Norse voyages to North America

E72520

Norse voyages to North America were early transatlantic expeditions by Viking seafarers who briefly explored and settled parts of the North American coast, such as the site now known as L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland.

All labels observed (6)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Viking exploration
medieval maritime expedition
transatlantic exploration
archaeologicalEvidenceAt L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site
surface form: L’Anse aux Meadows
archaeologicalEvidenceType Norse artifacts
Norse-style buildings
iron-working remains
associatedPlace Helluland
Markland
Vinland
destination Gulf of St. Lawrence
surface form: Gulf of St. Lawrence region

Labrador Peninsula
surface form: Labrador coast

L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site
surface form: L’Anse aux Meadows

island of Newfoundland
surface form: Newfoundland

North America
documentedIn Norse sagas
surface form: Icelandic sagas

Saga of Erik the Red
Saga of the Greenlanders
earliestApproximateDate c. 985
endedBecauseOf conflict with local populations
isolation and logistical difficulties
limited economic benefit
hasParticipant Greenlandic Norse
Icelanders
surface form: Icelandic Vikings

Norse seafarers
involvedActivity coastal exploration
seasonal settlement
ship-based navigation
latestApproximateDate c. 1020
mainLeader Bjarni Herjólfsson
Leif Erikson
Thorfinn Karlsefni
Thorvald Eiriksson
motivatedBy access to timber
search for new lands
trade opportunities
origin Greenland
Iceland
partOf Norse voyages to North America self-linksurface differs
surface form: Norse exploration

Viking Age
precededBy Eastern Settlement, Greenland
surface form: Norse settlement of Greenland

Norse settlement of Iceland
resultedIn contact with indigenous peoples of North America
earliest known European presence in the Americas
temporary settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows
significance demonstrated pre-Columbian transatlantic crossings
first documented European voyages to North American mainland
timePeriod early 11th century
late 10th century
usedVesselType Viking longship
knarr

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (8)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Viking Age notableEvent Norse voyages to North America
Abacuk Pricket historicalRegion Norse voyages to North America
this entity surface form: North Atlantic exploration
Brattahlid partOf Norse voyages to North America
this entity surface form: Norse colonization of Greenland
Norse voyages to North America partOf Norse voyages to North America self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: Norse exploration
Vinland partOf Norse voyages to North America
this entity surface form: Norse exploration of North America
Markland partOf Norse voyages to North America
this entity surface form: Norse exploration of North America
Saga of Erik the Red mainSubject Norse voyages to North America
this entity surface form: Norse exploration of Vinland
Freydís Eiríksdóttir relatedTo Norse voyages to North America