Most Vikings were farmers, growing such things as oats, rye, barley, fruits and vegetables. They
also raised cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. Other Vikings were fishermen, metalworkers,
shipbuilders and woodcarvers. In larger villages, many people were traders or merchants.
Viking marriages were arranged by parents. The husband ruled the family, but the wife had many rights as well.
Viking men were allowed to have more than one wife at the same time. Usually this only
occurred with wealthy Vikings who could afford large families.
Burial Customs
The Vikings had elaborate burial ceremonies. Many of the rich Viking men and women were
buried in a ship. They believed that ship graves gave them a safe, comfortable journey to the
land of the dead. Many of the dead Viking's belongings were also placed in the ship.
Food
The Vikings ate two meals a day. One in the morning and one in the evening. They used spoons
and knives, but no forks. Most of the food, including cheese, eggs, milk and beef came from
their own farms. They also hunted and fished for food. The hunters supplied meat from seals,
whales, deer, elks and polar bears. The fish catch included herring, salmon, trout and cod.
Clothing
Most Viking men wore two basic outfits. Trousers that reached to the knee or ankle, and a long-sleeved pullover shirt that reached below the waist. The women wore loose-fitting dresses that
were made of linen or wool and hung to the ankles. Both men and women wore leather shoes.
The Viking Ship
Viking Ships were built in northern Europe between A.D. 700 and late 1100's.
Each ship ranged in size depending on if it was to be used for trade or battle.
Trading ships called knorrs, were about 50 feet (15 meters) long.
Warships, called long ships, were about 65 to 95 feet (20 to 29 meters) and 17 feet wide. A warship had from 15 to over 30 pairs of oars. The prow (front end) of the warship curved upward and ended with a wood carving of the head of a snake or a dragon.
The hull was clinker-built (planks overlapping like siding on a house).
It had a square sail mounted on a mast probably 40 feet (12 meters) high and a steering oar near
the stern.