Viking Culture

RonPaulCurriculum History Week 7

The Viking made 2 types of ship: Longships and Knarrs.


The longships were naval vessels used for warfare, exploration, and trade. These ships were designed for speed.

Though the ships were for warfare they weren’t actually war ships, rather they transported troops to where they needed to go.


Knarr was a merchant ship.

It had deeper, shorter, and wider hull than the longships.

They were primary powered by wind, but also can be propelled by rowers


The Viking invented their own alphabet, carved in rune stones

The stone usually said

  • The purpose of the stone
  • Who had erected it
  • Relation of the raiser and the deceased


The Viking started as a pagan culture.

They worshiped a pantheon of god and goddesses

The 3 most notable were Odin, Thor, and Freya. From these names come Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday


The rich will have a helmet, shield, chainmail, and a sword. While the lest important freeman carry a spear, shield, and sea axe which is like a knife.

Battle axes was the most commonly used weapon in war, which was unusual for other cultures.


Vikings had blue eyes or either red or blond hair.

They were primarily farmers or raiders, they grew grain and vegetables in the summer, but depending mostly on the livestock such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goat.

You could also be a metalworker or jeweler.


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