Viking expansion from the 8th to 11th centuries CE represents one of history's most remarkable migrations. From Scandinavian homelands, Norse seafarers reached four continents, establishing settlements from North America to Central Asia.
Superior shipbuilding enabled Viking voyages. Longships were light enough to navigate shallow rivers yet sturdy enough for ocean crossings. Clinker construction—overlapping planks—created flexible, resilient hulls. These vessels could sail, row, and be carried overland between waterways.
Vikings were more than raiders. They established trade routes connecting Scandinavia to Byzantium and Baghdad. Norse merchants exchanged furs, amber, and slaves for silver, silk, and spices. The Volga trade route linked the Baltic to the Caspian Sea.