Viking Trading Empire

Viking trading empire, 8th to 11th Century

When the Vikings conquered England under King Cnut, England became the centre of the North Sea empire. This included Cnut’s territories in Norway, Denmark and parts of Sweden.

The Norman Conquest shifted trade and commerce back to continental Europe as England and France remained strongly connected until the end of the Hundred Years’ War in 1453.

The Vikings and Cnut’s North Sea Empire

• Vikings have been raiding England since 793 when they looted a monastery in Lindisfarne.

• In 865 lots of Norwegians, Swenes and Danes invaded England with the aim of conquering the whole country. This ‘Great Heathen Army’ didn’t succeed in conquering all of England, but gained large territories, with York as the capital.

• Many migrated from Scandinavia to these territories and turned York into the major trading centre in the North.

• In 1016 King Cnut managed to conquer all of England.

• This meant that:

• England was now a part of the NS Empire (was also King of Norway and Denmark). Coins with his face on were used across these kingdoms.

• Trade between these countries increased and economic migrants from Scandinavia settled as farmers or craftsmen. This continued from 852 to 1050.