Description
By A. M. reeves. et. al. The Viking and Norse exploration of the continent of North America remains one of the lesser-known episodes of pre-Columbus American history, despite its unquestioned authenticity and numerous archaeological proofs. One of the more interesting sources for these early trans-Atlantic voyages is to be found in the famous Icelandic Sagas, and this book is a masterful collection of these adventures.
Written and compiled by expert scholars and translated directly from the original Icelandic, the Sagas showed that there were numerous Norse voyages of exploration—and settlements—in North America more than 500 years before Columbus. The meticulous research in this work also reveals that Columbus himself was aware of these Norse ventures, and that this knowledge provided many valuable details such as approximately how many days’ sailing he faced.
The Sagas also contain many other fascinating details, such as the name of the first Norse baby born in North America, interactions with the natives—which alternated between trading and war—and the location of their landing points and settlements.
In addition, the Sagas provide evidence of Norse settlers in the New World who stayed behind, and were absorbed into the native population. This book also looks at how US Indian vocabulary was influenced by Norse and Celtic words, and includes a list of Norse/Irish trans-Atlantic voyages of exploration.
Actually three books in one, The Norse Discovery of America remains the leading English translation and study of the Icelandic Sagas ever published—a field of science and historical endeavor now increasingly being ignored.
Completely reset, with all the original illustrations and the complete text.
Cover illustration: Leif Erikson Discovering America, by Christian Krohg (1893)
Contents
Preface
Introduction
Book I: Arguments and Proofs That Support the Claim of Norse Discovery of America by Arthur M. Reeves.
Chapter I: Early Fragmentary References to Wineland
Chapter II: The Saga of Eric the Red
Chapter III: The Wineland History of the Flatey Book
Chapter IV: A Brief History of Eric the Red
Chapter V: Wineland in The Icelandic Annals
Chapter VI: Notices of Doubtful Value; Fictions
Chapter VII: The Publication of the Discovery
Book II: Arguments and Evidences Respecting the Claim that America was Discovered by Norsemen About A. D. 1000, and Colonized about A. D. 1003, with Proofs Submitted as to Occupation of a part of the Country, Known as Irland in Mikla, or Great Ireland, by the Irish, in the Eleventh Century, by North Ludlow Beamish.
Introduction to a Study of Icelandic Records
Saga of Erik the Red
Discovery and Colonization of Greenland, A. D. 985
Bjarne Seeks Out Greenland, A. D. 986
Voyage of Leif Erikson, A. D. 1008
Thorvald Repairs to Vinland, A. D. 1002
Unsuccessful Voyage of Thorstein Erikson, A. D. 1005
From The Heimskringla, Or History of the Norwegian Kings, According to the 2nd Vellum Codex of the Arnae-Magnaean Collection, No. 45 Folio.188
Saga Of Thorfinn Karlsefne
Expedition to and Settlement in Vinland by Thorfinn Karlsefni, A. D. 1007
Voyage of Freydis, Helgi and Finnbogi, A. D. 1011
Geographical Notices in Ancient Icelandic MSS.
Monuments and Inscriptions
Minor Narratives
Book III: The Norsemen in America, by Rasmus B. Anderson, LL. D.
Chapter I: Norumbega
Chapter II: Norse Voyages in the Tenth and Following Centuries
Chapter III: Columbus and the Norsemen
Chapter IV: Discovery of America by the Irish
Illustrations
Leif Erikson Discovers a New World
Death of Thorvald Erikson
Reproduced page of the Flatey manuscript
Karlsefni’s Expedition Ascending Charles River
Letter of Pope Innocent III to Norway Bishops
Front View of the Old Icelandic Skali or Hall
Ground Plan of the Interior of the Old Icelandic Skali or Hall
Norsemen Celebrating Their Discovery
Kingiktorsoak Runestone
General Chart Exhibiting Discoveries of the Northmen in the Arctic Regions and America
Map of Vinland from accounts contained in Old Northern MSS.
Map of Iceland
294 pages. Paperback.
