9781422279212

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Moving North

Warm Period. Temperatures rose all over the globe. Historians think these warmer temperatures encouraged explorers to come to the Arctic region. Records show the first European explorers were the Vikings. TheVikings were Norsemen who lived in the northern areas of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. ManyVikings were peaceful farmers and tradesmen. That’s not how they are remembered, though. Instead, their reputation is of being tough, brutal war- riors who invaded communities all over Europe, taking whatever they wanted. Erik the Red was a Viking who was always ready for a fight. He was so much trouble that even the other Vikings got fed up.

This Viking ship was found near Gokstad, Norway, and dates from about the ninth century. It was restored and is on display in Oslo.