Scandinavian Scotland

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/scandinavian-scotland

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the duration of influence?Late 8th century to mid-15th century (approximately 700 years)
2. What is the primary settler group?Norwegian Vikings and Norse settlers, with secondary Scandinavian influences
3. Where did Vikings settle in Scotland?Vikings settled mainly in the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland, the Hebrides, islands in the Firth of Clyde, and mainland areas like Caithness and Sutherland.
4. Why did Norse names replace old names in the Hebrides?Because the Norse people took over the land, they changed many place names in the Hebrides and Northern Isles to their own names, replacing the old ones.

Thalassocracy: A state whose power and influence are derived from maritime strength and control over sea routes.
Norse-Gael: A distinct cultural and ethnic group resulting from the intermingling of Norse settlers and Gaelic populations in the British Isles.
Alba: The ancient Gaelic kingdom encompassing much of modern Scotland, considered the precursor to the unified Scottish state.
Sagas: Old Norse prose narratives, often recounting historical events, legendary heroes, and the lives of royalty and prominent families.