Wars, Warriors and Weaponry

Read through and highlight the information in the following handout

Using the infomation in the handout, complete the following questions in your books

1. When did Viking raids begin and what were their main features?

2. How did Viking raiding parties change over time?

3. List three features of Viking longships that made them well-suited to ‘hit and run’ raids.

4. Explain the terms Danegeld and Danelaw.

Look at Source 1: A modern artist drawing depicting a typical Viking attack and weapons used

5. What features of a Viking attack has the artist depicted in Source 1?

Look at Source 2: An extract from Abbo’s War of Count Odo with the Northmen in Reign of Charles the Fat, in which a monk named Abbo recorded his view of the Vikings attacks on Paris in November 885

6. Use Source 2 to identify:

a. Two terms used for Vikings

b. Evidence that the Vikings posed a serious threat to the Parisians

c. The result of the Viking attack on Paris

Look at Source 3: A modern replica of a Viking longship, with dragon head, from the Roskilde Museum

7. Identify three features of Viking Longships as shown in source 3

Look at Table 1: Three different stages in the styles of Viking raids

8. Explain the stages and development of Viking raids between c. 790 – 911.

The Beserker

Using your research, write a diary entry of a Viking Bezerker after a seige. (150-200 words)

Your entry could include one of more of the following:

• Whether the seige was successful or not

• Weapons and equipment used

• Role within the seige

• Tactics used

You will post your entry to the 'Viking Seige Diary Entry' Canvas discussion