Editing Erik the Red (section)

===Greenland===
During his exile, around 982, Erik sailed to a somewhat mysterious and little-known land that [[Snæbjörn galti|Snæbjörn galti Hólmsteinsson]] had unsuccessfully attempted to settle a few years before. Erik rounded the southern tip of the island, later known as [[Cape Farewell, Greenland|Cape Farewell]], and sailed up the western coast. Eventually, Erik reached a part of the coast that, for the most part, seemed ice-free and consequently had conditions—similar to those of Iceland—that promised growth and future prosperity.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OlxphYHf874C&q=Erik+Thorvaldsson%2C+ice-free+coast&pg=PA18|title=In the Hands of a Child: Project Pack Explorers of the World|publisher=In the Hands of a Child|language=en|access-date=2 October 2020|archive-date=23 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423123102/https://books.google.com/books?id=OlxphYHf874C&q=Erik+Thorvaldsson%2C+ice-free+coast&pg=PA18|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the ''[[Saga of Erik the Red]]'', Erik spent his three years of exile exploring this land. The first winter Erik spent on the island of Eiriksey, the second winter he passed in Eiriksholmar (close to Hvarfsgnipa). In the final summer Erik explored as far north as Snaefell and into Hrafnsfjord.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="saga" />

When Erik returned to Iceland after his exile had expired, he is said to have brought with him stories of "Greenland". Erik purposefully gave the land a more appealing name than "Iceland" as "people would be attracted to go there if it had a favorable name", per Erik's own words.<ref name="sagab">"The Saga of Eric the Red, in the Icelandic Sagas",  p. 17.  Olson, Julius E. and Edward G. Bourne (editors). ''The Northmen, Columbus and Cabot, 985–1503: The voyages of the Northmen; The Voyages of Columbus and of John Cabot''.  (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1906).  pp. 14–44. [http://www.americanjourneys.org/aj-056/index.asp Online facsimile edition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220015143/http://www.americanjourneys.org/aj-056/index.asp |date=20 February 2009 }}. Accessed 8 February 2008</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |title=Grænlendinga saga |trans-title=Saga of the Greenlanders |url=https://sagadb.org/graenlendinga_saga.is |access-date=22 November 2023 |website=Icelandic Saga Database |at=Chapter 1 |language=is}}</ref> Erik knew that the success of any settlement in Greenland would need the support of as many people as possible.

Erik's salesmanship of Greenland proved successful as after spending the winter in Iceland, Erik returned to Greenland in the summer of 985 with a large number of colonists. However, out of 25 ships that left for Greenland, only 14 arrived, some of the other 11 having turned back, but others likely lost.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Farley Mowat, ''Westviking: The Ancient Norse in Greenland and North America'' (1965) {{ISBN|978-0771066924}}{{page needed|date=September 2021}}
</ref> The Icelanders established two colonies on the southwest coast: the [[Eastern Settlement]] or Eystribyggð, in what is now [[Qaqortoq]], and the [[Western Settlement]], close to present-day [[Nuuk]]. Eventually, a [[Ivittuut|Middle Settlement]] grew, but many suggest it formed part of the Western Settlement. The Eastern and Western Settlements, both established on the southwest coast, proved the only two areas suitable for farming. During the summers, when the weather was more favorable to travel, each settlement would send an army of men to hunt in [[Disko Bay]] above the [[Arctic Circle]] for food and other valuable commodities such as seals (used for rope), [[ivory]] from [[walrus]] tusks, and [[Cetacean stranding|beached whales]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Delgado|first=James|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xip6x68efLoC&q=Erik+Thorvaldsson%2C+summers+hunting+disko+bay&pg=PA16|title=Across the Top of the World: The Quest for the Northwest Passage|date=2009|publisher=D & M Publishers|isbn=978-1-926706-53-5|language=en|access-date=2 October 2020|archive-date=23 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423123231/https://books.google.com/books?id=xip6x68efLoC&q=Erik+Thorvaldsson%2C+summers+hunting+disko+bay&pg=PA16|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Brattachurch.jpg|thumb|21st-century reproduction of Þjódhild's church, with [[Tunulliarfik Fjord|Eriksfjord]] in the background. Located in [[Qassiarsuk]], Greenland.]]

==== Eastern Settlement ====
{{Main|Eastern Settlement}}

In the Eastern Settlement, Erik built the [[Estate (house)|estate]] of [[Brattahlíð]], near present-day [[Narsarsuaq]], in what is known today as [[Qassiarsuk]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Topas |date=2 October 2020 |title=Erik the Red's Land - The Norse in South Greenland |url=https://www.greenlandbytopas.com/erik-the-reds-land-the-norse-in-south-greenland/ |access-date=12 April 2024 |website=www.greenlandbytopas.com |language=en}}</ref> Erik held the title of [[paramount chieftain]] of Greenland and became both greatly respected and wealthy.

The settlement flourished, growing to 5,000 inhabitants spread over a considerable area along [[Tunulliarfik Fjord|Eriksfjord]] and neighboring [[fjord]]s. Groups of [[immigrant]]s escaping overcrowding in Iceland joined the original party. However, one group of immigrants which arrived in 1002 brought with it an [[epidemic]] that ravaged the colony, killing many of its leading citizens, including Erik himself.<ref>Marc Carlson, [http://idrisi.narod.ru/mcarlson.htm History of Medieval Greenland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416210928/http://idrisi.narod.ru/mcarlson.htm |date=16 April 2015 }}, 31 July 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2007.</ref> Nevertheless, the colony rebounded and survived until the [[Little Ice Age]] made the land marginal for European life-styles in the 15th century–shortly before [[Christopher Columbus]]'s first [[Voyages of Christopher Columbus|voyage to the Americas]] in 1492. [[Pirate]] raids, conflict with [[Inuit]] moving into the Norse territories, and the colony's abandonment by Norway became other factors in its decline.<ref>Dale Mackenzie Brown, "[http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/greenland/ The Fate of Greenland's Vikings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104204345/http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/greenland/|date=4 November 2012}}," ''Archeology'', 28 February 2000. Retrieved 1 August 2007.</ref>