1. Viking Culture

2. History Lived in what is now Scandinavia – Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and parts of Finland 790 – 1060 A.D.

3. Homes Made of turf Kept out cold but kept in smoke and smell Early Viking houses had no windows

4. Diet Polar bear, horse, seagull, goose, hare, seal, boar, walrus, moose, and whale meat Drank from cattle horns

5. Clothing Soft leather shoes Narrow or baggy pants Shirts made of wool Belt worn over shirt Cloak of rough wool or animal skin

6. Hygiene Steam bath to remove dirt then rolled in snow Long hair, moustaches, and sometimes a neatly trimmed beard

7. Women Managed farms while men were gone Could marry at age of twelve Could divorce if they wanted to Kept their maiden surnames Could claim land

8. Children Taught to respect elders Helped around house and on the farm Children born to a slave or thrall became thralls

9. Lore Letters known as runes Stories were memorized and passed down Liked poems and riddles

10. Sacrifice Sometimes placed outside home Bigger the sacrifice the more the gods liked you

11. Customs Not allowed to be a coward Prepared for anything Often killed people who insulted their family

12. Activities Loved to fight Men, women, and children learned to fight Practiced chess, shot put, puffin hunting, and axe throwing

13. Raiding Mostly along European coastline Women banned from raids Rarely took prisoners Had to be good with oar, sword, and axe

14. Death Went to Hel if died a peaceful death Went to Valhalla if died in battle Women treated equal in death Men burned with their ships Biggest disgrace to die in a fight with a thrall