Nor is it clear why such pressures would have prompted expansion overseas rather than into the vast, uncultivated forest areas in the interior of the Scandinavian Peninsula, although perhaps emigration or sea raids may have been easier or more profitable than clearing large areas of forest for farm and pasture in a region with a limited growing season.
Det er heller ikke klart, hvorfor disse udfordringer ville have igangsat en ekspansion i udlandet frem for i de store ubeboede områder, der fandtes på den Skandinaviske halvø, selvom emigration eller togter var nemmere eller mere profitable end at rydde store skovområder til landbrug, eller etablere sig i områder med begrænset vækstsæson.