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'They were people who took chances': The Vikings who reached the Americas 500 years before Columbus
BBC • • nation
Key Points:
- The Norse reached Canada around the year 1000, establishing a base at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, predating Columbus's 1492 voyage by 500 years.
- Norse sagas, once considered epic literature, are now recognized as reliable historical sources documenting their exploration of Greenland, Baffin Island, Labrador, and Vinland (modern Canada).
- Erik the Red, banished from Iceland in 982, founded a Greenland colony that lasted 500 years and served as a launching point for further Norse expeditions into North America.
- Archaeological evidence shows the Norse made repeated voyages to North America for centuries after their initial settlement, with attempts to sail directly there continuing into the late 15th century.
- Historical documents suggest Columbus was aware of prior voyages to North America, but chose a longer route across the Atlantic, possibly to bypass the continent and reach Asia's riches.
