Answer key

3.Read this article and fill in the gaps with the following words: a)Norse people b)pirate raiders c)trade d) converted e) Viking longships f) trade routes g)to colonise h)Normandy i)capable of j) honoured k) across l)Improvements

The Viking Age began about 1,200 years ago in the 8th Century AD and lasted for 300 years. Origins The Viking people came from three countries of Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway and Sweden. They were also known as the___1__. They were mostly farmers, but some worked as craftsmen or traders. Many Vikings were great travellers and sailed all over Europe and the north Atlantic Ocean in their longships. __2____in boat design allowed them to travel further afield. Some went as fierce___3____: they stole treasure and attacked local people. But most Vikings who sailed overseas were simply searching for better land for their farms. Longships Light, fast and able to ride out storms, ___4___were the peak of early medieval boat design, equally at home on the open sea as on rivers. Powered by a large sail or by banks of oars such vessels carried up to 200 warriors on long-distance raids or explorations. Raiding A longship's shallow draught enabled it to be sailed close inshore or up rivers, deep inland. This allowed the Vikings to raid any part of Northern Europe, seizing goods and slaves. Contemporary chronicles reflect the terror such hit and run attacks inspired. Trading ____5_____was as important as warfare to the Vikings and their merchants travelled as far as the Byzantine Empire, the Islamic World, Persia and India. Their main ___6_____included the rivers Dnieper and Volga in Eastern Europe and Russia. Settling down Viking raids in England were so successful they were able____7_____ much of the north and east of the country as well as western Scottish islands and parts of Ireland. In 911, the King of France gave a Viking leader, Rollo, and his followers a large area of land - it became known as ______8__. The first explorers Longships enabled the Vikings to reach and settle Iceland and Greenland and explore the long, dangerous rivers of Russia. It was hard to believe that people who lived more than 1000 years ago could be ___9_____such enormous shipbuilding and navigational feats. The Vikings built fast ships that were capable of sailing all over the world - and they did, from the Baltic Sea, to the North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and the Irish Sea. To cap off those amazing achievements, the Vikings sailed clear _____10_ the Atlantic Ocean to North America – and this was more than 500 years before Columbus made his so-called discovery ! Religion The Vikings were particularly feared because they were not Christians. They ___11____a number of pagan gods led by Odin, lord of the Slain, Thor, god of Thunder, and Frey, the fertility god. By the 11th century, however, most Vikings had ____12____to Christianity.

The name 'Viking' comes from my language which is called 'Old Norse'. It means 'a pirate raid'.

Vikings had converted to Christianity.

The origin of the word "Viking" is unclear, but seems to derive from "vik" meaning "a smallharbour". In Old Norse, the word "vik" means bay or creek. So it refers to people who kept their seagoing ships in such harbours, from which they raided European coasts between AD 800 and 1000. TheirChristianized descendants after AD 1000 are referred to as the mediaeval Norse. 'Vik' may also come from the Old English word 'wic', which derives from the Latin 'vicus', meaning a camp or tradingsettlement. Then there is the Scandinavian expression "to go a-viking" which means to go exploring, or to go on an expedition in search of wealth and glory.

The origin of the word VIKING

Viking Words Did you know that some of our days of the week come from viking gods? Tyr'sday (Tuesday) is named for Tyr, the god of war. Woden's day (Wednesday) comes from Woden, the chief god (also known as Odin). Thor's day (Thursday) comes from Thor, the god of thunder. Frigga's day (Friday) is named for Odin's wife, Frigga, the "mother goddess". The Berserkers, literally "bear shirts," were the most feared of the Vikings. They worked themselves into a frenzy before going into battle and fought on, regardless of pain.

'Vik' may also come from the Old English word 'wic', which derives from the Latin 'vicus', meaning a camp or trading settlement. Another explanation is that the word came from "vikingr" which means pirate or raider. Then there is the Scandinavian expression "to go a-viking" which means to go exploring, or to go on an expedition in search of wealth and glory.

GO “BERSERK” The English phrase 'go berserk' means to 'go crazy'. This term comes from the Vikings: the fiercest of their warriors were called berserkers.

CLEAN FREAKS Despite their reputation for animalistic and uncouth behavior, the Vikings were actually quite fastidious about personalgrooming. Among the most frequent artifacts unearthed in Viking Age excavations are a variety of tools used for personal grooming, such as tweezers, razors and combs carved out of animal bone or antlers. The Vikings made soap as well, which they used to wash themselves and to bleach their hair, blonde hair being especially valued in the Viking culture, not unlike certain other modern civilizations we know.The Norsemen who conquered the British Isles had a reputation for excessive cleanliness, due to their custom of bathing once a week, on Saturdays (unlike the local Anglo-Saxons). To this day, Saturday is referred to as “washing day” in the Scandinavian languages.

No horns on helmets. The truth is that no viking ever had horned helmets. There is not a single finding-place with horned helmets from the Viking Age Period. However there are some helmets with horn on them but those helmets are more than thousand years older than the very first Viking or on some pictures on necklaces symbolizing the gods.

Viking Women Women, especially older women and widows, could hold positions of considerable prestige in society. Viking women were greatly respected in their culture. They were skilled at running households, managing the finance and running farms while men were away. They could choose their own husbands and divorce if they wanted to. Most spent part of their day spinning wool or flax for clothing. What was it like to be a viking woman? Viking women had more rights than women in other parts of Europe at the same time. Women were allowed to own land and other property. They had a right to share in the wealth of her husband. Women could be farmers and traders, and could get divorced. They had to be strong women because they were left to defend their homestead when their men went a-viking (exploring).

Answer key

_1_chieftain (village leader) _2_sward _3_ axe _4_shield _5_settlement _6_amulet _7_fur tunic _8_runes _9_ rune stones _10_helmet _11_spear _12_viking God Thor _13_horn _14_ weapons _15_viking warrior _16_dragon carving _17_long ship

1 Viking Pictionary

2. True or false?

All these statements are true!

3.Vikings: fact file

1) a 2) l 3)b 4) e 5) c 6) f 7) g 8) h 9) I 10) k

11) j 12) d

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