Final answer:
The Vikings were notable for their extensive expeditions, settlements, and trade routes, spanning across Europe and North America. Key discoveries, like L'Anse aux Meadows, verify their early contact with North America. Their longships were crucial in their role as explorers, traders, and influencers of European history.
Step-by-step explanation:
Textbooks that mention the Vikings often discuss their expeditions across various regions, including their exploration and settlements in places like Iceland, Greenland, and North America. One of the most significant archaeological finds was at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada, which confirmed the Norse presence in North America long before Columbus arrived. Additionally, the Vikings had established contact with the Byzantine Empire and the Abbasid Caliphate through their eastern expeditions, while their westward adventures led them to what they called Vinland, which is today's North America. The Vikings were not solely raiders; they were also explorers, settlers, and traders. Their longships were instrumental in facilitating their extensive travel and trade routes. They hold historical significance for being among the first Europeans to set foot in the Americas, and for their impact on the economic and political landscapes of medieval Europe and North Africa.