While we tend to think of the Vikings as being based in and around Scandinavia, their activities took them a lot far further afield than that. The map above shows just how far.
In the 11th century, they became the first Europeans to attempt to settle in the Americas, beating Columbus by 500 years.
Their swords may have used used steel imported from modern day Afghanistan. And in the 9th century, they raided Constantinople, right at the heart of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire.
While historical records from 1,000+ years ago are spotty at best, the map at the top of the page attempts to show which countries were at least raided, if not settled, by the Vikings between 793 and 1066.
Keep in mind that the map is showing modern borders, but raids tended to focus on the coasts. So while they raided and settled in parts of what are now Russia and Canada, its unlikely they ever made to Siberia or Vancouver.
The map is based on data from here and here.
To better understand where and when the vikings are likely to have raided and settled, this map from Wikipedia may be of some use:
To learn more about the Viking world, have a look at the following books:
- The Age of the Vikings
- Viking Age: Everyday Life During the Extraordinary Era of the Norsemen
- The Vikings: A History
Know any other good Viking facts? Let us know below:
Sahra Rae Taylor says
I hate you for using reds and greens in the maps. 🙁 I hate being red-green colour blind sometimes
Brilliant Maps says
Well unfortunately can’t do anything about it with this map, but do have a map looking at colour blindness that will be published soon.
horsedancingwithcrow says
Just go on screen settings and edit that… omg. The beauty of these information blinds any superficial thing and problem…
hottie says
oop-
joebama says
if you saturate the map in photo shop that sometimes helps
Brian Hourigan says
The red areas in Ireland are not exactly accurate especially the south and southwest settlement areas, the vikings settled in 5 places – Limerick, Dublin, Waterford, Wexford and Cork. They did not settle in Kerry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Ireland_(800%E2%80%931169)#/media/File:Viking_Ireland.png
Jessica Rousseu says
How come?
Siggi Hjartarson says
Saying that Greenland is a Norwegian colony is like saying that Alaska is a British one. Greenland was an Icelandic colony, it was settled by Icelanders during the commonwealth of Iceland 930-1262 where Iceland was just as Indipendent as Norway was…
Reed Barnes says
Yea basically true. Iceland was sort of a confusing aspect though as they still came under Norwegian rule and were entirely dependent of it haha.
Jan Marek says
Vikings in Czech lands? When?
Reed Barnes says
We know that vikings indeed visited Vineland (Canada) at least a couple times. They weren’t sure how big it was and never really ventured very far in. Based on how they sailed they would have largely only reached labrador, which we have demonstrable archaeology as well as icelandic literature to back it up. There is no mention of any interior excursions. This would be doubly true for the mississippi which has the delta in the gulf sea (unlikely), and no “easy” connecting tributary connecting the great lakes/St Lawrence. This is largely a mixture of over zealous viking fans (I am a fan, I just appreciate the real history) and a bit of ethnonationalism.
Jan Marek says
Vikings never raided Czech lands. The map is wrong.
GA says
The Vikings settled in Pembrokeshire hence a number of Viking names in the Haverfordwest area i.e Skomer Island Haroldston Broad Haven Little Haven etc . I suspect this links into Irish settlements too.
Billy b says
This isn’t right
L'Anse aux Meadows says
Newfoundland (Canada) was settled by the Vikings and not just raided, even though the settlements did not last long.
Fran Sinclair says
It is Orkney or The Orkney islands! Never ever ‘Orkneys’! 🙂
Annie says
DNA doesn’t lie, it’s science. A group of Icelanders carry maternal Native American dna. It shows 4 dna lines from 1700, but tracing back nearly 1000 yrs earlier to one woman. More Icelandic dna research is being done. Norse were first to settle Iceland and it’s more likely they not only visited Canada and Newfoundland but traded and took wives.
The great thing about DNA and Norse love of women is the map can now be proven. They might not of settled everywhere they traveled but they did leave their DNA.
lilla j says
THIS IS AMAZING