Richard Gilmore, age 11, of New Bedford, Mass., for his question:

WHEN DID THE VIKINGS LIVE?

Vikings were Scandinavian sea rovers who launched successful raids on England, France, German, Ireland, Italy and Spain between the late 700s and the late 1000s. They were Nordic people and were the ancestors of today's Danes, Swedes and Norwegians.

The Vikings spoke a German dialect that sounds much like the language spoken in England at the same time. They were successful and daring seamen.

The term  kViking" came from the  Old Norse  word •' v3k; ~~._meangng _ „bay" . ar.__._. . "inlet." The growth of population in their own countries was one of the major causes for the Viking invasions. Political conditions at home added to the restlessness.

Since they were seafaring people, it was easy for the Vikings to take their ships from their home bays and inlets and seek fortunes elsewhere when the situation became serious at home. At first the invasions were simply acts of piracy and plunder.

During the 300 years when the Vikings were powerful, they strongly influenced the development of Europe.

The Vikings were the most efficient builders of ships in Europe. Their high powered ships carried raiding parties to most of the known world at that time and across the Atlantic to the unknown.

The qualities of intelligence and imagination that made the Vikings such good sailors helped them in other ways. As they began to settle in the invaded areas, they became skilled in many other areas and they rapidly learned from the more civilized people they attacked.

As the Vikings became more civilized, they gave up their cruelty and their savage love of destruction.

Another impressive sign of the Vikings' intelligence was their ability to eventually shift from piracy to peaceful and productive commerce. By changing from pirates to traders, the Vikings helped develop commerce and helped create a new Europe.

The ancient Vikings didn't spend all of their time at sea. In spring, before they set out on raids, they planted crops. They then returned in the middle of summer to harvest them. Then they left home again and didn't return until winter.

During the winters, the Vikings spent their time preparing for

the next year's raids. They also played various games during the

long, cold winter evenings. A game similar to chess and various    ___

dice games were favorites.

Some of the Vikings worked in the cod, herring and seal fisheries. Others made salt or tar. Two other important occupations were the making of metal tools and weapons, and the building of ships.

Most of the ships were about 70 feet long and about 16 feet wide. Some ships, however, were as long as 300 feet.

The ships were propelled by oars with sometimes a single sail to help in maneuvering. Each ship usually carried 30 to 40 men.