Technological advances have always played very important roles in the development of cultures. From warfare to agriculture, technology can help shape and mold the way a culture develops. The Viking "longships" were one such advance. The impact of the technology involved in creating these magnificent ships is very apparent in the remnants of Viking culture. Expansion, warfare and poetry were only some of the many facets of Viking life affected by seafaring.

The Vikings were perhaps the most successful of all early explorers. The design of the longships allowed for navigation in the shallow fjords found within Sweden and Norway out to the ocean. From there, the Vikings were able to reach out across the globe. Unlike prior civilizations such as the Greeks, the Vikings used their technology to reach out to other European countries and even into Asia. While the Greeks concentrated their naval efforts in the area of warfare, although there is evidence of far reaching travel in such works as The Odyssey, the Vikings were able to establish profitable trade routes which in turn lead to the establishment

durable and well-crafted Viking vessels were able to handle such long journeys deep into the unknown Atlantic Ocean. This type of far reaching travel was unheard of before the Vikings and was not matched until almost

Sagas recounted the expansion of the Vikings across the Atlantic. However, evidence of the impact of longships cannot only be found in Scandinavian literature but also in that of later civilizations, including the Romans. Famous poets such as Virgil recounted the splendor and grandeur of the longships in The Aeneid demonstrating the great respect for the Vikings and their mastery of all aspects of seafaring.

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The impact of the longships was so far-reaching that it can even be seen today. The evidence found in Viking expansion, warfare and literature fuels the desire of those of the twentieth century to learn more about the Vikings. Countless hours of research, endless piles of books and even a Hollywood motion picture have all stemmed from our fascination for the Viking past. Yet at the core of all that has come about as a result of this fascination

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Approximate Word count = 779
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)