This website will attempt to provide an analysis of raids and trade, the social hierarchy, and settlement with a specific evalauation of Dublin. To provide an encapsulating view of the Vikings and thier role in Ireland’s past.

The Vikings were Scandinavian warriors who were responsible for conducting raids in Western Europe. Among the first Viking raids in Ireland, was an attack on an island off the northern coast in 795 (Holman, 2007). This ultimately started a raiding system that lasted for over four decades. Each settlement would have served purposes for the Vikings in regard to subsistance or trade. The Vikings did establish both urban and rural settlements in Ireland, Dubin, among the most noteworthy. Dublin was an important trading port city for the Vikings due to its strategic positioning, being along the coastline, with a the River Liffey cutting through the city.

Trade is another key characteristic of the Viking lifestyle. The raids that were conducted in western Europe often resulted in the trade of most items in European and Mediterranean markets. Scandinavia is on the perifery of the aformentioned markets, resulting in the elevated importance of Ireland. Ireland provided raw materials, goods to be traded, and populations that were subject to slavery.

The Vikings continued thier social structure in Ireland. Their structure consisted of three main classes, the gentry, freemen, and slaves, which was easily implemented in Ireland. By this point, the Vikings were among the first foreign groups to establish settlement in Ireland. Before the arrival of the Vikings, Ireland consited of mostly agrarian, subsistance living, with mostly villages and small towns scattered across the country. Although many small kingdoms did come to power during the Viking Age, the Vikings still maintained control over thier settlements for centuries.

The map below displays where the Vikings left Scandinavia to engage with Europe. The map displays trade and settlement cities the Vikings would interact with. Ireland and England both have more engagement than continental Europe. As depicted, there were multiple ways to access Ireland either from a northern or southern route. This provided the Vikings with easy access to thier trade and settlement cities.

Unknown. Map of Viking Invasions in Europe. 8th-9th century.