Vikings

The Viking Era, roughly late eighth to mid eleventh century, marks a restless chapter in European history. Norse sailors pushed out from Scandinavia not only to raid but to trade, settle, and argue loudly about law. Monks noticed first. “Never before has such terror appeared in Britain,” wrote Alcuin of York in 793, sounding like a man who had just lost his roof. Further east, Ibn Fadlan observed their funerals with fascination and clear discomfort. From longships to marketplaces, the Vikings were less chaos incarnate and more highly motivated neighbours with excellent boats.