The Collapse of the Greenland Norse
analytical Essay
755 words
In Jared Diamond’s novel 'Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed' he discusses many civilizations that moved away from their homelands, grew in population, and then either failed or succeeded in their new environments. Throughout this essay I will attempt to explain the Collapse of the Greenland Norse, one of the many societies to rise and fall. The Greenland Norse faced multiple challenges including economical, agricultural, and unfriendly neighbors. Alongside Greenland other North Atlantic islands faced geographical challenges that lead to some of their falls as well. Yet, first I will discuss why the Norse left Scandinavia in search of new terrain.
Similarly to other expansions the Norse, also known as Vikings, expansion was most likely caused by what’s commonly known as “push/pull” triggers. “Push” means that the population pressure lead to a lack of opportunities in their homeland while “pull” represents good opportunities and empty areas to colonize elsewhere (Collapse pg. 185). Another reason for their sudden expansion is autocatalytic process. For the Norse two very distinct events set of this type of process: one was that in A.D. 793 a raid took place in Lindisfarne Monastery yielding a rich haul of booty that lead to even larger yields in following years and the second reason being the discovery of the unpopulated Faeroe Islands lead to the finding of larger, more distant islands (Collapse pg. 186).
Even though the islands looked promising the Norse soon found out otherwise as the geographical environments posed many problems. For instance, Orkneys which lays in the Gulf Stream was perhaps their most successful island as it enjoyed mild climates and allowed for great agricultural production, but on...
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...the Norse (Collapse pg. 255). Furthermore, the Inuit was able to outlive the Norse due to their advanced fishing skills that the Norse refused to learn from their neighbors largely in part to religion. In the end though it was the Norse’s decision to refrain from eating fish, ringed seals, and whales that potentially could have saved them from collapse (Collapse pg. 274).
Even though the Greenland Norse only survived for four hundred and fifty years they weren’t necessarily failures. After all their unique European society was able to survive longer than we’ve been able to survive here in America (Collapse pg. 276). If we, American’s, don’t learn from others past are we doomed to follow in their footsteps? In my opinion, the answer is yes, but hopefully we’ll be able to turn the tides before its too late and we fall into collapse like so many other societies.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how jared diamond's novel 'collapse: how societies choose to fail or succeed' discusses many civilizations that moved away from their homelands, grew in population, and then either failed or succeeded in their new environments.
- Explains that the norse, also known as vikings, expansion was most likely caused by push/pull triggers — population pressure led to a lack of opportunities in their homeland, while pull represented good opportunities and empty areas to colonize elsewhere.
- Analyzes how the norse discovered that the geographical environments posed many problems. orkneys, shetland, and faeroes were the most successful islands.
- Analyzes how jared diamond's novel 'collapse: how societies choose to fail or succeed' discusses many civilizations that moved away from their homelands, grew in population, and then either failed or succeeded in their new environments.
- Explains that the norse, also known as vikings, expansion was most likely caused by push/pull triggers — population pressure led to a lack of opportunities in their homeland, while pull represented good opportunities and empty areas to colonize elsewhere.
- Analyzes how the norse discovered that the geographical environments posed many problems. orkneys, shetland, and faeroes were the most successful islands.
- Analyzes how greenland norse agriculture was so minimal that most native norsian people never saw wheat, bread, or beer made from barley in their lifetime. they were able to work together for the greater good of the community.
- Analyzes how the norse, despite being a strong society and interlinked closely, weren't able to thrive in their new environment. the inuit outlived them due to their advanced fishing skills.
- Opines that even though the greenland norse only survived for four hundred and fifty years, they weren't necessarily failures.
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- History and Mechanics of Viking Warfareexplanatory essayCohat, Yves. The Vikings: Lords of the Seas. Trans. Ruth Daniel. New York: A Times Mirror Company, 1992. Print.
In this essay, the author
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- Explains that the vikings' armor depended on what they could provide for themselves as protection.
- Explains that the vikings used many different types of weapons in battle, such as the sword, axe, and bow and arrow.
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- Explains that the vikings' armor depended on what they could provide for themselves as protection.
- Explains that the vikings used many different types of weapons in battle, such as the sword, axe, and bow and arrow.
- Explains that the vikings were one of the first civilizations to create such a successfully engineered ship.
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- Explains that the vikings were fearless raiders and feared by many, but they were peaceful caring people. they used the fear of their enemies to their greatest advantage.
- Explains that cohat, yves, the vikings: lords of the seas.
- Explains martina sprague's book, norse warfare: the unconventional battle strategies of the ancient vikings.
- Describes what life was like when longships sailed: vikings ad 800-1100. alexandria, va: time-life, 1998.
1475 wordsRead More - The Vikings Trial In North Americaexplanatory essayWhen the Vikings landed they were not friendly. The Vikings killed 10 Indians while they were sleeping (Weiner 4). That did not bold well with the Indians that upset them immensely. The Vikings did not like that they were outnumbered by the Indians (Weiner 4). The Indians did not like the Vikings at all. The Vikings tried to make peace with the Native Americans, but the Native Americans did not accept it. The Indians wanted the Vikings gone. Norse colony tried to establish itself in Newfoundland according to the sages (Clarke 177). Thorwald died trying to make the same trip his brother Leif had done to get to Vinland and an arrow belonging to the Native Americans killed him. (Clarke 177). Thorwald had made a home and settled before he died. Even after his death his family had stayed for a short time. Then it had gotten too dangerous for the Vikings so they had to leave. Hostility from Native Americans made their period there short lived (Clarke 178). The Indians had driven the Vikings out of North America. The Vikings left and only came
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- Explains that the vikings were the first europeans and christians to come to north america. they explored north american waters for partners to trade with.
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- Explains that the vikings were the first europeans and christians to come to north america. they explored north american waters for partners to trade with.
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- Analyzes how the vikings tried to set up settlements but had to leave for some reasons. they killed 10 indians while they were sleeping, which upset them immensely.
- Explains that the vikings returned to america to trade but not settle. they wanted to make money and make a living.
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- Explains that many theories haven't been proven, such as whether the zheng fleet traveled around the africa horn.
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- Explains that the practice of skiing started to develop in many countries around the world in the late nineteenth century, long after the scandinavian societies.
- Opines that skiing is more than a sport, serving both political and civil roles.
- Explains that the oldest and most precise recorded evidence of skiing has been found in modern day norway and sweden.
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- Explains that the nordics view themselves as natural polar explorers with special capacities in their field. skiing is virtuous, connected with snow, nature, purity, and the wilderness.
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- Explains that vikings were not a race, linked by ties of common ancestry or patriotism, and could not be defined by any single definition.
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- Describes the svinfylking or boar formation as a group of heavily armed warriors interlocking their shields and forming triangles pointing at the enemy. although the vikings used group tactics they were brutal in one on one combat.
- Explains that vikings were not a race, linked by ties of common ancestry or patriotism, and could not be defined by any single definition.
- Explains the viking axe, swords, and spears. the vikings developed unique battle tactics that were essential to winning.
- Describes the svinfylking or boar formation as a group of heavily armed warriors interlocking their shields and forming triangles pointing at the enemy. although the vikings used group tactics they were brutal in one on one combat.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains diamond's view that the norse greenlanders didn't have a good relationship with their neighbors the inuits, which decreased trade between them.
- Analyzes how diamond's last point revolves around the society’s response to environmental damage, and their faulty social values.
- Analyzes how mcanany and yoffee believe that the norse greenlanders had difficulty accepting a lifestyle that was not primarily based on traditional farming.
- Explains diamond's view that the norse greenlanders didn't have a good relationship with their neighbors the inuits, which decreased trade between them.
- Analyzes how diamond's last point revolves around the society’s response to environmental damage, and their faulty social values.
- Analyzes how mcanany and yoffee believe that the norse greenlanders had difficulty accepting a lifestyle that was not primarily based on traditional farming.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that vikings and natives of scotland often experienced violent confrontation, but contributed in shaping each other in equal measure.
- Analyzes how the narrative raises the question of how violent the viking raids were. there is no satisfactory answer.
- Analyzes the evidence attesting to a viking culture at all levels of society, discrediting the earldom hypothesis.
- Explains that vikings and natives of scotland often experienced violent confrontation, but contributed in shaping each other in equal measure.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that greenland is a place of climactic extremes, lying mostly within the arctic circle, where dog sleds are preferable to cars for out-of-town transportation.
- Explains that greenland's climate has been inconsistent over the past thousand years, and the wellbeing of its residents is directly linked to the climate.
- Argues that climate has a great deal of control over all societies. greenland is vulnerable to its climate, and continues to exist at its whim.
- Explains that greenland is a place of climactic extremes, lying mostly within the arctic circle, where dog sleds are preferable to cars for out-of-town transportation.
- Explains that greenland's climate has been inconsistent over the past thousand years, and the wellbeing of its residents is directly linked to the climate.
- Argues that climate has a great deal of control over all societies. greenland is vulnerable to its climate, and continues to exist at its whim.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that the vikings were impressive international tradesmen of their time. they established a strong trade network that allowed goods and materials to travel to neighboring countries and across the globe.
- Explains that the vikings were impressive international tradesmen of their time. they established a strong trade network that allowed goods and materials to travel to neighboring countries and across the globe.
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In this essay, the author
- Describes how erik's descriptions of the new territory persuaded many people to follow him to find a new colony in greenland.
- Describes how erik's descriptions of the new territory persuaded many people to follow him to find a new colony in greenland.
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In this essay, the author
- Narrates how erik the red left norway as a young child and moved to iceland to live there. he was exiled for three years due to killings he committed from iceland.
- Narrates how the journey across the ocean between ice land and the great greenland was long and hard. many of us got lost due to the fog or that they had no other choice but for them to turn back.
- Explains that they settled in greenland because there is a lot of land where they can grow crops and build houses and markets. the climate is cold due to being so close to the arctic circle but with their armour and clothing they have made it liveable.
- Narrates how erik the red left norway as a young child and moved to iceland to live there. he was exiled for three years due to killings he committed from iceland.
- Narrates how the journey across the ocean between ice land and the great greenland was long and hard. many of us got lost due to the fog or that they had no other choice but for them to turn back.
- Explains that they settled in greenland because there is a lot of land where they can grow crops and build houses and markets. the climate is cold due to being so close to the arctic circle but with their armour and clothing they have made it liveable.
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- Explains that the norse were having these problems because of their village placements in the mountains. they discovered that you sink less in snow when on top of an object with a large surface area.
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- Explains that skiing was first used for transportation and for war in snowy terrain. the norse improved the physical state of the two boards to make the skis faster and stronger.
- Explains that the norse were having these problems because of their village placements in the mountains. they discovered that you sink less in snow when on top of an object with a large surface area.
- Explains that the norse got better at skiing and invented moves that helped them during war and transportation. human resilience is a wonder on earth.
- Explains that skiing was first used for transportation and for war in snowy terrain. the norse improved the physical state of the two boards to make the skis faster and stronger.
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In this essay, the author
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- Explains that norway was rude and terrible to him, but he truly cared about denmark. they were closer than any of the other nordics, and they told each other everything.
- Analyzes how denmark's insults finally hit him. norway wraps the comforter around him tighter and sniffs it lightly. he didn't realize how much time he spent with the dane.
- Narrates how norway is wrapped up in a blanket, 12 hours since iceland had found denmark, and yet he still can't pull himself out of his bed.
- Explains that norway was rude and terrible to him, but he truly cared about denmark. they were closer than any of the other nordics, and they told each other everything.
- Analyzes how denmark's insults finally hit him. norway wraps the comforter around him tighter and sniffs it lightly. he didn't realize how much time he spent with the dane.
- Analyzes how norway lies in bed and stares at the ceiling. sleep is his solution to everything right now. though his stomach growls, he couldn't care less.
- Narrates how norway was the first one iceland called, but norway didn't respond. he stood still and stared at the coffee pot for a half an hour before returning to bed.
- Narrates how the man tried covering his face with a pillow to get some extra minutes, but after they were closed fully, he turned back for his bed. he had missed 27 calls and even more texts.
- Narrates how matthias dreamed of denmark, which was part of the reason he wanted to sleep, the other being that it didn't hurt when slept. the words were genuine and not laced with insults.
- Narrates how lukas was in a cozy warm store looking at knick-knacks while matthias shifted through clothes on the rack. they walked home, both carrying shopping bags.
- Analyzes how lukas lended into kissing him, but was stopped. matthias gave him a sad look.
- Analyzes how denmark's eyes shot open and placed his hand on his heart. if he had kissed denmark in his dream who was dead in real life, it would leave iceland even worse off.
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- Analyzes how norway is depressed but also shows denial which can tie into depression.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that the norse viking age officially began in 793 ad with the first recorded raid through to 1066 ad, ending in the battle of hastings.
- Explains that the viking age began in 793 ad with the raid on the lindisfarne monastery, but it wasn't a new concept to go "vikingr' (raid).
- Explains that viking raids by opportunistic norsemen began occurring in other locations, such as the island of iona in scotland in 794 ad.
- Explains that the norse viking age officially began in 793 ad with the first recorded raid through to 1066 ad, ending in the battle of hastings.
- Explains that the viking age began in 793 ad with the raid on the lindisfarne monastery, but it wasn't a new concept to go "vikingr' (raid).
- Explains that viking raids by opportunistic norsemen began occurring in other locations, such as the island of iona in scotland in 794 ad.
- Explains that viking raids began on the western coast of francia (france) in 790 to 800 ad. normandy takes its name from the viking raiders who were called normanii.
- Explains that england was relaxed with isolated communities along the edges of coasts, islands, peninsulas and other waterway inlets. this complacency opened the door to norse raiders as easy pickings.
- Explains that viking raids continued across the northern and eastern coastal shores of england, scotland, and ireland, leading to settlements and the founding of limerick.
- Explains how a norwegian viking named "naddodd" became one of the first settlers in the faroe islands and discovered iceland when he was sailing from norway to the islands.
- Describes how a large viking fleet invaded ireland's eastern and northern coasts in 832 ad. the danes raided the isle of sheppey and moved northward.
- Explains how the norse invaded the frankish region during the reign of louis the pious. they seized the opportunity to settle their first colony in the southwest of the kingdom of francia.
- Explains that the vikings had set up a permanent base in the mouth of the loire river in 842 ad where they could now strike at places as far as northern spain, such as cadiz.
- Narrates how the vikings conquered lisbon (al-ushbuna) after a siege in 844 ad. they left after 13 days, following the resistance led by alah ibn hazm.
- Describes how viking raids continued on the divided kingdoms of francia. ragnar lodbrok with 120 ships and 5000 warriors, landed in france, and attacked rouen, carolivenna and paris.
- Explains that ragnar lodbrok led many of the raids conducted on england, francia and frisia during this time. he became known as the scourge of england and france.
- Narrates how king fr ordered the surviving women of his family into a brothel for public humiliation. when ragnar lodbrok heard about the invasion of norway, some of the women dressed as men fought on his side.
- Analyzes how lagertha fought ferociously as a man and only the loose locks of her hair flowing over her shoulders revealed her as being women. this impressed ragnar and led him to court her.
- Narrates how lagertha attacked ragnar when he arrived. he killed the bear with his spear and choked the hound to death.
- Analyzes how ragnar held a grudge against lagertha for having her two beasts attack him when he originally sought out her hand in marriage and divorced her and returned to denmark.
- Narrates how the norwegian woman slew her husband with a spearhead and usurped his sovereignty. she ruled without him, rather than share the throne with him.
- Describes how ragnar lodbrok's second wife was the daughter of king herraur of sweden, thora town-hart (óra borgarhjörtr).
- Explains that ragnar's third wife, aslaug, was the daughter of sigurd and the shield-maiden brynhildr.
- Describes how they arrived at spangereid at lindesnes in norway, where they stayed for the night in the house of the peasants ke and grima.
- Narrates how ragnar lodbrok's men discovered krka while bathing and allowed the bread they were baking to burn as they watched her.
- Analyzes how ragnar was impressed by her ingenuity and felt she would be a wise companion. he proposed marriage to her, but she refused until he'd accomplished his mission in norway.
- Explains that ragnar lodbrok was a ladies' man and shared the beds of lathgerda, thora and aslaug.
- Describes how ragnar's sons grew up and set out to prove themselves as equals of their father. they made wars far and wide and conquered zealand, reidgotaland, gotland and all the surrounding small islands.
- Narrates how ragnar's sons became ambitious warriors, so he appointed eysteinn beli to be the king of sweden.
- Explains that king eysteinn offered his daughter to eirkr and as much of the uppsala öd (the ancient collection of royal estates that financed the swedish kings) as he wanted.
- Explains that dane vikings overwintered for the first time in 850 ad on the isle of thanet near kent, england. after 851 ad, they began to stay in the lower seine valley of francia.
- Explains that in 854 ad a raiding party overwintered at the isle of sheppey in the thames estuary, where the river thames runs into the north sea.
- Explains that the vikings captured and burned chartres, francia and twice more in the 860's ad. they rowed to paris and left only when they acquired sufficient loot or were bribed by the carolingian rulers.
- Explains that the west francia king, charles the bald, put a stop to much of the raiding by defending his rivers and fortifying his towns, making it easier for the vikings to easily raid.
- Explains that many norsemen had settled in shetland, orkney, the hebrides and man, and parts of mainland scotland. these areas were ruled over by local jarls.
- Explains that the vikings diverted their attention more on england and reverted to the isle of thanet for their winter encampment before conducting summer raids.
- Narrates how ragnar lodbrok conquered england with only two merchant ships, built in vestfold, norway. aslaug didn't approve of this idea, but he arrived safely with his army in england.
- Narrates how ragnar became shipwrecked off the coast of northumbia when king lla defeated his army and took him prisoner.
- Explains that viking raids were predominately hit and run operations, but by 865 ad they changed into invasions with the intent to conquer. pressure from tyrannous kings forced them to seek new lands and start new lives.
- Explains that ragnar lodbrok's sons' attention in england was due to the death of their father, who was killed by king lla, the king of northumbria.
- Explains that the great heathen army was formed in 865 ad by uncoordinated bands of norse vikings from denmark, norway, and sweden led by ragnar lodbrok's sons, ivar, halfdan and ubbe.
- Explains that the danes were aware of the civil war that had weakened the great northern kingdom in england and as warriors they were extremely opportunistic.
- Explains how king lla and osberht united their forces and attempted to retake york from the great heathen army, but king olla was captured and subjected to traditional norse warrior practice of the blood eagle ordeal.
- Describes how the northumbrians paid the vikings off, and the great heathen army collected leaders established king ecgberht i(egbert) as a puppet leader and tax collector in northumbria before setting off for the kingdom of mercia, where they captured nottingham.
- Describes how king thelred and his brother, alfred the great, led a west saxon army from wessex and mercia and besieged the norse occupied city of nottingham with no clear result.
- Explains that the battle of englefield was a battle on december 31st, 870 ad. it took place following an invasion of the then kingdom of wessex by an army of danes.
- Narrates how a party of danes, led by two of their jarls rode out towards englefield, where thelwulf, the ealdorman of the shire, had mustered his force.
- Explains that the saxon victory at englefield didn't last long. four days later, the main west-saxon army, led by king ethelred and his brother, alfred the great, attacked the danish encampment at reading.
- Narrates how king bagsecg and halfdan ragnarsson dispatched viking parties to attack the kingdom of wessex which remained vulnerable to viking raids and captured reading and berkshire.
- Explains that the battle of ashdown, in berkshire, took place on january 8th, 871 ad. the vikings were commanded by bagsecg and halfdan and five other danish jarls.
- Describes the battle of basing as a series of battles that took place following an invasion of the then kingdom of wessex by an army of danes.
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