Viking trading settlements were founded as far west as Ireland and as far east as modern-day Russia. Trading posts like Hedeby or Dublin were usually constructed entirely of timber with wooden planks lining the streets, outdoor marketplaces, and earthen ramparts and ditches surrounding the settlements to protect them from attack. 7.10.2 Trading boats Viking longships were designed for war and long travel, but the Vikings also built another type of ship called knarr . These ships were designed for trade and each could hold around 30 cubic metres of goods. Historians know what they looked like because two knarrs have been found at the bottom of the sea. They were filled with rocks and sunk along with some longboats to block Roskildefjorde in Denmark. This was done to create an underwater barrier against enemy attacks.
SkillBuilder discussion Historical significance 1. Study SOURCE3 .What features in the design of this knarr would protect crew and cargo when sailing through rough seas? 2. How does the width of a knarr compare with the longboat? How do you account for the difference? 3. How do you think the positioning of the single square sail would help merchants in their long sea journeys?
SOURCE3 A modern artist’s reconstruction of a knarr, based on a wreck found in Roskildefjorde, Denmark
7.10 SkillBuilder activity COMMUNICATING, QUESTIONING AND RESEARCHING The knarr and the longship are very similar; in fact, the knarr was really just a more practical longship designed for longer journeys while carrying more objects, which is why it was used by traders and settlers. Imagine that you are a boatbuilder and you have been asked to improve the design of the longship to make it better for traders and settlers. 1. Recall the list of features of the longship from lesson 7.6. 2. Brainstorm the following: • Explain what features you would keep to make it better for traders and settlers. Provide reasons why. • List what you would change or include to make it better for traders and settlers. Provide reasons why. 3. Communicate your findings to the Vikings who employed you (the class). Explore the similarities and differences between everyone’s plans. 4. Combine the best ideas of the class and present your final design for the knarr. 5. When you have finished, Investigate , conducting research online, what the actual differences were between a longship and a knarr. State how close you were.
TOPIC7 The Vikings 187
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