Seafaring people from Scandinavia, the Vikings are known for their longships, weapons, horned helmets, and runestones. The Norse expansion in the eighth to eleventh centuries was one of the most consequential expansions in medieval history: reshaping trade routes, warfare, language, and even maps. The Vikings were merchants, settlers, diplomats, craftsmen, and innovators, leaving a huge impact on Norse history and Scandinavian culture. 

Viking language was inscripted in runes in the form of Younger Futhark. Opinions of their legacy vary greatly, and it's probable that misconceptions surrounding Vikings have been formed by media portrayals. Although Vikings engaged in violent raids and conquests, their barbaric nature is often overstated; they were no more violent than other medieval groups. Much of the Vikings' reputation as "bloodthirsty beasts" comes from the fact they were essentially pirates with no homeland or king.