For centuries the Vikings have been remembered as strong barbarians that attacked the last outposts of civilization, pillaging and murdering as they went. While this is certainly true, it is just a small part of who the Vikings were. They were also sailors, traders, farmers, craftsmen, and explorers with a rich tradition and many of the human rights still missing in many countries today.

The Viking era spanned over three hundred years, from about 750 to 1050. Archaeologists have found evidence of their civilization not only in their homelands of Norway, Sweden and Denmark, but also as far away as Greece and Baghdad in the "old world" and L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada in the "new world". They traded furs, amber, iron objects, walrus ivory and slaves for silks, spices, and silver. A sixth or seventh century bronze Buddha was even found in Helgo, Sweden.

The Viking longboat, the most advanced ship available in its time, was a major factor in the success of the Vikings. Built of wood and iron, these boats were fast and able to handle the open seas or the inland rivers with ease. Their shallow draft meant that fully loaded boats could be sailed in rivers only three feet deep and they could be put ashore anywhere there was a beach, rather than needing a special harbor. They could be powered by a single, square sail or rowed. With these boats, the Vikings were able to cross the North Atlantic, sail around the Iberian Peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea, and cross the Russian steppes to the Baltic Sea and travel down into the middle east.

The longboats also had intricately carved decorations on the bow. Usually a dragon or other fierce creature would adorn the boat as a figurehead to scare the Vikings' enemies. This intricate carving was also seen in other wooden products, such as bed frames, and in iron and silver jewelry.

Back home, the Norsemen were primarily farmers. They grew wheat, barley, and rye during the short summers and herded sheep, cattle, pigs, and poultry. While the men were out raiding or exploring, the women were in charge of the farm and had the authority to make all the necessary decisions. The main building on each farm was the longhouse. Built of timber and sod, the windowless structure was not only the home to the Norsemen, but also the barn for his animals and the storage sheds for his food. The living quarters of the house would include a central, dirt area where the fire burned, and raised sections on either side of this area where the family would sleep, work and play. The hole in the ceiling for the smoke wasn't adequate and the interior was frequently smoky as well as dark. Lamps of whale oil were kept burning to provide some illumination.

The Norse society was divided into three classes: earls, freemen or jarls, and slaves or thralls. Although birth was the main determiner of class, it was possible for individuals to change their status, either up or down. Slaves could be, and frequently were, freed, but freemen could become slaves either as prisoners taken in a raid or as punishment for crimes. All the freemen and earls gathered at the "thing" where the old laws were read, new laws were voted on by all present, and suspected criminals tried and sentenced. The "Althing" created in the Iceland settlement in 930 is still in existence and is the oldest parliament in Europe.

During the time of their heyday, the Norse moved from a pagan society to a Christian one. Initially, they worshipped a group of gods, led by Odin. Odin was the chief god and the main god of the earls and warriors. He had only one eye, having given up the other in exchange for wisdom, rode an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir who never got tired, and was accompanied by two ravens, Thought and Memory, who flew out each day to watch the world. Odin lived in Valhalla, the warrior's paradise where there was always feasting, fighting, and women. If a warrior died while fighting valiantly in battle, the Valkyries would take him straight to Valhalla. Thor was the main god of the freemen. Traveling across the sky in his chariot drawn by goats, Thor was the god of lightning and thunder. He also used his mighty hammer to defend humans and gods from the evil giants. The third main god was Freyr, the god of fertility. He was the god of the farmers, who made the crops grow. Animal sacrifices could be made at any time to the gods but special attention was made to the main holidays, midwinter, the start of planting season, and late summer when the crops were harvested.

Beginning around the tenth century, the Christian religion began replacing the old one. Some converts were made for spiritual reasons, but some, especially among the merchants and kings, was for acceptance by the Christian countries they were trading with.

Even though the Viking civilization disappeared nearly one thousand years ago, their presence is still felt. The English language contains words derived from the Vikings. Three of the weekday names are derived from the three main Norse gods: Wednesday, from Odin's day; Thursday, from Thor's day; and Friday, from Freyr's day. In sailing, the term 'starboard' comes from the placement of the steering oar on the right.