Oxford History of Vikings

In the 8th century AD, a group of pirates called "Vikings" appeared in Scandinavia in northern Europe. They drove long boats around, smashing and looting, and carried out organized invasions of European countries. From Britain, France to Russia, Viking pirates can be seen everywhere. In addition to fighting, the Vikings were also great navigators and are considered to be the first to land on the American continent. From the 8th century to the 11th century AD, the whole of Europe was turned upside down by Viking pirates. This period was even called the "Viking Age." In 789 AD, Viking pirates sacked Dorset County, England. Since then, Britain has been constantly harassed by Viking pirates. In the end, Britain was forced to pay a huge ransom. In 911 AD, in order to end the invasion of Viking pirates, the King of France named Rollo, the most powerful pirate leader, as Count of Rouen. Rollo's descendants even became kings of England. In 862 AD, the Viking Rurik was invited to Novgorod, Russia, where he established the first princely regime in Russia, the Russian Rurik dynasty. Viking explorer Leif Eriksson discovered what is now North America on his way back to Greenland from Norway. He is credited with discovering America before Columbus. ………… Open this book and see how Vikings became a nightmare for the whole of Europe!