Life Beyond Raiding: The Daily Life of an Average Viking

When one thinks of Vikings, the first image that often comes to mind is that of ferocious warriors raiding villages and sailing off with their loot. However, the lives of the average Viking involved much more than just raiding, as they were also skilled traders, farmers, and craftsmen. This essay aims to provide a detailed account of what life was like for the average Viking when not raiding, including their daily activities, food, and religious practices.

Living Conditions

Viking society was mainly rural, with most people living in small farming communities (Haywood, 1995). The primary residence for a Viking family was the longhouse, which was a long, narrow building made of wood, stone, or turf. Longhouses had a single room with a central hearth, and the family’s animals, such as cows and sheep, were often housed in a separate room or an annex attached to the longhouse (Jesch, 1991). The longhouse served as a living space, workshop, and storage area, with the family sleeping on raised platforms along the walls (Winroth, 2014).

Diet

The Vikings’ diet was primarily based on the resources available in their local environment. For most, this included a mix of vegetables, grains, dairy products, and meat (Barrett et al., 2008). The most common crops grown were barley, oats…