alternatehistory.com

The success or failure of the Vineland settlements came down to for major situations :

1. Lack of good land for cultivation
2. Not enough settlers vs the native population
3. A slight military advantage vs the native population (although in truth the Spanish only had a small number of cannon and hand guns in Mexico)
4. The disease that spread to the natives form the Spanish (major reason for victory) was not an ally of the Vikings

So lets say the settlements that leaf (a Icelandic Norwegian) had settled a more defensible and more prosperous land. It a long distance from New Newfoundland to NY (1033 ) miles. But lets say their was a series of southward explorations. In 1047 Hardrada settled in his Norwegian kingdom decides not to attack Denmark for the next 17 years but instead sends an expedition to Iceland, Greenland, and Vineland to take these under his rule. He sends a much greater number of settlers to Vinland, and with the explorations to the south they continue on to Manhattan. Their they settle. With disease and a much greater number of warriors they conquer Manhattan and use this is a base of trade and further population growth. The settlement is expanded dramatically because of trade and the rich farmland.

Using the conquest of Mexico as a reference point it is estimated that disease killed over 95% of the population in a 30 year time span.

What could the population have grown to ?
Top