Directions: use your ARS to identify the 5 themes of civilization for the Vikings. Then, place your information into your graphic organizer.

The Vikings captured parts of and France The Vikings captured parts of and France. They ruled cities in Russia and set up colonies in the North Atlantic. They even traveled to North America. Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) was made up mostly of forests and long, jagged coastlines with many fjords. The southern part, or Jutland, had many harbors and fertile soil.

Vikings built their ships with timber from the forests Vikings built their ships with timber from the forests. They were large and narrow which made them well suited for long journeys. Some common parts included: a row of 16 oars, decorated shields, a tall bow carved in the shape of a dragon’s head, strongly sewn sails, an awning for protection and leather sleeping bags. The Vikings used the sun and stars to navigate their ships while traveling in the late spring and fall. During the day, they sailed within sight of land, using its familiar landmarks to guide them to their destination. Ravens were used to determine where the nearest land mass was.

The Vikings were as successful in trade as the Phoenicians The Vikings were as successful in trade as the Phoenicians. They traded furs, hides, fish and slaves to Europe and the Mediterranean are in return for silk, wine, wheat and silver. Villages were scattered through the countryside. Longhouses were made of wooden logs with sod- covered roofs and porches. Dragon carvings decorated the porch pillars. The people were divided into groups ruled by a jarl.

Berserkers were the most feared Viking warriors who fought to gain wealth, honor and fame. They wore bear or wolf skins into battle. They used hallucinogenic mushrooms to build their courage and frenzy and allow them to ignore pain. Men were called to battle by lighting bonfires on the tops of mountains. They fought using axes, swords and shields, metal helmets and chain mail shirts.

Women encouraged men to fight Women encouraged men to fight. Although bought from their family on the wedding day, their position in society was high. Viking women took charge of the home, attended public meetings and could own property. They also grew herbs to use as medicines. Men wore trousers and woolen shirts covered by tunics. Belts held their clothes in place. Sheepskin hoods kept their heads warm. Women also wore tunics held in place by belts, brooches, pins and bracelets. Both wore their hair long. Calling a man “beardless” was an insult wiped out only by death.

Viking gods were similar to Germanic gods Viking gods were similar to Germanic gods. They offered sacrifices of crops and animals to them. They told stories of their great deeds in the form of long tales called sagas. Written poems were called Eddas. Their early language was called Futhark and written with letters called runes which only a few people could understand. They were also used as magic charms and carved into metal, wood, stone and bone for good luck. After they accepted Christianity, they began to write using Roman letters. ODIN THOR FREYA

The Norsemen spoke a language known as “Old Norse”, which later became Norwegian, Swedish and Danish languages. As early as the third century there was a Norse alphabet consisting of 16 characters or runes. It is called FUTHARK after the first six characters (F, u, th, a, r, k). They used stone, wood, metal and animal bones to carve messages as they did not know how to make paper. Since it was easier to use straight lines to carve runes were created using straight strokes. Each rune was an ideographic or pictographic symbol of some cosmological principle or power, and to write a rune was to invoke and direct the force for which it stood and could lead to the pathway to the gods. Runes have been found throughout Scandinavia and were originally decorated with paint. The main functions of the stones were to establish a person’s right to an inheritance or to record heroic deed. Many were also tombstones with memorial messages. A runestone is typically a raised stone with a runic inscription, but the term can also be applied to inscriptions on boulders and on bedrock. The tradition began in the 4th century and lasted into the 12th century, but most of the runestones date from the late Viking Age. Wandering Norsemen enjoyed carving messages on stones in the lands they visited and this early form of graffiti helped to determine routes taken by longships Specialize carvers of rune stones were called “rune-masters”. These “official carvers of runes established themselves as being a high class with a high calling (they were literate) eventually establishing lineage for jarls and rune-masters. Some carvings were still made by pirates or “amateurs” when documenting travels or creating memorials for fallen comrades

The Viking population kept increasing The Viking population kept increasing. Villages were overcrowded and there was not enough food for everyone. The Vikings set sail on their ships looking for adventure and in other lands. Swedish Vikings established a trade route from the Baltic to the Black Sea and onto the city of Byzantium. This water route became known as the Varangian Route. Rurik founded a settlement in the area that was called Kievan Rus.

Erik the Red founded a colony on the island of Greenland Erik the Red founded a colony on the island of Greenland. His son, Leif Erikson, landed on the northeast coast of North America. He called the area Vinland because of the wild grapes growing there. Vikings disguised their ships to look like wooded islands by covering them with tree branches. They made surprise attacks on coastal villages – stealing goods, destroying homes, burning churches and enslaving peoples.

The Danes raided England and set up Danelaw The Danes raided England and set up Danelaw. They continued raiding when Ethelred became king. Canute conquered England and made it part of his North Atlantic Empire. Danes tried to take the city of Paris but the people held them off and gave the Vikings gold. Rollo led a settlement along the French coast across from England. This region became known as Norselaw, and later, Normandy, home of the Normans.