WI Newfoundland was uninhabited when the Norse landed?

If Vinland itself doesn't have anything of sufficient value to justify a long-term settlement, could you make it a stopover to somewhere that does have something of sufficient value? Suppose some harebrained explorer for whatever reason takes his ship as far south from Vinland as he can. Could he make it down the coast to Mesoamerica or down the lakes and rivers to Cahokia?

I'd envision a situation where rumors slowly leaked back to Europe of the great cities across the ocean where you can swap a shipload of iron for a shipload of gold or jade or chocolate. The voyage would be long and hard, but just one successful trip would set you up for life. And there would probably be a fair few young men willing to risk their lives following up on those rumors.

In such a situation Vinland could be a base-camp where European traders and explorers plan their expeditions to find these fables cities far to the south. As time goes on, even if the trading expeditions are only occasionally successful, you would have enough people coming and going, and enough of an economy, that the Vinland colony would hit a self-sustaining critical mass.

See, I love this idea, it is one of the effects I'd see of a stronger Europe (or specifically a strong-Northumbria) TL - with less easy targets, invasion and conquest is less cost-effective, making exploration and remote settlement more popular. A chain of small settlements could become 'Norse Road', small homesteads that become trade posts once the far end has been found. Suddenly you could have the Norse/Norwegians/Whatevername trading from Persia to Mesoamerica along long trade routes whilst Europe goes "WHERE IS IT COMING FROM!?"

Vinland is likely to be the larger series of communities, but a number of small homesteads that are tolerated along the East Coast isn't impossible, just not a 'big deal' until the big trade partners are found. Smaller ones (like the Cherokee, or Powahtan?) would enable some trade, but the bigger ones are the jackpot - and may well prevent OTL colonialism entirely by virtue of having imported, and then adopted iron and steel working.
 
See, I love this idea, it is one of the effects I'd see of a stronger Europe (or specifically a strong-Northumbria) TL - with less easy targets, invasion and conquest is less cost-effective, making exploration and remote settlement more popular. A chain of small settlements could become 'Norse Road', small homesteads that become trade posts once the far end has been found. Suddenly you could have the Norse/Norwegians/Whatevername trading from Persia to Mesoamerica along long trade routes whilst Europe goes "WHERE IS IT COMING FROM!?".
Whilst the Norse were great traders they did not exactly open up new markets. Whilst they could push along the coast to Mesoamerica, it is into the unknown. Also, bear in mind the chain of settlements is going to tie up a lot of manpower. Most better to think of the Norse as farmers looking for new land, which is why they colonised Greenland and Iceland. If they found a settlement in Vinland and they don't leave/are run out they are going to stop exploring until the land there is all taken. Only then are they likely to start exploring. Bear in mind the natives may not be friendly and the Norse were not as diplomatic as the early Modern Europeans.
 
If Vinland itself doesn't have anything of sufficient value to justify a long-term settlement, could you make it a stopover to somewhere that does have something of sufficient value? Suppose some harebrained explorer for whatever reason takes his ship as far south from Vinland as he can. Could he make it down the coast to Mesoamerica or down the lakes and rivers to Cahokia?

What's Cahokia got?
 
What's Cahokia got?
Nothing that you can not get a few hundred miles to the south. For the Norse to get there they will have to sail/row up along way up the Mississippi. And when they get there they can trade for maize, beans and copper.
 
Nothing that you can not get a few hundred miles to the south. For the Norse to get there they will have to sail/row up along way up the Mississippi. And when they get there they can trade for maize, beans and copper.
Why would they make the effort if they didn't know it was there?
They're not swimming in labour and they have no food surplus. It's all about survival at present.
 
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