Norse Mythology by Dagmar Nylund
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Chapter two Viking beginnings. Vikings sometimes called Norman were a seafaring group of people who migrated through northern Europe during the period of c 800 to 1100 ad which came to be known as the Viking age. No one can attest to why the Vikings began moving. Though many speculate it was because of harsh winters and food scarcity. The start of the Viking age can be marked by the raid of the monastery of Lindi farm an island off the northeast coast of modern day England in 793. Thus began the first of the migrations of the Vikings from Scandinavia. This event of burning plundering and raiding a religious institute would set the tone for how Vikings would then be perceived for much of the Viking age. Why are they called Vikings? The word Viking stems from the old Norse Scandinavian word vikingur meaning pirate. Vikings became known for being pirates, Raiders, settlers and traitors and were feared for their strength, savagery and ruthlessness. The term Viking did not refer to a race of people but more toward the behavior of the raiding parties. It was a term directed towards any pirating group seen as uncivilized and unchristian. It is also debated as to whether Norse women and Children were referred to as Vikings as the original word applied to Raiders and settlers who were predominantly men. In the same way, men who were not warriors such as farmers, blacksmiths and others with non fighting jobs may also not have been referred to as Vikings in modern times. However, it is accepted by historians to refer to the entire community of Norse settlers, men, women and Children as Vikings for the sake of simplicity and for clarity for the purpose of this book. Vikings shall refer to all Norse folk alive during the Viking Age.