FROM WIKI:
Etymology
The word Viking comes from the Old Norse word “vikingr”, lit. “one who came from the fjords”, from “vik”, meaning a bay, creek, fjord or inlet. By the end of the Viking period, the term referred to pirates or robbers operating by sea, known as “vikingr” in West Norse, and was used as a term for sea-born warfare and harrying in the West Norse “viking”. Though mostly used as a general term for pirates there are instances of another use in some of the Icelandic sagas. There some were considered vikings and to be “going on viking” who sailed out to claim fame and fortune for themselves.[3] This could involve seeking the stewardship of kings, trading in foreign parts and raiding. These names were common mainly in Scandinavia itself, however, and many other terms were generally used in the wider world. These included heathens, northmen, Lochlannachs in the Irish tongue, the people from the north, the Danes, Rus’, or simply the foreigners. These terms, however, were used for the Viking peoples as a whole, and thus never accounted for the class distinction between vikings and other Norsemen nor the variety of the Nordic peoples.[4]
“There some were considered vikings and to be “going on viking” who sailed out to claim fame and fortune for themselves.[3] This could involve seeking the stewardship of kings, trading in foreign parts and raiding.”
Many Vikings served as the Imperial guard (Varangian) for Byzantium, including the famous Norwegian King Harald Hardrade (hard to “read”). Although on his return trip to claim the Kingship he did indeed engage in some coast-land raiding, aided by a bit of trickery (tying embers to birds that nested in the roofs of the town to burn it half down, pretending to be dead and wanting a Christian burial and using his casket as a sort of “Trojan Horse”).
“There some were considered vikings and to be “going on viking” who sailed out to claim fame and fortune for themselves.[3] This could involve seeking the stewardship of kings, trading in foreign parts and raiding.”
Many Vikings served as the Imperial guard (Varangian) for Byzantium, including the famous Norwegian King Harald Hardrade (hard to “read”). Although on his return trip to claim the Kingship he did indeed engage in some coast-land raiding, aided by a bit of trickery (tying embers to birds that nested in the roofs of the town to burn it half down, pretending to be dead and wanting a Christian burial and using his casket as a sort of “Trojan Horse”).
That's right, jealous French women.
While the Vikings were of course involved in raids and all sorts of violence, especially around the British isles and north and western Europe, they were also widely prolific ~traders~ all OVER the place. They pretty routinely traded all around the mediterranean at all points of the compass.