Year 1 - History
The Vikings and their longboats
William Adams and Brunel
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit on explorers and seafaring gives students a clear sense of change over time, highlighting technological, economic, and cultural shifts. It covers the sea's role in trade and exploration and explores material culture, craftsmanship, and the influence of seafaring on language and art.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the features of Viking longboats.
Key Notes
- 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.
Vocabulary To Learn
- 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
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may have the impression that all Vikings were fierce, scary warriors.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
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.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Vikings'
the Vikings were seafarers from Northern Europe.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils may have the impression that all Vikings were fierce, scary warriors. Correction: Some Vikings were warriors, but not all. Vikings were also traders, farmers and settlers.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Brunel's race to cross the Atlantic Study Guide
- Chinese innovation in seafaring Study Guide
- Early explorers and their boats Study Guide
- From sail to steam power Study Guide
- How Polynesian explorers travelled and navigated Study Guide
- Life aboard the SS Great Britain Study Guide
- Seafaring 450 years ago Study Guide
- Seafaring in the early Mediterranean world Study Guide
- The incredible voyages of Zheng He Study Guide
- Viking navigation and expansion Study Guide
- William Adams' journey to Japan Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 1 History guide library.