Exploring the WorldExploring the World

The Vikings…The Vikings…

Picture This…Picture This…

•Fast forward to the year 990 A.D.Fast forward to the year 990 A.D.

•Native American societies are Native American societies are continuing to spring up throughout continuing to spring up throughout North America – waves of migrants North America – waves of migrants are crossing the Bering Strait to are crossing the Bering Strait to settle in the Americas (both North & settle in the Americas (both North & South) to make a life for themselves.South) to make a life for themselves.

Picture This…Picture This…

And yet, the And yet, the natives were not natives were not

alone…alone…

No! Not No! Not Columbus…Columbus…

•Led by Leif Led by Leif Eriksson, the Vikings Eriksson, the Vikings would be the first would be the first Europeans to inhabit Europeans to inhabit North America…North America…

Food for ThoughtFood for Thought……

•Who were the Vikings and Who were the Vikings and where in Europe did they live?where in Europe did they live?

•Why did they pillage, raid and Why did they pillage, raid and steal from neighboring villages?steal from neighboring villages?

•Why were the Vikings in pursuit Why were the Vikings in pursuit of land?of land?

•What was their lifestyle like in What was their lifestyle like in Europe, Iceland & Greenland?Europe, Iceland & Greenland?

Vikings Notes:Vikings Notes:• Who were the Vikings and where in Europe did they live?Who were the Vikings and where in Europe did they live?

• Why did they pillage, raid and steal from neighboring villages?Why did they pillage, raid and steal from neighboring villages?

• Why were the Vikings in pursuit of land?Why were the Vikings in pursuit of land?

• What was their lifestyle like in Europe, Iceland & Greenland?What was their lifestyle like in Europe, Iceland & Greenland?

Exploring the World Video Exploring the World Video ClipClip

•Beginning – 2:04; Beginning – 2:04; 4:00 – 11:334:00 – 11:33

Who were the Vikings and Who were the Vikings and where in Europe did they live?where in Europe did they live?

• Vikings sailed the seas in small open ships Vikings sailed the seas in small open ships and were famous for their skills as and were famous for their skills as warriors and traders.warriors and traders.

• Originally came from Scandinavia – Originally came from Scandinavia – includes countries of Denmark, Norway includes countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.and Sweden.

• Since Scandinavia was in the Northern Since Scandinavia was in the Northern part of Europe – Vikings called part of Europe – Vikings called NorsemenNorsemen – “People from the North.”– “People from the North.”

Why did they pillage, raid Why did they pillage, raid and steal from neighboring and steal from neighboring villages?villages?

• Scandinavia – very cold much of the Scandinavia – very cold much of the year, and because it is so year, and because it is so mountainous – not enough farmland.mountainous – not enough farmland.

• By late 700 A.D. Scandinavia had such By late 700 A.D. Scandinavia had such a large population that there wasn’t a large population that there wasn’t enough farmland to support everyone enough farmland to support everyone living there.living there.

• Many as a result, were barely able to Many as a result, were barely able to live.live.

Why did they pillage, raid Why did they pillage, raid and steal from neighboring and steal from neighboring villages?villages?•These conditions mentioned These conditions mentioned previously made some previously made some Vikings fierce warriors.Vikings fierce warriors.

•They used their fine ships to They used their fine ships to raid and pillage communities raid and pillage communities that lay along the coast.that lay along the coast.

Why were the Vikings in Why were the Vikings in pursuit of land?pursuit of land?

•The Vikings realized that they The Vikings realized that they would have to give up their would have to give up their warrior ways because their people warrior ways because their people wouldn’t be fed just by stealing wouldn’t be fed just by stealing alone.alone.

•They needed good land where They needed good land where they could settle and farm.they could settle and farm.

Lifestyle in Eastern EnglandLifestyle in Eastern England

• Built mirror image villages of those in Built mirror image villages of those in Scandinavia.Scandinavia.

• Lived in tents while houses were being built – Lived in tents while houses were being built – while men were building, the women cooked.while men were building, the women cooked.

• Most Vikings farmed for a living – close Most Vikings farmed for a living – close proximity to farmland where crops were proximity to farmland where crops were grown.grown.

• SpecializationSpecialization – not all Vikings were – not all Vikings were farmers – created other items for trade.farmers – created other items for trade.

Lifestyle in the North Lifestyle in the North AtlanticAtlantic

•While some settled in England other While some settled in England other Vikings were busy building ships for Vikings were busy building ships for exploration.exploration.

•Without any navigational Without any navigational instruments Vikings were able to find instruments Vikings were able to find land (raven).land (raven).

•870 A.D – Vikings reached 870 A.D – Vikings reached IcelandIceland

Lifestyle in the North Lifestyle in the North AtlanticAtlantic

• Even though Iceland part of the Arctic Circle, Even though Iceland part of the Arctic Circle, ocean currents keep it warmer in the winter – ocean currents keep it warmer in the winter – more so than Scandinavia.more so than Scandinavia.

• Plenty of grass for grazing animals and in Plenty of grass for grazing animals and in certain spots farming is possible.certain spots farming is possible.

• Water sources allow for fishing – which Water sources allow for fishing – which brought many Vikings from Norway and brought many Vikings from Norway and England.England.

• No trees – built houses out of sod.No trees – built houses out of sod.• By 960, Iceland became so populated that By 960, Iceland became so populated that

those who came after would not have access those who came after would not have access to good farmland.to good farmland.

Lifestyle in Greenland…Lifestyle in Greenland…• Erik the RedErik the Red

• Largest island in the world.Largest island in the world.

• No trees; almost completely covered by No trees; almost completely covered by glaciers.glaciers.

• Farming possible in western part of Farming possible in western part of Greenland.Greenland.

• Many Vikings would follow Erik to Many Vikings would follow Erik to Greenland regardless of the farming Greenland regardless of the farming conditions because of the seal population.conditions because of the seal population.

Extra, Extra! Read All Extra, Extra! Read All About It!About It!

• Why was Leif Eriksson in pursuit of Why was Leif Eriksson in pursuit of new land? Where did he get the lofty new land? Where did he get the lofty idea that there was land southwest idea that there was land southwest of Greenland?of Greenland?

• Where in North America did Leif Where in North America did Leif settle? settle?

• How did the land in the New World How did the land in the New World compare to that of Greenland?compare to that of Greenland?

Extra, Extra! Read All About Extra, Extra! Read All About It!It!• Greenland was a land without trees. Leif Greenland was a land without trees. Leif

was in pursuit of lumber to build the Viking was in pursuit of lumber to build the Viking ships. ships.

• Leif got wind of a juicy rumor – Leif got wind of a juicy rumor – Bjami Bjami HerjulfsonHerjulfson who had made a mistake who had made a mistake while sailing to Greenland, passed it, but while sailing to Greenland, passed it, but found another country with beautiful and found another country with beautiful and heavy forests (North America). He never heavy forests (North America). He never pulled ashore.pulled ashore.

• This intrigued Leif.This intrigued Leif.

Extra, Extra! Read All About Extra, Extra! Read All About It!It!

Extra, Extra! Read All About Extra, Extra! Read All About It!It!• Leif first settled in Helluland, then Leif first settled in Helluland, then

Markland and finally Vinland which not Markland and finally Vinland which not only had only had thick foreststhick forests, but it also had , but it also had an abundance of an abundance of grapesgrapes, , salmonsalmon and and fertile grazing ground.fertile grazing ground.

• It is believed that Leif landed in It is believed that Leif landed in Newfoundland Newfoundland which is now the which is now the easternmost province of Canada.easternmost province of Canada.

• Later, he would travel southward to Later, he would travel southward to Nova ScotiaNova Scotia (Maine – Viking coin found (Maine – Viking coin found there)there)

Extra, Extra! Read All About Extra, Extra! Read All About It!It!

The Viking SecretThe Viking Secret• Since the people of Iceland and Greenland Since the people of Iceland and Greenland

had little to do with those who lived in had little to do with those who lived in Southern Europe the discovery of the new Southern Europe the discovery of the new land remained a secret from the rest of land remained a secret from the rest of the world.the world.

• Today, much of the Norsemen culture is Today, much of the Norsemen culture is unknown because the Vikings never unknown because the Vikings never recorded their discoveries.recorded their discoveries.

• Instead the Vikings relied on an oral Instead the Vikings relied on an oral tradition or tradition or sagassagas - stories passed down - stories passed down by word of mouth to future generations.by word of mouth to future generations.

It is believed that Viking

goods made in North America

actually reached Europe

long before Columbus

sailed to the New World

Viking Trading Routes

Extra, Extra! Read All About Extra, Extra! Read All About It!It!

Why was Leif Eriksson in pursuit of new land? Where did he get the lofty idea that there was land southwest of Greenland?

Where in North America did Leif settle?

How did the land in the New World compare to that of Greenland?