The Vikings and their longboats | History | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

How did early explorers travel around the Mediterranean?
- by foot
- by boat ✓
- by horse
What type of boats did seafarers use in the early Mediterranean world?
- rafts
- canoes
- galleys ✓
Why did early seafarers go on journeys around the Mediterranean?
- taking holidays
- trading for supplies ✓
- moving to new places ✓
Pick the word that refers to a time when people are fighting.
- disagreement
- war ✓
- argue
How did galley ships move through the water of the Mediterranean Sea?
- by oarsmen using oars ✓
- with a motor
- waiting for waves to push the boat the right way
During times that were not peaceful, what were galley ships used for?
- used for going on holiday
- used as warships for fighting ✓
- used as places to hide

Which of these is a Viking longboat?
- [Reuse image of Pesse Canoe]
- [Reuse image of a Polynesian boat]
- [Reuse image of a Viking longboat] ✓
Complete the sentence. Longboats had a flat bottom so they could sail through __________ water.
- deep
- shallow ✓
- stormy
What did Viking warriors hang over the side of a longboat before a raid?
- shields ✓
- oars
- ropes
Viking longboat journeys were usually for exploring, raiding and what else?
- visiting
- trading ✓
- sailing
Where on a longboat would you find an animal shape?
- at the front ✓
- at the back
- under the boat
- on the sail
Why were Viking longboats so good at moving through strong waves?
- They bounced on top of waves to avoid them.
- The wood of the hull was flexible so it did not crack. ✓
- They went so fast they missed them.

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Vikings used fast, narrow boats called longboats for trading and raiding.
Longboats had oars, sails, and were both strong and flexible, allowing them to withstand strong waves.
Longboats had flat bottoms, allowing them to sail through shallow water and rivers when the tide was high.
Longboats were often used for raiding and the sailors on board would hang their shields over the sides of the boat.
Viking boats were light and fast, they could even be carried short distances over land to other rivers.

Pupils may have the impression that all Vikings were fierce, scary warriors.

Some Vikings were warriors, but not all. Vikings were also traders, farmers and settlers.

Vikings - the Vikings were seafarers from Northern Europe
Longboat - a longboat was a strong, narrow boat used by the Vikings
Shield - a shield is a large piece of wood or metal with a handle at the back that is used for protection and defence
Raid - a raid is when a place is attacked and items are stolen