The fierce Vikings used ships to travel along Europe's coast and up its rivers, looting towns and taking prisoners to sell as slaves. The Muslims had already controlled Spain and attacked France, but also crossed the Mediterranean Sea to invade southern France and northern Italy.
Ireland: The Vikings conducted raids in Ireland, and founded the Limerick Poem in 812. The Vikings then established a settlement near Waterford in 853, and after that the Vikings invaded Dublin and stayed in control until 1169. The Vikings intermixed with the Irish. They shared literature, style, and craft. There were imports from England, Byzantium, Persia, and Central Asia. The Vikings pillages monasteries on Ireland's west coast in 795 sand then spread down and around the coastline. The North and East of Ireland were most affected. For 40 years the raids were controlled by Viking groups. Then 830 came along, and large fleets of Viking ships aided and established permanent bases at the coasts.
France: The Viking raids between 790-800 AD were along the coasts of western France. The invasion was carried out in the summer. Several coastal areas were lost while Louis the Pious ruled. (814-840) The Vikings took advantage of the quarrels of the royal family after Louis the Pious's death to settle their first colony in the south-west (Gascony). The Vikings attackers sought to capture loot from the monasteries. In 845 an expedition up the Seine reached Paris. Vikings began to stay in the lower Seine valley for the winter.
The vikings also conquered Britain and Italy. (Scroll down to the bottom of the BARBARIC INVASIONS page for a video on how the Vikings almost conquered Rome.)
Ireland: The Vikings conducted raids in Ireland, and founded the Limerick Poem in 812. The Vikings then established a settlement near Waterford in 853, and after that the Vikings invaded Dublin and stayed in control until 1169. The Vikings intermixed with the Irish. They shared literature, style, and craft. There were imports from England, Byzantium, Persia, and Central Asia. The Vikings pillages monasteries on Ireland's west coast in 795 sand then spread down and around the coastline. The North and East of Ireland were most affected. For 40 years the raids were controlled by Viking groups. Then 830 came along, and large fleets of Viking ships aided and established permanent bases at the coasts.
France: The Viking raids between 790-800 AD were along the coasts of western France. The invasion was carried out in the summer. Several coastal areas were lost while Louis the Pious ruled. (814-840) The Vikings took advantage of the quarrels of the royal family after Louis the Pious's death to settle their first colony in the south-west (Gascony). The Vikings attackers sought to capture loot from the monasteries. In 845 an expedition up the Seine reached Paris. Vikings began to stay in the lower Seine valley for the winter.
The vikings also conquered Britain and Italy. (Scroll down to the bottom of the BARBARIC INVASIONS page for a video on how the Vikings almost conquered Rome.)
The Vikings used longships to travel vast distances and for tactual advantages in war. The long-ships could perform highly efficient hit and run attacks, (Quickly approach a target, then leave as rapid as you can before the counter offense can be launched). The Vikings could sail in shallow waters because of the ships insignificant draft. The ships time was 26-28 kilometers per hour. Up to 15 people could fit in a longship.
Erik the Red left his native Norway home for western Iceland with his father. When Erik was exiled from Iceland in 980 AD, he decided to explore the land to the West. Erik sailed in 982 AD to Greenland, but was unable to approach because of the drift ice.
Leif Erikson was the first European to set foot into the New World. The New World was full of resources for the Vikings to use. For some unknown reason, the Vikings made only a few voyages to the New World after Leif.