Originating from the Scandinavian peninsula, Viking warriors from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway have invaded and brutally plundered many lands in Europe.
Vikings are people living in the Nordic region, in present-day Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. When it comes to Vikings, we often think of warriors or violent pirates.
If the Mongolian horse's hooves once made the tatkuink com grasslands in the East unable to grow, about 300 years ago, the Vikings also caused the western seas to "wake up".
Originating from the Scandinavian peninsula
Viking warriors from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway invaded and plundered many lands in Europe, stretching from north to south, from west to east, in the period from 793 to 1066 (historically known as the Viking Age).
As early as the 870s, Vikings from Norway and Denmark settled in Iceland, making it a Viking land. To this day, the people of Iceland are still very proud of their Viking roots.
Not only Iceland
many people in other lands that the Vikings once invaded are also proud of their Viking origins. Every year, they often organize festivals to commemorate their ancestors, for example: Up Helly Aa festival in Shetland (Scotland), Viking festival in Wolin (Poland)...
Vikings are known for their brutality, which is clearly shown in movies and novels. However, where did that personality come from? How did the Scandinavian farmers become the nightmare of the entire European continent?
The following article by Heather Pringle, National Geographic reporter, will tell us the answer:
World of Vikings
A cold drizzle made us shiver, but still filled with a sense of excitement as we waited for the Vikings to appear. It was a January night in the town of Shetland, Lerwick (Scotland).
Beside me, a man and two small children were grinning as they viking clothings saw a plume of red smoke behind the town hall. "Looks like they burned down the whole building," he shouted in excitement.
After all, fire is why we're here. This is Up Helly Aa, the Viking memorial festival in Shetland. Like everyone else, I came here to admire the sight of a burned Viking warship.
About 1,200 years ago
the first Vikings descended to the north of mainland Scotland, crushing local resistance to plunder the land. Norwegian lords ruled Shetland for nearly seven centuries before mortgaging the islands to the king of Scotland.
Today, the Norn dialect of the Norwegians has been forgotten in Shetland, but the islanders are still proud of their Viking roots. Each year, they eagerly prepare a replica of a Viking boat for the Up Helly Aa festival.