The Vikings By Laura O’Neill 

The Vikings came from Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

Vikings were o farmers and fishermen. Most of their land was over populated and many Vikings had to leave their homes. 


They traveled to North America, Ireland, Iceland, Greenland, France and Germany.

Some of their gods were Wodin, Odin, Thor and Frey. 

The Vikings traveled in long ships.
A long ship had designs on the side and spirals on the front and back. Sixty people could fit into one of the ships. Sometimes a dragon’s head was on the front of the ship. 

The first Viking raids in Ireland were in 795. In 795 vikings from Norway attacked nearby monasteries. 
The Vikings traveled in long ships. 

The closest Viking castle to us is Reginalds tower in Waterford. 

In the year 841 Viking warships attacked near the Dubh Linn or Blackpool at the mouth of the river Liffey.
They built a long port to protect themselves.This was a wooden fence on top of a mound of mud and gravel. The Vikings stayed in the longport for the winter. 
This was the beginning of Dyflin. (Dublin) 
In time Dyflin became one of the most important trading cities in Europe. 

They were gifted artists, story tellers and poets. 

Viking farmers grew barley, oats, rye, fruit and vegetables They also kept cattle, goats, pigs and sheep. 
Vikings were buried in a place called Valhalla. 

Valhalla

Some Vikings made their own ships and some were buried in them. 

The Quays 
The ships at the quays bring back lots of food and jewellery from difference countries. They bring back things such as wooden barrels, silks, silver, wine, amber lumps, and furs from the Arctic and pottery from Chester. 
They brought back foods such as cured meat, dried fish and sour milk also.Pigs, cows and goats were brought back too. Shipbuilders  repaired their ships and slaves were  sold  by the  docks.

Diseases
The Vikings of Dublin suffered from rheumatism. They expected to live to about forty years of age. One in every three babies died at birth. Many children died young because of lack of hygiene. Diarrhoea from polluted water was common.