Jakub Kopciński (Akademia im. Jana Długosza Częstochowa, Poland). Everything about the Vikings What you Want to Know but Are Afraid to Ask. – In: Languages and Cultures of the Baltic Region: Collection of Papers. Vol. 2. – Rīga: Sociālo tehnoloģiju augstskola (STA), 2007. ISBN 978-9984-39-253-0.
Summary
The term ‘Viking’ commonly denotes the ship-borne warriors and traders of Norsemen. The Viking people came from three countries of Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The Vikings were mostly farmers but some worked as craftsmen or traders. The period dated 793–1066 is often referred to as the Viking Age. During that time, they raided the coasts of the British Isles, the far east of Russia and Constantinople. Vikings even reached North America with putative expeditions to present-day Canada in the 10th century. They stole treasures and attacked local people. The Vikings were also famous for their brilliantly designed longships – graceful, long, narrow, light wooden boats with a shallow draft designed for speed.