Vikings? (Not the Minnesota Vikings)?

Question

Does anyone have any interesting info on the Vikings? Anything they did that was interesting/important in history? Or how they were pertinent to U.S. or world history? Any info or sources where I can find info would be appreciated.

Answer 1

The term Viking commonly denotes the ship-borne explorers, traders, and warriors of the Norsemen who originated in Scandinavia and raided the coasts of the British Isles, France and other parts of Europe from the late 8th century to the 11th century. This period of European history (generally dated to 793–1066) is often referred to as the Viking Age. It may also be used to denote the entire populations of Viking Age Scandinavia and their settlements elsewhere.

Famed for their navigation ability and long ships, Vikings in a few hundred years colonized the coasts and rivers of Europe, the islands of Shetland, Orkney, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, and for a short while also Newfoundland circa 1000 [1], while still reaching as far south as North Africa, east into Russia and to Constantinople for raiding and trading. Viking voyages grew less frequent with the introduction of Christianity to Scandinavia in the late 10th and 11th century. The Viking Age is often considered to have ended with the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066.

The word viking was introduced to the English language with romantic connotations in the 18th century. However, etymologists assign the earliest use of the word to Anglo-Frankish writers, who referred to "víkingr" as one who set about to raid and pillage. [2] In the current Scandinavian languages the term viking is applied to the people who went away on viking expeditions, be it for raiding or trading. In English it has become common to use it to refer to the Viking Age Scandinavians in general.[citation needed] The pre-Christian Scandinavian population is also referred to as Norse.

--->> You can find more at the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikings

Answer 2

Eric the Red and his sort colonized Greenland. His son, Lief Ericsson, was the first to land in North Amarica--not Columbus--around Newfoundland circa 1000.
They also reached as far south as North Africa, east into Russia and to Constantinople for raiding and trading.
The Viking Age is often considered to have ended with the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066..
Iceland is arguably the last remnants of the Vikings, and their language still uses a Runic alphabet

Answer 3

Here's some info on the Vikings in the new world. Newfoundland to be exact.



http://www.wordplay.com/tourism/viking.html

Answer 4

they traveled all over the world, believe it or not, even as far a china, there bodies have been found in mongolia

Answer 5

Here is an interesting site for you......