1. The Vikings

2. Who were the Vikings?
The Vikings came from three countries of Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The name 'Viking' comes from a language called 'Old Norse' and means 'a pirate raid'. People who went off raiding in ships were said to be 'going Viking'.

4. The Viking age in European history was about AD 700 to 1100
The Viking age in European history was about AD 700 to During this period many Vikings left Scandinavia and travelled to other countries, such as Britain and Ireland. Some went to fight and steal treasure. Others settled in new lands as farmers, craftsmen or traders.

5. Vikings in Ireland
The Vikings first came to Ireland in 795 AD. They landed on Lambay Island near Dublin. There was a monastery on the island and the Vikings set fire to the monastery and killed many monks.

6. After that, a message travelled throughout the Viking world - Irish monasteries have great treasures and monks do not fight back. Monastic settlements were attacked at Inishmurray, Inishbofin and Sceilg Mhicil. Sailing inland along Irish rivers, the raiders attacked Glendalough, Kildare and Kells. As the raids increased, the Vikings began to plunder towns and settlements in the Irish countryside as well.

8. However the monks in monasteries started building round towers near monasteries. A guard would also be on watch at the top of the tower. When he saw Vikings coming he would ring a bell.

9. All the other monks would gather up their precious belongings and rush to the tower. Once all monks were safe they would pull up the ladder making it impossible for Vikings to get them.

11. Clones Round Tower

12. Some Vikings came to fight, but others came peacefully, to settle
Some Vikings came to fight, but others came peacefully, to settle. They were farmers, and kept animals and grew crops. They were skilful at crafting, and made beautiful metalwork and wooden carvings.
Vikings were great traders. They sailed the seas trading goods to buy silver, silks, spices, wine, jewellery, glass and pottery to bring back to their homes.
They settled in places with deep harbours. The Vikings founded the cities Limerick, Waterford, Wexford and Dublin.

13. Longships
The Vikings were expert shipbuilders. For 300 years their magnificent longboats ruled the waves.
Let’s take a closer look at a long ship

15. A big Viking longship would be about 30 metres long and could carry 60 men. The men slept and ate on deck. When rowing, sailors sat on chests with held their belongings
A longship had a unique shallow bottomed design which meant it could sail up right onto a beach, which made it perfect for daring raids.
The Vikings invented a boat with a keel, which helped stop a boat from overturning in water

16. Longships were made from planks of oak wood joined together
Longships were made from planks of oak wood joined together. These overlapped each other, which made the ship very strong.
A Viking ship had a large, square sail made of woven wool. It was brightly coloured in stripes or diamond patterns. In bad weather, they would be lowered over the ship and fastened down like a tent to protect the men inside.

17. There were no seats. Vikings sat on their chests, which held their clothes and belongings.
The Vikings loved to decorate their ships with fine wooden carvings. The head of a fearsome creature like a snake or dragon was put at the front to scare off enemies, including supposed sea monsters. This was called a figurehead.

18. Figurehead

20. You can see this Viking longboat in the Viking Museum in Oslo