The Vikings lived in Scandinavia countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Vikings mean "pirate" or "raider" in the Viking language (Old Norse), come from word vikingr.1 When we were kids, we think that Vikings were tall and fierce-looking, with long red beards helmets with horns on them. But in fact, some Vikings were small and their helmet were plain, with no horns. Besides that, the Vikings are considered some of the best explorer in Europe. Because the Vikings moved a lot as settlers and traders to finding the new land or trading. They are a great boat builder and they had the ability to find mainland. They also made different combat weapons and tools that helped them survive at the sea.
Vikings were mainly farmers, fisherman and some were traders. When the father of a Viking family died, it was tradition for the eldest son to inherit and take over the family farm and the land. If the families had more sons, the men had to choose between being a worker on their older brother's farm or leaving to find their own land and wealth.2 The Vikings population had a massive growth spurt and the land began to become scarce. But they needed large portions of land for their crops and livestock. Therefore, so many Vikings moved to new lands to gain more land for their agricultural/farming purposes.3 .
However trade was the main reason for Viking expansion. The Vikings traded all over Europe, and as far east as Central Asia. They bought goods and materials such as silver, silk, spices, wine, jewellery, glass and pottery. In return, they sold items such as honey, tin, wheat, wool, wood, iron, fur, leather, fish and walrus ivory.4 By trading, the Vikings were getting rich and discovered new land. The traders went all over Europe, north and west to Iceland and Greenland, south down the Russian rivers and as far as the rich city of Istanbul in Turkey, and across deserts of the Arabian city of Baghdad.
