Difference between revisions of "Leif Erikson"
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The first of these he named Helluland or Flat-Stone Land which is now Labrador. | The first of these he named Helluland or Flat-Stone Land which is now Labrador. | ||
| − | There is strong evidence that he established a Norse settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. From the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, there was a controversy about whether or not the Norse reached North American before Columbus. The issue was finally laid to rest in 1960, when artifacts of | + | There is strong evidence that he established a Norse settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. From the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, there was a controversy about whether or not the Norse reached North American before Columbus. The issue was finally laid to rest in 1960, when artifacts of Scandinavian origin, dating to about 1000 AD were discovered in Newfoundland.[http://www.mnh.si.edu/vikings/1137.html] [http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/meadows/index_e.asp] [http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/v_lanse.htm] [http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/vinland.html] [5]s. |
According to some sources, Erikson was a [[Christian]] convert, and spread his new religion to his colonies. | According to some sources, Erikson was a [[Christian]] convert, and spread his new religion to his colonies. | ||
Revision as of 16:14, August 3, 2008
Leif Erikson (or Leifur Eiríksson) was born in Iceland in 970 and died in 1020. He was son of Eric the Red who lived on the West Coast of Greenland and was an outlaw from Norway. Leif's friend, Lars Almvig, told a saga of a land far to the west that had been seen through a mist by a Viking band led by Bjarni Herjulfsson in 986 that had been blown off course. Encouraged by the constant need of land to farm, Leif organized a voyage and bought Bjarni's ship and headed west in about A.D. 990. He followed Bjarni's route in reverse, making three landfalls after about 4 1/2 days.
The first of these he named Helluland or Flat-Stone Land which is now Labrador.
There is strong evidence that he established a Norse settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. From the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, there was a controversy about whether or not the Norse reached North American before Columbus. The issue was finally laid to rest in 1960, when artifacts of Scandinavian origin, dating to about 1000 AD were discovered in Newfoundland.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]s.
According to some sources, Erikson was a Christian convert, and spread his new religion to his colonies.
Leif returned to Greenland in 1001. Leif never returned and attempts at settlement of Vinland were unsuccessful due to the native North Americans.
(Excerpted for "Norwegian Explorers on the ODIN website, produced for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.) Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, 1995 ed. "Leif Ericson."
References
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