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The Vinland sagas: Two versions of the Norse voyage to America
Centuries before the European voyages of "discovery," people from Viking societies reached North America. This memory was preserved in two very different sagas, two very different versions of the Norse exploration and settlement of North America.3 months ago — Culture and religion -
Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir: Trader, pilgrim, and traveler between worlds
In an era where many people ventured little further over the course of their lives, Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir earned the moniker "the Far Traveled."6 months ago — History -
The Viking world in the year 1000: From the shores of Canada to the Caspian Sea
At the dawn of the year 1000, Viking societies were to be found from the shores of Canada to the Caspian Sea. We analyze this high-water mark of Viking control, characterized by plunder, power, and profit.8 months ago — History -
Who was Leif Erikson really? Hero, explorer, or just a settler?
With a legacy spanning over a millennium, Leif Erikson's reputation has evolved over the centuries. Was he merely a lucky early medieval explorer, or was he the first in a line of heroic Europeans who crossed the Atlantic to forge new lives in the New World?11 months ago — History -
Why didn't the Vikings colonize North America?
We know that people from Viking societies colonized a small sliver of North America around the turn of the 11th century. Reaching the New World almost half a millennium before Christopher Columbus, what led to this settlement being short-lived and not the springboard for further expansion?1 year ago — History -
Exploring some of the best movies about Norse mythology
While this list is far from complete, these movies capture the grit, wonder, and strangeness of Norse mythology, with gods, warriors, and even alien visitors stepping into Viking lore.1 year ago — Legacy -
Viking encounters with Indigenous peoples: From the Sámi to Vinland
People from Viking societies encountered a wide range of Indigenous peoples throughout their travels during the early medieval period. These were often the first encounters these people had with Europeans centuries before the "Age of Exploration" kicked off Europe's thirst for conquest.1 year ago — History -
The Viking "discovery" and settlement of North America: A deep dive
Many thanks to one of our loyal Patreon fans, Bruce, who suggested this fascinating topic. It is only recently that we have conclusive evidence that some of the stories in the sagas of people from Viking societies in the New World were more than just tall tales and were historically accurate.1 year ago — History -
Ahead of the current: Vikings in the New World
Centuries before Christopher Columbus set off the troubled and bloody period known as the European "Age of Exploration," people from Viking societies had been there first.2 years ago — History -
The Oklahoma runestones: A quest for recognition
How one woman's tenacity and faith turned the Heavener Runestone into a national monument to America's legend-filled past.2 years ago — Legacy
