Week Three: Early Explorers

Who was Leif Eriksson?

A Norse explorer from Greenland, considered the first European to set foot in North America, around the year 1000.

What land did Leif Eriksson discover?

He reached Vinland, believed to be part of modern-day Newfoundland in Canada.

What was Leif Eriksson’s family background?

His father was Erik the Red, founder of the first Norse settlement in Greenland.

Why is Leif Eriksson significant in history?

He explored North America nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus.

Who was Prince Henry the Navigator?

A Portuguese prince who played a key role in starting the Age of Exploration in the 1400s.

What did Prince Henry sponsor?

Dozens of voyages along the west coast of Africa to explore trade routes and expand knowledge.

How did Prince Henry contribute to navigation?

He founded a school of navigation, improving maps, ship design, and sailing techniques.

Why is Prince Henry remembered?

His efforts helped Portugal become a world leader in exploration and maritime trade.

What places did Leif Eriksson name during his voyage west from Greenland?

Helluland (Flat Rock Land), Markland (Forestland), and Vinland (Wineland).

Why is the exact location of Vinland debated?

Leif made no maps; some believe it was Newfoundland (where Norse ruins were found), others say Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or even Cape Cod.

Why did Norse exploration in North America end?

It is believed that ongoing conflicts with Native Americans made the Vinland settlements hard to defend.

Who was Henry the Navigator, and what was his role in exploration?

A Portuguese prince (1394–1460) who sponsored over 50 expeditions along the West African coast, advancing geography and making Portugal a leader in navigation, though he never sailed himself.