What was Viking society like?
The Vikings were not all bloodthirsty raiders. Some came to fight, but others came to Britain to live peacefully.
Viking | Who were they? | What did they do? |
---|---|---|
King | The most powerful person in all the land | Ruled the people and everyone looked up to him |
Jarls (nobles) | Rich landowners or traders | They employed men to work for them |
Karls | Everyday people like farmers and craft workers | They weren't as rich or important as jarls but they weren't poor either |
Thralls (enslaved people) | Bottom of the hierarchy | They did the hardest, dirtiest jobs and if they tried to run away they could be killed. However, if thralls could earn enough money they could buy their freedom |
What jobs did Vikings do?
Many Vikings were farmers.
They grew oats, barley and wheat. They ground the grain to make flour, porridge and ale. They planted vegetables, and kept animals like cows, sheep, pigs and chickens.
Other jobs were:
- Craft workers who made plates, cups, belts and shoes.
- Jewellers who made rings and brooches from precious metals.
- Blacksmiths who turned red-hot iron into tools, knives and swords.
- Potters who baked clay pots in a wood fire oven.
What were Viking homes like?
- A Viking house was called a longhouse.
- It had just one room for all the family to share with their animals.
- It was built from wood or stone and had a thatched or turf roof on top.
- Vikings washed themselves in a wooden bucket or beside a stream.
- The toilet was a big hole in the ground outside.
Watch: What did the Vikings believe?
How did the Vikings settle problems?
- Vikings had their own laws and government.
- People gathered at a meeting called a鈥鈥楾丑颈苍驳鈥. Here they would settle problems and make decisions.
- People could vote on what should happen. For example, the Thing might decide who owned a piece of land or how to punish a criminal.
Activities
Activity 1: Viking families
Click on each of the Viking family members below to find out more about their life.
Activity 2: Viking homes
Click on the labels to find out more about what was inside a longhouse.
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