The Vikings in the middle ages. Thesis: The invasions of the Vikings into England throughout the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries had a great impact on the people and history of that time.

Throughout the years "The word 'Viking' has come to describe a whole new age in Europe between about 800 [CE] and 1150 [CE]" (Ritchie 3). Really this word generally describes one who pillages, plunders, and sails; a pirate. In the Middle Ages, especially during the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries, there were constant raids in England and all throughout Europe by these pirates, and "during the 9th century these raids became increasingly large-scale" (Millett 1). Naturally these invasions had drastic negative affects on the people who were victimized. The Vikings who invaded England and Europe were from Norway and Denmark (Ritchie 3). "Nowhere was safe from the Vikings" (Ritchie 2), especially England. The invasions of the Vikings into England throughout the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries had a great impact on the people and history of that time.

The first recorded Viking raid on Britain was a horrible event that took place in 793 CE (Ritchie 2).

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English: Cnut, king of England, Denmark, and Norwa...

English: Cnut, king of England, Denmark, and Norwa...

The Vikings chose Lindisfarne, a monastery that was "revered for its link with St. Cuthbert" (Ritchie 2) to plunder. This was a particularly devastating plan because Lindisfarne happened to be "one of Britain's most sacred sites" (Ritchie 1). When this act was carried out the Viking threat of attack was clearly spread all throughout Europe. Such a horrible raid was entirely random and unexpected since it was the first of the Viking raids. It destroyed a holy, sacred, treasured place. It struck fear in all of the English and "it was unthinkable that such a holy place should suffer attack from foreign heathens, that its monks should be slaughtered and its treasures taken. Yet this was to happen again and again to other monasteries throughout England..." (Ritchie 2). This horrible attack was just laying the foundations for what would come.

The Great Army,