During my research into the Vikings and what made them such ferocious warriors, I learned that the cause of their behavior stemmed from their code of ethics, as well as their ideals and religion .The Vikings had a code of ethics that dictated how every respectable warrior, especially those who wanted to be heroes among their people. This is demonstrated in the book Vikings: Raiders From The North which states: “Self-respect, honor and reputation were needed above all, and these could not exist without a solid foundation of loyalty to family and comrades. conventions governed everything in life. conventions about hospitality and giving gifts, about keeping oaths and avenging wrongs, about doing good deeds for the neighborhood like building bridges and churches. Leaders of men must demonstrate courage, strength d soul, brotherhood, sincerity, eloquence and zest for life together with the ability to face death with a serene mind. All these requirements, and countless others, were incorporated into the Old Norse poem Havamal, literally "the speech from above", which includes the entire code of conduct of the Viking Age from simple little homilies to declarations on the true meaning of eternal honor." (34) The use of this code of ethics to guide them and the fact that this code is so deeply ingrained in their way of life is also shown when the book states: “He could never become king if he did not have both income and honor. He needed both to inspire his warriors. Honor decreed that he lead his troops into battle, and... in the middle of the paper... is when Donovan states: "Yet the Viking movement made a noteworthy contribution to European civilization. Prominent among these are the ideals of loyalty, courage and individual freedom, shared by Viking descendants in many countries. (25) In conclusion, ultimately, the code of ethics, religion and ideals of the Vikings were the reasons why they were such a ferocious people. Works Cited Donovan, Frank R and Thomas D. Kendrick The Vikings. London: Cassell, 1964. Print.Kingsley, Rebecca. Viking Myths and Legends Vikings. New Jersey: Chartwell, 1999. Print.Odijk, Pamela. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Silver Burdett, 1990. Print.Vikings from the North.