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The Viking Ships Trivia Quiz

The Viking longships came in numerous types, and ruled the Northern Atlantic for centuries. Test your knowledge or learn about them.

A multiple-choice quiz by harald. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
harald

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
103,287

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1102

Last 3 plays: Guest 172 (4/10), colbymanram (4/10), Guest 80 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When did sailing-boats first appear in Scandinavia? Hint

400-500 A.D.

300-400 A.D.

800-900 A.D.

600-700 A.D.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What was the private boat-type? Hint

Knorr

Epitisbatr

Langskip

Karv

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What was the knorr used for? Hint

Coast-sailing

Invading

Trading

Travelling

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Broad sails are more effective than tall sails.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. The Vikings had a kind of navy. What was it called? Hint

Leidang

Batskjald

Landnam

Skjalgnam

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What are the two most famous Viking ships, found in mounds in Norway? Hint

Borre and Halvdanshaug

Tune and Gr�nhaug

Oseberg and Gokstad

Storhaug and Kl�stad

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. How were sails marked to show that it was a king's ship? Hint

All of these

Shield

Striped

Sword and Spear

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Question 8 of 10

8. In 1893, Magnus Andersen sailed across the Atlantic with the copy of a Viking-ship. How long did the journey last? Hint

60 days

80 days

40 days

112 days

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Question 9 of 10

9. Where did the Vikings sleep when travelling at sea? Hint

in rooms below deck

all over the ship

on deck

in tents on deck

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. How did the Vikings transport the ships over land? Hint

they carried them

rolled them on logs

they did not transport them over land

divided them into several pieces

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 16 2024 : Guest 172: 4/10
Nov 21 2024 : colbymanram: 4/10
Nov 21 2024 : Guest 80: 4/10
Nov 12 2024 : Guest 129: 3/10
Nov 11 2024 : Guest 69: 1/10
Nov 10 2024 : Guest 66: 0/10
Nov 10 2024 : Guest 67: 0/10
Nov 09 2024 : Guest 98: 2/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When did sailing-boats first appear in Scandinavia?

Answer: 600-700 A.D.

They were constructed from an old rowing-boat-type that was used by the Vikings. This boat-type was used until the ninth century.

2. What was the private boat-type?

Answer: Karv

The karv was used for local travelling along the coast. The longships are identical with the karv, except that they are larger.

3. What was the knorr used for?

Answer: Trading

This was the most commonly built ship-type in the Viking fleet. It was tougher and broader than the longshps, and could carry both men, cargo and animals. The oarholes were concentrated in the front or in the back, and the cargo was stored in the centre of the boat.

4. Broad sails are more effective than tall sails.

Answer: False

Old drawings on rock describe the viking-sails as a horizontal rectangle, but tests show that a standing rectangle is more effective. The sails were probably drawn horizontally for esthetic reasons.

5. The Vikings had a kind of navy. What was it called?

Answer: Leidang

In case of emergency, each region had a standing fleet of ships ready to counter the enemy. They were large longships with 25-30 rooms.

6. What are the two most famous Viking ships, found in mounds in Norway?

Answer: Oseberg and Gokstad

The Gokstad-ship is the largest known viking-ship, and was dug out in 1880 in Gokstad, Vestfold. It is 23,33 m. long and 5,25 m. wide. Weight with full equipment and crew is measured to 2020 kg.
The Oseberg-ship was also dug out in Vestfold, 1904. It is made of oak, and constructed for both rowing and sailing. It is 21,5 m. long, and ca. 5 m. wide.

7. How were sails marked to show that it was a king's ship?

Answer: Striped

The ships had red stripes on a white background. They were more expensive to produce, and therefore showed the power of the owner.

8. In 1893, Magnus Andersen sailed across the Atlantic with the copy of a Viking-ship. How long did the journey last?

Answer: 40 days

The ship was a copy of the Gokstad-ship.
To compare, a copy of Columbus' ship, Santa Maria, used several months on the same journey.

9. Where did the Vikings sleep when travelling at sea?

Answer: in tents on deck

The ship was divided into several rooms, but the crew slept in tents on deck.

10. How did the Vikings transport the ships over land?

Answer: rolled them on logs

To save many days of travelling, often between the Norwegian fjords, they transported the ships over land. They emptied the ship for ballast-rocks, and rolled them to rivers, lakes or fjords.

Source: Author harald

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor coolupway before going online.
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