Page 38 - A History of the World in 25 Cities

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Jórvík in 940 was a growing city and a major trading port in the north of England. In 866, Vikings had invaded a large part of northern England, capturing
the city that would become known as Jórvík and is today called York. Jórvík was a place where both Anglo-Saxons and Vikings could feel safe and
Started life as a wooden building, which was destroyed by a fire in 741. A larger church was rebuilt in stone with room for 30 altars.
Items made by local craftspeople on sale here included wooden cups and bowls, jewellery, hats, clothes, shoes, brooches, buckles and combs.
at home. Although Jórvík was inland, it was connected to the North Sea by the River
Ouse, so local craftspeople had access to the whole Viking
trading network.
A route to the North Sea allowing traders to travel all over Europe and beyond.
Ten-sided defensive tower that could have been over nine-metres tall, built by the Romans between 209 and 211 CE.
Vikings came from Norway, Sweden and Denmark. They were excellent sailors, fearsome warriors and clever traders. The Vikings’ knowledge of the seas and tides allowed them to sail to coasts in Europe and beyond. They carried out many surprise raids on the English coast before eventually launching a bigger attack
to invade areas deeper inland.
An important shopping street in the city. ‘Coppergate’ means ‘street of the cup-makers’.
Toilet waste and other unwanted rubbish went into a cesspit – a simple hole in
the ground – where it was left to rot and stink.