Introducing the Victorious Popular Captains

Vikings 1000

Eric the Red (Dad)

Eric was born in Norway. He was born Eric Thorvaldson, but was called Eric the Red because of his red hair.

When Eric was approximately 10 years old, he moved with his father Iceland.

He killed two men and was sent away from Iceland for three years. During this time, Eric explored the waters west of Iceland.

Eric reached Greenland. He spent 3 years there, then returned to Iceland. Eric named the new land Greenland to get people to move there.

Eric sailed for Greenland with 25 ships of colonists, but only 14 finished the voyage. About 450 people formed two settlements/towns.

Eric planned to search for more land west of Greenland. However he refused to make the journey after falling from his horse on the way to his ship. He feared that is was a sign of bad luck.

Leif the Lucky Leif Ericson

Leif Ericson, or Leif the Lucky, was thoughtful and kind and highly respected.

He earned his nickname after saving fifteen shipwrecked men.

He made voyages and traded from Greenland to Scotland and Norway.

These voyages were amazing acts/feats since he sailed 1,800 miles on a straight latitude without any sight of land.

Later, Leif discovered Newfoundland, which he called Vinland.

Newfoundland had good resources, such as trees for ships and houses, rivers with salmon, and grassy meadows for animals.

Marco Polo

Marco Polo was an Italian voyager. He was one of the first Europeans to travel across Asia through the Orient.

Polo sailed from Italy in the Mediterranean Sea to the Middle East. Then he went over land through Iran to China.

Then he sailed from China to Vietnam, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, and India.

Marco Polo wrote a book telling about his journeys and what he found, such as porcelain, coal, gunpowder, printing, paper money, and silk.

Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who sailed the Atlantic Ocean hoping to find a route to India.

Columbus sailed for Spain on 3 ships with 90 crew members. They found the Caribbean islands of America. Columbus thought they had made it to the Indies and called the people Indians.

These are the Victorious Popular Captains