Name "Vikings"
Supposedly, the name "Vikings" rose from the Scandinavian verb vikja
meaning to depart, to retire. In such a way Scandinavians denoted
that for a long time mankind had left their homeland to go war. In the
West Europe Vikings were named as Normans, Byzantine were named as
Varangians while in Russia -as Varjags.
Viking Age
The period of vigorous Scandinavian expansion (AD 800-1050) has been named as the
Viking Age. Inroads of Vikings involved all populations along the Baltic
seaside. The Vikings were venturesome seafarers and freebooters from
Scandinavia -Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland that forayed through
Europe and the North Atlantic.
Baltic Vikings
During the first part of 11th century the Viking raids from Scandinavia
tailed off and from this time forward the Baltic seaside was dominated
Vikings from ancient Baltic populations, including the Estonians and Lives.
The Estonians and Kurshi very well knew Gotland and they frequently had
performed raids on this island. Baltic population was involved also in the
mutual fighting of Scandinavians. The Kurshi are among the populations that
had performed notably raids on Denmark and they had been considered as the
most dangerous Vikings. The sovereigns of Denmark were forced to create and
keep up the sea guards to defend their land from the Estonian and
Kurshian Viking raids.
The directions of the Viking's raids
During the Viking age the raids of Vikings spread in several directions
through out Europe. The most advantageous direction for Norwegian Vikings had
been Ireland, Scotland and England. These countries were abundant
(rich), but weakened by infighting. The dominant direction of the Dane
Viking raids was Frank countries. To buy off the raids of Vikings all of
these countries had started to pay a duty. Viking raids had make their way
also to Spain and Mediterranean. Their unfulfilled dream was to plunder
Rome.
Up the river Daugava
From the 9th century the raids of Vikings spread also along the east
Slovenian countries. These countries were subjected to the raids of
Swede Vikings. At this time was formed the great water and land road from
Varjags to Greece and Byzanty. This road was leaded from Baltic Sea along
Daugava or Neva and then across the lakes of Ladoga or Ilmen to Volhova or
Lovate rivers. If the water transport was unable, Vikings were running their
ships along the land road. The residual road toward the Black Sea was
directed along the Dnieper. Along the Viking's road were created (formed)
the ancient Slovenian towns, as for example Kiev and Novgorod. The
derivation from this road leaded along the Volga to Caspian Sea and then up
to the Baghdad.
New-found lands
A direct consequence of Viking's raids was the discovery of new lands that
was followed by their domestication. At the end of 9th century Vikings
domesticated Iceland and some later - at the end of 10th century Viking
leader Erik the Red discovers Greenland. At about 1000-th year Leif
Eriksson, son of Erik the Red took the road in the west direction and
after the very hard and long travelling discovered unknown and very rich
land. Along the hills of this land grow natural grapes that motivate
this land to be called Vineland and at 1015 Vikings abandon the Vineland settlement on
the coast of North America. Today this settlement is named
Newfoundland. Afterwards the raids of Vikings to Vineland become more rare
and this land was forgotten.
Living of Vikings
The dominant reason of Viking raids was a lack of lands that are
suitable for agriculture and the nature of Scandinavia was unable to feed
their population. The patricians of rusticsed prefered weapons and hesitated
farming. They liked raids and they prefered to be soldiers,
returning from raids along the rich countries as the heroes with a lot
of the rapped treasures.
Initially Viking's raids were performed by small bands of vagrants. Later
their families with all of their belongings were accompanying these groups. A
lot of them stay in Ireland, Island, Denmark, Frank countries, Russia etc.
In some lands, for example, in the north of France and in Sicily,
Vikings founded the Normandy states. Important is contribution of
Scandinavia Vikings in founding of the Kiev Ruse' domains.
Viking-age men were very flexible. During a short time they were able to visit
different countries, as for example Ireland, Denmark, Russia, Byzanty etc.
The impressions of their travels are reflected in the art of Vikings.
They created very interesting art that has represented Viking-ages in a very
thrilling way.
The culture of Vikings
Under the influence of the manifold impressions, Vikings created their
culture to include poetry and saga – legendary stories about the heroes of
Vikings, their raids and fighting. These stories describe many real events
that were mixed with the legends. Scandinavians highly valued skills in
poetry and story tellers and had considered these pursuits as very
respectable. The poets and singers with literary skills were named as scalds
that were very waited guests in the all feasts.
From the Viking-age remain some myths – these are very interesting
stories about the godheads and heroes, about the wisdom of life, world
creation and ruination. Very thrilling are stories about the gods of
Scandinavia Odin, Tor, Frey, Loki and others. The scenes from the life of
the gods and heroes are depicted as the Scandinavians runic characters on
the stones’. The men of Viking-age did not like to accept religious
beliefs, as their ideals represented the heroic gods and Vikings had
believed that all of them who fell in fighting would be received
in the castle of Odin in Valhalla and the rest of their life they would
pass in everlasting feast.
Viking expansion
The Vikings were venturesome seafarers. From Denmark, Norway and Sweden they
spread through Europe and the North Atlantic in the period of vigorous
Scandinavian expansion (AD 800-1050) known as the Viking Age.
Although they are often thought of primarily as raiders , the Vikings were
also traders , explorers and settlers. Behind them they left a legacy not
only of archaeological remains, but also of family names, place names and
fieldnames. Their "remains" can be found in local dialects and customs, in
folk tales and oral traditions, and of course in the genetic make up of the
local people
themselves.
The Viking Ship
The development of the Viking ship , made this expansion possible. With its
flexible hull and its keel and sail, the Viking ship was far superior to
ships and boats used by other peoples at the time.
One thousand years ago, centuries before the age of exploration hit its
peak, a group of Vikings left Greenland and made their way across the North
Atlantic. They had no understanding of latitude, and thus were forced to
follow lines of longitude until they encountered land. In this manner, the
Vikings reached Baffin Island, followed the coast of Labrador south and
eventually landed at the present-day community of L’Anse aux Meadows, in a
sheltered cove at the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland.
There, they established the first European settlement in North America. Many
historians believe the Vikings used L’Anse aux Meadows as a base to explore
Vinland, the fabled land of the Norse Sagas. L’Anse aux Meadows National
Historic Site is the only authenticated Viking site in North America and as
one of the world’s most culturally significant historic sites, was declared
a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which places it on an exclusive list of the
world’s special places.
As you pass through the gate, greet the wealthy merchant chieftain, who
enchants visitors with his stories of trade. Enter the smoky confines of the
long house main room and meet the strong-willed women of the camp. The
chieftain’s wife and her servant are busily cooking, spinning wool and
knitting using one needle, a technique unique to the Vikings. Stroll through
the longhouse to a small workshop and join the blacksmith at his anvil for
an interpretation of Viking blacksmithing techniques, using bog iron found
near L’Anse aux Meadows. There are two smaller rooms on each end of the
longhouse. One is the private sleeping quarters of the navigator and ship’s
carpenter, who will explain how the Vikings were able to find Vinland
without a compass, using instead a bearing dial. A master carver, he is
often busy carving bowls, needles, and other implements of daily life. The
small room at the opposite end of the longhouse is the private quarters of
the chieftain and his wife.
Vikings became the first European settlers in the New World and the first to
make contact with the indigenous people of the Americas.
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The image of the viking
The Viking age
glass artefacts
Ship from Gokstad
The Viking age jewelry
Ship from Gokstad
The Viking
age weights
and coins
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