Viking York
The Vikings captured the northern English city of York in 866. Once the Roman stronghold of Eboracum, and later the capital of the English kingdom of Northumbria, it became Viking 'Jorvik'. Viking farmers settled on land around the city. Archaeologists have dug up the remains of Viking homes in an area of modern York known as Coppergate. From these finds, we know that the Viking city was busy - and probably dirty, with smoky houses, smelly workshops and farm animals all crowded together. As many as 15,000 people may have lived in Jorvik. |
Going to Market
To reach Jorvik, traders travelled overland or in boats along rivers. Farmers brought in grain, vegetables and animals to sell. Some travellers came from Dublin in Ireland. Others came from Scandinavia. Traders visited other markets, such as those at Hedeby in Denmark, Birka in Sweden and Kaupang in Norway. At the market, you could buy anything from amber beads and apples to walrus tusks and wolf-skins. Archaeologists at Jorvik found a cowrie shell (a kind of sea snail). It must have come from the Red Sea, in the Middle East. |
Making Laws
In Viking society, the strongest leaders were 'jarls', or earls. The most powerful jarls became kings. Freemen met at the Thing, or Viking assembly. People (men and women) met in the open air to settle problems, such as deciding who owned land or farm animals, and to punish criminals. They met old friends, swapped news, and arranged marriages. Viking laws were passed from parents to children, by word of mouth. People who broke the law became 'outlaws', and anyone could kill them. |