10 Ways Viking Warriors Changed the World
Viking warriors were known for their violent acts of marauding and pillaging. But the Viking people were also explorers, traders and farmers—based in Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark, and Norway) in the 8th-11th centuries.
Agriculture sustained the Viking’s existence, interspersed with occasional conquests for riches. When they weren’t farming they were raiding towns, monasteries, and churches to supplement their wealth and gain land for settlement.
The Vikings also exhibited exceptional skill in shipbuilding and navigation. Coastally-based locations like those in Britain became easy targets. The raiders employed quick and tactical attacks; they were in and out before any defense could be mustered.
But it wasn’t all war and plunder. The Vikings embarked on journeys at sea, settling in new lands like Greenland and Normandy. They were merchants and traders. They made markets in fur, iron, amber, timber, gold, silver, silk and spices. Viking settlements were established as far away as England, Ireland, France, and North America. Leif Eriksson’s Vikings even arrived in America 500 years before Columbus.
How Viking Warriors Left Their Mark on History
We have the Vikings to thank for many things we take for granted today. Here are ten ways Viking warriors changed the world as we know it:
1. Viking Runestones
Runestones are stones that have runic language, symbols and icons inscribed or chiseled into the surface. Even before the Viking Age, early Scandinavians used the stones to commemorate locations or honor the dead. The majority of existing runestones date to the age of the Vikings (793-1066 AD).
While most runestones are found in Sweden, there is one outlier that has caused significant controversy among the scientific community and amateur slueths alike: the Kensington Runestone, discovered in a rural Minnesota farm field by Olof Ohman in 1898.
The inscription on the Kensington runestone describes how Scandinavian explorers traveled west from Leif Ericksson’s Vinland settlement and were attacked (presumably by Native American Indians) in 1362.
As the theory goes, the expedition could have reached the prairies of Minnesota by way of the St. Lawrence Seaway, traveling through the Great Lakes to their terminus in Duluth, Minnesota.
Challenges to the validity of the Kensington runestone story remain. Was it a hoax created by Swedish farmers or a real record of an exploration into the new world that predates Columbus by over one hundred years? Judge for yourself—the stone is currently located at the Runestone Museum in Alexandria, Minnesota.
2. Viking Navigation and Shipbuilding Technology
The Viking warriors were advanced shipbuilders, allowing them to travel greater distances and sustain longer journeys than other sea-faring cultures.
Viking longships were built with advanced technology for the time; the overall length, shallow hull and many rows of oars allowed for speed and maneuverability unlike any other. The boats were fast, light and flexible in the open seas.
The ability of Viking explorers to navigate held a great advantage over their foes. They made use of the sun compass—which used calcite crystals or sunstones to show the sun’s location—allowing the Vikings to navigate at any time of day and in any weather condition.
Interestingly, the Vikings so revered their boats, they honored the dead by burying them in their ships for their journey through the afterlife.
Famous Viking warriors
3. Viking Words and Language
Old Norse, the language of the Vikings, gave birth to hundreds of words now used in the English language. The name Viking is from the Old Norse “vikingr”, meaning one who goes on expeditions, usually by sea.
Here are other words we use today that have Viking origins:
- anger – from Old Norse “angr”, meaning trouble or affliction
- berserk, from Old Norse “berserkr” meaning “bear shirt”
- husband – Old Norse word “hūsbōndi” (house + master/holder)
- blunder – from “blundra”, to shut one’s eye
- ransack – from “rannsaka” to search the house
- elf – from Old Norse “alfr”
- knife – from Old Norse “knīfr”, modern Swedish “kniv”
- skull – from “skulle” or head
- mistake – from “mistaka” or to miscarry
- sledge – from “sleggja” or sledgehammer
- weak – from “veikr” or weak/pliant
- skin – from “skinn” or animal hide
- scathe – from “skaða” or to hurt/injure
- wrong – from “rangr” or crooked
- freckle – from Old Norse “freknōttr”
- slaughter – from “slahtr” or butcher
- window – Old Norse wind eye, or “vindauga”
- geyser – from “geysir” or “geysa” to gush
- saga – “saga” meant a story or tale
- tidings – from “tíðindi” or news of events
- mire – from “myrr” or bog
- cake – from “kaka”
- ugly – from “uggligr” dreadful or repulsive
- strike – from “skrikja” to scream
- Thursday – Thor’s Day, Thor the Norse god of Thunder. 12th century Old Norse “thōrsdagr”. Modern Swede’s say Torsdag.
4. Viking Towns and Settlements
Viking warriors are known to have invaded and established settlements in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Iceland, Greenland, Russia, Europe, and North America. Let’s look at the different ways they left their mark on these places far away from their home country:
Vikings in England
Over 1,500 placenames in England have Viking origins. Examples include Derby, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Slaithwaite, and Lowestoft. Their names derive from the Old Norse language:
- “by” for homestead
- “thwaite” for clearing or meadow
- “thorpe” for farm
- “toft” for homestead
- “keld” for a spring
- “ness” for headland/promontory
- “kirk” for church.
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Viking warriors impact on the world we know
Vikings in Ireland
Viking marauders made their way into eastern Ireland in 838 AD. They set up a base camp in a strategic location that eventually became the city of Dublin.
More bases—or as the Irish called them, longphorts—were established in what is now the towns Wexford, Waterford, Cork, and Limerick. The Vikings commanded the region by way of the River Liffey and its branches.
A Common Viking Myth
Historians believe Vikings did not actually have horns on their helmets. Images depicted on ancient archeological artifacts and relics show conical Viking helmets without horns. And an actual Viking-age helmet found in Norway is made of iron and has no horns. Horned helmets are more likely an exaggeration by 19th century artists and painters to dramatically enhance their depictions of ferocious warriors at battle.
Vikings in France
The French region of Normandy—from Old Norse meaning “Northman”—was conquered by Viking raiders beginning around 800 AD.
The first ruler of Normandy was a Viking named Rollo (Gaange Rolf). It is said that he was so physically imposing that a horse could not carry him; he had to travel by foot.
Vikings in Greenland and Iceland
The Vikings settled Iceland in the late ninth century. They attempted colonization of Greenland but abandoned it in the late 15th century. Historians theorize hunger, climate and isolation may have played a role in their leaving.
Vikings in North America
The Vikings, led by Leif Ericksson, arrived on the North American continent in northern Newfoundland. He named the settlement Vinland.
5. Snow Skiing
Scandinavians were among the first humans to make use of skis 6000 years ago (archeologists have discovered even earlier skis in Russia). Skiing provided them a means for transportation in winter months, as well as recreation.
Skiing became so much a part of the Scandinavian culture that they gave it a name, “skio” meaning a stick of wood. The English “ski” derives from the original Old Norse word.
Norse mythology even included references to skiing. The Norse god Ullr was known for his skill in archery, skiing, hunting, and skating.
6. Viking Warriors Personal Hygiene
The popular image of Viking warriors is of wild, hairy men wearing heavy iron armor and spending days at sea, marauding and killing foes.
In fact, it is believed Vikings bathed about once per week. And the wild, unkempt hair? They had crude combs carved from deer antlers to keep it together on bad hair days.
And the manscaping didn’t stop there. Scientists have found combs and other grooming utensils in Viking gravesites—including tweezers, ear wax spoons, and razors.
Speaking of hair, the myth of the blonde-haired Viking may have some truth. Blonde hair was prized in Viking times, even among men. Vikings used soap infused with lye to bleach their hair and beards.
7. Powerful Women
Even in the patriarchal Viking culture, women maintained powerful roles. Women could own and inherit property, divorced from their husbands and even reclaim their dowry.
Strong Viking women included priestesses, oracles, poets, merchants and medicine women.
Viking women may have also participated in warfare. In 1889 archaeologists discovered a Viking woman’s burial containing artifacts possibly indicating she was a revered warrior. Alongside her bones were an array of weapons along with horse bones, an honor bestowed upon high-ranking warriors.
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8. Viking Icelandic Sagas
Viking oral tradition consisted of mythological stories and fantastic poems, called sagas. These tales could be about voyages, battles, journeys, deeds, and Icelandic feuds—repeatedly told over long winters.
Sagas were written by Skalds, Viking poets who wrote in honor and in praise of kings and patrons, and other anonymous Old Norse sources (Eddaic) about many topics.
These stories were about real characters but were sometimes fictionalized or written with exaggeration and poetic license.
9. Viking Warriors – Gods and Goddesses
Norse mythology consists of creation stories and tales of the gods. Here are some of the most famous Viking gods:
- Ymir – The first god created by fire and ice before Earth existed, the forebearer of all Norse gods and humanity
- Odin – The one-eyed god, a wolf, and raven by his side, spear in hand, pursuer of knowledge, ruler of Valhalla, provider of the runic alphabet
- Thor – Son of Odin, all-powerful thunder god, with his thunder hammer Mjölnir
- Frigg – Wife of Odin, powerful goddess, able to see the future, goddess of the sky
- Balder – Son of Odin and Frigg, had physical beauty, radiated sunlight, wise and gentle
- Freyja – Goddess of love and beauty, cloaked in feathers
- Freyr – Twin brother of Freyja, the god of weather, agriculture, brings peace and pleasure to all
- Njöror – Father of Freyja and Freyr, the god of ships and seafaring, wealth and prosperity
- Skaol – Skiing and hunting goddess from the mountains
- Iounn – Goddess provides apples that grant eternal youth
- Heimdall – Mysterious god with nine mothers, gold teeth, able to hear the grass grow, and has a loud horn
- Tyr – God of war and glory, the bravest of the gods
- Bragi – God of poetry
- Loki – The trickster, god of chaos and mischief, shapeshifter
10. Famous Viking Warriors – Leaders
Erik the Red
The red-haired Norse explorer who founded the first settlement in Greenland.
Leif Ericksson
Son of Erik the Red; the first European to set foot on the North American continent in the area of northern Newfoundland. He named his settlement Vinland.
Thorvald Eiriksson
Son of Erik the Red and brother of Leif Eriksson. He participated in the expedition to Vinland (North America) and was the first European to die there.
Ragnar Lodbrok (Lothbrok)
Legendary Viking ruler and hero of 9th-century wars with what is now France and England.
Ivar the Boneless
Son of Ragnar Lothbrok; Famed invader of England; led the Great Heathen Army along with brothers Björn Ironside, Ubba, Hvitserk, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye.
Björn Ironside
Son of Ragnar Lothbrok; a powerful naval warrior in raids on France and the Mediterranean; King of Sweden.
Eric Bloodaxe
10th century Norwegian and Northumbrian king; little is known about him outside of Viking sagas.
Egill Skallagrimsson
The protagonist in Egil’s Saga and Viking-age poet, warrior and farmer.
Gunnhild Gormsdottir
Wife of Eric Bloodaxe who appears in many Icelandic sagas.
Harald Fairhair
The first King of Norway, he reigned from 872 to 930 AD. Father of Eric Bloodaxe and Haakon the Good.
Tore Hund
The great chief of Hålogaland who participated in the killing of King Olaf II of Norway in the Battle of Stiklestad (1030 AD).
Ingolfur Arnarson
Along with his wife and brother, one of the first permanent Norse settlers of Iceland, founder of Reykjavik.
Olaf I of Norway
Olaf Tryggvason, great-grandson of Harald Fairhair, was King of Norway from 995 to 1000 AD.
Rollo of Normandy
The first ruler of Normandy, France. Legend states that he was so physically strong and imposing that he could not travel by horse, and could only walk.
Sweyn II of Denmark
King of Denmark from 1047 to 1076 AD.
Ubba
A commander with the Great Army; invaded England in the 860s.
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By Greg Johnson | Published 10/5/2018
