From which country did the Vikings originate before traveling to Eastern Europe, Russia, and Asia?

The Vikings originated from Scandinavia, which is a region in Northern Europe that includes the modern-day countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The Vikings were a seafaring people known for their raids and explorations in various parts of the world. From their homelands in Scandinavia, they traveled to Eastern Europe, Russia, and Asia, as well as to the North Atlantic islands, Iceland, Greenland, and even parts of North America. Their extensive travel and trade routes helped to connect disparate cultures and economies throughout the Viking Age, which is generally considered to be from the late 8th century to the early 11th century.

The Vikings were not just raiders but also traders, settlers, and explorers. They had a significant influence on the history of many regions due to their expansive maritime capabilities, which allowed them to navigate vast distances across the seas. They used advanced seafaring technology for the time, including longships, which were fast, flexible, and capable of navigating both open sea and shallow rivers.

They established trade routes that extended over much of the known world at the time, reaching as far east as the Volga River in Russia and the Byzantine Empire (which included parts of modern-day Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean), and possibly as far south as Baghdad. They also founded new settlements, such as the Duchy of Normandy in what is now France.

The Vikings had a complex social structure and culture with their own systems of laws, governance, and rich mythology and sagas that have influenced modern literature and media. The Viking Age is a pivotal period in European history, often marked by the raid on the Lindisfarne monastery in 793 CE, which is sometimes used as an opening marker for this era. The collapse of the Viking Age is often associated with the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, which led to the rise of centralized kingdoms in Scandinavia, and subsequently, the integration of Vikings into the Christian European civilization.