Well, are you asking about the early Vikings, in other words, the Scandinavian peoples known for invading Europe in the Early Middle Ages? If so, unfortunately, nobody really knows the true answer as the early Vikings were illiterate. We do know from the records of the invaded that women usually did not travel with the invaders. It can therefore be assumed that the majority of the women participated in what archeology has revealed to be an agricultural society based on animal husbandry. The women were usually buried with needlework and household items, leading archeologists to assume that they were normally responsible for such duties.

The women made home-brewed ale or mead, looked after the children and kept the fires burning in their houses. The women prepared elaborate meals. Both men and women wore very bright colours and the wealthiest wore silk. Wealthy families dressed and wrapped their new-borns in silk. Women spun threads into woven cloths using the old style looms. They wore a bag of keys around their waists the same as men did and this showed the power/status they had within the household. They also kept rings and valuables in that bag also. The women endured much hardship when their babies were born. New-borns were laid on the ground until the father came to them. If the baby was too weak or too cold to move it was left there to die. Fathers insisted that if their child was not strong at birth then he/she had no place in the home. Perhaps it was the beginning of adoption/fostered children because many others who felt sorry for the abandoned children took them home and raised them as their own. Enjoy the following from the Viking Sagas. "Then took the mother The embroidered cloth Of linen, white, Then set she down Thin loaves of bread Wheaten white, Upon the cloth. Next brought she forth Dishes brimful, Silver mounted, High-flavoured ham And roasted fowl. There was wine in cans Beauteous cups. They drank, they talked Till break of day." "The housewife Looked at her sleeves; She smoothed the linen And plaited them. She put up her headdress; A brooch was on her breast; The dress was trailing; The shirt had a blue tint; Her brow was brighter, Her neck was whiter, Than pure new-fallen snow." Side Note - Viking Leif Ericson originally called North America “Vinland” because of the grapes they found. He is the one who discovered North America in 896 not Christopher Columbus who arrived later in 1492. Leif Ericson converted his mother to Christianity but his father remained a staunch pagan.

They made many things such as butter, cheese, dried fish, meat and smoked fish. They had much knowledge on herbs, they made medicine for the wound and ill.