Viking and Norse Settlers and Their Lasting Impact on Iceland and Its People

• Main Author: Blanks, Nikolas J.
• Other Authors: BlanksN
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Scholarly Commons 2018
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: https://commons.erau.edu/discovery-day/db-discovery-day-2018/poster-session/54; https://commons.erau.edu/context/discovery-day/article/1300/viewcontent/N_Blanks.pdf

The purpose of this research was to investigate the lasting impacts that the Norse and Viking settlers had on Iceland’s environment and people. Through an extensive preliminary literature review and research process, I learned that Viking settlers colonized Iceland quickly in their hunt for resources. The settlers ravaged the land of its natural birch forests, using the wood for various necessities. This rapid deforestation contributed to current issues Iceland has had with soil erosion and lack of forest growth (Luft, 2001). While in Iceland, I kept a field journal to record my observations and notes, as well as conduct an interview on the various ways Vikings have left their mark on Iceland. I attended the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland to learn more about what Iceland is doing to reverse the effects of soil erosion and to gather more information about the Vikings’ role in the changing environment. I found that the Viking settlers’ deforestation of Iceland was the tipping point for the environment. Without the birch forests and other plants, the soil became loose and vulnerable to the strong winds of Iceland (Catlin, 2016). Despite the Vikings’ role in the environment, I observed that Icelanders are very proud of their heritage.