The Longship

The Longship was a type of vessel used by the Norse explorers and warriors during the Viking Age (8th to 11th centuries). Designed for speed, agility, and long-distance travel, these ships featured a streamlined hull, shallow draft for navigating rivers and seas, and often a dragon or serpent figurehead. They enabled Vikings to raid, explore, trade, and settle across Europe, North Atlantic, and even North America. Longships combined advanced shipbuilding techniques with powerful sail and oar systems, making them versatile tools for expansion and conquest during that era.