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The Vikings came from Norway, Sweden and Denmark. These countries were more commonly known as Scandinavia. The
Vikings travelled around a lot. They travelled to places like
North America, Russia, North Africa, Constantinople, Iceland,
Greenland and Ireland. When they travelled to Ireland they settled in Dublin, Wexford, Cork, Waterford and Limerick.

Most countries that were raided by Vikings were ruled by Kings. King Alfred ruled a kingdom in England called
Wessex. Guthorm was the
Viking leader and he decided to battle his army against the only part of England not under Viking control;
Wessex. They fought a battle at a place called Eddington.
Guthorm offered his sword in surrender to King Alfred.
Alfred made Guthorm swear to be a Christian.

Viking Earls were very powerful too.
Although they were not as powerful as the Kings. There was once a Viking earl named Sigurd
Eysteinsson or Earl
Sigurd The Mighty.
He was the very first
Earl of Orkney.

Craftsmen were like farmers. They were free men. They would make the spears, axes, swords, bows and arrows. Basically, they would make all the weapons used in battle.
Viking craftsmen included blacksmiths, bronzesmiths, coopers, leather tanners, saddlers, shoemakers and other men who made leather goods. Other craftsmen carved bone and antler into items like combs.

Women could not actually be Vikings . The
Old Norse work
Vikingar was meant for men only. But women did play a part in some form of settlement. For example, Iceland wasn’t home to anyone or anything, and a permanent immigration was only possible if women joined in the journey.

Almost every slave traded in the early middle ages and anyone who did was captured in raids or warfare. The Vikings are the slaves in the history of
Europe, making other people in Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean slaves. They would sell them in markets far away.
For example, a couple of
Moors were taken in Spain during a raid in the 9th century. They ended up in
Ireland. Ireland itself was a source of slaves for the
Vikings, as was Scotland.

The Vikings had many different
Gods.
Freyja was the Goddess of love.
Friday was named after her.
Thor was the God of thunder.
Thursday was named after him.
Loki was half God and half fire sprit.
Odin was the God of War.
Wednesday was named after him.

The Vikings ate smoked and salted fish and meat. Also they ate beef, mutton, lamb, goat, horse, pork, chicken, geese, ducks, eggs, hakikarl (fermented shark), surströmning (sour herring), deer, elk, reindeer, bear, boar, squirrel, golden plover, grey plover, black grouse, wood pigeon, lapwing, wild goose, walnuts, almonds, chestnuts, cod, coalfish, herring, salmon, haddock, ling, mackerel, oysters, cockles, mussels, winkles, smelt, eels, salmon, scallops, beached whales, porpoises, seals, sloes, plums, apples, blackberries, bilberries, figs, grapes, carrots, parsnips, turnips, celery, spinach, wild celery, cabbage, radishes, fava beans, peas, beets, angelica, mushrooms, leeks, onions, seaweed, goat and cow milk, butter, buttermilk, whey, skyr, curds, cheese, barley, rye, oats, rice, millet, buckwheat, dill, coriander, hops, cumin, pepper, saffron, ginger, cardamom, grains of paradise, cloves, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, anise-seed, bay leaves, vinegar, honey, porridge and flatbread.

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The cooler climates were snugger clothes. The warmer the climate, the more loosely they fit.
They liked bright colours. They did not have pockets in their clothing so they either tied their items to themselves by using a belt, or they hung them from a pin at the front. Viking men would wear tunics, jerkins, pants and leather boots. Men and women's clothes were often decorated with needle work and fancy braiding. They would both wear cloaks of linen or fur depending on the climate. Vikings held up their clothes by using decorative brooches.

The Vikings enjoyed many sports such as swimming, wrestling, skiing and ice-skating. They also enjoyed hunting. They also found horse fighting enjoyable.
Indoors they played dice and a board game called
Hnefatafl. They also played chess. Vikings also played a game similar to backgammon called Kvatrutafl and an early form of draughts. The Vikings were also fond of listening to stories and telling riddles. Rich Vikings held great feasts. At them poets called skalds sang poems praising their lord's brave deeds. Viking musical instruments included harps, horns and wooden pipes.