what is a viking

The Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia who raided, pirated, and traded from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries. The word "Viking" was rarely mentioned in written sources during the time the Vikings were active, and it was not until the nineteenth century that the term passed into common English usage. The Vikings were made up of landowning chieftains and clan heads, their retainers, freemen, and any energetic young clan members who sought adventure and booty overseas. They were not one "race" as such, rather small groups from all over the region. The Vikings were craftspeople, farmers, seafarers, merchants, and warriors from the Nordic countries. They lived during what is known as the Viking Era, which lasted from approximately 800 CE to 1050 CE. Vikings embarked on expeditions to other parts of Europe and beyond to trade and form new settlements, but also to conquer and plunder. The Vikings left a strong mark on Northern Europe that will last forever, and their legacy is strong in Norway, with many fascinating artifacts, museums, tours, and living villages throughout the country.