To which were Vikings classified relatively, merchants or robbers?

I hope some Norwegians answer on here, because I can't claim to be that. But in their own Norse language (almost like modern Norwegian today), 'Viking' was not a proper name (the English gave then that). In Norse 'viking' was a verb/ an action (not a name). The expression was...to go a viking...it's something you did, like we....go hunting...go camping...go partying...etc.

It's something Norse males (especially younger ones) had to do. The Norse land was too poor for farming, and the 7-8 months of winter made it marginal even to survive. So, in the 4-5 warm months you went 'a viking' (a hunting, an exploring, a fighting, a trading, a raiding etc., anything) to bring back for your family and clan enough to get them through another 7 months of winter.

The civilized countries to the south, including the English (who were related to the Norse through Denmark) considered them raiders and pirates. Farther south and east to the Greeks they were mercenaries and excellent but unpredictable soldiers. To the Muslim/Arabic world they were heavily armed/ but fair merchants and traders. To the Slavic tribes of Russia, Ukraine, Baltics, they were leaders and chiefs.

To the French they were a yearly giant nuisance, the younger Norse males coming down to raid every summer and take their loot back home for their people and winter. So, the French gave them Normandy to settle and be in a warmer more fertile place. The English eventually copying the French gave the Norse all east England to settle as the Danelaw.

So, merchants, robbers, mercenaries, raiders, traders, farmers, explorers....they were all those things, just doing what it took to flourish in the frozen north.

Merchants of what?

What did Norse countries manufacture for sale to other lands????

Robber raiders mostly. Some occupied the territory that they invaded, such as Iceland, Eastern England and Normandy.

Scandinavian seafaring people who are classified as pirates and traders.

Explorers.

There is a problem that Viking means a variety of things to a variety of people from raider to trader.