I was born in California and am now in my 70's. When I was a girl one of my teachers told our class about Leif Erickson being the first person to explore and discover North America. I believe it was at the same time we were learning about Christopher Columbus and the European exlorers and California history. I've always had a fascination about the Vikings and their culture. Love your stories. Thank you.
I'm 65, in grade school and high school, Leif Erikson, Hudson, Magellan etal were taught but Columbus was given the most time. In the southern part of the state, they teach a little of Jan Mayen, whom Cape May, Mays Landing and Jan Mayen Island off Norway were named after. Dutch Explorer.
I'm 81 years old and was born in Minnesota. I'm 50% Norwegian, 25% Swedish, and 25% Danish. In 1980 I took a vacation to Norway and Denmark. I never got to visit my Swedish Grandfather. My Danish Grandmother had immigrated to Minnesota in 1905. I lived with my Norwegian Grandfather, 1880, and my Grandmother, 1884, and my father 1903, and my mother 1910; for 15 months. We lived on a farm, and my Grandfather was one of the last farmers in Minnesota that farmed with horses. My wife and and I spent one night in an old 1600 farmhouse. We found Norwegian Runestones that the U of Oslo, Norway had timestamped the Runestones from 970-990. I've traced my ancestors to 1200. I now live close to my daughter's family in Bettendorf, Iowa. I'd like to hear from you, as I am a distant Viking. 🇺🇲🇦🇽🇩🇰🇸🇪
As a Newfoundlander, I am positive Leif Erikson was the first European in North America. The remnants of a Viking village were found at L'anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of my province. I was taught it in school in the 1970's and I chuckled when I learned John Cabot "discovered" Newfoundland in 1497. Sorry, Mate, Leif the Lucky beat you to it 500 years before!
@@Simonpepsi L'anse aux Meadows is almost 400km from John Cabot's landing site so he wouldn't have seen it. Plus, it was buried by 5 centuries of vegetative growth. The Vikings only stayed in NL for a year or 2 because of the harsh conditions and they had several battles with the local Indigenous Peoples
Yes...I have a book that tells something of this...I think they were there longer than some people appreciate. Some went further afield for different furs...and one, who was caught, eventually taught the Plains people of the Great Spirit and Great Mystery...and Christ. These peoples became very special from a spiritual perspective, and retained their warrior-like attributes. They also had many seers...who warned of coming of white men...but some tribes did not apply the strict codes of conduct asked for...to ensure they did not lose their country...given them by the Great Mystery.
History shows that Columbus never set foot in the US. He landed in the Bahamas and even briefly traveled south to what is South America. That said, Leif and company were first to arrive in North America.
The Vikings were a fine, strong race, exceedingly courageous, and adventurous, inspired by the need to create deeds and stories of greatness. One little known, but remarkable story is that of another Leif, who lived in the Canadian settlement, and sought other furs further south and west, with a small group of men. They became separated, and soon after, Leif was caught by the Crow tribe. They saw his cross, and considered Leif a holy man, so learned their language, and educated them about the one true God. Later, escorted by the Crow for his protection, he visited other nearby Plains peoples, and told them too of the Great Mystery and Great Spirit. Thus did the Plains tribes become loyal servants of the Great Mystery, and received tidings of the future, including the coming of white men, who would take their land, if they allowed them to interbreed with them, or dig their ground, or ply them with fire water. Not all tribes were united though, and so the invasion took root, and slowly, but surely, the Prophecy was fulfilled, that they would have no land left. Other Prophecies also spoke of a time later, if this invasion happened, when great serpents would destroy one another, seen as Russia and the USA, a time of holocaust, when the white man would be removed from their lands, and the natives and another similar coloured people would live there in the future. This time is not far off!!!
I totally believe Vikings got to North America centuries before Columbus! I was delighted to learn about the Vikings. I really don't understand why i didn't learn this until i was in my 60s!
@@bonbonvegabon we were always told the Vikings discovered North America first in school, back in the 80s. But we did celebrate Columbus Day as if he was first.
We know beyond any doubt the Viking were here LONG before Columbus, we have the archeological site of L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland that was a Viking settlement a thousands years ago, there are other sites but that is the main known one.
It's true ye know, Vikings be having a settlement upon the East coast. T'is said that the bravest of these folk traversed farther afield, seeking better and different furs. One of these men, also called Leif, be captured by the Crow tribe, who thought he would make a great bonfire. However, upon stripping him aready to roast him alive, his Cross fell to the ground, and the brave who picked it up was burnt. They saw this as a mighty omen, did ye braves of the Crow, and decided to let the man be. However, he stayed there to learn their language, and pass on news of the one mighty God, whom they called the Great Grandfather, whilst His servant was named the Great Spirit. The Viking man spent the remainder of his life spreading tidings around and upon the plains of Turtle Island, so the Cheyenne, the Sioux, Arikara, and other tribes came to know of the Great Mystery, and Great Spirit. They were warned of the coming of the white man too, and were told not to mix with him, nor let have have any land, nor drink his fire water, for if they did, they would be cursed. Sadly, the rest is history, apart from their Prophecies, which speak of the end of the white man upon their shores, and a new time, a New Age, that is ushered after a great Apocalypse, which is part of the Final Judgment of all mankind. A fine race those Vikings!!!
As a Canadian, I'm positive that Leif Erikson was here well before Columbus. It's taught in school here. Thanks, Oli. The Crime Reel sends his regards. Stay safe out there.
The historical and cultural significance of Columbus really have nothing to do with him being the European to reach America. He was the one who truly opened both worlds to each other. His arrival is what caused the Spread of the diseases of the old world that destroyed 80 percent of native Americans
They don't even mention Columbus in Canadian history because he wasn't here. I remember the book puts John Cabot first (Giovanni Cabboto) and the teacher mentioned Leif Erikson as a bit of trivia. I think Henry Hudson and Antony Henday had the largest chapters. I think its not important to credit the Norse as being here first because the indigenous populations were here for 10000 years before that and we still don't distinguish their tribes properly. I'm caucasian but I though that indigenous awareness day was condescending and ignorant as hell. They lumped the entire population together and basically made the claim that the European descendants failed them as if they were children.
@@nialloneill5097 They only fail when they presume to help. Indigenous awareness day is repeating the mistakes of the past by the government sticking its nose in their affairs and trying to help those who didn't ask. I was shown a presentation on how they were not taught to love their children and other nonsense like that. You have to think very little of them to come to the conclusion that they need to be taught to experience basic human biology. it's racism within the guilt of past racism. we need to break the cycle instead of constantly trying to correct something dead people did.
When I was younger (in the 1980's), I remember him being mentioned and credited with discovering North America but then he seemed to disappear from the history books as I got older. It caused huge amounts of confusion on my part. Great video!!
It had already disappeared when I was in school. Columbus was credited with discovering America at that point. I heard brief mention of Leif Erikson from time to time, so I was aware of him.
A Viking settlement was found, dating from 1000 years ago, in Newfoundland, Canada, so yeah, there's no debate the Vikings reached North America before other Europeans.
You should have included L’Anse aux Meadows(Newfoundland) in your story. The viking settlement is dated to around 1000 AD. So it's kinda proved it was Europeans in America before Columbus. Also it's about skrællings(native Americans) in the sagas.
Yes, I have sacred texts of events that stemmed from this community of Vikings, for it was one of them, also called Leif, who spread tidings of the one true God, although He was called by other names, such as the Great Mystery, or Great Spirit. The book is called Generational Times Unveiled, and can be found at Lulu.
Its truly a serene feeling, being able to sit on the shores at L'anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, knowing that Leif himself once stood and surveyed the same land and bay. And to walk in the old village, in their steps, very cool.
It has been a Liljequist family tradition that Leif Erickson was an ancestor of ours, and had indeed discovered Vinland some 500 years before Columbus, I first heard this as a toddler in the late'50s, and saw the map for the first time in the '60s.
That's what I've read/heard too. Columbus found the Caribbean. Vespucci Amerigo found America, hence the name America - an "anglofied" version of his surname.
@@oneshothunter9877 Yes but Vespucci was never North of Cuba! North and South America are named after a man just like (Colombus) that was never in America! The Vikings Were in North America!
It's proven by substantial archeological remains in NE Canada. No longer open to question, however, how far south they ventured is, and they were not the first humans there by even a close call. With sustained supply they could have taken small portions, but like the Lost Colony, were doomed as early invaders.
Icelanders have learned this in schools since a long time ago I learned this story when I was 8 years old Hello from Iceland 🇮🇸 We knew but nobody cared
Duluth Minnesota left me in total awe. Like going back in time. And seeing it all unfold for yourself. Kids jumping into a stream pouring out 30 or 40 miles an hour. Just go see it for yourself next spring. I'm a believer
I've heard that there were another man just before Leif Eriksson, who managed to set foot on 'America'. That's why Leif knew that it would be more land after Island.
That would be Bjarni Herjulfsson, who didn't technically set foot on the land but was the first to discover it. He is however mentioned in the Greenlander saga and not the Erik the red saga, so it might and might not have happened.
@@moneyflow5058 Well, you seem to forget what “discovery” contribute to the enlightenment of human beings. “The natives” didn’t know where they where in the large geographic aspect which include the Eskimos of Greenland when explorers at the time discovered new land in the northern western atmosphere 🌎 .
Lol! I give credit to Leif being one of the first to visit these lands…but not it’s discovery…he was one of the first to meet the Micmac people and probably a few Mohawk and Iroquois…but we as natives were here already and didn’t just “show up” and “discover” a land already full of different people..with different customs and languages
The people who discovered North America were the ancestors of the Indigenous people who lived there long before Christopher Columbus or Lief Erikson. But as far as the first European, definitely Leif Erikson was first.
Hello Ollie, I think you have done a magnificent narration on this wonderful piece of history. I do believe that Leif was the first to discover the America's. Just imagine the beautiful lush vegetation he saw; he was truly blessed. I do enjoy your viking research and the way you insert such interesting pictures. You are the best Ollie... thank you. 👌👏🍀🌻🍎💃
I think he didn't get the credit because no one actually wrote it down. There were the sagas, but they came two centuries later. I would imagine when the English and French showed up they may have run into a native or two well over six foot. Perhaps that settlement was killed/died off or were assimilated. If they had taken more people back there would have been plenty of people there 500 years before Columbus.
May Odin strengthen your heart...we are Vikings...we are strong...and so part of us belongs to Valhalla...for we are also heroes of the sea and battle and the sword...
Say what?,I know the Vikings were in contact with the Byzantines/East Romans ,and the Muslims,but Thailand?,er,abit of a stretch,I will have to research it..
No actually there isn't. No serious historian or archeologist believes that. I've seen photos of them and they don't look like viking ships to me. They could be Chinese junks or a depiction of European ships during the age of discovery. The real question is who painted them? Sailing to North America from Greenland followed the vikings progressive exploring to the west. And they didn't miss the vikings being in North America before Columbus. I learned about it in school.
Yes, the Viking did arrive 400+ tes before. L'Anse aux Meadows in North-Eastern Newfoundland (Terre Neuve un French). I was There early 1980 the year it became part if the Unesco world héritage site. Merci for tour vidéo🙋🏻
In the stories I heard Lief met Thorgunna in Vinland and had gotten her pregnant but left her there and she eventually sent their son to Lief in Greenland but Lief also had another son with another woman which took over Greenland when he passed. I also read about this in a couple different articles when I did some research on Lief when I heard Vikings Valhalla was going to come out.
In Newfoundland, Canada there is a 11th Century viking settlement in L'anse aux Meadows a UNESCO site, I too learned about Leif and his father Eric the Red
No I believe you are right, There is proof that the Vikings settled there first. Any way Columbus never set foot in America he found the West Indies. Cuba,Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Was interesting, but the frequent mispronouncing of Leif's name was distracting. Narrator would go back and forth, 80% of time pronouncing incorrectly as Leaf and 20% of the time pronouncing it correctly. Correct way to pronounce is "lay" followed by an f.
Nor Leif neither Columbus discovered the continent named after Vespucci. It was there and had its own people. The explorers just find something they didn't know that exists and that's not discovering (see dictionary).But I agree that the vikings were the first who landed on the continent known as America.
Shouldn't be First EUROPEAN in America? How can you travel somewhere, with People Already there and be given credit for discovering it? Love the Videos, but the Title is misleading AF. If your going to be factual be all the way factual.
The answer to your question is the answer that you are seeking. Leif's story is covered from legends, saga and only recently some archeological proof that is not adamant certain. Colombus' story is covered from fact and therefore archeological proof. The school should teach facts and not encourage doubt. I do want to believe that Leif Ericson was the first, but I do not know it. Also recently some archeologists claimed Minoans discovered north America in their search for tin and that the ancient Egyptians discovered south America because of one single leaf of coke tree. Trust what you know and explore the uncertain.
According to one of the translators who worked the l'Ainse-aux-Medows Viking site in Newfoundland no Viking ever went anywhere that they didn't send Irish slaves as a vanguard to scout scope and set up camp.
Columbus never set foot on North American soil. His discovery was in what we know as the Bahamas. Leif on the other hand, landed somewhere just north of the state of Maine.
I'm Danish, so of course I belive that the Vikings was there before Columbus. But that doesn't mean that there haven't been others comeing from Europe before the Vikings.
Yes the northmen settled in America before Columbus but Columbus sailed a route thinking it was the West Indies and still believed it till his death in 1506 idk about y’all but my school had us learn about all this lmao even the Greeks and Romans etc even the battle of troy
The evidence that has been found here on the island where I live called Newfoundland which some believed is to be Vinland as there has been a confirmed Viking settlement uncovered in an area called Lanse-Aux-Meadows as well as possibly a second discovery further south on the west coast but the second has not been confirmed to be one as yet. Lanse-Aux-Meadows is classed as a National Historic Site.
Okay, does anybody read/understand Latin and medieval cartography? The 'map' repeatedly displayed on-screen provides more 'clues' than an episode of 'Murder She Wrote' with fictional 'Jessica Fletcher as the sleuth. Look at the names of features in that map - 'Desiderate Insula'; 'Magnae Insulae Beati Brandani'; 'Branziliae Dictae' etc. Sixth Century Irish Monk, Saint Brendan, recorded his epic journey of discovery in a leather boat, accompanied by twelve 'apostles', where he 'island hopped' northwards from Ireland and Scotland, then westwards past what later 'Vikings' in his wake would settle and name as 'Iceland', 'Greenland' and 'Vinland'. However, even in the 6th century, Brendan was only following a more ancient, pre-Christian 'Voyage of Bran', that recorded a most wonderful 'Heavenly Paradise' land to the west. English Historian and Adventurer Tim Severin, faithfully reconstructed the leather boat of Brendan and with a small group of fellow-adventurers completed the journey, arriving in the USA to coincide with the Bicentenary Celebrations in July 1996. Tim Severin recorded his adventure in a book and documentary 'The Brendan Voyage'. It seems the 'Vikings' didn't just plunder Irish Monastic Settlements for loot and slaves, they also 'stole' the knowledge of the 'New World' that Columbus claimed. But that's another story of how Columbus acquired his 'intelligence' of how to 'go west' across the Atlantic Ocean.
"Do you believe?" Well, yes. Because it's a fact and facts are not subject to "belief". The burden of evidence is on anyone that believes otherwise, not on anyone who currently has overwhelming evidence to support it being accepted as historically accurate.
Do you know how when you say a joke and no one laughs, but then someone else says exactly the same joke but louder and now everybody laughs? Same thing with Lief and Columbus. I’m thankful we even know of Lief. Imagine it never being recorded. And how much history was actually lost. Maybe the actual first discoverers of America were the Polynesians.
I loved learning more about Leif Erikson! I think the producers do an amazing job with the shows. They do well enough to entertain and provide some history. Does anyone know of any resources of any written Sagas of figures like Ivar?
Generations Unveiled is the story of the movement of one of these Vikings, who headed south and west for different furs. It tells how he brought enlightenment to the Plains people. A beautiful story, which I bought from Lulu Publishers.
It's nice to learn more history, like putting together pieces in a puzzle. But why does anyone need to be "the first," especially when it comes to "discovering things" like land or herbal remedies, etc. that clearly come from an evolution of knowledge, each generation learning from those who came before?
There is no importance in being first in terms of discovery. Although, in terms of discovery, the spread of this information and outreach to the human population can be important as that comes with honor, pride, and potential riches.* I think it’s nice to know the history of things and where they came from to be more of an importance, rather than the specific man who did discover such things. In terms of invention, however, that may bring more important to whom it may have been comparatively to discovery (of land) or artifacts (and other physical and historical objects) since it was there prior. The knowledge of land or artifacts simply wasn’t widespread knowledge to humans and could be considered “new” news. They may have been forgotten in history and never spread to other places in the world and after many years this discovery could be important to whoever had discovered it for reasons mentioned above.* This is me mostly talking out of my ass, but it’s just my formulated conclusion as had come up with. Also, please excuse any grammar mistakes if you may, I am typing in my phone while on the toilet. 🤙🏼
Most "discoveries" are a product of a team effort. Insisting that you are the first seems more tied to ego than anything and I don't need that. I'd rather acknowledge the efforts of everyone who played a part in the "discovery."
@@towanda1067 There has to be a good leader behind discoveries like this. Many things came into play, but for this type of discovery a leader and figure is necessary. There were many important people and factors that came into play, but again, he was really the first to find and create settlements.
@@tannior392 I agree a good leader is important, but so it a good team. And a good leader acknolwedges the contributions of all his/her team members. Erikson didn't row the boat himself. He undoubtedly used information provided to him by others- in all probability others who had been there before him and were never credited- and he didn't "find" an uninhabited country (at least in N. America). Others got there "first" and settled the continent. I doubt even Erikson called himself the first. That was done by some historians/others who had their own motivations to make that claim. Look how many years Columbus was proclaimed to be the "first" to discover America, but he wasn't, was he?
Liefs discovery was at the Start of the Crusades (1045) But, Wars with Islam begin in 900s in the Holy Land and North Africa . Most likely the Catholic Church denounced it . Because all young men would have left for this new world rather than fight in the Crusades. 2nd To the Church Lief was still a Pagan even though converted to Catholic. Most of the Norse at the time were still Pagans . 3rd Columbus was Italian . To the Church italians were the master race at the time . Superior in all things. Even though Columbus couldn't find a Italian investor for his trip. Spain sponsored the trip though the loans that were through the Templar's (Templars had gotten rich from the crusades and became Europe's 1st Bankers) Because Spain was Broke after the re-conquest of the Iberian Peninsula . The Carvels that were built were most likely constructed by the Portuguese . So it was a whole Catholic thing . After Columbus journey the exploitation of the New world Made Spain the Most Powerful nation in Europe and no one at that time was willing to Challenge Spain. The Catholic Church has kept Leif Erikson's journeys secret still to this day . They knew about it because of the Priest that Leif brought on the Journey to bless the New world. Leif Erikson was the 1st European to set foot in western Hemisphere.Not Christopher Columbus.
What Haven't we been lied too ya know. I believe in God , a higher power but I don't believe in churches , for many reasons, especially in America. 10 years ago I sought a good church I felt "at home" at. Went to 4 different ones in 4 weeks . Not one inspired me not one spoke of my own people ALL wanted money for Foreigners when there were tons of my own fellow citizens in need many of them Veterans of Foreign wars . It disgusted me . Now I see they are funding and protecting Illegals. No thanks . Then you have the "Oswald killed JFK" for decades, many suspected it was a lie and was the Gooberment and it turns out it was . So , I'm of the belief nothing we've been told is true and or at minimum has been half truths
Helge Ingstad found ruins of the Norse settlement in Newfoundland in 1960. In the other direction, yup! The emperor of Constantinople had a mercenary army consistent mostly of Norsemen
@@nialloneill5097 🤔 I think that might be a stretch... The Swedes definitely preferred "Østerled" going east. They were more into trade than pillaging. I think it's safe to say that at the very least they influenced Belarus heavily.
@@nialloneill5097 Hej Niall! Studies in all this and the Kyevan Rus tells us that the founders of Kiev were called Varingians by the local folks - Swedish vikings.
As a young man I started commercial fishing off the coast of Washington. That experience led me to come to know many Norwegian families in the Ballard suburb of Seattle. Leif Erickson myths were everywhere, and in Ballard everyone knew Columbus was about 500 years late!
Yes, I have a book affirming the existence of a Viking community in Canada, and the wanderings of one of these warriors, seeking furs. He was captured by the Crow, but became their friend and preacher, learning their language, and then spreading news of the mighty God to other tribes. They called Him the Great Mystery and Great Spirit!
@@karaDee2363 Note I said the 'wanderings', for as he told his native brothers, some of the bravest of the Vikings went further south and west to find more exotic furs. Hence, he was captured by the Crow, who almost burnt him at a stake until a cross dropped from his neck and spooked the Crow. He then stayed and learnt their language, and they accompanied him when he visited other local tribes, including some of the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arikara, the latter being the largest tribe in the area at the time. It was amongst these people that a spiritual training settlement was set up, which was visited by natives as far as away as the Great Lakes, and the Rocky Mts, as spirituality spread across Turtle Island. Then seers came into their midst who warned of the coming of the white man, as the tribes were told not to let them have their land, women, nor to take their fire water, but alas, not all tribes and native peoples were as immersed in the Great Spirit as were some of the Plains people, and the rest as they say...is HISTORY!!!
@@karaDee2363 Some of the Vikings traversed further afield than others...and wandered the plains of the US, just below the lakes...for different furs. That's how he was taken prisoner...and later released, after which he visited most of the Plains folk of Dakota, Wyoming, and surrounding areas. These tribes centred their worship around the Arikara...who at the time were the most powerful tribe on the plains...over the centuries, sons and daughters of chiefs stayed with the Arikara and another tribe...to spread the spiritual ways of living. They knew well before of the coming of the white race in high nos...and were warned not to mix with them, nor cede their land...sadly, not all tribes were as spiritual as the next...and so the white race found a foothold in their country...and then spread like ants from the east coast...the rest is history! Some tribes have held dear to their Prophecies of a coming time of change and one last great war...soon this will be fulfilled...Amen
Columbus' journey was funded by Spain to find a better trade route to India. His discovery was the catalyst of French, Spainish and English campaigns of exploring and expanding. Fast forward to presant day Canada and USA. For further reading, take a look at the history of the Ottoman Empire and the Roman Empire. Follow trade routes and religions. Learn about the ancient cultures of the past.
It's proven that it were indeed the vikings the first european men in America. Wheter it was Leif or not that is another question. But the importance of Christopher Columbus is enormous because it opened the doors to colonization and to the Americas we know today.
In school (History Class mid 60's) I recall a teacher who told us about Leif Erickson. I also recall that there was a settlement mentioned. There was mention of the first child born to Northmen in North America, a daughter named "Snorri". I read this is a book but it is so many years I forget the title. I believe this to be true, however I also Believe that Brendan the Navigator an Irish Monk may have visited North America as well. My DNA says Irish with some traces of Danish & German
👍History has been grotesquely altered to our days. There is evidence to this day that the Vikings were the first to set foot on land in the Americas. Colombus was not how they wanted to sell the idea by modifying the true story and giving credit to a character that has nothing to do with it.
In elementary & middle school I was taught as a boy that Leif Erikson was the first European to discover America and not Christopher Columbus. We were taught Vineland was the first European settlement in America by Vikings. We were also taught about Eric the Red. There are historical artifacts that prove this to be true.
Good show but you forgot the "Hop" settlement. The furthest south that he went. Which was probably Connecticut or New York. I kinda think Gungywamp CT is Hop since a X and P is said to be carved on a rock there.
The sagas are real. In actual fact, Columbus did not discover North America. He was the first European to sight the Bahamas archipelago and then the island later named Hispaniola, now split into Haiti and the Dominican Republic. On his subsequent voyages he went farther south, to Central and South America.
Doesn't matter if he got there first. Columbus had the backing of wealthy King and Queen and good public relations personnel. Plus the Spaniards took to invading the New World like fish to water. The Vikings never produced a single new generation in North America. Also, they did not find gold which would be a real game changer for the backing you could get for more expeditions.
I learned alot about vikings in school in Iceland Leifur Eiríksson var Icelandic, his dad (Eiríkur Rauði) was from Norway and his wife Leifur Eríkssons mom Þjóðhildur was Icelandic. And Yes Leifur Eiríksson was first viking in Amerika and he came to America before Columbus.
