Ethnicities around the world (beta)

Scandinavia is a region of Northern Europe that includes Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Scandinavian people share a common North Germanic heritage. Germanic tribes of antiquity traveled south to continental Europe along trade, fishing, and conquest routes, eventually colliding with the Romans. Migration from Scandinavia to other parts of Europe began centuries ago. In the Middle Ages, Vikings — Norse seafarers who raided and traded from Scandinavia across large swaths of Europe — left their genetic mark throughout the continent. The Vikings also traveled westward into Greenland and a further into a region of coastal North America that they reached in the 10th century and called Vinland (this may refer to Newfoundland). People with Scandinavian ethnicity also settled Faroe Islands and Iceland, where they formed a very isolated, endogamous community. In the late 19th century, millions of Scandinavians emigrated to North America and Scandinavian cultural influence is readily apparent in the Midwestern United States, where many locals bear Scandinavian surnames. Ancient Norse mythology has also entered into regular English lexicon; most days of the week in English are named after ancient Norse gods. For example, Wednesday is named after Odin and Thursday originates from Thor, the god of thunder.