One of the first known Viking raids, or invasions, shocked everyone who heard about it. The raid happened in 793 CE on Lindisfarne, off the east coast of England. The island had a famous monastery (a place for monks or other religious people). Viking warriors looted and destroyed the place. They killed many of the monks.
There were more Viking attacks after that. Raiders stole whatever they could find. They took precious gems, fine fabrics, and even people – young men and women to sell into slavery.
At first, Vikings raided lands on the North Sea and the English Channel. But soon they went farther inland in search of riches. They attacked places along rivers all over Europe. These included the Rhine, Seine, Loire, and Rhône Rivers. Swedish Vikings sailed across the Baltic Sea to Russia. They followed the Dnieper and Volga Rivers and settled in parts of what are now Russia and Ukraine. Some of these feared warriors traveled to the Black and Caspian Seas. From there, they went on to Constantinople and Baghdad.
The Vikings traveled all over these lands looking for treasure. As they searched, they terrorized people and destroyed entire towns.
