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Which modern countries were part of Viking society?
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Viking
Exhumed Viking ship; in the Viking Ship Museum, Oslo, Norway.
Viking society was primarily rooted in the Scandinavian homelands, which correspond to the modern countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. By the 10th century, Iceland also became a central part of this society.12
While these nations formed the core of Viking culture, the reach of Viking influence extended far beyond their borders through raiding, trading, and colonization. During the Viking Age, they established settlements and exerted influence in various regions that are now part of other modern countries, including:
- United Kingdom: Extensive settlement occurred in parts of England, particularly in the region known as the Danelaw.31
- France: Vikings established a permanent presence in Normandy.31
- Ireland: Scandinavian kingdoms were founded in cities such as Dublin, Limerick, and Waterford.3
- Russia and Ukraine: Vikings, known as the Rus, were active in centers such as Novgorod and Kyiv.31
- Canada: Archaeological evidence at L’Anse aux Meadows confirms that Vikings reached North America.3
- Greenland: Colonies were established there by settlers from Iceland.3
It is important to note that while Vikings traveled to and influenced many parts of the world, their society was fundamentally defined by its origins in the Scandinavian region.31