Embedded Files
Many people give credit to Christopher Columbus for being the first European to cross the Atlantic Ocean and "discover" America. What many do not realize is that this is a MYTH. In this WebQuest you will discover evidence that proves that almost 500 years before Columbus came to America, a group of Vikings arrived in present day Canada. Their journey, led by famous explorer Leif Eriksson, marks the first time Europeans came to our continent.
Process:
1) Visit the following site to find out general information about how Leif Eriksson's father, Eric the Red, left his hometown in Europe and began a journey across the Atlantic:
http://www.biography.com/people/erik-the-red-9288270
Answer the Questions on page 1 as you read about Erik the Red
2) Now you will look at the life of Erik's son, Leif. Watch the following video clip and answer the questions on page 1 of your WebQuest:
If the video will not load please click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3GM3F7JZ2c
Now that you understand a little bit more about Eric the Red and his son Leif Erikson, it is time to investigate the evidence historians have gathered to prove that the Vikings arrived in North America about 500 years before Columbus.
To begin collecting our evidence, let’s first look at what the Vikings wrote down in their sagas. What are the sagas? The word "saga" loosely means "what is told". The Viking’s sagas refer to works compiled during the 1300’s and 1400’s. They were narrative in style, either written in poems or prose, and dealt with historical, legendary and mythical subjects.
Part of the evidence you just looked at referred to the Viking settlement discovered in present day Canada. Called L'Anse aux Meadow, this site has gotten a lot of attention as new evidence has been unearthed. Use the following site to find out what was found there:
http://naturalhistory.si.edu/vikings/voyage/subset/vinland/archeo.html
In 2015, satellite images revealed another settlement in the same area of present day Canada as L’Anse aux Meadow. Use the article below to find out more about this discovery:
Google Sites
Report abuse