People

LEIF Eriksson

Norwegian Explorer

By Cynthia Klingel and Robert B. N oyed

~ SPIRIT of America ®

LEIF Eriksson People

'"' . SPI RIT of America®

LEIF Eriksson

NORWEGIAN EXPLORER

By Cynthia Klingel and Robert B. Noyed

The Child's Worfd® Chanhassen, Minnesota ' y . '~ - -- .' - - -

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LEIF Eriksson

Published in the U1l ited States of Alilerica by The Child's World" PO Box 326 • Chanhasse n, MN 553 17-0326 • 800-599-READ • w\Vw.c hildsworl d .co m

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Photo.' Cover: Library of Cong ress, Was hing tOn , D C/B ri dgeman Art Library; N at ional M use um , Copenhagen, /\'(fe rn et Form an/Art Reso urce, NY: 9, 17; Fotm ist Museu m , Denmark/D .Y /Art Resource, NY: 14; \'(ferner Forman/Art Resource, NY: 15 ro p; Viki ng Shi p Museum , Bygdoy, /Wern er Forman/Art Resoutce, NY: 20 ; Monastery of La Rabida, Palos de la Froneera, Spai n/G ira udon/A rt Resource, NY: 26 bottom ; Library of Cong ress, \Xfas h ing ton, DC/Btidgeman Art Lib tary: 2; N as io nalgalle riet, O slo, N orway/Bridgeman A tt Libraty: 2 1 tOp ; Chris Lisle/Corbi s: 6; Bettmann/Corbis: 7 tOp , 8, 19; Paul Almasy/Corbis: 7 botro m ; Wolfgang Kaehlet/Corbis: 11, 12; W. Perry Conway/Corbis: 15 bottom; G alen Rowell /Corbi s: 21 bottom ; Col in Braley/Reuters N ewMed ia Inc.lCorbis: 23; J ames Dav is; Eye UbiguitOus/Corbis: 28; Hulton Arch ive/Getty Images: 16 ; North W ind Pi cture Arch ives: 13,25,27; Stock Moneage: 22, 26 top.

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Lihrary of CongreH Cataloging-ill-Publication Data Kl ingel, Cynehia Fi ttere r. Leif Eriksson . Norweg ian expl orer / by Cynehi a Kl ingel and Robert B. N oyed . p. cm . -(Spiri t of Ameri ca) Summary : A bri ef introd ucr ion ro the I,fe and accomp li shments of the N orwegian exp lorer Leif Eriksson. ISBN 1-56766-1 63-7 (Library Bo und : alk. papet) 1. Leiv Eiriksso n, d . ca. 1020- J uvenile literature. 2. Explorets-Am etica-Biog taphy-J uvenil e li terature. 3. Exp lorers- N otway-Bi ography-J uvenile literature. 4. America-D iscovery and exploration- N orse- J uvenil e literature. 5. Vikings- J uveni le li terature. (1. Eri cso n, Le if, d . ca. 1020. 2. Explorers. 3. Vik ings. 4. America-D iscovery and exploration-Norse. ) !. N oyed, Robert B. JI. Title. Ill. Seri es. E10 5. L~7 K58 2002 970 .01' 3 '092---<:lc 2 1

200 1007818 Contents

Chapter ONE Son ofErik the Red 6

Chapter Two Exploring Greenland 12

Chapter THREE A Voyage to Vinland 20

Chapter FOUR Life after Vinland 24 Time Line 29 Glossary Terms 30 For Further Info rmation 31 Index 32 IIiIIIII 0 N E

Son ofErik the Red

LONG BEFORE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS CAME to North America in 1492, Norwegian explorers had discovered this new land. Leif Eriksson Toda) !, most Norwegians led these explorers. He was a sailor from the live by the sea as they did in the days ofthe Vikings. country now known as Norway. The events in this book took place more than 1,000 years ago. Long ago, the Vikings ruled Norway. The Vikings were fierce pirates and warriors who sailed in the icy waters of the North Sea. They 6 explored its waters looking for new lands to conquer. is a large island west of Norway. Although

1ts name suggests The Vikings made many that it is a cold trips to expLore and conquer new Land. place, Iceland is really a pleasant place to live. The warm sea currents keep Iceland from Fishing boats dock at the getting too cold. And fish are plentiful in the port ofH eimaey in IceLand. Vikings aLso oceans around the island. fished in these waters. Thousands of Viking people left Norway to settle in Iceland. They farmed the land there and raised sheep, goats, cattle, and poultry. They also fished in the seas around the island. One Viking who lived in Iceland was a man named Erik Thorvaldsson. He had bright-red hair and a long red beard. Because of his coloring, people called him Erik the Red.

7 Erik the Red married and had three sons. He had a special place in his heart for his son Leif He respected Leif's skill as a sailor and shared his love for the sea. LeifEriksson's father Leif was the oldest of Erik's three sons. was Erik the Red, Following a Viking tradition, Leif did not shown here in a p rint from 1688. grow up with his own family. When he was eight years old, he went to live with a man from Germany ~~~~~~ ~inn !XQvbelJ named Tyrkir. Erik Sff(tC .!.1tlttantQ mll\)~ (5rc;n'"ntl,. the Red had captured Tyrkir and brought him to Iceland. Tyrkir taught Leif how to read and write, as well as how to speak Celtic and Russian. He also learned to sail and use weapons. When he was not studying with Tyrkir, Leif and his friends would watch the ships come into the harbor.

8 About the year 985, when Leif was still a young boy, his father killed two men. Erik the Red had a temper and often got into trouble. As punishment for killing the men, the people decided to banish Erik from Iceland for three years. His family was allowed to stay on their farm, but Erik had to leave Iceland. Erik said a sad farewell to his family. He made a promise to them. He said, "I will sail westward. Some men say there are islands out there. If so, I will surely find them. Then I will come back and get you." The head ofa Viking spear Even though he was still a young boy, Leif wanted to go with his father. He told Erik the Red that he could help Interestin Fact with the sails on the boat. Leif was not LeifEriksson's mother allowed to go because it was too danger­ built the first church in ous. As he watched the boat sail away, Greenland. T he remains Leif wondered if he would ever see his can be seen today in the town of Kagsiarsuk. father again.

9 This statue ofLelf Eriksson Storytellers keep the memories of Leif stands in the city of Eriksson and the Vikings alive. These story­ Reykjavil?) Iceland. tellers are quick to say that Leif Eriksson landed in North America before Christopher Columbus did. Leif Eriksson was a brave adventurer who did much to help the Viking people in Greenland.

28 LINE

2000 B.C. Ancestors of the Vikjngs move 1100s Christianity becomes the main into Norway, Sweden, and D enmark. religion in .

793 The Viking Age begins and lasts 1400s The Vikjngs leave Greenland, until 1066. perhaps because of changes in the weather. 870 Vikings ftom Norway begin living in Iceland. 1492 C hristopher Columbus lands in North America. 950f Erik the Red is born in so uthern Norway. 1960s Norwegian archaeologists find Vikjng ruins in Newfoundland that may 960f Erik the Red and his fath er move to be evidence of Eriksso n and his explorers. Iceland. Archaeologists also discover the remains 980f Leif Eriksson is born in Iceland. of Brattahlid, where Erik the Red and his family lived in Greenland. 985 Leif's father, Erik the Red, kills two men and is banished from Iceland. 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnso n names October 9 Leif Eriksson Day, 990 Erik the Red and his family, includ­ honoring the first European to set foot in ing Leif Eriksson, sail to Greenland. North America.

997 Leif Eriksson sails to Norway, where he meets with King Olaf and becomes a Christian.

998 Leif Eriksson sails back to Greenland and rescues a group of sailors on the way.

10001 Leif Eriksson and his men begin a voyage that takes them to H elluland, Markland, and Vinland. Erik the Red dies while Leif is on the voyage.

10251 Leif Eriksson dies.

29 TERMS anchored (ANG-kurd) ruins (ROO-ins) When a ship is anchored, its anchor-a Ruins are the remains of something after it heavy metal hook-is lowered into the has been des troyed or has been allowed to water to keep the ship from moving. Leif collapse. Viking ruins have been discovered Eriksson anchored his ship when he arrived in Newfoundland. at Markland. tusks (TUHSKS) banish (BAN-ish) Tusks are the long, pointed teeth of some A person who is banished from a place is animals, including walruses and elephants. sent away and told not to return. Erik the Leif Eriksson hunted walrus because their Red was banished from Iceland for three tusks were valuable. years for killing two men. Vtkings (VY-kings) Christian (KRIS-chuhn) Vikings were seafaring people from A Christian is a person who believes in Scandinavia who invaded the coasts of Jes us Christ and follows his teachings. Britain about 1,000 years ago. Leif King Olaf of Norway ordered Leif Eriksson Eriksson was a Viking explorer. to become a C hristian and preach that religion to the people of Greenland. poultry (POHL-tree) Poultry are birds raised on farms for their eggs and meat. Chicken, turkeys, geese, and ducks are poultry. Viking people in Iceland raised poultry. preach (PREECH) To preach is to teach people about religion. Leif Eriksson was converted to Christianity by King O laf so he would travel to new lands and preach to the local people about Christianity.

3 0 INFORMATION

Web Sites Visit our homepage for lots of links about Leif Eriksso n and the Vikings: http://www.childsworld.com/links.html

Note to Parents, Teachers, and LiblYll';llns: We routinely ve ri fy o ur Web li nks to make sure th ey're saFe, active sites-so encourage your readers to check them out'

Books Anne, Dr. Millard. Eric the Red: The Vikings Sail the Atlantic. Austi n, Tex.: Raintree/Steck-Va ughn, 1994. Gallagher, Jim. The Viking Explorers. Broomall, Pa.: Chelsea House, 2000. Humble, Richard. Age ofL eifEriksson . New York: Franklin Watts, 1989. Margeso n, Susan M . Viking. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2000. Simon, C harnan. LeifEriksson and the Vikings. C hicago: Childrens Press, 1991. Thompson, Ruth. The Vikings. Danbury, Conn.: Children's Press, 1998. Trent, Lynda. The Viking Longship. Minneapolis: Lucent Books, 1999.

Places to Visit or Contact The Mariners' Museum To see an exhibit about the Vikings 100 Muse um D rive Newport News, VA 23606 757-596-2222

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History To find out about Viking ships 10th Stree t and Constitution Ave nue, N.W Washington, DC 20560 202-357-2700

31 Baffin Island, 22 Karlsefni , Thorhnn, 26 Brattahlid house, 14 Kasgiarsuk, 9

Christianity, 17, 21 Leif Eriksson Day, 27 Columbus, Christopher, 6, 24, 28 Leifsso n, Thorkell (son) , 26

Denmark, 10, 23 Markland, 22

Erik the Red. See Thorvaldsso n, Erik. names, 23 Eriksson, Leif Native Americans, 25, 26 childhood of, 8, 9, 12-13, 15 Newfoundland, 24 education of, 8 North Sea, 6 as explorer, 21 -22, 24-25 Norway, 6,10, 17,23 religion of, 17, 21 as ruler of Greenland, 25 Olaf, king of Norway, 17, 21 voyage to Greenland, 13, 20-21, 24-25 Osterbydg (village), 18 voyage to Norway, 17 Eriksson, Thorstein (brother), 18 religion, 17, 21 Eriksson, Thorvald (brother), 18,25 seals, 15 farming, 7, 14, 15 Sweden, 10, 23 fi shing, 7 Thjodhild (mother), 9, 18 Greenland, 10, 13, 14- 15 , 18,21,25, Thorvaldsso n, Erik (father), 8-9, 12, 17, 27, 28 18,25 Tyrkir (tutor), 8 Helluland, 22 hunting, 15 Viking Age, 10 Vikings, 6-7, 10, 15, 18,27, 28 Iceland, 7, 24 Vinland, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27 ivory, 15 whales, 15 Johnso n, Lyndon B., 27 walrus tusks, 15

32

People

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