The Vikings History | Concise Tour Info

Before you go to Norway, it is advisable to review the Vikings history. So, you can decide which places to go with your limited time and budget. Let’s see a little bit about this adventurous tribe in Northern Islands.

The Vikings History and Influence at a Glimpse

From the 8th to the 11th century the Vikings or Northern men sailed from their fjords in Scandinavia and made their way across Europe looking for trade, and offering mercenary service. The Swedes (or Varangians) established themselves throughout the Baltic and controlled the overland route to the Baltic Sea, while the Danes invaded parts of England, Portugal, and France. The Norwegians, however, were unparalleled in their success, and their adventures became the stuff of Viking legend. After overrunning the Orkneys, the Shetlands, the Hebrides, and parts of Ireland, the Norwegians established colonies in the Frances, Iceland, and Greenland. They even sailed to the coast of North America.

The Viking were the most feared Europeans of their day, and their impact on history was immense. Fear of the Vikings raid unified many otherwise disparate tribes and kingdoms, and many new political states were created by the Vikings themselves. For example, they founded Dublin in Ireland. Also, they founded Normandy in France. Despite profiting from the spoils of war, it was their success as settlers and traders that was the Vikings’ greatest achievement.

The Vikings Inheritance | The Vikings History

There are a lot of things we can see today if we go to Norway. The Vikings left us with abundant precious treasures. There are some places where you can see the Vikings inheritance:

• The Vikings’ Religion : The Vikings religion was dominated by the supreme gods Odin (god of war), Thor (thunder), Frey (fertility).
• The Long ship : The Viking used mainly the long ship for raid. It was long and slim, faster than usual Viking ship. To see the ship, you can go to the Viking Ship Museum on the Bygd∅y peninsula outside Oslo’s city center. You can see amazing woodcarvings, mysterious skeleton remains and a fascinating film about the Vikings. The address is Huk Aveny 35, 0287 Oslo, Norway.
• Weapons and Armor : The weapons and armor were the backbone of Viking culture, so the blacksmith’s art was always in demand. You can find Viking axe, Ulfberht (the Viking Sword), bow and arrow, Viking Spear, Seax (the Viking Knife), Viking Armor, Viking Helmet, Viking Shield. See the detailed information about these Vikings’ Weapons and armor here.
• Jewelry Design  : The Vikings’ Jewelry Design often showed  Arab and eastern European influence. It illustrated the extent of the Vikings’ trading network. Their jewelry was made of gold, silver, bronze, pewter, colored glass, jet, amber.
• Picture Stones : Picture stones were memorial blocks that celebrated the glory of the dead relatives. They were carved with pictures and runic writing.