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Discoverers
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The best land in Iceland was soon occupied. In 985 Eric the Red led settlers from Iceland to Greenland, which he had discovered on an earlier voyage. Although most of Greenland is covered by thick ice, it has some fertile land. The grazing, fishing, and hunting were good, and the climate was not much colder than Iceland. Eric built his own homestead, and other families settled nearby. Later, they found that more land existed farther west across the ocean. Eric's son Leif reached it in about the year 1000. He found a warmer country with forests and wild grapes, and called it Vinland. Exactly where Vinland was is unknown, but the Vikings did reach North America, because remains of a settlement have been found in Newfoundland.
(A) SALMON
Although Greenland was mostly covered in ice, nature provided plenty of food, such as salmon from the rivers.
(B) MERCHANTS
In the early years, the Greenlanders kept in touch with Iceland and Scandinavia. Merchants brought vital supplies in exchange for Greenland products such as polar-bear skins.
(C) WINTER FOOD
Fish was hung out to dry on poles and then stored for the long winter.
(D) VENISON
After a successful hunt for reindeer, the animals were skinned. The meat was dried and stored for the winter.
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Previous:
Back
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Book:
The Vikings
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Section:
The Vikings
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Chapter:
Discoverers
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