Final answer:
Vikings who moved to Western Europe eventually settled in the lands, leading to the establishment of communities and integration into local economies. The duchy of Normandy is a prime example of such settlement. Their conversion to Christianity and the rise of Scandinavian kingdoms marked the end of the Viking Age of raids.
Step-by-step explanation:
Settlement of Vikings in Western Europe
Many Vikings who moved to Western Europe eventually transitioned from raiding to settling down in the regions they previously targeted. In 865, Vikings invaded Britain and decimated the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, with the exception of Wessex. The year 911 marked the establishment of the duchy of Normandy in northern France, a significant settlement that reflected the Vikings' growing inclination to establish permanent communities. By the tenth century, Vikings had created settlements across the British Isles, including Ireland, Scotland, and had ventured to Iceland, Greenland, and briefly to North America. These Vikings were no longer just raiders; they also embraced trade, integrating into the economic systems of the regions they inhabited.
Conversion to Christianity and the consolidation of power in Scandinavia further diminished Viking raids. By the year 1000, many Vikings had converted to Christianity, heralding the end of their raiding era. Notable kingdoms arose in Scandinavia, with Denmark stabilizing under King Harald Bluetooth in 958, Norway under Olaf Tryggvason in 995, and Sweden under Olof Skötkonung. Notably, the kingdom of Normandy emerged as a powerful entity, culminating in Duke William the Conqueror's triumph over England in 1066.