Leif Erikson Research Paper

Words: 645
Pages: 3
Open Document
Leif Erikson

Though historians can’t be sure about the facts of Leif Erikson, the information has been passed down for more than 1015 years. At least one thing is pretty clear Leif Erikson was a great sailor and navigator who might have discovered America about 400 years before Christopher Columbus did.

Background/Family
He is the son of Erik the Red, a fearless viking. Because of the customs of his time, his last name was taken from his father's last name. So Erikson means “Son of Erik.” His mother was Thjodhild. He had three siblings Thorvald Eiriksson, Freydís Eiríksdóttir and Thorstein Eiriksson. He was born in Iceland but his father was exiled so they both moved to Greenland. Later in his life after his adventure, he will have two …show more content…
After getting ashore again, they found grass wet with dew. According to Erikson’s men after they tasted the grass they said it was the sweetest thing they have ever tasted. Now they decided to head back to the mainland but they decided to stay for winter and build permanent huts out of wood. They probably made this decision because there was peaceful and beautiful land, lakes and river were full of fish, wood for building and fuel, and also found very inviting meadows for grazing livestock. They also found one great discovery grapes. Grapes did not grow on Iceland or Greenland because of this amazing discovery, Erikson decided it would be nice to name this new settlement Vinland that means “vine land” or “wine land” The men were happy because grapes made great wine. Later on he will be known as “Leif the lucky”

Return to Greenland/Legacy
It is sad that Erikson could not return to his discovered land. He came upon a shipwreck just off the coast of Greenland. His crew rescued him from the shipwreck. His father died a year after Erikson’s return. Two years after Erikson’s return his brother Thorvald borrowed his ship to establish a settlement on Vinland, but sadly he died battling a tribe of Native Americans. He is thought to be the first person to be buried in the new world.
Show More

Related Documents: Leif Erikson Research Paper

Leif Erikson Research Paper

Leif Erikson Many people may think that Christopher Columbus was the first person to discover North America. What if I told you that that title belongs to someone else? This title belonged to none other than the famous explorer Leif Erikson. Leif Erikson was a famous viking explorer who was said to be the first person to discover North America and was the son of another famous explorer called Erik the Red. He was also converted to Christianity by a famous viking warrior called Olaf I Tryggrason…

Words 630 - Pages 3

Leif Erikson Research Paper

Leif Erikson was a ruthless viking and explorer. Born in Iceland on the year of 970 A.D. he explored our world and claimed new continents. Erickson was the first to find the new world and claim it to the vikings. Many claim to believe Columbus was the founder of the new world, but the truth is that Erikson founded the new world long before Columbus did. In this essay I will elaborate on who Leif Erikson is, what he accomplished, the areas he claimed, and why he was so crucial to our world today.…

Words 847 - Pages 4