How Did The Vikings Influence Their Civilization

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From the late 8th century through the 11th century, seafaring pirates from Scandinavia, which included Danes and Norwegians wreaked havoc along the coasts of the British Isles. The pirates who were later called Vikings, invaded, raided, plundered, and later settled on the fertile British lands. This era came to be known as the Viking Age. The Viking invasions effected much change in Britain and had quite an influence on the development of their civilization. However, what is likely the most important effect of the Viking invasions was that it led to the creation of a unified English kingdom. Historical accounts of Viking raids on the British Isles note one of the first attacks around 793, when the coastal monastery at Lindisfarne was …show more content…

They soon set up permanent bases in Dublin, where they could easily launch campaigns from all year long. From there some of the areas first settled by the Vikings were in Scotland’s northern and western isles. However, the largest settlement at the time occurred between 865-74 in eastern and northern England after they brought down the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of East Anglia, Northumbia, and Mercia. A defeat made possible by the native kingdoms of Britain and Ireland’s inability to put aside their differences long enough to unite against the …show more content…

Their constant raids led to changes in defensive measures, Wessex kept a standing army, a navy at the ready to head off the Vikings before they reached the shore, and built fortified centers (burhs) to protect the people and property from pillage. As it turns out, the Vikings were more than just raiding pirates; they were also farmers, skilled craftsmen, and merchants. Viking traders assisted the economy by stimulating the growth of trading centers like York and establishing new towns like Dublin. Viking influence can also be seen in some of the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon art styles as well as in the English language. Many words were borrowed from the Danish that greatly enriched the English language, such as “egg,” “knife,” “sister,” “slaughter,” and “sky” to name a few. Lastly, the Viking invasions made the English realize that having seven separate kingdoms was ineffective and provided a weak front to which all but Wessix were conquered. Thus, leading Alfred the Great and his successors to create a unified English kingdom that would lay the groundwork for what would one day become one of the most powerful monarchies in

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