what did the vikings do

The Vikings, active from around 793 to 1066 AD, were seafaring people from Scandinavia known for their multifaceted role as warriors, traders, explorers, settlers, and craftsmen. They are famous for their raids and plundering along European coasts but also played significant roles in exploration, cultural exchange, and trade. The Vikings sailed vast distances using advanced longships, founding settlements such as Dublin and York, and reaching as far as North America around the year 1000, centuries before Columbus. They spread goods, technologies, and cultural influences across Europe and beyond, integrating into local populations and helping to connect diverse parts of the medieval world through trade networks. Aside from their reputation for raiding, many Vikings lived peacefully as farmers and traders, contributing to the development of societies in the areas they settled. They were skilled boat builders, navigators, and had a rich mythology and culture that influenced later literature and political systems like the world's first parliamentary government in Iceland.