Who Were the Vikings and what Was Their Life Like?

Were the Vikings really as fierce and merciless as everyone commonly believes? Imagine being back in the Viking era. The sky is blue, the ocean waves gently lapping onto the beach near the longhouses' of the Viking settlement are light blue and crystal clear. The boys are helping their
fathers plow the fields. All the girls are helping their mothers, who are doing various chores around their houses.
Several girls are sweeping the dirt floors of their longhouses, others are doing wash in a spring. The dogs are chasing the cats around the longhouses. There is a tower atop a lofty hill near the ocean. The appointed guard distinguishes several specks on the horizon of the water.
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