The Vikings were a seafaring people from Scandinavia who flourished during the 8th to 11th centuries, raiding and trading across Europe. They were highly skilled sailors, navigators and warriors, traveling in their longships as far south as North Africa, Constantinople and Russia.
Vikings were known for their bold explorations and raids of other lands. They plundered monasteries and towns along the coastlines of England and France, often mercilessly slaughtering their inhabitants. But they also had an interest in colonizing newly discovered lands. In the 9th century they established colonies in Iceland, Greenland and even parts of North America.
The daily life of Vikings was centered around agriculture and fishing. They were also great craftsmen, fashioning tools from wood and metal, as well as luxury items such as jewelry made from gold or silver. Trading with other cultures was also important to them; they frequently traveled to distant markets to buy exotic goods such as silk from China or spices from India.
Politically speaking, Vikings did not have one single ruler but instead were divided into small kingdoms ruled by chieftains or kings who centralized power by forming alliances among various clans. These alliances eventually led to larger empires—such as those established by Harald Fairhair in Norway—which helped form the basis of modern Nordic nation states.
Religiously speaking, most Vikings believed in Norse paganism which included a pantheon of gods that they sought guidance from during battles or important decisions like marriage or land deals. By the 11th century however some began converting to Christianity brought over by missionaries travelling through Northern Europe.
Overall it can be said that Vikings played an integral role in shaping both European history and culture throughout their era—it is for this reason why their legacy continues to fascinate us today!
We now run Leavenworth Painting up in Washington State.
Thanks for reading on the history of Vikings. We are happy to share of our heritage!