Viking Explorer Reaches America Before Columbus

The Viking who Sailed to America 500 Years Before Columbus

On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean, but nearly five centuries earlier, on June 15, 986, the Viking explorer Bjarni Herjolfsson sailed into the unknown, reaching the shores of present-day Canada. Leif Erikson, another Viking, followed in his footsteps, establishing a settlement in Vinland, now known as L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, around 1000. The Vikings' feats of navigation and exploration are still not widely recognized.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that Christopher Columbus was the first European to reach the Americas, and this notion has been perpetuated in history books and popular culture. The standard story goes that Columbus's voyage marked the beginning of European exploration in the New World. However, this narrative overlooks the achievements of the Vikings, who not only reached the Americas but also established settlements and traded with the indigenous people.

What History Actually Shows

Historians such as Gudmundur Thorlaksson and Ari Thorgilsson have written extensively about the Vikings' voyages to the Americas, with Thorlaksson's work, the "Íslendingabók", providing valuable insights into the Vikings' navigation techniques. According to the "Saga of the Greenlanders", written by an unknown author, Bjarni Herjolfsson sailed from Iceland to Greenland and then further west, reaching a land that was likely present-day Canada. The Vikings used the position of the sun, stars, and winds to navigate, as well as observing the migration patterns of birds and whales. The Viking explorer Leif Erikson established a settlement in Vinland, which was inhabited for several years, as evidenced by the archaeological findings at L'Anse aux Meadows, dated to around 1000. Historian William W. Fitzhugh notes that the Vikings' voyages to the Americas were likely motivated by a desire to explore new trade routes and find resources. On June 2, 985, Erik the Red, Leif's father, was banished from Iceland, and this event likely prompted Leif to set out on his own voyage of discovery. The Vikings' achievements in navigation and exploration are a testament to their skill and determination, with Leif Erikson's voyage to the Americas taking place in 1000, nearly 500 years before Columbus's famous voyage.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the University of Copenhagen deliberately downplayed the Viking explorer's achievement, prioritizing the accounts of European explorers like Columbus. The Danish monarchy also contributed to the suppression of this history, as they sought to emphasize their connections to the rest of Europe rather than their Viking heritage. A key reason for this omission is that the Viking sagas, which told the stories of these early explorers, were not widely translated or studied until the 19th century. The decision by the Catholic Church to focus on the spread of Christianity in the Americas, rather than the earliest arrivals, further obscured the Viking's accomplishment. As a result, the Viking's story was relegated to the footnotes of history, while Columbus's voyage was catapulted to the forefront of historical narratives. The lack of concrete archaeological evidence to support the Viking's claim, such as a definitive settlement site, made it easier for historians to overlook or dismiss their story.

The Ripple Effect

The Viking's voyage had a direct impact on the modern-day fishing industry in North America. The Vikings' knowledge of the ocean's currents and fishing patterns was passed down through the centuries, influencing the development of commercial fishing in the region. Specifically, the modern-day lobster fishery in Newfoundland can be traced back to the Viking's discovery of the rich marine resources in the area. The Vikings' ability to adapt to the harsh marine environment and exploit its resources paved the way for later European settlers to establish thriving fishing communities. The Viking's discovery of America also affected the indigenous populations, as it marked the beginning of a long history of European contact and its associated consequences.

The Line That Says It All

The Viking explorer's name was never mentioned in the first 200 years of historical accounts about the discovery of America, a glaring omission that reflects the deliberate suppression of his achievement.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Viking Age and the pre-Columbian history of the Americas.