Vikings

Definition:

A Viking is an explorer, a trader, a looter but also a Scandinavian pirate.

The Vikings lived from the year 800 to the year 1200, it is this period that we call « The Viking age ». Originally, Vikings didn't come only from Denmark, but also from Norway and Sweden.

A Viking

Peaceful Viking:

Most people of the Viking age were only peaceful peasantries, traders and artisans. Traders sailed to others country to sell their products. They traded wood, tar, skins, honey and fish. Vikings were also skilled jewelers. Some beautiful jewelry like brooches, bracelets, necklaces and rings were found from the Viking Age.

Viking's jewelry

Most Vikings lived in villages of ten or twelve farms. In the largest farm you found the chief and his family. On a farm there were people and animals that lived together. In the middle of a Viking's house there was a place to make a fire and prepare food.

Vikings Warriors

Vikings were really good sailors who sailed almost everywhere with their boats. They were also excellent warriors may be the most feared. They went for plundering expeditions in the various kingdoms of Europe. Many Danish Viking plundered England but some other sailed to other cities in French and Spanish coast.

Paris was under siege by Danish's Vikings but the French king of this age didn't want to fight against them so he offered lots of money to them for they leave France. Danish's Warriors accepted, it was a good thing to get money without fighting. We called this kind of payment the “Danegeld”, it means tribute to the Danish. Vikings did not continue to steal and kill.

Danegeld

Later, they settled as peaceful peasants in different countries. In England, Danish Vikings established a great kingdom named “Danelag”, that means the country of the Danish law or Danelaw.

Danelag

Some Vikings settled in the Northern France and their kingdom was called « Normandiet », it's still called like that!

Normandiet

With what were they fighting?

The favorite weapon of the Vikings was the sword. There were two kinds of sword. One did almost a meter of length and can cut on both sides, it was called a “double-edged sword”.

The other was called “sax”, it was short and heavy with only one side that can cut.

The ax was also a weapon used a lot.

The shield that was used by Vikings defense was made ​​of wood with iron handles. Most shields were painted in bright colors. On the head they wore an iron helmet, often with a rod to protect the nose.