SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. Look closely at SOURCE2 . The book from 1260 shows neat handwriting with illustrated capital letters. What does this suggest about the importance of the legal code to Icelanders of the thirteenth century? 2. This legal code was based on laws that had previously been memorised and recited by the ‘Lawspeaker’. Should historians trust the accuracy of this text? 3. The image shows how the page has been illustrated and notes have been made in the margins. Why might Icelandic people do this? Greenland According to the sagas, in 982 CE, Erik the Red was exiled from Iceland for murder and explored a new land during his three-year banishment. He named the land ‘Greenland’ to attract settlers, and returned to Iceland to look for migrants, knowing the new community’s survival depended on numbers. In 985 CE, he led a group back to Greenland, establishing western and eastern settlements. The Viking colony thrived for around 500 years until it was abandoned, likely due to climatic changes and possibly an epidemic. 7.11.2
SOURCE3 An extract from the Saga of Erik the Red , an Icelandic saga from around the thirteenth century
Now, afterwards, during the summer, he proceeded to [go back to] Iceland, and came to Breidafjordr (Broadfirth). This winter he was with Ingolf, at Holmlatr (Island-litter). During the spring, Thorgest and he fought, and Eirik met with defeat. After that they were reconciled. In the summer Eirik went to live in the land which he had discovered, and which he called Greenland, ‘Because,’ said he, ‘men will desire much the more to go there if the land has a good name.’
7.11.3 The discovery of Vinland According to the Saga of Erik the Red , Erik’s son Leif Eriksson was blown off course on his way from Norway to Greenland, which led to his discovery of Vinland, a land rich in resources. Leif and his crew explored, fished, whaled and repaired their ships before returning to Greenland. Initially, these tales were seen as myths. However, in 1960, archaeologists Helge and Anne Stine Ingstad found Viking-era remains at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada. This discovery confirmed that Norse explorers reached North America long before Columbus.
SkillBuilder discussion Historical significance 1. What is the historical significance of Leif Eriksson (shown in the SOURCE4 statue)? 2. How does the statue of Leif Eriksson in Reykjavik connect to the Saga of Erik the Red and the Saga of t he Greenlanders ? 3. What features of the statue might
SOURCE4 A statue of Leif Eriksson, Reykjavik, Iceland
reflect Leif Eriksson’s contributions to Viking explorations, especially regarding the discovery of Vinland?
190 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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