Vikings for kids

Vikings for kids learning in KS2 at Primary School. Homework help on the history of Vikings, who they were and where they came from.

Time: 793AD - 1066AD

Who were the Vikings and where did they come from?

The word Viking probably means “pirate” or “raider”. The Vikings were people who lived over 1,000 years ago in places we now call Norway, Denmark and Sweden. They came from a region called Scandinavia in northern Europe.

Although Vikings are often shown as fierce warriors, they were much more than fighters. Most Vikings were farmers who grew crops and looked after animals. Others were traders, explorers, builders and skilled craftspeople. Viking families lived together in villages, and children helped with daily jobs from a young age.

Life in Scandinavia was hard. Winters were long and cold, the land was rocky, and there was not much good farmland. Because food was difficult to grow, many Vikings travelled away from their homeland to look for richer land, treasure and new places to settle.

The Vikings were excellent sailors and built fast wooden ships that could cross seas and travel up rivers. This allowed them to reach Britain, Ireland, France, and even places as far away as Russia and the Middle East. Some Vikings arrived to raid towns and monasteries, but many stayed and settled peacefully, becoming part of local communities.

BBC Bitesize - Vikings
Who were the Vikings and how did they Vikings fight? Found out this and more.

When did the Vikings come to Britain?

The Viking Age in Britain began in AD 793, when Viking raiders attacked a monastery on the island of Lindisfarne, off the north-east coast of England. This attack shocked people across the country because monasteries were peaceful places where monks lived, prayed and worked, and there were no soldiers to protect them.

After this first raid, Viking attacks continued for many years. At first, Vikings arrived to raid towns, villages and monasteries, stealing food, gold and valuables. Later, many Vikings decided to stay and settle instead of returning home. They built farms and villages, especially in the north and east of England, in areas that became known as the Danelaw.

Over time, Vikings and Anglo Saxons lived alongside each other, traded goods and even married into each other’s families.

Vicious Vikings

Why did the Vikings invade Britain?

The Vikings invaded Britain for several important reasons. Life in Scandinavia was hard, with cold winters, rocky soil and not enough good farmland. Many Viking families struggled to grow enough food, so they looked to other countries for better land and new opportunities.

Vikings also wanted gold, silver and valuable goods. Britain had many wealthy towns and monasteries, often close to the coast or rivers. Because Vikings were excellent sailors, they could arrive quickly by ship, attack, and escape before soldiers could stop them.

At first, many Vikings came only to raid. They stole treasure, food and animals, then sailed back home. Over time, some Vikings decided to stay and settle instead. They built farms, married local people and became part of everyday life in Britain.

Not all Vikings were violent. Many were traders and farmers, exchanging goods like furs, jewellery and weapons with local people. However, their raids caused fear across Britain for many years.

Jorvik Viking Centre
Everything you want to know about the Vikings, how they lived, what happened to them and more.

Viking life and homes

Most Vikings lived in small villages near the coast or rivers, where they could fish, farm and travel easily by boat. Their homes were called longhouses because they were long, low buildings made from wood, stone and turf (grass). These thick walls helped keep families warm during the cold Scandinavian winters.

A whole family lived together in one longhouse, and sometimes farm animals such as sheep or goats slept inside too to help keep everyone warm. Inside the house, there was a fire in the centre used for cooking, heating and light. There were no chimneys, so smoke slowly drifted out through a hole in the roof, making the inside dark and smoky.

People slept on wooden benches covered with animal skins, and food, tools and weapons were stored along the walls. Life was tough, but Viking families worked together to survive.

Viking clothes were made from wool, linen and animal skins. Men wore tunics and trousers, while women wore long dresses. Both men and women wore cloaks fastened with brooches to keep warm. Vikings cared about their appearance and enjoyed wearing jewellery such as beads, rings and arm bands.

Viking jobs and daily life

Most Vikings were farmers, and daily life was hard work. They grew crops such as barley and oats and kept animals like cows, sheep and pigs. Farming provided food, clothing and tools, so everyone in the family helped. Vikings also fished, hunted and gathered berries to make sure they had enough to eat all year round.

Some Vikings had special jobs that were important to the village. Blacksmiths made tools and weapons, carpenters built houses and furniture, shipbuilders made longships, and traders travelled to other lands to swap goods. Fishermen provided food from rivers and seas.

Women ran the home. They cooked meals, made clothes, looked after animals, and cared for children. Women were highly respected and could even own land or run a farm if their husbands were away.

Viking children did not go to school. Instead, they helped with chores from a young age, such as fetching water, feeding animals, and helping in the fields. They learned important skills by watching and helping their parents.

Ten Facts about the Vikings
Discover ten facts about the Vikings at the National Geographic Kids website.

Kids Fun Facts - Vikings
Learn and discover fast, interesting fun facts on Vikings for kids.

Jorvik Viking Centre
Visit the Jorvik Viking Centre in York and discover 2000 years of history.

Viking warriors and weapons

Viking warriors were feared across Europe because they were strong, brave and highly skilled fighters. They trained from a young age and were always ready to defend their homes or sail off to battle. Vikings believed that being brave in battle was very important.

They fought using swords, axes, spears and bows. Viking axes were especially deadly and could be used both for fighting and everyday work. Their shields were round, made of wood, and often painted in bright colours or patterns to look frightening and to show which group they belonged to. Some warriors wore helmets and chainmail armour, but these were expensive and usually worn only by richer fighters.

Vikings believed that warriors who died bravely in battle would be taken to Valhalla, a special hall where they would feast and fight forever. This belief made them fight without fear.

Viking longships

Viking longships were fast, narrow ships made from wooden planks. They were powered by a large square sail, but Vikings could also row the ship using oars when there was no wind. This made the ships very quick and easy to control.

Longships were specially designed to travel in two different ways. They were strong enough to cross rough seas, but also had shallow bottoms, which meant they could sail up rivers and along coastlines. This allowed the Vikings to travel far inland and surprise towns and villages that thought they were safe.

Because of their longships, Vikings became excellent explorers, traders and raiders. They used these ships to reach places like Britain, Iceland, Greenland and even North America. Longships helped Vikings spread their influence across much of Europe.

Viking gods, stories and myths

The Vikings believed in many gods and goddesses, known as the Norse gods. The most powerful god was Odin, the king of the gods and the god of wisdom and war. Thor, one of the most popular gods, was the god of thunder and carried a mighty hammer called Mjolnir, which he used to protect both gods and humans. Loki was a trickster god who loved causing trouble and playing tricks, sometimes helping the gods and sometimes causing great disasters.

Vikings loved stories, myths and legends about gods, heroes and terrifying monsters. These stories were told aloud around the fire and passed down through generations. Much later, they were written down as sagas. The stories explained how the world was created, how people should behave, and why bravery and loyalty were important.

After Vikings began settling in places like Britain, many slowly became Christians, but they did not forget their old stories, which are still famous today.

Who was Alfred the Great?

Alfred the Great was a powerful Anglo-Saxon king who ruled Wessex in the late 800s. At a time when Viking armies were attacking and taking over large parts of England, Alfred became famous for standing up to the Vikings and stopping them from conquering the whole country.

Alfred fought many battles against the Vikings and, after years of fighting, he finally made peace with them. This agreement allowed the Vikings to settle in a large area of eastern England called the Danelaw, while Alfred kept control of the south and west. This helped bring more stability to England.

Alfred was not just a warrior king. He worked hard to improve education, encouraging people to read and write in English instead of Latin. He also created fairer laws and built strong defences, including fortified towns called burhs, to protect people from future attacks. He even set up one of England’s first navies to defend the coast.

Because of all this, Alfred was the only English king ever called “the Great.”

What happened to the Vikings?

The Viking Age did not end suddenly. Over time, Vikings became less violent as they settled in the lands they had once raided. Many stopped attacking and instead became farmers, traders and rulers, mixing with local people and starting families.

Some Vikings settled in northern France, where they became known as the Normans, meaning Northmen. This area later became known as Normandy. Other Vikings travelled east and settled in eastern Europe, where they were called the Rus. This eventually gave its name to Russia.

As Vikings settled, many became Christians and adopted local languages and customs. By 1066, Viking power in Britain had faded. That same year, England was invaded by the Normans, who were descendants of Vikings, beginning a new chapter in history. Although the Viking Age officially ended in 1066, Vikings did not disappear — they became part of the people of Britain and Europe.

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