Towards the end of the 8th century A.D., the dragon-headed Viking long-ships made their appearance off the coasts of Europe, spreading terror and alarm wherever they went. The Vikings became known as ruthless and rapacious barbarians.Plundering was only a relatively small and not the most important part of their activities. Above all, the Viking Age was a period of rapid economic expansion, making Scandinavia a centre for world trade. The World of...