The Vikings, known for their explorative prowess, cultural impact, and fierce raids, originated in Scandinavia—encompassing modern-day Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. This region’s rugged terrain, surrounded by the North Atlantic and Baltic Seas, contributed significantly to Viking culture and seafaring abilities. Beginning around the late 8th century, the Viking Age marked a period of significant expansion, trade, and conquest. At home, Norse society was structured with a class system, including a nobility, freemen, and slaves. Agriculture, animal husbandry, and skilled craftsmanship, especially in metal and woodwork, supported Norse life. Vikings were also religiously complex, worshiping gods such as Odin, Thor, and Freyja and engaging in rituals tied to Norse mythology. Driven partly by overpopulation and political instability, Vikings began venturing across the seas. Their advanced longships allowed them to navigate and raid territories as distant as England, France, Greenland, and parts of North America, famously reaching what is now Newfoundland in Canada. While the term 'Viking' typically refers to Norse raiders, many Vikings were explorers, merchants, and settlers. Over time, cultural exchanges with conquered territories introduced changes to Viking society, leading to the Christianization of Scandinavia and the eventual blending of Norse and European cultures, marking the end of the Viking Age by the 11th century.