Vikings: The Rise and Fall

An attack on a small religious community on the holy island of Lindisfarne in AD 793 heralded the start of the Viking Age of conquest and expansion but before this, we look at the Vikings' beginnings in Scandinavia.

The Siege of York occurred from 866 when Great Heathen Army laid claim to Northumbrian capital of York.

The Silk Road opened up a world of trade for the Scandinavians in the East. Seeking wealth, the Vikings known in the East as the "Rus" attacked Constantinople in 860. The Rus became a permanent and feared fixture in the Byzantine Empire.

The siege of Paris in 885 was the culmination of the Viking invasions of Francia. We look at the persistent Viking attacks on Francia and the enduring presence of the Scandinavians on the Frankish Empire and beyond.

The Vikings discover Iceland where they established lasting settlement. Further exploration from Iceland leads to the discovery of Greenland and to the shores of Newfoundland, making them the first Europeans to discover America.

The 10th century reign of Harald Bluetooth, king of a newly unified and powerful Denmark, marked the start of a second Viking age. With the Normans finally taking the English Kingdom in 1066, we look at the final days of the Viking empire.