Early Viking raids
I can describe the early Viking raids on the island of Lindisfarne.
Early Viking raids
I can describe the early Viking raids on the island of Lindisfarne.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The attack on Lindisfarne (where Bede had once lived) in 793 CE was the first major Viking raid on the British Isles.
- The Vikings attacked using longboats crewed by about 30 warriors who could land, attack, and leave quickly.
- Priories like those in Lindisfarne were centres of manuscript production and filled with valuable religious objects.
- The Vikings murdered monks and stole these objects for trade and their own wealth.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that the Vikings' motivation to raid Lindisfarne was to murder the monks rather than it being a consequence of the raids.
The Vikings raided monasteries because they were easy targets on the coast and they had many valuable objects they could steal.
Keywords
Raid - a raid is a rapid surprise attack, usually involving stealing something
Longboat - a longboat is a long, light and slender boat that the Vikings used to travel
Priory - a priory is a building lived in by a community who follow religious vows
Manuscript - a manuscript is a book or document written by hand
Monk - a monk is a member of a religious community of men
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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a building lived in by a community who follow religious vows
a book or document written by hand
a member of a religious community of men