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In the third and fourth centuries, the Germanic tribes of central Europe had broken through the defenses of the Empire that they might plunder Rome and live on the fat of the land. In the eighth century it became the turn of the Germans to be the "plundered-ones." They did not like this at all, even if their enemies were their first cousins, the Norsemen, who lived in Denmark and Sweden and Norway.

What forced these hardy sailors to turn pirate we do not know, but once they had discovered the advantages and pleasures of a buccaneering career there was no one who could stop them. They would suddenly descend upon a peaceful Frankish or Frisian village, situated on the mouth of a river. They would kill all the men and steal all the women. Then they would sail away in their fast-sailing ships and when the soldiers of the king or emperor arrived upon the scene, the robbers were gone and nothing remained but a few smoldering ruins.

During the days of disorder which followed the death of Charlemagne, the Northmen developed great activity. Their fleets made raids upon every country and their sailors established small independent kingdoms along the coast of Holland and France and England and Germany, and they even found their way into Italy. The Northmen were very intelligent. They soon learned to speak the language of their subjects and gave up the uncivilized ways of the early Vikings (or Sea-Kings) who had been very picturesque but also very unwashed and terribly cruel.

Early in the tenth century a Viking by the name of Rollo had repeatedly attacked the coast of France. The king of France, too weak to resist these northern robbers, tried to bribe them into "being good." He offered them the province of Normandy, if they would promise to stop bothering the rest of his domains. Rollo accepted this bargain and became "Duke of Normandy."

But the passion of conquest was strong in the blood of his children. Across the channel, only a few hours away from the European mainland, they could see the white cliffs and the green fields of England. Poor England had passed through difficult days. For two hundred years it had been a Roman colony.

After the Romans left, it had been conquered by the Angles and the Saxons, two German tribes from Schleswig. Next the Danes had taken the greater part of the country and had established the kingdom of Cnut. The Danes had been driven away and now (it was early in the eleventh century) another Saxon king, Edward the Confessor, was on the throne. But Edward was not expected to live long and he had no children. The circumstances favored the ambitious dukes of Normandy.

In 1066 Edward died. Immediately William of Normandy crossed the channel, defeated and killed Harold of Wessex (who had taken the crown) at the battle of Hastings, and proclaimed himself king of England.

In another chapter I have told you how in the year 800 a German chieftain had become a Roman Emperor. Now in the year 1066 the grandson of a Norse pirate was recognized as King of England.

Why should we ever read fairy stories, when the truth of history is so much more interesting and entertaining?

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read and/or listen to the story.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Study the vocabulary terms.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Answer the review questions.

Synopsis

The Norsemen of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway turned pirate, descending on Germanic villages, killing the men, stealing the women, and sailing away. By the time soldiers arrived to help the raided villages, the Norsemen would be long gone. After the death of Charlemagne, the Northmen began establishing settlements on the coasts of Holland, France, England, and Germany and adapting the ways of their conquered foes. One Northman, Rollo, made a deal with the king of France and became Duke of Normandy. The grandson of this Norse pirate crossed the English Channel and became King of England.

Vocabulary

Norseman: A medieval Scandinavian (from Denmark, Norway, and/or Sweden) or Viking.
Plunder: To pillage, take, or destroy all the goods of by force.
Buccaneer: A pirate.
Germanic: Relating to the Germanic peoples (such as Germans, Scandinavians or Anglo-Saxons).
Frisian: A member of the Germanic ethnic group which is native to the region of Frisia (which is in the Netherlands, northern Germany and southern Denmark).
Duke: The male ruler of a duchy.
Norse: Of, or relating to the people, language and culture of Denmark, Norway, and/or Sweden.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

  • After you read or listen to the lesson, narrate the events aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Study the Story Picture

  • Study the story picture and describe how it relates to the story.

Activity 3: Map the Story

  • Find the original home of the Norsemen. Is it flat or mountainous?
  • Find America, Ireland, England, France, Germany, Iceland, and Greenland.
  • How many Norse ships do you count?
  • Find the illustration of the wind and a whale.
  • Follow the migration of the Norsemen between 810 A.D. to 1000 A.D., numbered from 1 to 4.
  • When did the Norsemen discover America? Is this before or after Christopher Columbus?
  • Find the countries of Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) on a modern map of Europe.
  • Trace the path of the conquering Norsemen from Scandinavia to Germany, France, the Netherlands, and England (Southern UK).

Activity 4: Complete Copywork, Narration, Dictation, and Art   

Click the crayon above. Complete page 69-70 of 'World History Copywork, Narration, Dictation, and Art for Third Grade.'

Review

Question 1

From which present-day countries did the Norsemen originate?
1 / 5

Answer 1

The Norsemen originated from present-day Scandinavia (from Denmark, Norway, and/or Sweden).
1 / 5

Question 2

What are some of the countries raided and settled by the Norsemen?
2 / 5

Answer 2

The Norseman raided and settled countries such as present-day Holland, France, England, and Germany.
2 / 5

Question 3

Why couldn't the soldiers of the kings stop the raiding Norsemen buccaneers?
3 / 5

Answer 3

The Norsemen would sail in, raid the village, and sail back off in their fast ships. By the time any soldiers arrived, the Norsemen were long gone.
3 / 5

Question 4

What did the Norsemen do to the men and women of the raided villages?
4 / 5

Answer 4

The Norsemen killed the men and stole the women.
4 / 5

Question 5

Who discovered America first - Christopher Columbus or the Norsemen?
5 / 5

Answer 5

The Norsemen discovered America around 1000 A.D. Christopher Columbus did not discover America until around 500 years later in 1492 A.D.
5 / 5

  1. From which present-day countries did the Norsemen originate? The Norsemen originated from present-day Scandinavia (from Denmark, Norway, and/or Sweden).
  2. What are some of the countries raided and settled by the Norsemen? The Norseman raided and settled countries such as present-day Holland, France, England, and Germany.
  3. Why couldn't the soldiers of the kings stop the raiding Norsemen buccaneers? The Norsemen would sail in, raid the village, and sail back off in their fast ships. By the time any soldiers arrived, the Norsemen were long gone.
  4. What did the Norsemen do to the men and women of the raided villages? The Norsemen killed the men and stole the women.
  5. Who discovered America first - Christopher Columbus or the Norsemen? The Norsemen discovered America around 1000 A.D. Christopher Columbus did not discover America until around 500 years later in 1492 A.D.

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