Britain 5th and 6th century AD 7th century AD

Celtic and Roman Britain were invaded by the Anglo-Saxons in 460-490. By the early 6th century, most of Britain was conquered, with Celtic belief pushed to the highlands and Roman belief largely eradicated. This lasted until the Christianization of Britain, beginning with Gregorian mission of 597. In 686 the last openly pagan King, Arwald, was slain. From that point forward all of Britain was at least nominally Christian. 865 AD 1066 AD

In 865 Danish raiders invaded and began to settle in England, ultimately taking over Northumbria, East Anglia, the East Midlands (Five Boroughs) and York. This occupation, the Danelaw, lasted in various forms until the Norman invasion of England in 1066 830s AD 1015 AD

The isles to the north and west of Scotland (Shetland, Orkney, and the Western Isles) were colonized by Norwegian Vikings in the 830s. They were converted to Christianity when Norway did so in 1015 AD. Byzantine 839 AD 988 AD

In 839 the Byzantine Emperor Theophilus hired Rus (Varangian Vikings) as mercenaries. Varangians continued to serve in the Byzantine army until the reign of Basil II in 976, at which point they became the personal bodyguards of the Emperor (the Varangian guard). The Varangian guard continued to serve the Byzantine Emperor until the mid 14th century, but after the conversion of Vladmir I of Kievan Rus to Christianity in 988 AD, few if any of the Varangians would have followed the old ways. Denmark 1stt century BC 960S AD

The first Danish people came to Denmark during the Roman Iron Age (1-400 AD). Before that the land was settled by the Jutes, a North Germanic tribe. Harald I (Gormsson) converted Denmark to Christianity in the mid 960s. Dnieper Trade Route 750s AD 1050-1150 AD

A trade route used by the Swedish Vikings (Rus) that extended from Ladoga, up the Volkhov river to Novgorod, to Lake Ilmen, to the Lovat river, across a portage to the Dnieper river, and then down to the Black sea and Constantinople. Many of the towns along this route had permanent Norse settlers of Swedish origin (that did not necessarily convert to Christianity when the Kievan Rus did). Finland See Sweden Germany (modern Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium) 2st century BC 8th century AD

Germanic beliefs were first documented by the Romans in the 1 st century BC. A fully formulated belief system, it likely long predated these first recordings. During the migration period (300 to 600 AD) Germanic pagan belief began to be influenced by contact with early Christian belief. The missionary Ulfilas brought Arianism Christianity to the Goths in the mid 4th century, where it spread quickly. The other major German tribes (Franks, Saxons, Anglo-Saxons, Frisians and Alamanni) were Christianized between the 6th and 8th centuries. Greenland 980 AD 1261 AD

Though Greenlands Norse population was always very small, it was one of the last of the Viking settlements to accept Christianity. Iceland 874 AD 999 AD

The first permanent settler on Iceland was Ingolfur Arnarson in 874. In 999 AD Iceland become Christian to maintain good relations with the Christian King of Norway Olaf I. Ireland 830 AD 1014 AD

The Vikings began raiding Ireland in the late 8 th century. Starting in the 830s they began establishing permanent bases on the coasts, including what would become Dublin. These bases gradually grew to become cities and towns. In 1014 the Vikings lost the battle of Clontarf and control of the coast. Many Vikings remained settled in Ireland but most converted to Christianity.

Kievan Rus (centered on Novgorod, stretching south to the Black sea, east to Volga, west to the kingdom of Poland) 750s AD 988 AD

Swedish Vikings settled Aldeigja (Ladoga) in the 750s. In the 860-880s these Varangian Rus settled the town Holmgard (Novgorod) and captured the city Kiev, from which they ruled over the Slavic and Finnic tribes that made up most of the population of the region. In 988 Vladmir I of Kiev converted to Christianity and proceeded to baptize all of Kievan Rus. Normandy 9th century AD 911 AD

The Norsemen conquered Normandy in the mid 9 th century. In 911 their Chief Rollo signed the treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, formalizing this control and becoming a vassal of the Frankish king. By the terms of the treaty Rollo accepted Christianity and was baptized. Norway 1st century BC 1015 AD

The indigenous people of Norway, the Sami, did not follow Norse beliefs. These beliefs came when proto-Germanic people migrated to the region in early centuries BC. Haakon the Good (reign 934-961) was the first Christian king of Norway, but it wasnt until Olaf II (the Big, reign 1015-1030) that the general populace converted to Christianity. Sweden 1st century BC 1050-1150 AD

Saint Ansgar introduced Christianity in 829, but it wasnt until the 11 th century that it became the most prevalent religion. Temporary Settlements 7th century AD 11th century AD

The Vikings settled many temporary encampments, from which they harvested natural resources (especially timber for shipbuilding), launched raids (greatly extending their range), and traded with the local populace. Some of these camps would go on to become permanent settlements (see other listings), but most only lasted for short periods of time. The most famous of these settlements is L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, but there were many scattered throughout Europe.

Many of these fortified and heavily defended settlements were in hostile territory; the cost of removing them was often considered too high by local defenders. Thralls The duration of pre-Christian Norse culture The Norse kept slaves, the Thralls (unfree servants). Status as a Thrall was hereditary, but Thralls were typically allowed to work a small portion of their owners land and own the proceeds, and they were typically allowed to sell any crafts they made in their free time. In this way a Thrall could earn money to purchase their freedom, the amount required set by the law (the freedmans ounces, six ounces of silver). A Thrall could also be set free by their owner, in thanks for long and devoted service or for noteworthy action (this last being rare, as the honor of serving in battle was reserved for free men and women. Many Thralls were taken in raids. A captive was given an opportunity to be ransomed; if this ransom was not paid, the captive was made Thrall. In addition to taking other Scandinavians captive this way, the Vikings also took slaves from everywhere they raided. During the Viking Age, the Norse invaded most of Britain and Friesland (the Netherlands); attacked the coast of France; captured Lisbon, Cadiz and Seville; invaded Northern Italy, sacked Pisa and settled Sicily; and regularly skirmished with the Islamic Caliphates that stretched across Northern Africa, Southern Spain and the Middle East. In addition, Viking traders bought slaves from Byzantine and Serkland (Arabia). If one of these Thralls did earn freedom, they would have had no easy way to travel home; the Vikings had no tradition of taking passengers aboard their ships. Volga Trade Route 750s AD 1041 AD

A trade route used by the Swedish Vikings (Rus) that extended from Ladoga, up the Volkhov river to Novgorod, to Lake Ilmen, to the Lovat river, across a portage to the Volga river, and then down to the Caspian sea. Rus merchants would then cross the sea to join the caravan routes to Baghdad. Many of the towns along this route had permanent Norse settlers of Swedish origin (that did not necessarily convert to Christianity when the Kievan Rus did). This route lost its importance after the decline of the Abbasid caliphate, and the last documented expedition along it was that of Ingvar the Far-Travelled in 1041.