Questions and Answers
What was the main reason why Vikings expanded their activities beyond the Baltic Sea?
Which of the following areas did Vikings NOT come from?
Which English kingdom resisted Viking attacks?
Study Notes
- Vikings were seafaring warriors from Scandinavia who raided coastal sites, traded, and settled in various parts of Europe, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland from around AD 800 to the 11th century.
- They were not a single race but came from different areas, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Saami.
- Vikings sought riches and learned new sailing technology from their trade with Europeans, which helped them expand their activities beyond the Baltic Sea and into the North Sea and beyond.
- Their earliest raids were hit-and-run attacks on coastal targets, including monasteries in the British Isles and Europe.
- They gained control of the Northern Isles of Scotland, founded Ireland's first trading towns, and attacked England after 851, except for Wessex, which resisted.
- Viking armies settled in Danelaw, became farmers and traders, and established York as a leading mercantile city.
- English armies led by descendants of Alfred of Wessex began reconquering Scandinavian areas of England, and the last Scandinavian king, Erik Bloodaxe, was expelled and killed around 952, permanently uniting England into one kingdom.
- Vikings also attacked towns in mainland Europe, including Paris, Limoges, Orleans, Tours, and Nimes, and stormed Seville controlled by the Arabs.
- In the second Viking age, Harald Bluetooth led large-scale raids on the coasts of Europe and England, followed by his son, Sven Forkbeard, who conquered England in 1013, and his grandson, Knut, who ruled a Scandinavian empire on the North Sea.
- The events of 1066 in England marked the end of the Viking Age, and their culture was absorbed into the culture of Christian Europe.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Do you know everything about the fierce and adventurous Vikings? Test your knowledge with our quiz and discover interesting facts about their origins, raids, settlements, and conquests in Europe and beyond. From their hit-and-run attacks to their long-term settlements and trading activities, learn about their impact on history and their lasting legacy. Challenge yourself and see how much you know about these legendary seafaring warriors.