Expansion
The Vikings originally came from the three countries of Scandinavia; Denmark, Norway and Sweden. By continually raiding, settling and traveling through the countries, the Viking population managed to spread around the world but the Scandinavian Countries always remained their home and the main countries for Vikings.
In the 700’s Vikings began sailing and exploring new lands. Between 800 and 1066 BCE Vikings conquered and colonised areas in England, Scotland, Ireland, Western and Central Europe.
Some Vikings founded settlements in Iceland, North America and Greenland.
Most Vikings were explorers, trades, farmers, craftspeople, navigators and boat builders. They travelled to new lands in search of better farmland and living conditions or new trading partners. Viking families faced food shortages and starvation. Viking land was becoming crowded and farmland was scarce. Some Vikings wanted a better life. However other Vikings invaded lands and pillaged them. This is why Erik the Red colonised Greenland so well, people needed more land so they were willing to travel with him.
By the late 11th century the Vikings could no longer defeat the armies they fought against. Many Vikings had converted to Christianity and settled in different places. The decline of the Vikings had begun.
In the 700’s Vikings began sailing and exploring new lands. Between 800 and 1066 BCE Vikings conquered and colonised areas in England, Scotland, Ireland, Western and Central Europe.
Some Vikings founded settlements in Iceland, North America and Greenland.
Most Vikings were explorers, trades, farmers, craftspeople, navigators and boat builders. They travelled to new lands in search of better farmland and living conditions or new trading partners. Viking families faced food shortages and starvation. Viking land was becoming crowded and farmland was scarce. Some Vikings wanted a better life. However other Vikings invaded lands and pillaged them. This is why Erik the Red colonised Greenland so well, people needed more land so they were willing to travel with him.
By the late 11th century the Vikings could no longer defeat the armies they fought against. Many Vikings had converted to Christianity and settled in different places. The decline of the Vikings had begun.
Conquests
The vikings raided to get money and treasure, to occupy new land and to gain trading partners. Erik the Red voyaged to explore uninhabited land and therefore did not need to raid. When the vikings raided they would take weapons, money, metal, jewellery and people to be sold as slaves. The Vikings raided monastery's because they could not defend themselves making them an easy target and they were wealthy.
There were three phases of Viking raids.
The first phase was a small group of Viking warriors that landed and conducted quick surprise attacks mainly along the coasts of England and France, between 790 and 840 BCE. One of the sites attacked most during this phase of Viking raids was the monastery of Lindisfarne. The monks eventually decided to flee the island as they could not defend themselves.
The second phase had larger viking raids, more Vikings were involved in the raids and instead of returning to Scandinavia the vikings founded settlements. They traveled across the Mediterranean Sea to as far away as North Africa between 841 and 875 BCE. They plundered, burnt property, killed and enslaved. The French paid the Vikings to leave.
In the third phase the Vikings raided along the English Channel they formed permanent settlements in Iceland, Ireland and Russia between 876 to 1066 BCE.
There were three phases of Viking raids.
The first phase was a small group of Viking warriors that landed and conducted quick surprise attacks mainly along the coasts of England and France, between 790 and 840 BCE. One of the sites attacked most during this phase of Viking raids was the monastery of Lindisfarne. The monks eventually decided to flee the island as they could not defend themselves.
The second phase had larger viking raids, more Vikings were involved in the raids and instead of returning to Scandinavia the vikings founded settlements. They traveled across the Mediterranean Sea to as far away as North Africa between 841 and 875 BCE. They plundered, burnt property, killed and enslaved. The French paid the Vikings to leave.
In the third phase the Vikings raided along the English Channel they formed permanent settlements in Iceland, Ireland and Russia between 876 to 1066 BCE.