From Greenland to Vinland: Leif Erikson & Viking Voyages to the New World

It’s been more than a thousand years since medieval Scandinavians left their homelands in search of plunder and glory, becoming the scourge of Christian monasteries and coastal cities—raiding and trading far and wide, from Anglo-Saxon England to modern-day Russia, Constantinople, and the Islamic Emirate of Cordoba in Spain. The Vikings traversed so much of the world, exploring and settling Iceland, Greenland, and, for the topic of this episode, North America. Medieval Icelandic sagas claim the Vikings reached North America around the year 1000. But what is the story of the Norse in this ‘’new world’’? What are our sources? Were there interactions with indigenous peoples? Who were the key characters? And what could have led to the demise of the Vikings in North America? Today's guest is British historian Martyn Whittock, a historical consultant to the BBC, whose books have sold over 1 million copies. Martyn is the author of American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America . Resources Mentioned: Martyn's Books: American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America : Vikings in the East. From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin - The Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine : Tales of Valhalla: Norse Myths and Legends : The Vikings. From Odin to Christ : 1016 and 1066: Why the Vikings Caused the Norman Conquest : The Viking Blitzkrieg, AD 789–1098 : Connect with The History of Vikings & Support the Show By: Getting a copy of Noah's book, Viking Warrior vs Frankish Warrior: Francia 799–911 (Osprey Publishing): Share Noah's articles, written for History.com: ''Yule: How the Vikings Celebrated the Winter Holiday'': ''Valhalla: How Viking Belief in a Glorious Afterlife Empowered Warriors": Follow The History of Vikings On: Instagram: X: Email Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.com Tune in every week for a new episode of The History of Vikings.

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From Greenland to Vinland: Leif Erikson & Viking Voyages to the New World is an episode from The History of Vikings by Noah Tetzner.

This episode is 38:29 long.

This episode was published on Mar 30, 2026.

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