Mariann Trent, age 12, of Twin Falls, Id., for her question:
DID THE VIKINGS DISCOVER AMERICA?
Vikings were Scandinavian sea rovers who were also called Northmen, Norsemen and Danes. Many historians say they made many trips to North America about A.D. 1000. This would put them ahead of Christopher Columbus in the discovery department by about 500 years.
Vikings were the ancestors of the Norwegians, Swedes and Danes of today. They spoke a German dialect that resembled the language spoken in England at the time.
The Vikings were daring and skillful seamen. They had swift,high prowed ships. Most of the ships were about 70 feet long and 16 feet wide although some measured as long as 300 feet. The ships were propelled by oars, with sometimes a single sail to help in maneuvering. Between 30 and 40 crewmen were on each ship.
During the A.D. 800s the Vikings sailed south to the Mediterranean and north to Iceland. Early voyages were excursions for acts of piracy and plunder. Each spring they planted crops at home, and then set out on raids. They returned home in time to harvest the crops.
Some of the Vikings worked in the cod, herring and seal fisheries. Others made salt or tar. Many were engaged in building metal tools and fine ships.
The exploration and settlement of Iceland and Greenland were more daring and colorful than any other Norwegian Viking exploits. Stories and poems, called sagas, tell of their deeds including voyages to North America.
A Viking named Bjarni Herjulfsson was the first to see North America. A storm blew his ship off course, and he did not land on the new territory. Later a Viking named Leif Ericson visited the new land and named it Vinland. Many trips were made over a 12 year period of time.
For many years, scientists tried to discover exactly where the Vikings established settlements in North America. In 1961, Norwegian archaeologists discovered the remains of a Viking settlement in northern Newfoundland.
The Viking settlement discovered in Newfoundland was at L'Anse aux Meadows near St. Lunaire. Many scientists say that the ruins give proof to the theory that the Vikings lived there about A.D. 1000.
Some of the scientists believe the ruins were actually Ericson's settlement in Vinland.
As the Vikings became more civilized, they gave up their cruelty and their raids. They made a quick shift from piracy to peaceful and productive commerce.
The qualities of intelligence and. imagination that made the Vikings such good navigators helped them in many ways. They soon began to settle in the invaded areas.
The Vikings also learned much from the people they raided. For example, they quickly became Christians, giving up the Norse gods they originally worshiped. By the 800s, Christian missionaries began to travel among them to preach their religion.
Before long, Vikings in Ireland, England, Normandy and the Scandinavian countries became devout Christians.