Vikings

The Vikings have had a huge impact on the Western World. Obviously their culture and language is stamped indelibly into their native Scandinavia, but also somewhat in places that they colonised. The United Kingdom has many words and place-names of Viking origin, and they ruled large parts of it at various times, including the Scottish Isles, England and Normandy (at the time part of the Kingdom). They were great seafarers, and are purported to have journeyed to North America long before Christopher Columbus, being possibly the first westerners there. They colonised Greenland and Iceland, burned Paris and founded the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, and worked as mercenaries in the employ of the Byzantine Empire in Africa and the Middle East. They were a trading civilization too, with links as far as Baghdad. A map can be seen in the links section. Their mythology lives on in the days of our week, with Odin/Woden giving 'Woden'sday', Thor giving 'Thor'sday', Frigg giving 'Frigg'sday' etc.

they were burried in a boat with their riches, food ,servants, animals and weopons for the after life to take with them to valhala.

Yes, the Vikings had several kings at any one time because they were organized into several different countries.

feudalism

If I can remember correctly it was because the Vikings (vandals I believe) needed basic supplies such as food, water, wealth, and land. It wasn't uncommon for people to invade in these time and in some ways its always been a way of life. In the end the Vikings just end up destroying the village. I cant be certain because I just got done learning this from my teacher... so if this is wrong its not my fault.

The Viking Long Boats were built with a shallow draft & low masted. Built light and with the overall structure running the length instead of the width of the vessel allowed it to flex and bend over the waves rather than crash or cut through them. Although they were keeled, the keel was shallow for a sailing vessel but as it ran the length of the hull it afforded the ability to track straight but did not afford much in the way of stability as the deeper & weighted keels we see more of today. Wider hulls and little superstructure kept these Long Boats from being top heavy while under sail. I hope this helps.

Viking longships were most commonly built and used in the time from the 9th to the 13th centuries. They didn't have a consistent set of plans for building them, so the length often varied, plus there was more than one type of longship. They were typically anywhere from 56 to 100 feet long.

They would dip them in to some sort of boiled water with this mud in it ( weird but true.) The mud loosens up the wrinkles in the clothes then add some soap which get rid of the mud. Then they take it out ravel it up and squeese it and put in a line outside. It will take an hour to dry then they wear it! Hope this has helped you out!

It is possible that some Chinese vessels visited the Pacific coast of North America after the Vikings, but the first well documented visitors from other continents after the Viking settlements were abandoned were the Spanish, beginning with the voyages of Christopher Columbus in 1492.

They came as pirates looking for things to take. They raided many wealthy places in Ireland. Many also came and settled in Ireland starting settlements that became some of the modern day towns and cities in Ireland.

Yes. Valhalla was one of three possible afterlifes for Vikings. For them it was their highest aspiration where only the bravest sould went to, after they recieved a glorious death in battle.

He studied mathematics and astronomy.

The Vikings were expert pillagers and raiders. They invaded England to take crops, livestock, and treasure of all kinds. They also took people as slaves.

The Vikings were in tune with nature and would take these cues and transform them into chants that could be shared with future explorers. They were diligent in weather patterns and were familiar with the concepts of north, south east and west without the aid of a compass.

It was organized mostly through local gatherings called 'Things.' These things resolved disputes, made laws, and discussed general problems.

Wine Land

Lack of food was an important resource that caused the Viking settlement of Greenland to fail. The Norse preferred livestock and did not adapt to the thin soil and short growing period of Greenland. They also did not eat fish or the ring seals that were plentiful leading to them having to abandon the island as it began to cool and iceberg cut them off from their home.

they rolled back the advances of charlamagne (apex)

Often times it would be phrases or words written in the Futhark, the runic "alphabet." Typically it would be the name of the weapon. The viking age people believed that a soul was given to an object or person when it was named. So by naming a sword, it had its own soul, its own fate and personality. Common names for weapons would be something that would benefit its intended purpose. You wouldn't have a sword named feather, but rather Biter, Leg eater, pain giver, etc. There is one spear that was named Prober. Shields would have similar names, Haven, sanctuary, etc.

In terms of just raw symbols without words, the Tiwaz rune was popular, as it represented Tyr. Tyr is to be twice named for victory in battle, and there is a sword with two Tiwaz runes on it. Thurisaz was another good rune, along with Mjolnir (thor's hammer, which as a rune-like symbol was carved like an upside T. The fylfot (swastika) was another popular symbol.

They probably had to do the same things any other ancient warrior would have to do, such as cleaning/maintaining their weapons, boats (if applicable), etc. Other chores would depend on their location and lifestyle.

The Norse didnt really practice it like religions or pagans do now. They worshipped through combat and seeking the glorious death. The creation myths and stories were passes down verbally throughout their history before the written word. Odinism may be one of the worlds oldest beliefs but the worship of ancestors predates even that. And by worship I really only mean that they asked them to watch over them and asked for guidance. That's basically all there is too it. Snorri's prose Edda is a generally accurate description of the the stories. There really weren't any rituals and other things of that nature. But modernization of the religion did spur a type of prayer. More of a battle chant to be sure.

Lo, There do I see my Father

Lo, There do I see my Mother and

My Brothers and my Sisters

Lo, There do I see the line of my people back to the beginning

Lo, They do call to me

They bid me take my place among them in the halls of Valhalla

Where thine enemies have been vanquished

Where the brave shall live Forever

Nor shall we mourn but rejoice for those that have died the glorious death.

Don't go into it looking for the real thing and get into the modern movement. It's really a thick christianization of the glorious history.

Edit: I know what I'm talking about, I'm post grad history student focusing in religion and warfare.

The leader of a Viking community was called a jarl or an earl. The laws in these communities were passed down from parents to their children.

The Vikings were raiders and looters because looting was standard practice by those who won battles, because they were fierce warriors who were able to raid unexpectedly and thus win, and because their homelands were overpopulated and they needed to make a living doing something other than farm.

A Viking colony.