The Battle Axe culture emerged during the early 3rd millennium BC. This local variant of the Corded Ware culture sprang from the Yamnaya culture and brought new lineages like haplogroup R1a and haplogroup R1b to the region.
Various Germanic tribes including the Rugii, Goths, Gepids, Vandals, and Burgundians migrated from Scandinavia to East-Central Europe during the Iron Age. The migrations of the Burgundians, Goths, and Gepids date back to around 200 B.C.
The Viking Age lasted from the late 8th century until 1066 AD. During this period Vikings raided and settled territories throughout Europe and beyond while exploring as far as North America.
North Germanic tribes converted from paganism to Christianity by the mid-11th century. Their previously tribal societies became centralized into modern kingdoms such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Contemporary ethnic groups include Danes, Faroese people, Icelanders, Norwegians, and Swedes. Approximately 86 percent of people living in Norway today are ethnic Norwegians while Sweden has more than 95 percent belonging to the North Germanic people of the Swedes.