Vinland Norse colonization of North America

1 vinland

1.1 leif s winter camp
1.2 thorvald s voyage (1004 ad)
1.3 karlsefni s expedition (1009 ad)

vinland


leif erikson discovers north america

christian krogh (1893).

according icelandic sagas—eirik red s saga, saga of greenlanders, plus chapters of hauksbók , flatey book—the norse started explore lands west of greenland few years after greenland settlements established. in 985 while sailing iceland greenland migration fleet consisting of 400–700 settlers , 25 other ships (14 of completed journey), merchant named bjarni herjólfsson blown off course, , after 3 days sailing sighted land west of fleet. bjarni interested in finding father s farm, described discovery leif erikson explored area in more detail , planted small settlement fifteen years later.

the sagas describe 3 separate areas discovered during exploration: helluland, means land of flat stones ; markland, land of forests , of interest settlers in greenland there few trees; , vinland, land of wine , found somewhere south of markland. in vinland settlement described in sagas founded.

three of erik red s children visited north american continent: sons leif , thorvald, , sister (or half-sister) freydis. thorvald died there.

leif s winter camp

the skálholt map

using routes, landmarks, currents, rocks, , winds bjarni had described him, leif sailed 1,800 miles west of land, crew of 35—sailing same knarr bjarni had used make voyage. described helluland level , wooded, broad white beaches wherever went , gently sloping shoreline. leif , others had wanted father, erik red, lead expedition , talked him it. however, erik attempted join son leif on voyage towards these new lands, fell off horse slipped on wet rocks near shore; injured , stayed behind.

leif wintered in 1001, near cape bauld on northern tip of newfoundland, 1 day foster father tyrker found drunk, on saga describes wine-berries. squashberries, gooseberries, , cranberries grew wild in area. there varying explanations leif apparently describing fermented berries wine.

leif spent winter @ leifsbúðir without conflict, , sailed brattahlíð in greenland assume filial duties father.

thorvald s voyage (1004 ad)

in 1004, leif s brother thorvald eiriksson sailed crew of 30 men vinland , spent following winter @ leif s camp. in spring, thorvald attacked 9 of local people sleeping under 3 skin-covered canoes. ninth victim escaped , came norse camp force. thorvald killed arrow succeeded in passing through barricade. although brief hostilities ensued, norse explorers stayed winter , left following spring. subsequently, of leif s brothers, thorstein, sailed new world retrieve dead brother s body, died before leaving greenland.

summer in greenland coast circa year 1000 jens erik carl rasmussen (1841–1893)


karlsefni s expedition (1009 ad)

in 1009 thorfinn karlsefni, known thorfinn valiant , supplied 3 ships livestock , 160 men , women (although source sets number of settlers @ 250). after cruel winter, headed south , landed @ straumfjord. later moved straumsöy, possibly because current stronger there. sign of peaceful relations between indigenous peoples , norsemen noted here. 2 sides bartered furs , gray squirrel skins milk , red cloth, natives tied around heads sort of headdress.

there conflicting stories 1 account states bull belonging karlsefni came storming out of wood, frightening natives ran skin-boats , rowed away. returned 3 days later, in force. natives used catapults, hoisting large sphere on pole; dark blue in color , size of sheep s belly, flew on heads of men , made ugly din.

the norsemen retreated. leif erikson s half-sister freydís eiríksdóttir pregnant , unable keep retreating norsemen. called out them stop fleeing such pitiful wretches , adding if had weapons, better that. freydís seized sword belonging man had been killed natives. pulled 1 of breasts out of bodice , struck sword, frightening natives, fled.