Viking Age
Norsemen expanded across Europe and reached North America.
Between roughly 800 and 1050 CE, during the Middle Ages, Norsemen—commonly called Vikings—conducted widespread raiding, colonization, conquest, and trade across Europe, and even reached North America. The term "Viking Age" covers not just Scandinavia but any region where Scandinavians established significant settlements during this time. Though only a minority of Scandinavians were actually pirates in the strict sense, the label "Viking" is often applied to all of them, alongside the term "Norsemen."
Setting out by sea from what are now Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, Norse people established colonies in the British Isles, Ireland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Normandy, the Baltic coast, and along the Dnieper and Volga trade routes in Eastern Europe (where they were known as Varangians). They also briefly settled in Newfoundland, making them the first Europeans to reach North America. From these colonies emerged groups such as the Norse-Gaels, Normans, Rus’ people, Faroese, and Icelanders. The Vikings founded several kingdoms and earldoms, including the Kingdom of the Isles, Orkney, York and the Danelaw, Dublin, Normandy, and Kievan Rus’. During this era, the Norse homelands themselves unified into larger kingdoms, and the short-lived North Sea Empire encompassed much of Scandinavia and Britain. In 1021, Vikings reached North America—a feat whose exact date was only confirmed a millennium later.
Several factors drove this expansion. The Vikings were attracted by the growth of wealthy towns, monasteries, and weak kingdoms abroad. They may also have been pushed from home by overpopulation, a shortage of good farmland, and political turmoil tied to Norway’s unification. The aggressive expansion of the Carolingian Empire and the forced conversion of neighboring Saxons to Christianity may have played a role as well. Innovations in sailing allowed them to travel farther and longer from the start.
Our knowledge of the Viking Age comes largely from primary sources written by those who encountered the Vikings, along with archaeological evidence, supplemented by secondary sources like the Icelandic Sagas.
In England, the Viking attack on June 8, 793, which destroyed the abbey on Lindisfarne—a learning center on an island off Northumberland’s northeast coast—is traditionally seen as the start of the Viking Age.
- Period
- about 800–1050 CE
- Region
- Scandinavia and areas settled by Scandinavians
- Known for
- Raiding, colonising, conquest, trading, reaching North America
- Languages
- Old Norse
- Notable colonies
- British Isles, Ireland, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Normandy, Baltic coast, Dnieper and Volga trade routes, Newfoundland
Lore & Background
Voyaging by sea from their homelands in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, the Norse people settled in the British Isles, Ireland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland, Normandy, and the Baltic coast and along the Dnieper and Volga trade routes in eastern Europe, where they were also known as Varangians. They also briefly settled in Newfoundland, becoming the first Europeans to reach North America. The Norse-Gaels, Normans, Rus' people, Faroese, and Icelanders emerged from these Norse colonies. The Vikings founded several kingdoms and earldoms in Europe: the Kingdom of the Isles, Orkney, York and the Danelaw, Dublin, Normandy, and Kievan Rus'. The Norse homelands were also unified into larger kingdoms during the Viking Age, and the short-lived North Sea Empire included large swathes of Scandinavia and Britain. In 1021, the Vikings achieved the feat of reaching North America—the date of which was not determined until a millennium later.
Reader's Guide
Several factors drove this expansion. The Vikings were drawn by the growth of wealthy towns and monasteries overseas and weak kingdoms. They may also have been pushed to leave their homeland by overpopulation, lack of good farmland, and political strife arising from the unification of Norway. The aggressive expansion of the Carolingian Empire and forced conversion of the neighbouring Saxons to Christianity may also have been a factor. Sailing innovations had allowed the Vikings to sail farther and longer to begin with. Information about the Viking Age is drawn largely from primary sources written by those the Vikings encountered, as well as archaeology, supplemented with secondary sources such as the Icelandic Sagas. The Viking attack of 8 June 793 that destroyed the abbey on Lindisfarne is regarded as the beginning of the Viking Age, though Judith Jesch has argued that the start can be pushed back to 700–750. The earliest raids were most likely small in scale, but expanded in scale during the 9th century.
Did You Know?
- The Viking Age applies not only to Scandinavia but to any place significantly settled by Scandinavians during the period.
- In 1021, the Vikings reached North America, a date not determined until a millennium later.
- The first challenges to negative depictions of Vikings in Britain emerged in the 17th century.
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