Viking history

Vikings were Norse seafarers from Scandinavia (modern-day Norway, Sweden, and Denmark) active from the late 8th to early 11th centuries. Known for their skilled shipbuilding and navigation, they raided, traded, and settled across Europe, Asia, and even North America. Their expeditions began with surprise attacks but evolved into complex trading networks and settlements. Viking society was organized around clans and hierarchies, with rich oral traditions. Over time, Christianization and political consolidation diminished their raiding era, but their legacy includes influential cultural, linguistic, and genetic contributions to many regions.