Name:__________________________ Date: ________ Period: ____
World History
Unit #3
Middle Ages in Europe
The Vikings
DIRECTIONS: Label the following countries and bodies of water. Create borders between
countries where necessary. Draw arrows to show the routes of Viking voyages.
Norway
Iceland
Baltic Sea
Atlantic Ocean
Greenland
Sweden
Ireland
Gulf of Bothnia
Norwegian Sea
New Foundland
Denmark
Scotland
North Sea
Black Sea
Constantinople
England
Scandinavia
English Channel
Mediterranean Sea
Russia
The Vikings were European people from Scandinavia (Finland, Denmark, Norway
and Sweden), who began around the 400's AD to make frequent raids by boat into
Europe, even going into the Mediterranean Sea and raiding parts of Italy. The
Vikings began attacking the Atlantic coast of southern France around 400 AD. The
goal of many Vikings was not to conqueror but to simply attack an area and steal all
the valuables and supplies from the people there.
In 860 AD, another branch of Vikings migrated south into Russia to trade with
Constantinople. In Russia, the Vikings gradually mixed with the Slavs who were
living there and founded the country of Russia. Together, the Slavs and the Vikings
took their boats down the Dnieper river to the Black Sea, where they traded and also
raided the Roman territory around Constantinople, though they could not take the
city itself. By about 1100, they had converted to Christianity.
By 1000 AD, some of the Vikings settled in northern France, where they were called
the Normans, or Northmen, and the area where they settled is still called Normandy.
Here they also converted to Christianity. At around the same time, some Vikings
sailed west as Iceland, Greenland, and even as far as Nova Scotia, in modern
Canada. The Vikings settled in Iceland and Greenland, but only stayed in Canada for
a short time, because the Native people there were too strong for them.
The ships built by the Vikings were much better than the Keels used by the Angles
and Saxons when they came to England. The Viking Longboat or Dragon Boat was
nearly 24 meters in length and about 5 meters in width. It was deeper than the
Saxon Keel and it had a great square sail that was often painted in stripes of red,
blue, or green. The longboat was pointed at both ends. This made it easier to use in
narrow fjords or in rivers, as the ship could be moved forwards or backwards without
having to turn around. The mast could be taken down in calm weather and the ship
was then driven by the oarsmen. A great wooden paddle was fixed to the right hand
side of the vessel. This was the steering board side from which we get our word
Starboard. The bow had a ferocious dragon’s head carved on it to scare enemies.
Life was very hard on a Viking ship. The only cover against the sea water or rain was
a sheet drawn over the centre of the ship. The chief might sleep on a pile of skins and
the crew would have skin sleeping bags. There were no hammocks or cabins, only
rough wooden benches for the rowers. When the oars were not being used, the crew
were able to hang their shields over the sides.
During the long winter season, when the Vikings were unable to go on raiding
voyages, a good deal of time would be spent in repairs, making good rotten timber,
renewing ropes and sails and keeping weapons in trim. Then when the Spring came,
the Viking longboat would be ready for sea
again.
Add the following events to the timeline:
Vikings settle Iceland
Erik the Red settles Greenland
Leif Ericson reaches New Foundland
Make a “To Do List” for Vikings during the winter months;
(1) ____________________________
(2) ____________________________
(3) ____________________________
(4) ____________________________
Viking longboats were much better than Saxon (5)________________. The
longboats were driven by(6) _____________ and a great square (7)_____________.
A wooden paddle was fixed to the (8)_________________ side.
What was the name of the Viking who discovered Greenland? (9)___________________
What was the name of the Viking who explored North America nearly 500 years before
Columbus? (10)___________________________
What part of Europe the Vikings come from? (11)________________________
What was the goal of the Vikings? (12)________________________________________
List a place the Vikings attacked?(13)_________________________________
Who did the Vikings mix with and found the country of Russia? (14) __________________
What year did the Vikings become Christians? (15)_______________________________
What does the word Normans mean? (16)___________________________________
The Normans live in an area called what? (17)_______________________________
Why did the Vikings leave Canada?(18)______________________________________
Who took control of England after the Romans left? (19)__________________________
How many years were the Romans in England (20)_____________________________