The Vikings

The Vikings came from Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. They invaded and settled in northern Scotland and the east of England looking for farmland. The Viking age in Europe ran from around AD 700 to 1100. Vikings arrived in longships and attacked small villages, following a sustained campaign of attack. The Vikings famously settled in York building houses and established trades such as jewellery and pottery making and woodworking. Women were important in Viking family life. They ran the home and farm while their husbands were away trading or fighting. Throughout the Viking age there were many battles between the Vikings and the English with King Alfred preventing them from taking over all of England. In the 10th century England won back much of the land taken defeating Eric Bloodaxe, the last Viking King of Jorvik. Viking rule ended with the invasion of Britain by the Normans in 1066.