Viking HandbookTools for Survival

Educational Standard: H.4.1 4th GradeAuthor: Gerald Reis

Grade 4G.Reis

Important Inventions

Vikings were seafaring people whose inventions allowed them to become naval masters

They often stole from villages and monasteries by sailing across oceans and up rivers

They needed to move across water quickly and quietly

The longship was the key to their success

The Longship

Viking Longship•Vikings needed to travel quickly and quietly so they could surprise attack

•The Longship allowed them to travel over deep and shallow waters

•Its design allowed them to travel over oceans and rivers with ease

•Vikings could switch between sails and oars

Very shallow, especially in the middle

Very wide, especially in the

middle

RiverLongship Cont.

Ocean VS

Do you see the difference?

RiverLongship Cont.

Ocean VS

Sails Oars

Important Inventions Vikings settled far and wide originating from northern

Europe

Since they were constantly on the move they needed to steal food, supplies, and sometimes even land from other people

This led to the necessity for expert skills in combat and intimidation

They commonly used: swords, axes, shields, spears, and sometimes bows and daggers

Swords, Spears, and Axes were their most important weapons

Arms and Armor

The Axe•Axes were an important invention for Vikings

•It was a metal wedge attached to a wooden handle

•It was used for battle and for work allowing Vikings to save money by having to buy only one tool

•The heavy top allowed for powerful swings

The Sword•Swords were greatly respected by Vikings

•They were the favorite weapon of Vikings however they weren’t as affordable as the axe

•They were often a symbol of a person’s status—greater status meant a greater sword

•Swords were so revered that Vikings would often name them

The Spear•Spears were probably the most common Viking weapon

•This is because they were more affordable than swords but they were still very deadly

•The spear could be thrust or it could be safely thrown from a distance

The Shield•Viking shields were circular and made of wood

•Their shields were usually painted bright colors

•The shields were also often covered with leather

•The shield was able to protect the body from the shoulder down to the thigh

Viking Survival Since Vikings were constantly traveling over seas

to find new homes they needed excellent ships to travel both oceans and rivers

War became a means of survival since they could not carry supplies with them. They had to steal supplies instead.

This is why they made use of such important inventions such as the longship, sword, shield, axe, and spear.