The Eastern Settlement refers to a series of Norse colonies established in Greenland during the Viking Age, specifically around the late 10th century. This settlement, along with the Western Settlement, was part of the broader Norse colonization efforts to expand territories and secure resources, demonstrating the Vikings' adaptability to diverse environments and their maritime skills.
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The Eastern Settlement was founded by Erik the Red around 985 AD and became one of the largest Norse colonies in Greenland.
It was located on the eastern coast of Greenland, primarily around the fjords of Sermilik and Tunulliarfik.
The settlers relied on farming, fishing, and hunting for their subsistence, adapting to Greenland's harsh climate and environment.
By the 14th century, both settlements faced challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and conflicts with local Inuit populations.
The Eastern Settlement was abandoned by the 15th century, marking the decline of Norse presence in Greenland due to a combination of environmental factors and economic difficulties.
Review Questions
How did the Eastern Settlement reflect the Norse adaptation to new environments during their colonization efforts?
The Eastern Settlement exemplified how the Norse adapted their agricultural practices and lifestyles to thrive in Greenland's challenging environment. They developed farming techniques suitable for short growing seasons and relied heavily on marine resources to supplement their diet. This adaptability was crucial for their survival in a region that was drastically different from their homelands.
Discuss the economic activities that supported the Eastern Settlement and how they influenced its sustainability.
The Eastern Settlement's economy was based on a combination of agriculture, fishing, and hunting. Farming included raising livestock like sheep and goats while growing barley and other hardy crops. Fishing provided vital protein sources from marine life. However, the reliance on these limited resources made sustainability difficult as climate changes occurred over time, leading to challenges that contributed to its decline.
Evaluate the factors that led to the decline of the Eastern Settlement and its eventual abandonment in the context of Norse colonization.
The decline of the Eastern Settlement can be attributed to multiple interrelated factors, including climatic changes that resulted in cooler temperatures known as the Little Ice Age, resource depletion due to over-farming, and increased competition for resources from local Inuit populations. These challenges were compounded by isolation from other Norse communities as communication dwindled. The culmination of these issues ultimately forced the inhabitants to abandon the settlement in search of more hospitable environments.
The period from roughly 793 to 1066 AD, characterized by Norse exploration, trade, and settlement across Europe and beyond.
Norse Colonization: The process through which Norse people migrated and established settlements in various regions, including Iceland, Greenland, and parts of North America.
Another major Norse settlement in Greenland located on the southwestern coast, which coexisted with the Eastern Settlement and had a distinct economic and social structure.