The time of the Wikinger (Vikings) started, according to historians, on the 8th June 793 with an Überfall (invasion) of north sea people on a nunnary called Lindisfarne in Northhumberland in England. Where the name “vikings” come from is still a grey area today. One vermutet (assumes), it comes from the old northern word “vikingr”, which means “robbing” or “looting”.
Vikings from todays east Sweden, used to be called “Varangians”. The invaded Russland (Russia), Finland and the Slawen Gebieten (Slavic areas).
The westerly Vikings were classed as “Normans” and their invasions took them all the way into Nordafrika (North Africa). Most of the Vikings came from Norwegen (Norway) or Dänemark (Denmark) and their invasions often took them to Great Britain, Ireland and France. “La Normandie” in the north of France got its name from the “Normans”.
In the 9th century, the Vikings reached Grönland (Greenland) and Nordamerika (North America) during their voyages. The Vikings are still classed as cruel Krieger (warriors) in todays society. Many of them were builders, craftsmen, polititions and merchants.
There are also positive things to be said about the Vikings. Without them, there would probably not be a Dublin or a Rekjavik today. Many Vikings were very künstlerisch (artistic) or poetic. The boat building was also one of their major Stärke (strengths). Their dragon boats were leichter (lighter), schlanker (thinner) and faster than any of the European ships.
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