The Vikings
What did the word "Viking" originally mean in Old Norse and Icelandic?
A pirate raid or marauding for loot.
Why did Erik the Red first flee from Norway?
He committed manslaughter.
Who was Leif Erikson’s famous father?
Erik the Red.
What natural feature gave Vinland its name?
The wild grapes that grew there.
What kinds of places did Vikings often target for their raids?
Monasteries and churches, which held unguarded treasures.
What strategy did Erik the Red use to attract settlers to his new colony?
He gave it the name “Greenland” to make it sound appealing.
What event kept Leif from returning to Vinland after his first voyage?
The death of his father, which left him responsible for the family in Greenland.
Who were the native people the Vikings encountered in Vinland?
The Skraelings.
How did the Vikings use the sea to their advantage in raids?
They struck suddenly from the sea, loaded their ships quickly, and escaped before resistance could form.
What land did Erik the Red discover and name during his banishment?
Greenland.
What did Leif name the new land he explored that was rich in wild grapes?
Vinland (or Wineland).
What did the Vikings trade with the Natives in exchange for furs?
Red cloth.
How many feet long were Viking longships?
76 feet long
What character trait of Erik’s caused repeated trouble and forced him to move multiple times?
His violent temper and repeated involvement in killings.
Why did Erik the Red not accompany Leif on his voyage to the new land?
His horse stumbled, which he took as a sign that the journey was not destined for him.
Why did Thorfinn Karlsefni’s attempt to build a permanent colony in Vinland fail?
Conflicts with the Native People and the colony’s isolation led to its abandonment.
How did Viking actions change over time as they moved from raiding to settling?
They transformed temporary coastal camps into permanent villages and expanded their domain through settlement rather than raiding.
How many ships successfully made it to the new land Erik discovered after leaving from Iceland?
14 out of 25 ships.
How was Leif described in The Discoverers in terms of character and appearance?
As a strong, striking, fair, and temperate man known for his good judgment.
What happened to Freydis, Leif’s sister, after her violent actions in Vinland?
Leif discovered her crimes, cursed her and her offspring, and her family line eventually died out.