Vinland

What if the Viking succeeded in settling greenland thus resulting in a norse dominated New world?
 
Vindland?

In a sense the Vikings DID succeed in settling in Greenland, they weren't killed off by the change in weather until more than 400 years following their initial landing.
Quite an achievement I should say! ;)

The ever noted obstacle to Vikings/Norsemen dominating the New World is the lack of reinforcements from the homeland! Get those Norsemen migrate for some reason in large numbers across the Pond and your scenario might come true.
 

NomadicSky

Banned
Where is this Vindland you speak of? Did you mean Vinland?

The three possible settlements were Vinland, Helluland, and Markland.
 
I don't think that at the time the Vikings had enough to gain from sending ships to Vinland. They had the technology, just not the motivation really. Plus, I think they would have had a hard time with the Natives. Yes, the Vikings were more advanced technologically but the Indians were more numerous and knew the terrain, so in the long run, I think the Natives would win.

Also, if the Vikings were there for long enough, the Natives would probably adopt some European technologies. Now that would be interesting!
 
They had a really good reason: wood for ships.

They had a really tough set of obstacles: no agricultural lands for an agricultural people, difficulty of maintaining trade with Europe (few iron tools and weapons to give them that much of an edge over the natives)...

And hostile natives coupled with Norse xenophobia.

1. They'd need an allied Scraeling tribe to start settling in peace
2. They'd need to discover a source of iron
3. They'd need to clear enough land to start farming even as Greenland was failing.

Ironically they'd also have to hold on to Greenland, as all the valuable exports to Europe came from there (ivory tusk, polar bears etc.)

So that's where the wood that they came for in the first place comes in even more handy. More ships!
 
There isn't enough wood in Scandanavia?:confused:

I think there is iron ore in Newfoundland (Vinland), but I don't know where exactly I remember this from. Can anyone confirm/deny this?

The main obstacle other than the distance is working with the Natives. They could defeat them with enough soldiers but it would be far more beneficial to ally with them and learn from them.
 
1. I SERIOUSLY doubt the Norwegian crown would be at all interested until at least the 1600s. So Icelanders will have to do it themselves.

2. Iceland and Greensland were both deforested within a couple of generations. Wood was at a premium.
 
Ah, I was stupidly thinking of Denmark, Norway and Sweden rather than Iceland. :eek:

In that case, you are absolutely right.
 
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