The Vikings were very much feared because they plundered, burnt and killed. They also were great traders. Around the North Sea, many place names show that they once were Viking settlements. The English city York was once Jorvik, a busy Viking city.

In the Viking society, all free men were equals.  Even a Viking king or chieftain had limited power--he was dependent on the support of his men.

The Viking women had full freedom. There were slaves in the Viking society, many of them captured in raids abroad.  At the end of the Viking age most of the slaves were freed.