farm animals
drinking water
looms to make
cloth
wood to build
houses
weapons
food
cooking utensils waterproof sleeping seeds to grow crops
(including pots)
bag
Viking Farming Facts
Most people believe that the Vikings were soldiers, raiders,
and pillagers. They think the Vikings just sailed around the
world in longships and rowed from town to town to burn
houses and steal gold. This is not entirely accurate, and this
belief exaggerates only one single part of Viking life.
Vikings were farmers, traders, travellers, hunters,
trappers, fishers, and artisans. Viking women were skilled
weavers and textile makers. Clothes were primarily made of
wool, linen, and animal skins. Women would turn wool into
yarn or fabrics and then dye them to give them colour.
When the Vikings gained more wealth and power, they began
to embellish their clothes.
The majority of Vikings were farmers. They grew grain
crops, like barley, rye, or oats. They would make bread from
the grain.
They were professional agriculturalists. They raised cattle,
sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and even bred horses. They
also were exceptional fishermen and hunted whales as well
as fish.
The Vikings lived in simple, rectangular houses. The houses
were often made of timber from the area in which they
lived. If wood was scarce, then they would use stones to
make houses. Vikings did much of their works in these
houses, such as weaving cloth, preserving food, or working
leather.
Viking Farming
Imagine you are a Viking, setting up a farm on a new, abandoned land.
Using the cut-out items, what do you think would be the most
important to take with you to help set up your new farm? Rank them
using the grid below.