The Vikings were seafaring people from Scandinavia who settled in various parts of Europe and beyond from the late 8th to the early 11th century. They established settlements in areas such as Iceland, Greenland, and even reached North America, where they founded a site called L'Anse aux Meadows around 1000 AD. Their settlements often included farms, trade centers, and small villages. Viking settlements were characterized by longhouses made of wood and turf, which provided shelter for families and livestock. The Vikings engaged in agriculture, fishing, and trade, which helped sustain their communities. Their exploration and settlement patterns significantly influenced the cultural and economic landscapes of the regions they inhabited.