Most people only know that the Vikings were skillful warriors, but the Vikings were also farmers, craftsmen, traders, and fishermen. They developed many trading centers in Scandinavia and across the border. They usually bought materials or goods that were not easily available nearby.

In this blog, we will discuss the Viking occupation to understand Viking history fully.

Top Viking Occupations That Shaped Norse Society

Farming

Vikings lived in rural areas, where they had fewer opportunities and resources.Many people adopted farming as a basic and popular occupation, and their main crops were wheat, oats, and barley.

Farming in cold weather was challenging for them. They also had livestock like sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens. Viking women made dairy products at home by milking the cows.

Fishing

Another very famous occupation adopted by Vikings was fishing. As discussed above, Vikings lived in villages near the sea, so fishing was also their job. They used fishing for food and trade, and preserved the fish for long-term use. 

Hunting

Now, let's discuss hunting, one of their favourite professions. Hunting was also considered their source of income and food. In Scandinavian forests, animals like reindeer, bear, elk, and Vikings used their hunting dogs and tools like bows, arrows, and spears to trap the animals. 

Crafts and Trades

Some of the Vikings were skillful in crafts and trades, as a tool blacksmith was important in crafting, whereas in terms of material, iron, bronze, gold, and copper were used in designing.

Wood, leather, pottery, and stone were also the main materials used in crafting. They stitched their clothes and made jewelry by hand to make it more attractive.

Merchant 

Vikings were very successful traders. They traded fish, salt, and slaves through their longships to Russian markets and brought silk, wine, and spices. Some Vikings chose trading as a profession, and others chose it as part-time work.

Warrior 

From childhood, the Vikings were trained to be skilled warriors, trained to combat every difficult situation. They used combat survival weapons like swords, axes, and hunting knives. These weapons were their main survival tools and symbols of pride and courage.

Government and Administration

We need the government to control and function the state or country in the modern age. The government or administrative group of that time also controlled Viking communities. These communities were ruled by the kings who managed and controlled battles and other things.

 Conclusion:

We have concluded that Vikings were very talented and hard-working. Their occupations showed us that Vikings were not just warriors but had different jobs, such as farming, fishing, crafting, trading, etc. The diversity of each field showed us how active and multi-talented the Vikings were.

They had fewer opportunities than we have now, but this made them so powerful and skilled because they had to make things themselves.