ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Medieval Scandinavian architecture

Medieval Scandinavia is a time long ago when people in countries like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark made really cool buildings where they lived and worked. Lots of these buildings were made from wood because there weren't too many big stones or bricks around.

The houses that people lived in were often small and simple, made for just one family to live in. They usually had a grass roof (kind of like a garden on top), which helped keep the house warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

In the towns, there were also bigger buildings like churches, that were often made from stone or brick. These buildings were very important because they were where people would come to pray or hear stories. The churches were often very tall with big, pointy towers on top, kind of like a castle.

One really famous type of Scandinavian architecture is called the stave church. These were churches made from wood with a special design. They had big wooden posts, or "staves," holding up the roof and other parts of the building. The stave churches were often decorated with beautiful carvings of dragons, snakes, or other animals.

Overall, medieval Scandinavian architecture was all about using what was available and making beautiful buildings that were both useful and interesting to look at.