Viking Raids
At a glance:
- Series: Magill’s Guide to Military History
- Categories: Military History
- Subcategories: Invasions, Raids, Conquests, Sieges, Barbarians, Nomads
- Curriculum: British History, Medieval History/Middle Ages, French History, Scandinavian History, Russian/Former Soviet States History
- Geographical Location: England, Scotland, Ireland, Russia, France, United Kingdom, Norway, Scandinavia, Baltic States, Denmark
- Date: c. 800-1016
Article abstract: At issue: Gathering of plunder and fame to gain power and kingships. Result: The raids by Vikings toppled weak rulers; others responded with cavalry and fortifications.
Background
In Old Norse, “Viking” means “pirate” and comes from the word “vik,” or bay. Thus, Vikings were pirates who traveled by sea. In Viking homelands of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, sea travel was essential, as the land was too heavily forested for any other kind of travel. In the last years of the eighth century, Scandinavian shipwrights added a strong...
[The entire page is 1079 words long]
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