Icelandic settlements in America

• Main Author: Arnason, Angantyr
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: Canada; Iceland; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/3272

When the Northmen or Vikings in their restless search for adventure, plunder and new homes, ravaged the coasts of Germany, France and the British Isles in the ninth, tenth and eleventh centuries, their names were synonymous with intrepidity of spirit, lightning-like rapidity of action, absolute disregard for life and deathless adherence to their plighted word. These Nordics practically disappeared from the history of Europe after the close of the eleventh century. Some of their descendants, the residents of a remote and barren island in the North Atlantic came, during the latter part of the nineteenth century into the history of Canada and the U.S.A. No longer were they sailing in the Dragon Ships, searching for plunder at the point of the sword: that fierce spirit had passed. These newcomers appeared as humble immigrants, who had wearied of the difficult task of eking out a bare existence in their native Iceland and having heard tales of the bounteous plenty of the new land had, like their forebears, ventured forth on unknown seas to see what fortune held in store for them in America. The old courage and fearlessness, the old spirit of adventure and love of freedom was still present, but these qualities, which made their forefathers successful marauders have made these newcomers successful citizens of the two rich, great and free nations, where they have made their homes.