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Viking life and culture

A reconstruction of a Viking church

Vikings in America: the Europeans who arrived 500 years before Columbus

Viking sailors make the long voyage across the Atlantic between Europe and America, in order to bring back timber, circa 1350. The Vikings are thought to have discovered America in around 1000 AD, but never attempted full colonization of the new land, due to the hostile natives. Painting by NC Wyeth. (Image by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

8 Viking myths busted

Colourful wooden houses in Old Nuuk, Greenland

Explore the city of Nuuk, the rainbow capital of Greenland

Coins depicting Viking longships

A brief history of the Vikings

The legendary Varangian (Viking mercenary) Rurik and his brothers arrive in Staraya Ladoga. (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

Global Vikings: how the impact of the raiders and traders went far beyond Britain

Viking ships arriving in Britain, c1130. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty

8 key Viking dates you need to know

Vikings on screen

Vikings on screen

Lagertha, portrayed by Katheryn Winnick, in season 4 of Vikings. (Credit: Jonathan Hession/History)

‘Vikings’ creator Michael Hirst on the real history behind the hit drama

Detail of a Viking helmet from grave one at Vendel, Uppland, Sweden. In the 860s and 870s, the Vikings would bring war to England’s four kingdoms on a massive scale. (Photo by CM Dixon/Print Collector/Getty Images)

The great Viking terror: how Norse warriors conquered the Anglo-Saxons

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8 Vikings you should know about

A detail of the decorative carving on the side of the Oseberg cart c850 AD. A woman with streaming hair apparently restrains a man’s sword arm as he strikes at a horseman accompanied by a dog. Below is a frieze of intertwined serpentine beasts. (Photo by Werner Forman/Universal Images Group/Getty Images)

Viking women: raiders, traders and settlers

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A virtuous Viking: the medieval legend of Havelok the Dane

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Top 10 Viking stories

UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1987: Sweden, Gotland, Detail of stone relief representing the divine triad: Odin (chief god), Thor (god of thunder) and Freyr (god of fertility). (Photo By DEA / G. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini via Getty Images)

Q&A Were the pagan English gods the same as the Viking gods?

A view of Þingvellir National Park in western Iceland. It was here, in AD 930, that Viking settlers established the first pan-Icelandic assembly – possibly the oldest parliamentary body in the world. (© Dreamstime)

Vikings: A land without kings