Introduction to the Vikings
The Vikings were seafaring people from Denmark and Norway. They first came to Britain in AD 789. They initially raided coastal towns, taking goods and slaves. Over time, they began to settle in Britain and form their own communities, especially in the east of England and Scotland.
Viking Settlements
- The Vikings created communities mainly in the east and north of England in an area called the Danelaw.
- Many towns, like Grimsby and Scunthorpe, have names that come from the Viking languages.
- The Vikings mixed with local populations and some even converted to Christianity.
The Anglo-Saxon Response
The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England united to defend against the Vikings. One important leader was King Alfred the Great, who successfully defeated them.
Danish Kings
For a brief time, some Danish kings ruled parts of England. The most famous of these was Cnut, or Canute.
Formation of Scotland
In the north, the threat of Viking attacks helped the people unite under one king named Kenneth MacAlpin. This period marked the beginnings of what we now call Scotland.
Questions for Understanding
Easy Level Questions
- Where did the Vikings come from?
- A) France
- B) Denmark and Norway
- C) Germany
- D) Spain
- In what year did the Vikings first visit Britain?
- A) 1066
- B) AD 789
- C) AD 800
- D) 500
- What did Vikings initially do when they came to Britain?
- A) Trade
- B) Raid coastal towns
- C) Settle peacefully
- D) Build churches
- What area in England is known as Danelaw?
- A) West England
- B) East and North England
- C) South England
- D) Central England
- Who was King Alfred the Great?
- A) A Viking leader
- B) An Anglo-Saxon king who fought the Vikings
- C) A Danish king
- D) A Scottish king
- Name a town that has a Viking name.
- A) London
- B) Grimsby
- C) Oxford
- D) Cardiff
- What religion did some Vikings convert to?
- A) Islam
- B) Judaism
- C) Christianity
- D) Buddhism
- What did the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms do against the Vikings?
- A) Fought together
- B) Ignored them
- C) Joined the Vikings
- D) Fled to Ireland
- Who was Cnut?
- A) A Viking warrior
- B) A famous poet
- C) A Danish king
- D) A merchant
- Who was Kenneth MacAlpin?
- A) A Viking explorer
- B) A king of Scotland
- C) An Anglo-Saxon king
- D) A Danish trader
Medium Level Questions
- Why did the Vikings raid coastal towns?
- A) For trade
- B) For land
- C) To take goods and slaves
- D) To find new homes
- What effect did Viking settlements have on place names?
- A) No effect
- B) Many place names changed to French
- C) Many place names came from Viking languages
- D) All place names were erased
- What was the main reason for the unification of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms?
- A) For trade
- B) To build roads
- C) To defend against Viking attacks
- D) To create a new language
- Which area did the Vikings mainly settle in?
- A) The Midlands
- B) The Danelaw
- C) Southern England
- D) The Highlands
- How did Viking settlers influence local cultures?
- A) They had no influence
- B) They taught new farming techniques
- C) They intermarried and converted to Christianity
- D) They built castles
- What was significant about King Alfred’s victory over the Vikings?
- A) It ended the Viking Age
- B) It led to more Viking raids
- C) It united all of England
- D) It started a new religion
- Why was Cnut an important figure in England?
- A) He was the first Viking to settle
- B) He was a Danish king who ruled part of England
- C) He defeated all Anglo-Saxons
- D) He discovered America
- What did the term “Scotland” refer to during Viking times?
- A) England
- B) A region in the north
- C) A group of tribes
- D) A Viking settlement
- What were the Viking longships known for?
- A) Being large and slow
- B) Speed and ability to navigate rivers
- C) Being made of stone
- D) Having no sails
- How did the Vikings influence British history?
- A) They had no influence
- B) They brought new technologies and cultures
- C) They were defeated and forgotten
- D) They changed the language completely
Hard Level Questions
- What was the political structure of the Danelaw?
- A) It was ruled by a single king
- B) It was divided into small independent kingdoms
- C) It was controlled by the Anglo-Saxons
- D) It was a democracy
- How did Viking raids change after they began to settle in Britain?
- A) They stopped raiding completely
- B) Raids became less frequent as they integrated
- C) They raided more often
- D) They only raided Scotland
- What was one consequence of the Viking presence in Britain?
- A) Decreased trade
- B) Blending of cultures and languages
- C) Complete destruction of towns
- D) Isolation from Europe
- Which Anglo-Saxon king is known for his resistance to the Vikings?
- A) Cnut
- B) Kenneth MacAlpin
- C) Alfred the Great
- D) Edward the Confessor
- What was one impact of Cnut’s rule on England?
- A) It led to Viking dominance
- B) It established peace for a time
- C) It caused civil war
- D) It ended Christianity
- How did the Viking Age come to an end?
- A) Through the rise of strong monarchies
- B) By Viking expansion into America
- C) By the fall of the Roman Empire
- D) By the invention of gunpowder
- What did Kenneth MacAlpin accomplish?
- A) He unified Scotland
- B) He defeated the Vikings
- C) He became a Viking
- D) He built the first castle
- Why were Viking longships significant in their raids?
- A) They were made of iron
- B) They could travel both in deep and shallow waters
- C) They were large and cumbersome
- D) They were slow but safe
- What was the cultural legacy of the Vikings in Britain?
- A) No legacy
- B) New traditions, place names, and language influences
- C) Only war and destruction
- D) The spread of Buddhism
- How did the Viking raids impact the economy of Britain?
- A) They destroyed local economies
- B) They enriched some communities through trade
- C) They had no effect on the economy
- D) They led to the creation of new currencies
Answers
Easy Level Answers
- B) Denmark and Norway
- B) AD 789
- B) Raid coastal towns
- B) East and North England
- B) An Anglo-Saxon king who fought the Vikings
- B) Grimsby
- C) Christianity
- A) Fought together
- C) A Danish king
- B) A king of Scotland
Medium Level Answers
- C) To take goods and slaves
- C) Many place names came from Viking languages
- C) To defend against Viking attacks
- B) The Danelaw
- C) They intermarried and converted to Christianity
- A) It ended the Viking Age
- B) He was a Danish king who ruled part of England
- B) A region in the north
- B) Speed and ability to navigate rivers
- B) They brought new technologies and cultures
Hard Level Answers
- B) It was divided into small independent kingdoms
- B) Raids became less frequent as they integrated
- B) Blending of cultures and languages
- C) Alfred the Great
- B) It established peace for a time
- A) Through the rise of strong monarchies
- A) He unified Scotland
- B) They could travel both in deep and shallow waters
- B) New traditions, place names, and language influences
- B) They enriched some communities through trade
