Longships were naval vessels made and used by the Vikings from Scandinavia and Iceland for trade, commerce, exploration, and warfare during the Viking Age. The longship’s design evolved over many yearsWhile longships were used by the Norse in warfare, they were troop transports, not warships. In the tenth century, these boats would sometimes be tied together in battle to form a steady platform for infantry warfare. They were called dragonships by enemies such as the English because they had a dragon-shaped bow.

The longship is characterized as a graceful, long, narrow, light, wooden boat with a

shallow draft hull designed for speed. Longships were

fitted with oars along almost the entire length of the boat

itself.

The crew's shields may have been arrayed along the

gunwales, held in place by a shield rack outboard of the ship. This kept them out of the way, but also provided

some slight additional protection against wind and

waves.

Beowulf written by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet between 8th and 11th centuries AD

Written in England, but set in Scandinavia

EPIC POETR

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Written in Old English