2. Capturing and Raiding for Slaves
Viking raids were notorious not just for their violence, but for their systematic slave-taking. Monasteries, isolated villages, and bustling towns across the British Isles, Ireland, and even as far south as Spain became prime targets. Slave capture was often a central motive for these expeditions, with captives fetching high prices in bustling slave markets. The lure of human cargo drove Viking longships ever farther from Scandinavia, shaping both their routes and the intensity of their raids. For more details, visit History.com’s feature on Viking slavery.
