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The Viking Age (793–1066 CE) saw Norse warriors from Scandinavia raid, trade, and settle across Europe, the North Atlantic, and even North America. Their longships — the most sophisticated vessels of their era — enabled raids on England, France, Russia, and the Mediterranean; trade routes from Scandinavia to Constantinople and Baghdad; and the first European contact with North America (Leif Eriksson, c. 1000 CE, at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland).
Vikings are often portrayed purely as violent raiders — but they were also skilled traders, farmers, craftspeople, and navigators. The Varangian Vikings who traveled east became the ruling elite of Russia (giving it its name from 'Rus') and formed the Byzantine Emperor's elite Varangian Guard. The Norse settlement of Iceland (874 CE) established a democratic parliament (Althing) that still meets today.
# Top 10 Viking Age facts
- 1Leif Eriksson's Norse settlement in Newfoundland (c. 1000 CE) predates Columbus by 500 years
- 2Iceland's Althing, founded in 930 CE, is the world's oldest parliament still in operation
- 3The word 'Russia' comes from the Rus Vikings who established trading posts and ruling dynasties in the region
Fascinating Facts
- ◆Leif Eriksson's Norse settlement in Newfoundland (c. 1000 CE) predates Columbus by 500 years
- ◆Iceland's Althing, founded in 930 CE, is the world's oldest parliament still in operation
- ◆The word 'Russia' comes from the Rus Vikings who established trading posts and ruling dynasties in the region
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