Viking Expansion, c. 750 — c. 1050

Viking Expansion

The period from approximately 750 to 1050 when Norse seafarers raided, traded, and settled across Europe and beyond.

Kings and Chieftains

Rulers who held political and military power, organized raids, and expeditions, and distributed wealth and land among followers.

Jarls

Members of the noble class who owned large estates, served as local leaders, administered justice, and led military operations.

Karls

Free men, including farmers, craftsmen, and traders, who participated in local assemblies but had no political or military power.

Thralls

Slaves captured in raids or born into servitude, forming the lowest class in Viking society.

Norse Mythology

The body of myths originating from Norse paganism, involving gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythical creatures, transmitted through oral tradition and later written sources like the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda.

Blot

Sacrificial rituals involving offerings to gods, spirits, and ancestors, including animals and, in rare cases, humans.

Animal Sacrifices

Rituals involving the sacrifice of animals such as horses, cattle, pigs, and goats, with the blood used to sanctify participants and altars.

Human Sacrifices

In times of great need, such as famine or war, humans, often prisoners of war or slaves, were sacrificed.

Asgard

The home of the Aesir gods in Norse mythology.

Midgard

Earth, the home of humans in Norse mythology.

Vanaheim

The home of the Vanir gods in Norse mythology.

Jotunheim

The land of the giants (Jotnar) in Norse mythology.

Alfheim

The home of the Light Elves in Norse mythology.

Svartalfheim

The realm of the Dark Elves in Norse mythology.

Niflheim

The world of ice and cold in Norse mythology.

Muspelheim

The world of fire in Norse mythology.

Helheim

The realm of the dead, ruled by the goddess Hel in Norse mythology.

Longship

A type of ship used by Vikings for raids, trade, and exploration, known for its speed and agility.

Thing

An assembly of free men in Norse society where decisions were made and disputes settled.

Lindisfarne

The site of the first recorded Viking raid on a monastery in 793.

Danelaw

The area of England under Viking control, established through treaties with Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

Varangian Guard

An elite unit of Norse warriors serving as personal guards for the Byzantine Emperor.

Vinland

The Norse name for the area of North America explored and briefly settled by Vikings around 1000.

Rollo of Normandy

Viking leader who founded the Duchy of Normandy in the early 10th century after securing a grant of land from the King of France, Charles the Simple, and became the first ruler of Normandy

Erik the Red

a Norse explorer known for founding the first Norse settlements in Greenland after being exiled from Iceland in the late 10th century.

Leif Erikson

A Norse explorer credited with leading the exploration of North America (Vinland).

Christianization

The process of converting Scandinavian societies to Christianity, marking the end of the Viking Age.

Ragnar Lothbrok

A legendary Viking hero known for his daring raids on France and England and his legendary stories and sagas.

Raids on Frankish Empire

Frequent Viking attacks on the coasts of the Frankish Empire, including the sacking of Paris in 845.

Danelaw

The region in England under Viking control after treaties with Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

Iceland Settlement

Settlement by Norsemen around 874, establishing a unique Norse society.

Greenland Colonization

Colonization led by Erik the Red around 985, expanding Norse influence.

Varangian Guard

Norsemen serving as elite guards for the Byzantine Emperor, highlighting extensive trade and military connections.

Formation of Kingdoms

Viking invasions led to the consolidation of smaller kingdoms into larger political entities (e.g., England under King Alfred).

Military Reforms

European states developed better defenses and fortifications in response to Viking threats.

Cultural Exchange

Influence on language, place names, and cultural practices in regions like England and Normandy.

Trade Networks

Expansion of trade routes and markets, facilitating economic growth in Europe.