Viking Basics
True or False: All Vikings were warriors who spent their entire lives raiding.
False
What animal was sometimes carved into the front of a Viking ship?
dragon or serpant
What round piece of equipment did Viking warriors use to protect themselves?
What was one of the main jobs of most Vikings?
Farming
Who was Erik the Red's son who explored westward?
Leif Erickson
What was another name for the people we call Vikings?
Norsemen or Norse
What was the famous type of Viking ship designed for speed and raiding?
Longship
What weapon did Vikings commonly use that had a sharp blade attached to a long wooden handle?
Ax
Name 2 foods Vikings might have eaten.
bread, fish, meat, cheese, berries, vegetables, porridge
What was unusual about Greenland when Erik the Red arrived?
It was a harsh, cold place with limited farmland.
What region of Europe did the Vikings come from?
Scandinavia
Why were Viking ships so important to the Vikings?
They allowed Vikings to travel, raid, trade, explore, and settle new lands.
True or False: Vikings always fought alone rather than as organized groups.
False
What kind of homes did many Vikings live in?
Longhouses
What land did Leif Erikson reach that was west of Greenland?
North America
Why did many Vikings leave Scandinavia and travel to other lands?
They sought land, wealth, trade, adventure, and opportunities for settlement.
What was special about Viking ships that helped them travel both on the ocean and on rivers?
They were relatively light and had shallow bottoms, allowing them to travel in shallow water.
Vikings did NOT usually wear what ridiculous item that movies often show them wearing?
Horned helmets
What material did Vikings use to make many of their tools and weapons?
Iron
What name did the Vikings give to the land they discovered in North America?
Vineland
What body of water did Vikings have to cross to reach places such as England?
the North Sea
What island did Vikings settle after traveling west from Scandinavia?
Iceland
Why were monasteries attractive targets for Viking raiders?
They often contained valuable treasures and had relatively little protection.
What did Viking families often use to make clothing?
Wool and linen
Why was Vinland probably a good name for the land Leif explored?
The area had wild grapes or berries that reminded the Vikings of grapes.