In AD 865 the Vikings changed tactics. Instead of Viking raids they launched a full-scale invasion. One by one the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms were defeated by the Vikings until only Wessex remained.
Wessex was led by Alfred (The Great) who proved to be an impressive military leader and defeated the Viking army, forcing their leader to convert to Christianity. He was unable to drive the Vikings completely from Britain. Instead he divided the land into two kingdoms. The Anglo-Saxon kingdom covered the south and the Viking the North. This became known as Danelaw. Many Vikings settled there and over time they married local people and became part of the communities until it was difficult to tell who was Viking and who was ‘English’. The Vikings had a big impact on England, York (Jorvik) was a major trade route and had 10,000 inhabitants at its peak.
Do you still think the Vikings were Raiders, or were they peaceful settlers? Explain.
Answers
In AD 865 the Vikings changed tactics. Instead of Viking raids they launched a full-scale invasion. One by one the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms were defeated by the Vikings until only Wessex remained.
Wessex was led by Alfred (The Great) who proved to be an impressive military leader and defeated the Viking army, forcing their leader to convert to Christianity. He was unable to drive the Vikings completely from Britain. Instead he divided the land into two kingdoms. The Anglo-Saxon kingdom covered the south and the Viking the North. This became known as Danelaw. Many Vikings settled there and over time they married local people and became part of the communities until it was difficult to tell who was Viking and who was ‘English’. The Vikings had a big impact on England, York (Jorvik) was a major trade route and had 10,000 inhabitants at its peak.
Do you still think the Vikings were Raiders, or were they peaceful settlers? Explain.