Vikings+Of+York

In mid-9th century AD The Danish Vikings were led by Ivar the Boneless. They took over the town of York in England and made it their capitol of their new found and conquered territory in England. These Vikings were brutal when it came to battle there were no prisoners taken alive. When these Vikings took over they changed the name of the town to "Jorvik", it seemed more Danish to them and it was then easier for the Vikings to call this city home. This name did not live past the Vikings reign but the Vikings did however leave behind a few street names. They left the suffix “gate” which is now attached to many streets in York - Micklegate and Skeldergate both come from the Viking era and are still used today in the town. The word gate mean simply street in the Danish Viking vocabulary. These Vikings were not the stereotypical savages; they had a set up economy of trade and agriculture. They had a civilized town with houses and families living together. These Vikings had shops and work houses, now we call them factories. Archaeologists found evidence of woodworking, metalworking, jewelry making, and a financial system. This period of Viking reign did not last long, it only lasted about a century, then around 954, Eric Bloodaxe, one of the rulers of the Vikings, was defeated by Eadred, King of Wessex. The Vikings made big movements in York and England to get it to where it is today.

By:Madelyn Rogge