The Viking Poems

click on the titles below to read student poems