1. The Vikings: Raiders and Adventurers

2. Raiders and Adventurers Villages became overcrowded & not enough food http://www.clker.com/cliparts/0/4/3/4/12198090302006169125female%20silhouette.svg.med.png Population kept increasing http://images.paraorkut.com/img/pics/images/s/sad_face-13549.png

3. No central govt, so Viking kings fought each other Many decided to explore new places for food & riches http://www.hr.utah.edu/news/hrconn/lib/spring09/explore.jpg

4. Viking ships could sail in both deep water and shallow rivers. http://i.livescience.com/images/070302_viking_ship_02.jpg

5. From East Europe to North America Established a trade (water) route from the Baltic Sea to the city of Byzantium (Constantinople), known as the ‘Varangian Route’. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Varangian_routes.png

6. Rurik, a Viking chief, founded a settlement in the Ukraine and Russia in 862. In 986, Erik the Red founded a colony in Greenland. http://www.aerenlund.dk/helte/images/eric_the_red.jpg http://www.palacenet.net/home/tgswatek/Viking%20Settlement.jpg

7. Leif Eriksson (Erik’s son) founded North America. Called it “Vinland” b/c of all the wild grapes Today it is known as Newfoundland Did not make a settlement b/c: -Too far from home -Frequent attacks by Native Americans Statue of Leif Eriksson in Iceland. http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/schools/primaryhistory/images/vikings/trade_ and_exploration/vk_statue_of_leif_eriksson.jpg http://www.lost-civilizations.net/images/vikings/vikingmap.gif

8. Most Vikings went to western and southern Europe, looking for food and valuables Disguised their ships by covering them w/tree branches. Made surprise attacks on towns: stole goods, burned churches and homes, and killed or enslaved people. http://www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/viking_warriors.jpg