Page "Viking Age" Paragraph 24

There are various theories concerning the causes of the Viking invasions.

For people living along the coast, it would seem natural to seek new land by the sea.

Another reason was that during this period England, Wales and Ireland, which were divided into many different warring kingdoms, were in internal disarray and became easy prey.

The Franks, however, had well-defended coasts and heavily fortified ports and harbours.

Pure thirst for adventure may also have been a factor.

A reason for the raids is believed by some to be over-population caused by technological advances, such as the use of iron.

Although another cause could well have been pressure caused by the Frankish expansion to the south of Scandinavia and their subsequent attacks upon the Viking peoples.

Another possible contributing factor is that Harald I of Norway (" Harald Fairhair ") had united Norway around this time, and the bulk of the Vikings were displaced warriors who had been driven out of his kingdom and who had nowhere to go.

Consequently, these Vikings became raiders, in search of subsistence and bases to launch counter-raids against Harald.

One theory that has been suggested is that the Vikings would plant crops after the winter and go raiding as soon as the ice melted on the sea, then returned home with their loot, in time to harvest the crops.