Mr. Sams Social Studies Class 2003 -HJS

Leif Eriksson, son of Erik the Red, was born around 960 A.D. and died about 1020 A.D.No one is exactly sure about the date. Eriksson, also spelled Ericson, was born into a European background. People have been known to think that Christopher Columbus was the one to discover America. Actually, Leif Eriksson did that. Archeologist came to this conclusion when they discovered the Viking ship that had been sunken many years before.

       Here we will tell the story about Leif Eriksson and his crew and how he discovered America and Greenland.  

   Eriksson fled to Iceland after committing several murders. As he fled he discovered Greenland. After he had discovered Greenland, he turned his Viking ship around and went back to Iceland. Eriksson Gathered 35 men, made a crew, and sailed southward.

        In 1,000 A.D.not too long after he had been back to Iceland, he switched his whole life around. Instead of murdering, he started spreading Christianity through Iceland.

       In 1,001 A.D., Leif and his crew of 35 founded America. They called it Vinland. Today archaeologists believe he landed in Canada almost 1,000 years ago. When they did reach Vinland, or America, they didn’t stay long. No one is sure why this happened. According to the stories and myths of Leif Eriksson, some say that there were harsh battles between Leif and the Indians.

       On Eriksson’s way back to Iceland, he got blown off course and discovered Wineland. The land is known as today Finland, and located on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, New Brunswick.

       Leif then decided to go on an expedition to find new land. He got more sailors to help him because others had gotten killed or died from illnesses.

       Historians believe that Eriksson landed somewhere on the most southern tip of Newfoundland on the straight of Beleisle. In 1960, Norwegian expedition found the remains of a Viking ship settlement.

       Soon after this took place, Leif Eriksson was nicknamed “Leif the Lucky” because he came upon a wrecked trading vessel and got the entire rich cargo.

This Map shows Erick The Red's (Leif's dad) and Leif Eriksson's voyages.

 *Leif Eriksson was born around 960A.D. in Norway

*He discovered America in 1001A.D.

*Leif left Norway and fled to Iceland for committing to many murders.

*Leif Eriksson died about 1020A.D.                                                                                              

 ~*LiNkS*~

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