This is a 19 slide, highly animated, power point presentation on The Middle Ages: The Vikings. All the slides are editable so you can modify the slides if you need to.

Scandinavian sailors called “Vikings” left their homeland to pillage the coasts of northern Europe beginning in the 8th century. Booty was their prize and the defenseless monasteries that thrived in isolation on desolate shorelines often their target. The raiders used savage “hit-and-run tactics.” They would attack their victim, pillage as much treasure as possible and then demand a ransom to insure that they would not return again - a promise that was invariably broken.

Raiding as a lifestyle was first established in Scandinavia by the 6th century, as illustrated in the epic English tale of Beowulf. Viking raids were a characteristic of the early medieval pirates of Scandinavian, particularly during the first 50 years of the Viking Age, ~793-850. As the population grew, and trading networks into Europe became established, the Vikings became aware of the wealth of their neighbors, both in silver and in land.

One half of England fell to the Vikings by 870. By 959, the settler Vikings are part of the English populace; but beginning in 980, a new wave of attacks from Norway and Denmark occurred. In 1016, King Cnut controlled all of England, Denmark and Norway. But in 1066, died at Stamford Bridge, in a failed attempt to attain the English throne, essentially ending the Norse control of any lands outside of Scandinavia.

The presentation covers the following:

Background
Who Were the Vikings?
Eric the Red
Leif Ericsson
Early Raids
Viking Raids
The Viking Age
Excellent Seamen
The Great Army
“Scourge of Europe”
Viking Success
Settling Down
Impact on Europe
Viking Economics
Trade
Viking Demise
End of Presentation

This is one of several power point presentations that I offer in my store on... the Middle Ages.