The Vikings sometimes get a bad rep in the study of history. Their fearsome presence in battle means that they were often presented as beastly and uncivilised. Their initial arrival in Britain in 793 did, after all, lead to plenty of plundering and bloodshed. So to kick off this new topic, 5W embraced their inner Vikings and indulged the wilder side of life in battle. We decorated our own Viking shields, recreated the longboat experience, and practised our battle runs. In the coming weeks, we'll be exploring the more complex aspects of Viking society. But it's always good to start with a bang!