Settled and Invade
Storytellers with a head for business and innovation
Vikings were innovative and resourceful self-starters with a good business sense – they never
missed an opportunity to trade when out exploring. Travelling all over Europe and as far as
Central Asia, they traded honey, tin, wheat, wool, wood, iron, fur, leather, fish and walrus ivory in
exchange for silver, silk, pottery, spices, wine, jewellery and glass. Before striking a deal, Vikings
were known to pull out a set of folding scales to avoid overpaying.
Creative in spirit, Vikings had a way with wood and metal, fashioning these materials into
beautiful objects. Silversmiths kept busy – Vikings of both genders loved adorning themselves
with jewellery such as arm rings and amulets. But the masterpiece above all was the Viking
longship – a precisely engineered vessel built to travel fast and go ashore with ease.
These Scandinavian seafarers also had a way with language and prose. Storytelling was a vital
part of the Viking lifestyle and the sagas they dreamed up live on, not least via the many rune
stones found in Sweden and beyond. To give but one example, the decorative 'Frösö stone'
(Frösöstenen) in Jämtland – Scandinavia’s northernmost raised runestone. The text, which
appears within a snake-like pattern, reads: “Austmaðr, Guðfastr's son, had this stone raised and
this bridge built and Christianized Jämtland. Ásbjörn built the bridge. Trjónn and Steinn carved
these runes”.
Grade 6: Introduction to the Viking Age
Core Concepts:
o Who were the Vikings?
o Viking culture and society
o Viking exploration and trade
Activities:
o Read myths and legends about Norse gods and heroes
o Create Viking-inspired art and crafts
o Research Viking settlements and trade routes
o Role-play Viking life
Grade 7: Viking Raids and Conquests
Core Concepts:
o Reasons for Viking raids and conquests
o Impact of Viking invasions on Europe
o Viking military tactics and technology
Activities:
o Analyze primary sources, such as Viking sagas and archaeological findings
o Create timelines of Viking raids and conquests
o Debate the ethics of Viking warfare
o Design and build a Viking longship model
Grade 8: Viking Legacy and Modern-Day Influence
Core Concepts:
o Viking influence on language, culture, and technology
o Viking heritage in modern-day Scandinavia and beyond
o The enduring fascination with Vikings in popular culture
Activities:
o Research the impact of Viking DNA on modern populations
o Analyze historical fiction and fantasy novels featuring Vikings
o Create a documentary about a famous Viking figure or event
o Debate the accuracy of Viking portrayals in popular media
