The Vikings in America (part 3).

Leif Eriksson in Vinland. By Monro S. Orr
Source: Mary MacGregor. Stories of the Vikings, 1908.

Leif and his crew returned to Greenland. On their way back, rescued some shipwrecked persons: a true miracle, in the middle of that sea! They sure carried high expectations, about the nice opportunities of the places they had visited. However, many times the things happen in a fanciful manner, and nobody can help that. Leif Eriksson would not see again that promised land... Maybe under his leadership, the Vikings could have been able to establish in North America. But, what would have happened as a consequence? Is very hard to know. Surely, it would have been a big impact, in those dark times of the Middle Ages.

The Vikings in America (part 2).

Chart of the Viking expansion. By Max Naylor. Derivative work from Rowanwindwhistler

The human hive story would happen again. That migratory wave, with its epicentre in Norway, kept spreading through other regions. Among them, was the volcanic and cold Iceland. As a result, in the first half of the 10th century, the useable lands began to be not enough to sustain the whole settlement. As time passed, the crisis worsened. In order to get away from the phantom of famine and overcrowding, the people had to look up to the western seas. 

The Vikings in America (part 1).

Ruins of a viking settlement, at L´Anse-aux-Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada.
Photo: Carlb, 2002.

The presence of the vikings at North America remained in oblivion for several centuries. Despite of the references about the lands to the west of Greenland, in certain old writings and some Icelandic sagas, it seemed to only be a legend. Finally, their footprints appeared in 1961, when a viking settlement was discovered, to the north of Newfoundland.

The Norsemen and William the Conqueror (part I).

The White Tower, built by William the Conqueror, London UK. Photo: Stephan Brunker. German Language Wikipedia
Permission GNU FDL

The review and study of historical processes is a fascinating task. When establishing any sequence of events which led to the great happenings of human history, we often may find some patterns. It seems as if everything followed some kind of script, to bring those results. Is amazing to realize how the slightest variation on a simple link of that chain of events, might have produced completely different consequences. A "what if..." question, many times arises, opening the doors to the imagination. 

At the same time, some predestined people emerge, no matter their origin. They seem to take a road, which always leads to put them in front of the main historical changes... for better or for worse. At this point, is interesting to consider, if each sequence of facts may create its own characters. On the contrary, might some persons be who made things happen, with their decisions and acts? Could it exist somehow, a mid point between those extremes? Sure it is a subject for endless debates.