Final answer:
The Vikings, including Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes, driven by scarce resources and population growth, used their seafaring skills to explore, trade, and eventually settle across various regions, including the creation of the Danelaw in England.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Vikings, originating from Scandinavia, were not only fierce warriors but also skilled farmers, craftsmen, and traders. They were compelled to explore and raid due to an increase in population and scarcity of arable land in Scandinavia. Their longships and advancements in seafaring enabled them to travel extensively, from Eastern Europe to North America. Trade, exploration, and eventually settlement characterized their ventures across various regions.
In 865, the Danelaw was formed when a large Viking army invaded Britain. The term 'Danelaw' refers to the parts of England in which the laws of the Danes held sway over those of the Anglo-Saxons. Vikings were particularly influential in these areas, establishing significant settlements and trade networks.
The Vikings used their knowledge and capabilities to connect northern Europe through trade routes during the Dark Ages, and by the end of the Viking Age, they had ceased to be mere raiders and became part of the societies they had once threatened.