8th century CEReputable sourceWell documented
The Longship: Masters of the Sea
On the timeline · around 8th century CE ·
What happened
The Vikings' power rested on their ships. The sleek, clinker-built longship had a shallow draft that let it cross open ocean and row far up rivers, striking deep inland and vanishing before defenders could gather.
Why it matters
No technology defined the Viking Age more than the longship — the tool that made both their lightning raids and their astonishing voyages of exploration possible.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Vikings · Reputable source