Alfred was born around 849, youngest son of King Æthelwulf and Osburh. Became king of West Saxons in 871, later becoming King of Anglo-Saxons. Three of his brothers ruled before him: Æthelbald, Æthelberht, and Æthelred
Berserkers were warriors who fought in trance-like fury in Old Norse. Term "berserk" comes from Germanic "ber" (bear) and "serk" (shirt). Snorri Sturluson interpreted it as "bare-shirt" warriors without armor
Scandinavia spans Northern Europe with varied landscapes from fjords to mountains. Southern regions have temperate climate, northern parts have cold winters. Climate varies from marine west coast to subarctic in northern regions
Arabs conquered North Africa and Iberian Peninsula by mid-century. Byzantine Empire defeated Arabs at Siege of Constantinople in 717-718. Battle of Tours in 732 halted Muslim advance into Western Europe. Abbasid Caliphate established in Baghdad in 750
Vinland was explored by Vikings around 1000 AD by Leif Eriksson. The name "Vinland" means "vin-land" in Old Norse. The earliest written record is Adam of Bremen's 1075 description of Vinland
Vikings were seafaring people from Scandinavia who raided and settled from 793 to 1066. They raided, traded, and settled across Europe, reaching North America and Mediterranean. Vikings established colonies in Iceland, Greenland, and Normandy. They raided Byzantine Empire and briefly attacked Constantinople