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Vikings - Exploration

Vikings - Exploration
The mid-10th-century reign of Harald Bluetooth as king of a newly unified, powerful and Christianized Denmark marked the beginning of a second Viking age. Large-scale raids, often organized by royal leaders, hit the coasts of Europe and especially England, where the line of kings descended from Alfred the Great was faltering. Harald’s rebellious son, Sven Forkbeard, led Viking raids on England beginning in 991 and conquered the entire kingdom in 1013, sending King Ethelred into exile. After Knut’s death, his two sons succeeded him, but both were dead by 1042 and Edward the Confessor, son of the previous (non-Danish) king, returned from exile and regained the English throne from the Danes. Related:  Norse ProjectThe Vikings

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Viking | History, Exploration, Facts, & Maps Also called: Norseman or Northman Recent News Top Questions What is the origin of the word Viking? The etymology of the word Viking is uncertain. Who were the Vikings? The Vikings were raiders, pirates, traders, explorers, and colonizers during the 9th to 11th century. What was the Vikings’ religion? The Vikings' original religion was the pagan and polytheistic Old Norse religion, which can be traced back to about 500 BCE in what is now Denmark. Why did Viking raids stop? The defeat of the king of Norway, Harald III Sigurdsson, at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 is considered the end of the age of Viking raids. Why do Viking helmets have horns? The stereotype of Viking helmets having horns goes back to costuming in 19th-century opera. How did Viking warriors dress? Viking men would normally wear a woolen overtunic, linen undertunic, either tight or baggy trousers without pockets, woolen leg wrappings, and waterproof leather shoes. How was Viking society organized? Did Viking women fight?

Middle Ages for Kids: Vikings Back to Middle Ages for kids The Vikings were people who lived in Northern Europe during the Middle Ages. They originally settled the Scandinavian lands that are today the countries of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The Vikings played a major role in Northern Europe during the Middle Ages, especially during the Viking Age which was from 800 CE to 1066 CE. Viking Raids The word Viking actually means "to raid" in Old Norse. The Viking Age and Expansion into Europe Eventually the Vikings began to settle in lands outside of Scandinavia. Viking expansion during the Middle Ages - Click to see larger view By the start of the 11th century the Vikings were at the peak of their expansion. Defeat in Great Britain and the End of the Viking Age In 1066, the Vikings, led by King Harald Hardrada of Norway were defeated by the English and King Harold Godwinson. A major reason for the end of the Viking age was the coming of Christianity. Viking Ships Perhaps the Vikings were most famous for their ships.

* 101 Viking Facts from the History Specialists 1. Vikings were very clean people (at least by comparison to other people at the time!). 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. Content on our site can be reproduced for educational purposes.

The Weather and Climate in Scandinavia Scandinavian countries can be either a winter wonderland or balmy summer destination. The climate varies from north to south and from west to east, so each locale has a unique temperature signature. Depending on the month you travel to Scandinavia, travelers can expect to pack shorts, bundle up with a parka, or dress in layers to accommodate the fluctuations in weather. The areas that are included as part of Scandinavia can be debated, but typically Scandinavia is considered to be comprised of Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Differences in Climate Scandinavia's regions have different climates, and temperatures vary widely between the regions. The central part of Scandinavia from Oslo to Stockholm has a more humid continental climate, which gradually gives way to subarctic climate further north, a lot like the weather in Finland. Parts of the Scandinavian mountains in Norway and Sweden have an alpine tundra climate with frigid temperatures, especially in winter.

Primary History - Vikings - Who were the Vikings Vikings Fun Facts | Viking Facts for Kids | DK Find Out Viking longship Viking longship The Vikings built long, narrow ships that could travel incredible distances across rough seas. Viking longship › Explorers Explorers Thanks to their sturdy ships, the Vikings travelled widely across the Northern Hemisphere. Viking explorers › Vikingburials Vikingburials Wealthy Vikings were sometimes buried along with their ships. Viking burial › Viking crafts Viking crafts The Vikings were skilled craftsmen, creating high-quality cloth, delicate jewellery, and strong weapons and armour. Viking crafts › Viking gods Viking gods At the front of a Viking warship was a figurehead, perhaps representing a warrior spirit. Viking gods › Viking warriors Viking warriors This wall of shields protected the rowers from attack. Viking warriors › Vikingtraders Vikingtraders The deck of a longship covered a storage space where goods could be kept for trade. Viking traders › Who werethe Vikings? Famed as fierce warriors and bold explorers, the Vikings were also farmers, fishermen, and traders.

A History of the Vikings: Simplified – Scandinavia Facts The Vikings were Norse people who have a rich and fascinating history. With roots primarily in southern Scandinavia, they raided some countries, and traded with others, in order to build wealth and extend their influence. In the year 789 A.D., the Vikings launched their first raids on England. The Vikings were such excellent seafarers that they reached to the East Coast of North America and they were able to successfully infiltrate regions like modern-day Ukraine in their explorations. To many observers, the history of the Vikings is fascinating though somewhat mysterious due to how little historians can confirm with certainty about the lives of those who lived during that period of Northern European history. This article will summarize Viking history, explain the history of raiding, and introduce the reader to some of their most important leaders. Ragnar Lodbrok is one of the most well-known figures in Viking history. Whatever the reason, the Vikings set sail and began to raid.

Games and Animations Welcome to the Best of History Web Sites Games and Animations section. Below you will find an annotated list of fun history games and animations organized around broad historical periods. Most of these games and animation are aimed at students ages 10-16. We hope you enjoy these selections and encourage you to submit a recommended history game or animation to us via the contact form. Ancient History Games and Animations Gladiator: Dressed to Kill This game has the player choose the correct armor for three different types of Roman gladiators within a time limit. Housesteads Fort This is a 3D tour of a reconstruction of a Roman fort along Hadrian’s Wall in Ancient Britain. Mt. The Mummy Maker Test your knowledge of history with an interactive challenge. Roman Villa This is an interactive reconstruction of a Roman villa viewed in Google Earth. Death in Rome This game presents the user with a scene where a Roman dies and the user then has to figure out how the Roman died. Pirates! U.S. U.S.

Vikings | The Vikings The Vikings hailed from the north of Europe in what is now known as Scandinavia. Interestingly enough the term Viking itself can be translated to 'man of the bay' of course describing the home of the old Norse. The country of origin in Scandanavia mattered not however, whether it was Norway, Denmark or Sweden the term Viking was associated with pirates and raiders, this was a way of life for the adventurous Viking people. Another definition of a Viking is one who spoke Old Norse the language of the Viking people. It is quite easy to think of the Vikings in just this way, pirates who raided and pillaged neighbouring island and countries, but this would actually be doing the Viking a disservice. The Vikings were just like any other civilisation, multi-faceted and embodied with their own morals and codes, the Vikings also had their own religious beliefs and social structures which defined how they lived. Viking Boats Viking Children Viking Clothing Viking Food and Diet Viking Gods Viking Men

The Origins of the Norse Mythology | The Norse Gods Norse mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian peoples, including those who settled on Iceland, where most of the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. Norse mythology is the best-preserved version of the older common Germanic paganism, which also includes the very closely related Anglo-Saxon mythology. The Norse Gods are the mythological characters from stories shared by Northern Germanic tribes of the 9th century AD. These stories were passed down in the form of poetry until the 11th – 18th centuries when the Eddas and other medieval texts were written. The Poetic Edda (also known as the Elder Edda) was committed to writing about 50 years after the Prose Edda. Besides these sources, there are surviving legends in Scandinavian folklore. A few runic inscriptions, such as the Rök Runestone and the Kvinneby amulet, make references to the mythology.

The Amazing Vikings Ravagers, despoilers, pagans, heathens--such epithets pretty well summed up the Vikings for those who lived in the British Isles during medieval times. For hundreds of years after their bloody appearance at the end of the 8th century A.D., these ruthless raiders would periodically sweep in from the sea to kill, plunder and destroy, essentially at will. "From the fury of the Northmen, deliver us, O Lord" was a prayer uttered frequently and fervently at the close of the first millennium. But that view is wildly skewed. The broad outlines of Viking culture and achievement have been known to experts for decades, but a spate of new scholarship, based largely on archaeological excavations in Europe, Iceland, Greenland and Canada, has begun to fill in the elusive details. In doing so, the curators have laid to rest a number of popular misconceptions, including one they perpetuate in the show's title. Nor were the Norse any less sophisticated than other Europeans.

10 Facts About the Vikings - National Geographic Kids After the Anglo-Saxons, came the vicious Vikings! Join the National Geographic Kids gang as we learn to live like a Scandinavian sea-warrior, in our ten fierce facts about the Vikings… 1. The Vikings were famous for sailing huge distances from their home in Scandinavia between AD 800 and 1066 to raid and plunder, but they also traded with people from other countries. 2. The name ‘Viking’ means ‘a pirate raid’ in the Old Norse language. Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Vikings primary resource? 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. What did you make of our fab facts about the Vikings? Photos and illustrations © Getty Images UK. After the Anglo-Saxons, came the vicious Vikings! 1. 2. Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable Vikings primary resource? 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. What did you make of our fab facts about the Vikings? Photos and illustrations © Getty Images UK.

How The Weather Affected the Vikings in Viking Age? - baviPower Blog – BaviPower Back to the Viking Age, the weather was among the determining factors that decided what the life of the Vikings would be like. In other words, the Vikings were likely to depend a lot on the weather. Many scholars believed that it was the weather that shaped the Viking mindset of living, entertainment, and faith. Living The Scandinavian men back to the Viking Age pretty much relied on farming. They relied on farming and their food mainly came from agriculture. The Viking's life was not merely pillaging and killing. Many of the Vikings also took the life of seafarers who did not always pillage and raid with ships. Overall, the Vikings depended on the weather a lot for their living and survival. Entertainment During the long winters, the Vikings had more time to spare as they didn't have to spend much time on the crops. An account by an archbishop told his witness of the Vikings ice skating. Back to the Viking time, they loved spending their time skiing in the winter Faith

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