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I feel that colonization of the new world beginning with Columbus makes more sense than with the Vikings for several reasons. But I'm curious, how would the world have changed if the settlements or Vinland and Markland had succeeded? Would colonization on the massive scale we see post-1492 occur, would it be slower as the powers of Europe were still fighting each other, the plague, muslims, pagans, etc., would the natives band together in more state-like societies to survive and thrive in the face of European expansionism. Or would colonization be impossible, in that 1000-1100 AD is just too early a time for Europe to look westward across the Atlantic for land and riches?
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