History · 5th Year · The Vikings in Ireland · Summer Term

Who Were the Vikings?

Where did the Vikings come from and why did they set sail? Learn about their Scandinavian homelands, their society, and the reasons that drove them to explore and raid across the seas.

TL;DR:Prepare your class to set sail with the legendary Norse seafarers who first raided, then settled, and forever changed the story of Ireland.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA History: Early People and Ancient Societies - The Vikings

About This Topic

This topic introduces pupils to the Vikings, a pivotal group in both European and Irish history, aligning with the 'Early Peoples and Ancient Societies' strand of the Irish Primary School History Curriculum. The exploration begins in their Scandinavian homelands, delving into the societal, environmental, and economic pressures that spurred their expansion across the seas from the late 8th century. For the Irish context, it is crucial to move beyond the initial image of Vikings as mere raiders of monasteries. The narrative should evolve to portray them as skilled traders, craftspeople, and eventual settlers who founded Ireland's first towns, including Dublin (Dyflin), Waterford (Veðrafjǫrðr), and Limerick (Hlymrekr). This dual perspective, from raider to settler, allows pupils to engage with the complexities of cultural interaction and change.

The unit offers a fantastic opportunity to develop pupils' skills as historians, encouraging them to work with evidence from archaeology, such as the discoveries at Wood Quay in Dublin, and to analyse primary sources with a critical eye. By examining their incredible longships, navigational skills, and societal structures, pupils can appreciate the ingenuity and resilience of the Viking people. The topic should culminate in an understanding of the lasting legacy of the Vikings on Irish society, from place names and language to trade routes and urban development, providing a foundational knowledge of a key period that shaped medieval Ireland.

Key Questions

1. Identify the modern-day countries that made up the Viking homelands.
2. Explain the main reasons why Vikings began to raid and explore outside of Scandinavia.
3. Analyse the skills and technologies that made them such successful seafarers.

Learning Objectives

• Locate the Scandinavian homelands of the Vikings on a map of Europe.
• Describe two key features of a Viking longship and explain its importance for travel.
• Explain the motivations behind Viking expansion, including raiding, trading, and settlement.
• Identify the lasting impact of the Vikings on Ireland, such as the founding of towns.
• Analyse evidence from archaeology to understand aspects of Viking daily life.

Key Vocabulary

Scandinavia	A region in Northern Europe which includes the countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, the original homelands of the Vikings.
Longship	A long, narrow, and fast ship with a shallow hull used by the Vikings for both raiding and trading. It could navigate both open seas and shallow rivers.
Raid	A sudden surprise attack on a place, often to steal goods or treasure. Early Viking activity in Ireland often involved raids on monasteries.
Norse	The people and language of medieval Scandinavia. We often refer to the Vikings in Ireland as the Norse.
Settlement	A place where people build a community to live. The Vikings created the first large-scale settlements, or towns, in Ireland.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Vikings wore horned helmets.

What to Teach Instead

There is no archaeological evidence that Vikings wore horned helmets in battle. This image was popularised by 19th-century artists and operas. Real Viking helmets were typically simple metal or leather caps.

Common Misconception

The Vikings were just savage and violent raiders.

What to Teach Instead

While raiding was a significant part of their culture, Vikings were also skilled farmers, traders, explorers, poets, and craftspeople. Many came to Ireland to settle peacefully and established major trading towns.

Common Misconception

All Vikings were the same.

What to Teach Instead

The term 'Viking' refers to people from different regions across Scandinavia, including modern-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. These groups had their own distinct leaders, traditions, and motivations.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry-Based Learning

Build a Viking Longship

Using cardboard, craft sticks, and other recycled materials, pupils work in small groups to design and construct a model of a Viking longship. They should include key features like the sail, oars, shields, and a dragon head prow.

60 min·Small Groups

Inquiry-Based Learning

Raid or Trade? A Class Debate

Divide the class into two groups: one arguing the Vikings came to Ireland primarily to raid, the other arguing they came to trade and settle. Pupils research their position and present their arguments in a structured debate.

45 min·Whole Class

Inquiry-Based Learning

Viking Voyage Mapping

Pupils use maps of Europe to trace the likely sea routes taken by Vikings from Scandinavia to Ireland, Britain, and beyond. They can mark key raid locations and the sites of major settlements they founded.

30 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Investigating Irish place names with Norse origins, such as Wexford ('inlet of the mud flats'), Waterford ('fjord of the rams'), and Howth ('head').
• Understanding the role of modern archaeology in uncovering our past, using Dublin's Viking excavations as a key example.
• Comparing Viking navigation using the sun and stars to modern-day GPS technology and space exploration.
• Recognising words in the English language that come from Old Norse, such as 'sky', 'egg', 'knife', and 'window'.
• Exploring how Viking sagas and myths have influenced modern books, films, and television shows.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Use a 'Think-Pair-Share' activity where pupils discuss the question: 'Why were longships so important to the Vikings?' Listen to their discussions to gauge understanding.

Peer Assessment

Pupils create a 'Viking in Ireland' fact file, detailing where they came from, why they came, what a longship was like, and one major settlement they founded.

Quick Check

Pupils complete a 'K-W-L' chart (What I Know, What I Want to Know, What I Learned) at the beginning and end of the topic to reflect on their own learning journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the word 'Viking' actually mean?

The exact origin is debated, but the Old Norse word 'víkingr' meant something like 'a person who goes on an expedition', often overseas. The term 'víking' referred to the expedition itself, which could be for raiding or trading.

Did the Vikings have a written language?

Yes, they used a system of writing called runes. Runic alphabets, known as 'futhark', were carved into stone, wood, and bone. They were used for everything from memorials to simple messages.

Are there still Viking buildings in Ireland?

While original Viking houses made of wood and earth have not survived, their legacy is clear in the layout of cities they founded, like Waterford's 'Viking Triangle'. Archaeologists have also excavated the remains of their settlements, most famously at Wood Quay in Dublin.