4th-11th century AD

The world recognizes the Vikings

The Vikings (vikingr = men Fjord) - were Scandinavian seafarers who are in the 4th - 11th century went on "viking" - marauding expeditions to many countries. For the recovering European countries accounted threatening danger. In terms of ethnic origin, the Vikings were the northern branch of the Germans. Europeans called Norman (French), Danes (English) Ascomany (Germans) or Varangians (Russians and Byzantines). The prevailing opinion that the Vikings were from the land of snow and ice. According to climatologists, however, in this period of history right in the middle of natural global warming. And in the current cold climates where the mild climate (see map boundaries glaciation). Proofs were and are found during archaeological findings and also in glacial wells. The most famous evidence of this historic and climatic period as the origin of the name of the island of Greenland (Grönland = green earth).

Norwegian Vikings - North of colonized islands, Scotland and Ireland. From there proceed to the interior of England, where they clashed with the Danes. They made incursions from France to the Mediterranean Sea. In the 10th century. settled the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland and North America.

In 1740, Quebec was found in the same anchor, which used about Northern Europeans from the 2nd millennium BC. Whether it was the Scandinavians or anyone else from northern Europe, about historians speculate further. From 984-5 was discovered and colonized Greenland island. For a short time there were around 3,000 people. It is known that in about 992 landed on the shores of North America Leif Eriksson to the crew - were regarded as the first Europeans in America. Today we know that they were not the first. Before them in Labrador about the year 986 landed Viking Bjarni.
Archaeology found settlements Markland, Helluland the legendary Vinland. Now the Vinland of the Viking relic under the protection of UNESCO.

Swedish Vikings (Varangians) - formed an elite armed merchant fleet, with which undertook expeditions to the east of Finland and Gulf of Riga to the Volga, Dnieper, Bug, etc. After these rivers advancing inland and settled in a convenient location. Volga sailed to the Arab countries and the Dnieper to the Black Sea and Byzantium. Historians consider Varjag the founder of Kievan Rus and future imperial dynasty Rurikovců.

The Danish Vikings - undertook raids in the Baltic and together with Norwegian Vikings from France to the Mediterranean. In 911 the Frankish king granted the fief of the chief Rollo county Rouen (Channel Duchy of Normandy today). Around the 9th century colonized part of England. The largest of the British Isles at that time was divided into two kingdoms, the northern Norwegian - Danelaw and southern Denmark - Wessex.

Community - divided into three states: the lowest slaves, in a second condition were warriors, farmers, artisans, etc., they worked for slaves. A first condition were earls (chiefs-mayors), landowners, and they no longer could afford to own a fleet of ships as well. Above all was the king elected chiefs. The King was very limited power of the people.

Law - Viking system was simple: honor is everything. And thus often fights. Women to the Jarl of a man sue if they man stretched out his hand or a word. Offender had to pay a woman for punishment by the court specified amount.

Mythology - The Vikings had a rich and colorful legends. Among other things, the three principal gods had a large family. Odin was the leader of all the gods, because he put his eye for wisdom from the Well of Wisdom. With his wife goddess Frigg fathered several children, as Tyra god of war, god of light Balder and more. The most popular god and Odin's son emerged from the other women, the thunder god Thor.

Ships

Photo-Video Gallery: The world recognizes the Vikings

Langskip - by Nordic langskippet - Sharpie, single row rowboat war, with folding mast and a large transverse square sails, rounded bow and stern, controlled steering oar. Langskipy is characterized by ease, speed and durability. They dive low, so they can land and in shallow water or float the river. As Varangians who got so big rivers upstream to the interior of Russia. The term Drakkar by naval historians solely largest warships. Snekkar warship was normal size.

Drakkar - fuselage formed the skeleton of ribs, keel, anterior and posterior ligament of oak and pine from the curb edge. On to the nails strengthened Klinkerová plating (ie the lower edge of the upper plank overlaps the upper edge of the lower board). This Vikings acquired flexible and incredibly strong boat. The joints are clogged with tar or wave pitch. Drakkar not aboard. Curbs on the handles for shields crew. Front and rear neck was decorated with carved dragon head and tail. Mast long 1/2 - 2/3 length of the ship from the pine wood was attached to the solid oak block in the boat and ropes were secured to the front and rear ligament and obrubnicím. The boom length of the ship sail was stitched from colorful stripes wool. The most common colors are red, green and blue. The boom had great freedom of movement, and therefore Drakkar sailed close to the wind. With a favorable wind Drakkar reached cruising speed of about 10-12 knots (18.5-22 km / h). The wind was used oars length of 4-6 meters, made mostly of pine wood. The oars were fixed in a hole plating on the outside covered leather cuff against water leakage. Rowing achieve a speed of about 5 knots (9 km / h). The ship was controlled by the steering oar on the starboard side. It is thus positioned steering oar ensure an easy controllability and maneuverability boats. Thanks blacksmiths used the Vikings excluding masonry anchors, which is always jammed. The anchor in the variations used today. The crew consisted of freemen. Each had his task, such as taking care of sail, row or be on the bow to watch and warn reefs and shoals. The ship's master was often the owner and skipper. Drakkar was not built to fight in the open sea. However, if it occurred, slammed to the enemy ship and crew forcibly moved to the opponent's deck to-hand combat.

When sailing with Vikings oriented along the coast and seemed seen landmarks you know either from experience or from stories of other Vikings. The area in which they are located, could also specify the color of the sea and species of seaweed and algae. When sailing across the ocean to bring anything seabirds, which emitted. The bird flew one direction, followed him because he was certain that the country is facing. When the bird returned to the ship meant that the country is still far away.

Snekkar - was fast, maneuverable and mobile Viking ship, langskip, very similar to Drakkar. However, it was smaller, typically 25 meters in length. Width and dive boat was reduced in the same proportion as the length of the ship. Snekkar had a bow decorated with snake head. It was equipped with a single rectangular sheet smaller than the Drakkar also used the oars. Snekkar has been the Vikings and Varangians most used boats. For smaller dimensions of the rivers dosal deeper inland.

Knarr - also Knorr was a Viking trading colony ship. Knarr was an open deck boat, oars are used only during landing. The hull was made of pine wood with clinker hull. Norwegian Vikings with Knarr colonized Iceland and Greenland. It should be noted that at that time it was ice farther north than it did in 1985. Knarr had almost the same form as snekkar. The difference was greater width and height of the body, not only that could carry more goods, cattle or emigrants, but also for reasons of stability. Sailing boats, which did not use oars had to be wider and higher to the sea had greater stability that narrow warships provide two rows of oars. Knarr was a model for roundship (nef), Koc yacht and Cogo.

In Roskilds fjord on the Danish port Skuledev was found five wrecks Knarr of the period between 950-1050. Extracted from the seabed were from 1962 and 1969 are Roskildském museum. Skuldevské boats are original preserved Viking ships.

Photo-Video Gallery: The world recognizes the Vikings

Photo-Video Gallery: The world recognizes the Vikings