Life and Culture of the Vikings

Oarlock

Supports for oars, guiding them during rowing.

Daily Life

Involved hard labor in farming and animal care.

Viking Exports

Included food, cloth, furs, and pottery.

Viking Imports

Included silk, jewels, spices, and glass.

Berserkers

Fierce warriors devoted to Odin, fought wildly.

Sigrblot

Viking festival marking the start of summer.

Valkyries

Angels who escort fallen warriors to Valhalla.

Keel

Ship's backbone providing stability and support.

Prow

Front of the ship, often intricately carved.

Mast

Vertical pole supporting the ship's sail.

Oars

Long poles used for rowing the ship.

Odin

God of war, wisdom; ruler of Valhalla.

Frigg

Odin's wife; goddess of marriage and motherhood.

Loki

God of mischief; Odin's step-brother.

Thor

God of thunder; wields the hammer Mjolnir.

Freyja

Goddess of love and war; twin sister of Freyr.

Baldur

God of light; his death symbolizes fate.

Jotunheim

Home of giants and dwarfs in Viking myths.

Fjord

Narrow river between cliffs or steep hills.

Runes

Alphabet used in Viking writing.

Skalds

Storytellers who recited Viking sagas.

Sagas

Long stories about gods and heroes.

Scandinavian countries

Regions occupied by Vikings: Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway.

Viking Diet

Included bread, porridge, vegetables, fruits, and meat.

Food Preservation

Methods included freezing, salting, drying, smoking, pickling.

Longhouse

Viking home for families and animals.

Weregild

Compensation money paid for crimes.

Jarls

Wealthy chieftains and noblemen in Viking society.

Karls

Freemen artisans who could vote and own land.

Thralls

Slaves with no rights, owned by masters.

Viking Entertainment

Included food, drink, poetry, singing, dancing.

Valhalla

Heaven for warriors who died honorably.

Hull

Main body of the ship, made from planks.