Viking longship: Difference between revisions
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The Vikings were renowned for their seamanship, and in particular their distinctive longships which | The [[Vikings]] were renowned for their seamanship, and in particular their distinctive longships which became emblematic of the Viking Age. The use longships, also known as longboats, lasted from the 9th century to the 11th, and influenced ship building across northern Europe.<ref>McGrail (1989), 38–43</ref> While there is variation in design over time and according to the purpose of the vessel, Viking longships have a number of common characteristics. They were symmetrical so the bow and stern, which rose above the rest of the ship, were the same shape. The vessels were [[clinker]]-built, meaning the timber planks of the hull overlapped. To make the structure waterproof, [[caulking]] was added in the form of a tar and animal hair mixture. <ref>McGrail (1989), 44–45</ref> Viking longships can be grouped by size: those small enough where a single rower could operate two oars (one on either side of the ship), and those where each rower operated just one oar.<ref>McGrail (1989), 46</ref> | ||
In warships, oarports were cut along the length of the hull, while in a trading vessel they were generally confined to the end of the ship while the middle was used to store cargo.<ref>McGrail (1989), 45</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 14:16, 16 September 2012
The Vikings were renowned for their seamanship, and in particular their distinctive longships which became emblematic of the Viking Age. The use longships, also known as longboats, lasted from the 9th century to the 11th, and influenced ship building across northern Europe.[1] While there is variation in design over time and according to the purpose of the vessel, Viking longships have a number of common characteristics. They were symmetrical so the bow and stern, which rose above the rest of the ship, were the same shape. The vessels were clinker-built, meaning the timber planks of the hull overlapped. To make the structure waterproof, caulking was added in the form of a tar and animal hair mixture. [2] Viking longships can be grouped by size: those small enough where a single rower could operate two oars (one on either side of the ship), and those where each rower operated just one oar.[3]
In warships, oarports were cut along the length of the hull, while in a trading vessel they were generally confined to the end of the ship while the middle was used to store cargo.[4]