The Vikings were seafarers who developed a reputation for themselves as explorers, adventurers, and fighters. Most scholars generally equate the term Viking with the Scandinavian word Viking a term meaning "pirate." While they were often accused as barbarians invading the more civilized societies for riches and women, the intentions and cultural values of these people were much more varied. Such raiders have also inspired many changes around the country, from economies to battle.
The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 gave the United States the opportunity to explore and buy vast lands west of the Mississippi River from American Indian Nations that owned them