By Cate LiaBraaten

Historical Background Norse settlers reached the New World 500 years before Columbus. Often left out of history because of their limited impact (Wilford, 1992). Colonies did not thrive; there has been much speculation as to why.

Vikings and the Sea Adept sailors-in Scandinavia ocean travel was often faster than travel by land (Diamond, 2005). The sea was tied into myth-helped the Norse make the first discovery of an oceanic gyre (Scigliano, 2009).

Causes for Failure Environmental- Encountered “Little Ice Age,” which limited trading and made survival difficult, few opportunities for agriculture Cultural-Clung to pastoralism and European lifeways, did not adapt. Culture also caused poor interaction with the environment.

Research Methods Archaeological-Middens, Farmsteads Historical-Sagas Ice Cores-Climate records

Conclusion Studying the failures of societies is an interdisciplinary endeavor. Events in human history are often too complex for any one solution.

Sources Cited: Diamond, Jared, 2005, Collapse: How societies choose to fail or succeed, New York, The Penguin Group Scigliano, Eric, 2009, “Vikings were the first oceanographers,”: New Scientist , p