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Trading
The Vikings traded all over Europe, and as far east as Central Asia. They bought goods and materials such as silver, silk, spices, wine, jewellery, glass and pottery. In return, they sold items such as honey, tin, wheat, wool, wood, iron, fur, leather, fish and
walrus ivory. Everywhere they went the Vikings bought and sold slaves. Traders carried folding scales, for weighing coins to make sure they got a fair deal. -
Discovering new lands
The Vikings were brave sailors and explorers. Families were ready to risk their lives on long, dangerous journeys to find new land to farm. Vikings settled in Britain, but also sailed out into the north Atlantic Ocean and south to the Mediterranean Sea. They sailed to the Faeroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland. A Viking ship was small - only about 20 tonnes compared with 100,000 tonnes or more for a big modern cargo ship. But bold Vikings sailed their ships far across the ocean. They found their way by looking for landmarks, such as islands and distant mountains.
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From Iceland to Greenland
Vikings from Norway sailed to Iceland in the late 800s - about the same time as King Alfred was fighting Danish Vikings in England. In 930, the Vikings living in Iceland set up what is often called the world's first parliament, the Althing. One of the Iceland Vikings was Eric the Red, and in AD 983 he sailed off west to Greenland. Greenland is much bigger than Iceland, and much colder too. It is not much good for farming. Eric hoped the name 'Greenland' would attract farmers, but not many Vikings went there.
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Vikings in America
A Viking called Bjarni Herjolfsson 'discovered' America by accident in the year 985. He saw an unknown land, after his ship was blown off course on the way from Iceland to Greenland. In 1001, Leif Ericsson, son of Eric the Red, sailed west to find this new land.
Leif and his men were the first Europeans known to have landed in America. They spent the winter in a place they named 'Vinland' (Wine-land). It was in Newfoundland, Canada. Soon afterwards, Thorfinn Karlsefni led a small group of Viking families to settle in the new land. But after fights with the local Native American people, the Vikings gave up their settlement.
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Vikings called Leif Ericsson 'Leif the Lucky' - perhaps because he never got lost.
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Vikings were superstitious. When Eric the Red fell off his horse before a voyage, he decided not to go to sea at all.
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Red-haired Eric had a fiery temper. He was sent away from Iceland, after several fights and killings, and went to Greenland.
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In America, the Vikings found grapes and berries, which is why they called it 'Wine-Land'.
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In 1961, archaeologists found a Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows in Canada. Today tourists can visit a reconstruction of the village.
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Viking sailors would sometimes release ravens. The birds would fly towards land. The ship would follow.
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The Vikings called the Native Americans 'Skraelings'. No one is quite sure what this name meant.
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The Althing is still Iceland's parliament, and passes the laws for the country.
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It's said that fleas always hop North. So a Viking could use one of his own fleas to check he was sailing in the right direction!
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