The Viking's Arrival In Canada
Ryan Quilty
Grade 8
Leif Ericsson
Leif Ericsson was the son of the famous Viking, Eric the Red. Eric was forced out out Iceland, and had to move away with his family. He sailed to the west and settled in a new land which he named Greenland. In time, about 3000 others joined he and his family there. Leif followed in his father's footsteps in being a notorious sailor.
Leif was born in Iceland (near what is now Badardalur) and around 999 A.D., he sailed to Norway where he became a Christian. Leif often preached Christianity to the men in his father's settlements.
Leif Ericsson is best known for is his discovery of North America (Canada). While a sailor named Bjarni Herjulfsson (a Norse sea captain) was sailing to Greenland, he was blown off course and saw a strange new land. When he reached Greenland, he stated the land was to the west and Leif decided to find and explore this new place. He went on this journey only 6 months after his father made a settlement in Greenland.
Unfortunately, when Leif returned from his voyage, he discovered that his father, Eric, had died. Leif then stayed in Greenland to govern his father's settlement. Leif's life was recorded in long Iceland stories called "Sagas".
The First Voyage
The first voyage to North America was led by Leif Ericsson, son of Eric the Red, in about 1000 A.D.. Leif discovered North America about 500 years before Columbus. He was searching for the land which was sighted by Bjarni Herjulfsson to the west of Greenland. Leif gathered 35 men and set off to the west in search of the strange land. Leif wanted his father, Eric, to join them for good fortune, but when Eric reached the boat, he was thrown off his horse and his leg was injured. This was an extremely bad omen, but Leif continued anyway. The first land of North America that was sighted was very rocky. Leif named this land Helluland (Slab-land) because of it's huge slabs of rock. This was probably at Baffin Island.
The second land sighted was flat, had much forest land, and many white sandy beaches. This place was farther south than Helluland. He named this land Markland (Forest-land). This place is most likely around the coast of southern Labrador. They continued south and they landed on a shore of a land with nice weather and dewy grass. There was also many Salmon swimming in rivers. The crew built a house and a shed for their ship here. Leif decided to name this land Vinland (Wine land), because of it's plentiful supply of grapes. At this point, they were probably in Newfoundland. While there, the party cut down many trees for wood, and gathered many grapes since these things were scarce in Greenland.
On their way back, they discovered a shipwreck and rescued 15 passengers. As a reward, the passengers gave Leif all of their remaining cargo, and along with the money he made from the wood, Leif became a very rich man. At this point, Leif decided he did not want to explore any more and he stayed in Greenland to govern his father's settlements.
Viking Ships
Since Vikings commonly lived in mountainous areas, boats were a very important form of transportation. The ships were built maneuverable and strong. The ships were always supposed to be as beautiful as possible and a fierce creature was usually carved into the front of the ship. There were two main types of Viking ships. One was the Longship which was used on raiding expeditions. It was about 30 meters long and 10 meters wide and could carry about 80 warriors. Sometimes the word Drekar (meaning dragon) was used to distinguish these warships. The other ship was the Knarr which was smaller and wider than the Longships. They were used by merchants and farmers to carry heavy cargoes.
These ships usually had high sides called Bulwarks. They also had overlapping planks (clinker-built). The ships had a keel so the ship could sail close to the wind and they were steered by a broad-bladed oar on the starboard side of the ship. They had woven square sails which were reinforced with a checkered pattern of leather strips. The Vikings had very formidable ships which made them very powerful.
Sailing
Along with the Viking's mighty boats, they had to have excellent sailing skills. While sailing, the Vikings used the Pelorus (a kind of compass) to find direction. Vikings believed that the god, Aegir, controlled the sea and it's storms. They would pray to him and sacrifice animals while on the water to calm him. When sailing, if the wind was blowing in the right direction, the Vikings would use their sails. If not, they would use oars. In 1893, it was proved that Viking ships could make long ocean voyages when a replica was built and tested.
Proof Of The Viking's Settlements
It is believed that Vinland was actually in northern Newfoundland, and for a good reason. When a Norwegian couple arrived in Newfoundland, they began to dig. In 1962, Helge and Anne Ingstad uncovered ancient Viking settlements which are believed to be those of Leif Ericsson. There are also lots of details in the Sagas written by the Vikings which give us clues as to where they were when they wrote them. For instance, one section of a saga indicates that while the party was in Vinland, on the shortest day of the year, the sun was risen at 9 o'clock and did not set until after 5 o'clock. This can help us because the hours of the sun rising and setting can help determine their latitudial position at that time.
The Second Voyage
When Leif returned from the first voyage, his brother Thorvald, was eager to explore this new land. At about 989 or 990 A.D. he gathered a crew of 30 men and sailed for Vinland. When they arrived, they found the houses built by Leif and his crew and stayed in them for the winter. They lived on fish and game, and when summer came, they began to explore. One day while exploring, they came across some natives of the area in skin boats (canoes). The Vikings called these natives, Skraelings (savage wretches). The Vikings attacked the natives and killed all but a few who escaped. Later on the natives came back in greater numbers and battled the Vikings. The natives were chased off with the Vikings swords and axes, but Thorvald was shot and killed by a native's arrow. He was the first European to be buried in American soil. The rest of his crew stayed the winter and then returned to Vinland with lots of wood and grapes.
The Third Voyage
Thorstein was the third son of Eric the Red, and he was determined to sail to Vinland and retrieve his brother's corpse. He set sail with a crew of 25 men and his wife, Gudrid (who was Thorvald's widow). Unfortunately, the party never reached Vinland at all, but were blown back to Greenland by storms. They landed on a different coast and stayed with another Viking for the winter. A disease killed Thorstein and most of his crew. Gudrid sailed back to Leif's settlement with all the corpses and they were buried.
The Fourth Voyage
Despite the bad outcomes with the journeys to Vinland, a Viking named Thorfinn Karlsefni was determined to colonise the land. He married Thorstein's widow, Gudrid and lived with Leif Ericsson at Brattahlid. Around 998 - 1000 A.D., Thorfinn sailed for Vinland. He brought with him 60 men, 5 women, and a wide variety of farm animals. When they arrived they put the animals in the pasture, and began to collect wood. They spent the first winter peacefully in the huts, and then they met the natives.
At first, there was a chance for peace between the two peoples as they traded furs for milk and other goods. Thorfinn did not trust the natives and told his crew not to trade them any weapons. In time, the natives tried to steal weapons and other goods from the party, but they were killed or chased away. This soon led to war between them. The Vikings had stronger weapons, but the natives had greater numbers and a rock catapult. In this battle, 4 natives and 2 Vikings were killed before the natives fled. Since the battle ended in victory for the Vikings, they were left in peace for the next winter.
Thorfinn decided that it would be impossible to colonize Vinland because there were few colonists, and they would never be able to live in peace with the natives. In the spring, they returned to Greenland with lots of wood and grapes, and they spent the next winter in Leif's settlement. The original boat that Bjarni had been using when he sighted North America was used by all of the other 4.
Bibliography
BOOKS
Richard Humble, Exploration through the Ages: The Age Of Leif Ericsson, New York, U.S.A. Franklin Watts, 1989
Robert Livesey, & A.G. Smith, Discovering Canada: The Vikings, Toronto, Canada Stoddart, 1989
Rupert Matthews, Beginning History: Viking Explorers, East Sussex, Great Britain, Wayland, 1989
John D. Clare, The Vikings, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1991
Luigi Pruneti, Viking Explorers, Peter Pedrick Books, 1995
ENCYCLOPEDIAS
World Book 98, Leif Ericsson
Encarta 98, Vinland