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Become a part of our Viking community as we share our Norse history and shine a light on the Vikings.
Photo Model: @Thesailingviking
The few, the strong, the Icelanders.
Iceland plays a powerful role when it comes to the Viking Age and Viking history, as it is home to the infamous Icelandic Sagas.
One of the greatest explorers to ever live, named "Leif Erikson," who was the son of Erik the Red, actually came from Iceland.
We are firm believers that it was the Icelandic Leif Erikson who discovered North America before Christopher Columbus did.
Even since the Viking Age, the geography of Iceland has always been very unique and home to so many different landscapes, which is why it's commonly referred to as the "Land of Fire and Ice." Volcanoes and glaciers have always made Iceland a difficult place to live year-round, which is one of the many reasons why Icelanders are so strong. From long winters to strong winds, Iceland is still home to some of the strongest people to walk this earth.
The Danish Vikings were strong warriors in battle, as they took part in and led many raids during the Viking Age.
Denmark was home to many powerful Viking kings that went on to shape the landscape of modern-day Scandinavia.
Did you know that King Harald Bluetooth and his father, King Gorm the Old, were both from Denmark?
Sweden played a powerful role in Viking history and is home to the most runestones in the world.Â
The Swedish Vikings may not have the reputation of being as bloodthirsty as their Scandinavian counterparts, but one thing the Swedes can never be denied is their trade and navigational abilities.
Sweden's unique location allowed the Vikings to cross over the Baltic Sea in their longships and explore an entire new world of trade to the east.
They strategically navigated rivers to the east and were very drawn by the flow of Islamic silver coins in those areas.
The greatest trade post in the east was Staraya Ladoga, and it was used as the Viking access point to the Kievan Rus.
Not only were they heading east, but the Swedish Vikings also participated in raids to the west as well.Â
As we look back into Viking history, Sweden will always be a major part of it.
We are proud Norwegians ourselves!
The Norwegian Vikings left a powerful mark on Viking history. King Harald Fairhair united the Kingdom of Norway and led many great raids. Hrafna-Flóki was the Norseman who gave Iceland its name.
The Norwegians were excellent shipbuilders, and some of the ships can still be visited today at the Oslo Viking Ship Museum. Some of the world's greatest warriors, shipbuilders, and explorers came from Norway.
Become a part of our Viking community as we share our Norse history and shine a light on the Vikings.
Photo Model: @Thesailingviking