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Vikings Ships
Long ago, people called Vikings ruled a large part of Europe. They used different kinds of ships to travel from place to place. The size and shape of each ship were based on its job. Being smart about building ships made Vikings different than other people who lived at the same time.
Early Ships
Many early Viking ships were long and thin. They had many names, but scientists today call them longships. Longships were built from wood. They were lighter and quicker than ships built by other groups of people. The longship’s shape meant it could sail in both rivers and deeper ocean waters. Vikings used these ships to travel between villages and search for new places.
Longships were powered by wind and people. At sea, the ship used a sail on a mast to catch the wind. The wind moved the ship forward. When the ship needed to move faster or when the ocean was breezeless, long oars were pulled through holes in the side of the ship. Groups of people pulled the oars through the water to row the ship quickly to shore or out of harm’s way.
Later Ships
Over time, Vikings made other kinds of ships. One ship called the knarr was built for long trips across the ocean. It only held about 30 people, but its main use was carrying goods. In the knarr, Vikings could travel far to trade goods with other countries.
Another kind of Viking ship was a two-person rowboat called the ferje. These boats were used for shorter trips. Although the ferje was small, the base of the ship was flat and very strong, so it could be used to carry a horse or cattle.
The End of Viking Ships
As time moved on, people stopped using Viking ships because new ships were bigger and stronger. Many Viking ships sank or were buried underground. Finding these old ships has taught scientists a lot about how Viking ships were made.
Viking Ships Today
Today, many Viking ships are in museums in Europe. Some people have even started building new ships that look like old Viking ships. Riding these ships offers a peek at how Vikings lived long ago.
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