Hurstwic: Viking Age Exploration In North America

ASSIGNMENT ONE: CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND “NORSE AMERICA”

Qandeel Tariq Shah

Course Work: Canadian History

October 25th, 2015

The Vikings’ Entry into America

Introduction

There are many versions of the story about the Norse explorers in America. Some people argue that Christopher Columbus was the first man to discover America while others give credit to the Vikings. For example, according to an article post in a popular website1, the Vikings are depicted as harsh and yet there is no mention of any community with which they clashed. It is also stated that the information was passed down from generation to generation through sagas but no clear information is provided on the specific saga adopted. Therefore, this essay seeks to demystify

http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/society/text/North_American_exploration.htm

4. "Hurstwic: Viking-age Exploration in North America." Hurstwic: Viking-age Exploration in North America. Accessed October 25, 2015.

The Vikings started engaging in trade with the local American. They exchanged iron tools for animal products. As the Vikings spread, the Native American inhabitants, whom the Vikings named skrælingjar, started being brutal to them. In one occasion, an American native used an iron axe against them and threw the axe into the sea. This sparked controversies and the Norse Vikings refused to exchange their iron weaponries for skrælingjar products. Over time, the attacks grew in number and the Norse settlers returned home fearing for their lives.4

The incredibility of eyewitnesstohistory.com on the Norse Explorers

The Viking raiders are described as Hell's Angels motorcycle mob that was out to rob and kill. The Vikings originated from Scandinavian countries in the 8th century and travelled by sea in search of new adventures and areas and new territories. However, other sources2,4 indicate that the Vikings were friendly people who were assaulted by the Native American

They used hit and run strategies in their conquests. They would ask for ransom from their hostages as insurance for their safety. There is little evidence from credible sources2 to suggest that the Norse explorers had any brutish behaviors.

The main motivation behind the development of better ships was the Viking’s strategy of attacking from the water. This led to development of seaworthy ships with enhanced navigation techniques. Evidence shows that the Norse explorers had a higher technology in iron tools and weaponry than the American inhabitants. Therefore, ship building was not motivated by war but by the spirit of exploration.5

5. Frauds, Myths and Mysteries, Kenneth Feder, 1996.

The source1 alludes that the Vikings started leading sedentary lifestyles in places like Iceland, Ireland and Normandy instead of plundering. However, credible sources4 indicate that the Norse explorers aimed to stay in the new land but were forced to vacate due to brutality from the local inhabitants. The source1 also reports that the story of the Viking exploration was transferred from generation to generation through sagas. The sagas were passed from one person to another through word of mouth before it was committed to the earliest writings in the 12th and 13th