This essay challenges the stereotypical image of Vikings as mere raiders, revealing the incredible distances they traversed as explorers and settlers during the 9th-11th centuries. While acknowledging the debate around the term "Viking," the essay focuses on the broader category of "Northmen" from Scandinavia and surrounding areas.
Despite limitations in source accuracy, the essay utilizes a navigation app to estimate travel distances for these daring journeys. We encounter the Irish monks (Papar) who likely reached Iceland first, followed by Northmen settlers like Ingolfr. Eirík the Red emerges as the leader of the first Norse settlement in Greenland. The essay then delves into the exploration of North America (Vínland), crediting Leif Eiríksson with its discovery and detailing subsequent expeditions by Thorvald and Thorfinn Karlsefni.
Compelling figures like Gudrid, who traveled over 7,434 miles in her lifetime, showcase the vast scale of these voyages. The essay culminates by highlighting Auðun's remarkable journey exceeding 9,413 miles, which even included transporting a polar bear for a king!
By uncovering the immense distances covered by the Northmen, this essay goes beyond the raid-centric narrative. It proposes further investigation into the specific locations mentioned in sagas to gain a richer understanding of their journeys and daily lives, offering a more nuanced perspective on these historical adventurers.