The Viking Age (793 A.D. -1066 A.D.) The Vikings The Vikings struck fear throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. The period of time from 793 A.D. to about 1066 A. D. is known as The Viking Age because this was when Viking raids were most prevalent and held Europeans in a grip of fear. (The first sound heard on this slide is a simulation of a Viking signal horn.)

Who Are The Vikings? Other Names: Norsemen (Northmen), Danes, Varangians, Rus Seafaring Warriors from Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) Farmers at home but feared when away from home The Vikings originally came from the northern European area known as Scandinavia, which included Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Although the Vikings had farms and villages in their homelands, they are remembered as seafaring warriors who traded, raided and attacked European areas throughout the Middle Ages. No place in Europe touched by water was safe from these master seamen. Because of their vast travels in Europe and beyond, the Vikings were known by many names. They were called the Norse Men (or North Men), the Danes, the Varangians, and the Rus (who Russia is named after).

Where Did the Vikings Come From? The map on this slide shows the Viking homelands of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The red starburst also shows Lindesfarne, the site of the first Viking raid which officially kicked off The Viking Age.

Viking Longships Vikings used quick, long ships to trade and raid! The Vikings used quick, long boats to raid and trade. They had different types of boats and ships for various purposes but the longships are the most commonly known. These ships could maneuver quickly and easily. They could approach a coast line or be navigated down narrow rivers to get inland with relative ease. These long boats were often carved out of a single tree trunk to prevent leaks.

Viking Longships: The Drakkar (Dragon) The Viking Longships were called The Drakkar, which means Dragon. European legends about fierce dragon attacks actually began because of the Viking longship attacks. These front of the ships had dragon heads carved on them and the back looked like the tail.

Did Vikings Really Look Like This? The picture on this slide shows some of the fantastic and stereotyped ideas people had about the Vikings. Some still believe these exaggerated versions.

Or This? This slide contains some more exaggerated and even humorous visions of the Viking warrior.

A Viking Warrior Look Ma! No Horns! Vikings did not have horns on their helmets! The picture on this slide is a more accurate version of the Viking warrior. The Vikings did not have horns on their helmets despite the popular belief that they did.

More Viking Warriors This slide contains a few more accurate versions of Viking warriors. Note that they had wood shields since metal was too expensive for most.

I Want To Be a Viking! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzvTe52v6R4 Some modern organizations re-enact historical Viking battles, complete with authentic costumes and weapons. Click the link to view a clip from a Viking Festival. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzvTe52v6R4

Viking Helmet and Sword Here are a Viking helmet and sword.

The Viking Berserker The word berserker comes from two Norse words bjorn meaning bear or bare (naked) and serkr meaning shirt. Berserkers often wore bear skins and were crazed in battle. The Berserkers were the most feared of all the Vikings. Their rage was unrivaled. Even other Vikings were afraid of them. They wore bear skins and no armor. This is where we get the word berserk from.

A Viking Woman would dress like this. This is typical clothing a Viking woman might wear.

Viking Runic Alphabet Viking letters were called Runes. The Vikings left graffiti in many places they raided and traveled to. The Vikings even left rune graffiti in a church in the Byzantine Empire. They even became bodyguards to the Byzantine emperor at one time. The Vikings even left rune graffiti on rocks and buildings.

The Viking Age Begins Viking Age begins with the raid on a Monastery at Lindisfarne in 793 The Viking Age began with a raid on the Monastery at Lindisfarne in 793 A. D. Lindisfarne was a small island near England. A monastery was built there to allow holy monks the seclusion and privacy to devote themselves to God.

Remains of Lindisfarne Monastery The picture in this slide shows the remains of the Lindisfarne Monastery today. The sound effect is monks praying.

Lindisfarne Raid The Vikings chose to attack the Lindisfarne Monastery because the villagers from mainland England gave their valuables to the monks for safe-keeping. Bad plan. Many monk were killed during this raid and those that survived wrote the gruesome details down for future generations to read about. Remember, monks were some of the few people who could read and write during the Dark Ages.

Where Did the Vikings Travel? The map on this slide shows the voyages the Vikings took and the territories they settled (or attempted to settle). Notice their many routes and travels throughout Europe as well as the dates of their arrival in those places. Also, note that they traveled across the Atlantic Ocean, almost 500 years before Columbus, to what would later become known as the Americas.

Some Famous Vikings This slide introduces some famous Vikings who will be further discussed in slides to follow.

Rurik the Rus Russia is named after the Rus Founded the Russian Empire Rus is what the Slavs called the Vikings Rurik the Rus A Viking named Rurik was the founder of the Russian Empire. In the 800s, his travels brought him to the Slavic lands that would later become Russia. He and his warriors were asked to lead and organize the warring Slavic tribes. Thus, the Russian Empire began. Rus is what the Slavs called the Vikings and the name Russia comes from Rus. Russia means “Land of the Rus”.

Rollo & Foot Kissing Story In 911 A.D., a Viking named Rollo “convinced” King Charles the Simple of France to grant him the north section of France in exchange for protection from attacks. Thus, Rollo became the first Duke of Normandy. The name Normandy means “Land of the North men”. In order to become the Duke of Normandy, Rollo had to convert to Christianity and kiss the king’s royal foot to show his loyalty. Rollo did convert to Christianity but he was reluctant to kneel and kiss Charles’ foot. So, he had one of his loyal Viking followers stand in for him. The picture shows Charles the Simple falling to the ground as Rollo’s assistant kisses the royal foot Viking-style. Rollo & Foot Kissing Story

Rollo’s Baptism The picture in this slide is from a tapestry telling Rollo’s story. This particular picture shows Rollo’s baptism as he becomes a Christian.

Statue of Rollo on his Tomb The picture on this slide shows a statue of Rollo on his tomb in Rouen cathedral in France. Recumbent statue on the tomb of Rollo in Rouen cathedral , 13th century

King Harold (Dane who ruled England) Viking Age is thought to end with the death of King Harold Godwinson of England during the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Viking Age is believed to have ended with the death of King Harold Godwinson, the last Danish (Viking) king of England, during the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D. The picture is from the famous tapestry that tells the story of the epic Battle of Hastings, which resulted in William of Normandy (descendant of Rollo) defeating the Saxons and taking over England.

Ugly Viking Warrior and Poet Egil Skallagrimsson The Viking Egil Skallagrimson was a famous warrior and poet. According to his epic adventures, Egil was very fierce and ugly. Ugly Viking Warrior and Poet

Sample of Egil’s Poetry I’ve been with sword and spear Slippery with bright blood Where kites wheeled. And how well We violent Vikings clashed! Redflames ate men’s roofs, Raging we killed and killed; And skewered bodies sprawled Sleepy in town gateways. This bloodthirsty poem was written by the great tenth century Icelandic poet, Egil Skallagrimsson.

Eric (or Erik) the Red First to explore Greenland Wife is Thodhilde The Viking Eric the Red was the first European to explore Greenland. Eric and his wife Thodhilde moved to the Viking settlements in Iceland after getting kicked out of his homeland in Norway for killing a neighbor during a feud. He later got kicked out of Iceland for feuding again and lead an expedition to the place he would call Greenland. Greenland actually had more ice than Iceland but Eric named it “green” to attract settlers. Click for Erik the Red Viking Adventures of Eric the Red

Leif Ericsson (aka. Leif the Lucky) Discovered the New World (Vinland) about 500 Years before Columbus His Brother Thorvald tried to establish a settlement Trouble with Skraelings Leif Ericsson (also know as Ericson or Erikson) was the son of Eric the Red. Leif the Lucky, as he was called, traveled to the Americas about 500 years before Columbus. He called the place he landed at Vinland. Leif’s brother, Thorvald stayed in this “New World” to try to establish a Viking settlement but the settlement was doomed from the start. Thorvald’s settlers had trouble getting along with the Native Americans, who were called skraelings by the Vikings. Skraelings meant ugly ones or weaklings. Thorvald was actually killed during fights with the Native Americans and those settlers who survived fled the New World, never to return.

Norse Mythology The Vikings originally believed in many gods and, therefore, were called pagans by the Christians of Europe. Their beliefs and stories became the basis of Norse Mythology. In Norse Mythology, the Viking gods were called Aesir and the home of the Aesir was called Asgard. The only was to reach Asgard according to myth was via a rainbow bridge. Midgard was the Middle World (Earth) where human beings lived and Niflheim was the World of the Dead in Norse Mythology.

Viking Creation Myth First there was nothing..... Then the North and South joined together and made a Frost-Giant and called it Ymir. Ymir created many more giants who ruled over all the world. Then a cow was created to feed these giants and the giants were happy. Ice covered the whole world. After a long, long time Bur was born out of the ice. He had three sons who fought and killed Ymir. The blood of the Giant Ymir made the sea, and his body became the land . From his skull they made the entrance to the heavens. Odin, who was one of the sons, created the dwarf race from the maggots within Ymir’s body. Odin and his brothers ruled over everything and soon created the first human beings. Like the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, the Vikings also had their own version of how the world was created. If nothing else, their creation myth reflected their war-like nature.

ODIN--Chief Norse God Odin was the mightiest god. He was married to Frigg and had a son called Thor. He lived in Valhalla in Asgard. From his throne, he could see all over the world. Living in Valhalla with Odin were all the slain warriors. Odin had a horse called Sleipnir which had eight legs and could travel through the air and to the underworld. Wednesday is named after Odin (Woden’s Day) Odin (or Woden) was the chief Norse god. Wednesday is named after him. Woden’s Day became Wednesday.

Odin’s Valhalla Hall, Dwelling Place of Dead Heroes The great hall in Asgard where all dead Viking heroes and warriors would go was called Valhalla. This was the mythical Viking idea of heaven.

When Thor was fighting against the Giants, he used his hammer. Thor, God of Thunder Thor was the son of Odin. He fought for the world against Giants and other evil forces. He was married to the beautiful Siv who had golden hair. Thor was the god of thunder and lightning and so ruled the weather and everything that grew. When Thor was fighting against the Giants, he used his hammer. He wore iron gloves and a belt of strength. If he threw his hammer it always came back to his hand. Just like lightning.. The Vikings believed that during a thunderstorm, Thor was riding around on his chariot pulled by two goats. Some people think that the weekday Thursday is named after Thor. You can also find many place names beginning with 'Thor'. Thor was the son of Odin. He was the Norse God of Thunder and the most heroic of the Viking gods. His weapon was a hammer named mjolinir. Thursday is named after Thor. Thor’s Day became Thursday.

Loki, God of Mischief and Evil Loki was the Viking God of Evil and Mischief. The pictures show many different artistic renditions of Loki.

Ragnarok, the Final Battle According to Norse Mythology According to Norse Mythology, Ragnarok was the “Final Battle”. Supposedly, a wolf as big as the moon named Fenris would be released by Loki and the final battle which could end the world would begin.

The Vikings left a legacy that is still remembered today Today, we remember the Vikings as a key piece of history. They have entertained us with the fantasy stories about the adventures and they have taught us with their true historical exploits. The Viking Legacy is still remembered today.