Ordinary Vikings lived in houses which had only one room. Wealthy families could afford homes with three or more rooms.They began building houses by putting up wooden frames. The walls were made of strong wooden planks which fitted closely together. Sometimes thin branches were woven in and out between these planks. The walls were then plastered with a mixture of mud and animal hair. The roofs were thatched or covered with turf or small wooden tiles. The mud floors were packed to make them smooth.

There were no schools. Children learned by helping their parents. Boys were trained to fight.

Vikings liked children to show spirit. In the Viking world strong people came off the best