The Vikings The period of Viking attacks was from 768 through The first attack was on an English monastery. It is believed that the attacks occurred because of a population explosion in the Scandinavian countries. Vikings may have started as traders, but drawn but the increasing wealth of Europe became pillagers. European rulers also set Viking bands on their rivals. The term Viking came from the Scandinavian word for Journey.

Viking appearance was different from the way they are depicted in popular culture. They did not wear animal skins or bull horned helmets. They were skilled with leather and wore leather boots and belts. Their pants and ¾ length jackets were made of wool. Vikings wore chain mail jackets over their wool coats. In cold weather they would also wear a cloak. The helmet was made of iron and would have a nose piece to protect face. Some helmets would have a length of chain mail on the back to protect neck. correct wrong

Vikings carried round wooden shields with a metal stud called a buckler in the middle. Vikings had some battle tactics. Below we see the full wall. When the Vikings charged they would form the full wedge. Vikings were larger then Europeans. They are described as being six feet tall or more. They weighed more as well. This gave them an advantage in hand to hand combat. Also, the Vikings rarely faced professional soldiers in Europe, Usually they fought against local militias that were undertrained. Full Wall of overlapping shields. This would become fill wedge as Vikings rushed forward. Vikings used a flat blade sword about two and a half feet in length. Spears with iron tips and A single bladed axe was used. Movies often show Vikings using a double headed axe but That is pure fiction.

Lands the Vikings came from: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland The Vikings will found the countries of Greenland and Iceland. Unlike popular myth the Viking were not all blonde haired and blue eyed. The Vikings will settle the middle of England. They found the city of York. The middle of England was known as the Dane law for two hundred years. The Vikings also found the city of Dublin in Ireland. Viking ship excavated in 1904 Called the Osebberg ship for the farm It was found on. The Vikings were tremendous sailors. They Propelled their ships by rowing and use of sail. It is believed that the Vikings reached North America many years before Europeans. They landed in New Foundland, Canada.

The Vikings were known by different names according to the region they attacked the Vikings were known by different names according to the region they attacked. Normans – This term was used in France. Later, the French give the Normans their northern coast. This land will be called Normandy. The English have a variety of names for the Vikings: North men, Norse, and Danes. Rus - used by Muslims. Vikings were not successful against the professional army of the Muslims. Vikings came as traders of goods they had stolen from Europe. Islamic and Christian opinions and dealings with the Vikings were quite different. To Christians the Vikings were inhuman ravagers, but Muslims present an entirely different view. The Vikings came to Muslim lands as traders. They wore their best clothing because of their eager trading activities. The Muslim scholars describe them as hospitable to guests, not allowing them to be insulted or harmed. The scholars do have a problem with the Vikings;’ hygiene. They said they were as lousy as donkeys. They described a ritual were a bowl of water circulates the a Viking camp with each man washing his face and hair in it; then spitting an d blowing his nose. The bowl would then go to the next man.