3. Vikings

Like pirates of the 17th to 18th centuries, Vikings were known for pillaging and raiding.  Unlike traditional pirates, Vikings didn’t restrict themselves to raiding other ships but often attacked small settlements and towns.  In the Norse language the word “Viking” means “a pirate raid”.  Clans that went raiding were said to be “going Viking”.

Vikings were brave warriors and excellent shipbuilders.  Ships used by the Vikings were Knarrs, which were used as cargo ships, and Longships which were used for trade, commerce, exploration, and warfare.

Both men and women in Viking society were trained to fight.  Modern archaeological digs have proven that up to 50% of Viking warriors on a ship were women.  

Vikings were trained to use large axes and broadswords, as well as spears, bows and arrows. Vikings did not wear horned helmets like many modern sources depict, they wore conical helmets of metal or leather designed for function.

Between 793 to 1066 AD. Vikings lived in tribes in North Europe which today is Denmark, Norway and Sweden.  Vikings looted European countries such as England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Russia and Spain. 

In medieval English chronicles, they are described as "wolves among sheep".

The Viking explorer, Leif Ericson, found North America 500 years before Columbus and named the new land Vinland.