THE NORSEMEN
Norsemen, or Northmen, a name given to Scandinavians of ancient and medieval times, especially the late eighth through mid-eleventh century. Norsemen called Vikings were feared raiders who plundered much of Europe. (The origin of the term Viking is unclear. It is believed to come from the Old Norse vik, meaning a fjord-type inlet, or vig, meaning battle.) The Norsemen were also traders and colonists, and were the first Europeans to visit North America.
Vikings began raiding and plundering the coasts of England, Ireland, and western Europe in the late eighth century when the population in Scandinavia had grown so much that the area's resources could no longer support it. They attacked unprotected cities and towns, taking what they could carry and destroying what was left.
During the mid-ninth century, the Norsemen began military expeditions to conquer and colonize foreign lands and, in some cases, to open trade routes. By the early eleventh century, Norsemen had colonized parts of Europe and North America, and had established trade routes extending to the Byzantine Empire.
The first Norse raid was against an English monastery in 793. In the mid-ninth century, Norsemen, predominantly. Norwegians and Danes, began colonizing the Orkney and Hebrides Islands, the east coast of Ireland, and the west coast of Scotland and England. In 994 the Danes began an invasion of England. In 1016 Knut, the heir to the Danish throne, became king of England - Knut II.
Meanwhile, Norsemen raided northwestern France and plundered much of the rest of the country. They also went on raiding expeditions to Spain and North Africa. In 911 Charles the Simple, the Frankish king, obtained some relief from the raids by creating the duchy of Normandy for the Norsemen. They gradually converted to Christianity and adopted local customs and the French language.
In the late ninth century, Norsemen began sailing across the Atlantic. They colonized Iceland in 874, and expanded to Greenland in the 980's. In about 1000 they became the first Europeans to discover North America, landing in a territory they called Vinland (Newfoundland). A settlement was made but soon abandoned.
Vikings began raiding and plundering the coasts of England, Ireland, and western Europe in the late eighth century when the population in Scandinavia had grown so much that the area's resources could no longer support it. They attacked unprotected cities and towns, taking what they could carry and destroying what was left.
During the mid-ninth century, the Norsemen began military expeditions to conquer and colonize foreign lands and, in some cases, to open trade routes. By the early eleventh century, Norsemen had colonized parts of Europe and North America, and had established trade routes extending to the Byzantine Empire.
The first Norse raid was against an English monastery in 793. In the mid-ninth century, Norsemen, predominantly. Norwegians and Danes, began colonizing the Orkney and Hebrides Islands, the east coast of Ireland, and the west coast of Scotland and England. In 994 the Danes began an invasion of England. In 1016 Knut, the heir to the Danish throne, became king of England - Knut II.
Meanwhile, Norsemen raided northwestern France and plundered much of the rest of the country. They also went on raiding expeditions to Spain and North Africa. In 911 Charles the Simple, the Frankish king, obtained some relief from the raids by creating the duchy of Normandy for the Norsemen. They gradually converted to Christianity and adopted local customs and the French language.
In the late ninth century, Norsemen began sailing across the Atlantic. They colonized Iceland in 874, and expanded to Greenland in the 980's. In about 1000 they became the first Europeans to discover North America, landing in a territory they called Vinland (Newfoundland). A settlement was made but soon abandoned.
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