At the dawn of the 9th century, the Viking Age had begun. Coastal towns and monasteries across Western Europe fell victim to brutal raids, their treasures plundered and people carried off as slaves. This age of war and trade would last for the next 300 years, and the key to Nordic success was the viking longship.
The speed, maneuverability and shallow draught of these predatory vessels allowed the vikings to navigate coastal waters, and run their ships on to isolated beaches, from which to launch surprise attacks on nearby settlements. Before any local force could organize and retaliate, the vikings were long gone. These ships carried mighty invasions that carved out new Kingdoms across the British isles. They plundered as far as France and Italy. However, the longship was used for other purposes. Viking traders were able to navigate the rivers and lakes of Russia, reaching as far as Byzantium. The longships carried settlers that colonized the North Sea Islands, even a temporary colony in North America.
However, these waves of expansion and trade were nothing new. Scandinavia had traded with the Mediterranean since the bronze age. Warlike peoples such as the Cimbrians, Goths and Saxons all ventured out of Scandinavia to establish new realms across Europe. The viking age didn't come out of nowhere - neither did their ships. Thus, to understand the viking longship, we'll have to start from the beginning.
VIDEO HERE (19:42 minutes)
