Why Did People Decide To Go A-Vikings

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One reason for the Scandinavian to go “a-Viking” was that they believe most people were not going to have life after death, because of this all someone had after they died was their reputation and "good name" so they were expected to fight with bravery and courage. “The greatest test of a man was to fight to the bitter end, even in the face of certain defeat and death.” (Viking Raids) They also believe that one's death was set in stone and nothing can be done to change that fact, so there was no point not to go into battle and face everything that came at you.(Viking Raids)

Another reason was trade, it had declined in Europe and Eurasia when the Roman Empire fell in the fifth century. The Mediterranean Sea trade was also not doing well, so Vikings started their expansion and opened new trade routes in Arabic and the Frankish lands. Because they expanded their trade routes there were able to become profitable from international trade.(Vikings)
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Although, ultimately in the 11th century there was a conversion to Christianity in the Norse lands.

There have also been some claims that there was simple to many Viking and not enough agricultural potential and land left in their Scandinavian homeland. However, this does raise some question about why they went overseas when they could of went into forest areas that were in the interior of the Scandinavian Peninsula.(Vikings) Nonetheless, they still might have had a reason for wanting to go overseas. It was probably a combination of things that led the Scandinavian men to go