Settlements in Greenland. Citadel, Derbent Old Town Construction

The robbery and military campaigns of Vikings in England and France, as well as expeditions to the Mediterranean Sea, during one of which, for example, 62 vessels under the guidance of the legendary Hahashtein in 895 reached Byzantium, far from fully characterize them to achieve them as navigators. The navigation arts of the Vikings and the seaworthiness of their vessels testify to the navigation, ended with the settlement of Iceland and Greenland and the discovery of America.

The first Norwegians appeared on the Hebrid Islands around 620. Almost 200 years later, in 800 g. They settled on Faroe ("Sheep") islands, and in 802 - on Orkney and Shetland. In 820 in Ireland, they created a state that was located in the area of \u200b\u200bmodern Dublin, and existed until 1170.

Information about Iceland Vikings delivered the Swede Gardar Swalfarson, who in 861 transported the inheritance of his wife from Hebrid Islands. During the transition, his vessel was treated with a storm northern coast Iceland, where he overwhelmed with the team. When in 872, Harald beautifully created a great kingdom in Norway, Iceland became the goal for those Norwegians who did not want to obey the king. It is believed that up to 930 in Iceland moved from 20,000 to 30,000 Norwegians. With you, they were brought homemade household items, seeds and domestic animals. Fishing, agriculture and cattle breeding were the main classes of Vikings in Iceland.

Icelandic sagas transmitted from generation to generation and recorded only in the XIII and XIV centuries recorded only in the XIII and XIV centuries are the most important sources of viking information. Sugi inform us about Viking settlements in Greenland and the opening of America, called Wellands.

So, in a saga about the Eirik Raud (Redhead), which was recorded about 1200 Hawuk Erlandssson, it was said that in 983, Eica, expelled from Iceland for three years for the murder, swam in search of the country, which Gunbonn saw when swimming in " West Sea. " Eica Redhead reached Greenland and settled there with a group of Icelanders. The settlement was named brutalid. There lived Bard Herulifson. In 986, his son Bjarni sailed from Iceland with the intention to get to Greenland. During swimming, he stumbled three times on an unfamiliar land, until finally found his father who lived in the southern tip of Greenland. Upon returning to Norway, Bjarni spoke about his swimming at the courtyard of King Eika. The son of Eika Red - Leif Ericsson - acquired the ship from Baryni and swam on it with 35 people in Brattalid. After careful preparation, they first repeated the journey of Baryni on the Labrador ps. Having reached it, they turned to the south and followed along the coast. According to the Greenland Saga, recorded in 1387 by Yon Todarsson from Flatheibuk, they reached the terrain called by them Winland - the country of grapes. There, the wild grapes are growing rapidly, Mais, salmon met in the rivers. South Salmon Spread Border approximately corresponded to 41 ° latitude. The northern border of wild grapes took place around the 42nd parallels. Thus, Leif with his team at about 1000 reached the places where Boston is currently located (Fig. 1).

Brother Leif - Torvald - after his story on the same ship with 30 people, also reached Winland, where he lived for two years. During one of the skits with local residents Torvald was mortally wounded, and the Vikings left the settlement. Later, the second brother of Leif - Torstain - on the same ship wanted to reach Wilan, but could not find this land.

On the coast of Greenland in some places there were settlements of Icelanders, just 300 yards. Large difficulties for living there arose due to lack of forest. The forest grew on Labrador, located closer to Greenland than Iceland, but the swimming for the Labrador, the Labrador, due to the harsh climate, were dangerous. Therefore, Vikings who lived in Greenland had to carry everything they need from Europe on the courts, which were like ships from Skullayev. This is confirmed by the excavations of burials in Greenland, in which the remains of the courts are found. In the XIV century Viking settlements in Greenland ceased to exist.

Notes:
In the XI century Normans in addition to England captured Sicily and South Italy, founding here at the beginning of the XII century. "Kingdom of both Sicili." The author mentions exclusively the grip and military campaigns of Danov and Norwegians and says nothing about the Swedes, the expansion of which was directed mainly on Eastern Europe, Including on Russia.

The decisive battle between Harald and his opponents in Hafrsfid occurred shortly before 900 g. And, therefore, there was no direct connection between relocation in Iceland and political events in Norway.

Currently there are about forty hypotheses about the location of Winlands. Equally, the hypothesis of the Norwegian ethnologist X is not indisputable. Ingestad, who in 1964 opened the ruins of the settlement defined by him as Winland Normanov on Newfoundland. A number of scientists believe that this settlement belongs to Eskimo Dorset culture. In addition, in the sagas, the climate of Wilan is estimated as soft, which does not correspond to the harsh subarctic climate of Newfoundland.

Strange name. This land is not at all green as it is called. She is white, or, rather, ice. It would be quite suitable for the name - Iceland. But it has been fixed for incomparably more green island. This turned out to be a geographical paradox. But, like a genuine paradox, he has a logical explanation.

North-West Europe at the beginning of the new era, even more densely settled in enterprising strong and bold people. They grazed the cattle, engaged in agriculture, hunted, caught fish. However, despite the relatively mild climate of Scandinavia, supremous land for agriculture was not very much. Yes, and the soil quickly depleted.

An increase in population density If it is impossible to conduct more intensive farming and cattle breeding, internal conflicts caused. More and more young strong people began to leave for robbery, in Viking, as they were called.

First, perhaps, they just tried to find and populate new territories. But the path to the west and southwest across the sea led to the well-hidden lands of Britain, Ireland. The same was on western outskirts Europe. In these parts, Vikings made robbing raids and conquests.

The largest geographical discoveries They fell out to those Scandinavians (Normanov, Norwegians) who were looking for not wealth, but a worthy peaceful life.

Residents British Islands suffered from Viking raids. According to this, the reason or simply from the desire to avoid the worldly bustle, the group of Irish monks began to go to the sea, settlementing on the desert islands.

According to the medieval Irish chronicler of Dicuil, at the end of the 7th century, one of the similar groups spent spring and summer on a large uninhabited island northwest of Ireland. It was Iceland. Part of the people returned to their homeland, but some remained.

In 867, one of the leaders of Viking, Naddud, with a friend returned from Norway to his possessions on Faroe Islands. The storm dropped his Darcar far to the north-west. He saw the mountainous land with the snow-covered mountains and called it Iceland. Perhaps he did not want her to attract people to him.

Soon another group of Vikings, headed by Gardar, discovered this land, went around her and made sure that this island, besides quite attractive. Norwegian chronicle Ari Torgilsson Frode left such a description: "In those days, Iceland from the mountains to the shore was covered with forests, and there were Christians there, which Norwegians called papara. But later, these people, not wanting to communicate with the pagans, went away from there, leaving after themselves Irish books, bells and pea; From this it can be seen that they were Irish. "

This island would be quite suitable for the name Greenland. But for some reason, Norwegians preferred to call him "ice earth." According to one version, the choice of the name influenced the impression of the wintering, which he spent on one of the princes, Viking Flocks, sailing from Norway. These immigrants did not store in sufficient quantities for livestock. Winter was long and varying, cattle died. People could not leave the earth, because the sea was covered with ice. With considerable deprivations, they retained until the summer and returned to their homeland.

Over time, life is not only economic, but also a state-owned life on the island. In 930, residents at the general collection decided to establish the Supreme Council - alttention. It was the first parliament in the world. However, in about a century, the Novgorod Republic, with its elected citizens, there was a government, but it existed relatively long due to the internal junctions and was changed by the monarchy,

The altint allowed the inhabitants of the island to bring order and coordinate their actions, to deal with crime. This circumstance played a role in the opening of a new land.

The owner of one of the places, Eik, on nicknamed the redhead, in a quarrel that turned into a fight, killed two people. He was convicted for three years links. The circumstances of this case are unclear. Apparently, there were some controversial issues in the ownership of land or long-standing patterns; And it happened not just a fight, but a whole closer in which representatives of two clans participated. It is unlikely that the murder was suitable and unfortunate, otherwise the punishment would not be relatively soft: three years of references. By the way, the father of Eika and his family was expelled from Norway to Iceland too for murder. It can be seen, men in this family were generally distinguished by a steep temper.

So, the Eikric with his people in 981 or 982 plunged into Drakars - sharply long turbo - and left Iceland. They knew that in the east, in Norway, and in the south, in Ireland and Britain, there is no place. To the north to the unknown limits stretched the cold ocean. In the West, as some sailors told, there is some unknown land. Perhaps the Eica himself before while swimming came to her.

This time they had to be mastered on the unwriting deserted shores, followed by glaciers. The navigators moved to the south along the coast, choosing a suitable harbor with green meadows suitable for cattle breeding. They passed more than 600 km to the southern outskirts of the island and arranged a settlement. This is how it described this event Ari Torgilsson Frode:

"The country called Greenland was opened and settled from Iceland. From there headed to Greenland Eica Redhead from Beyidi Fjord. He gave the country name, calling her Greenland; He said that people would want to go there if the country has good name. They found in the east and in the west of the country traces of housing, as well as the remnants of boats and stone guns. So told Torkel, the son of Gellira, in Greenland, a man who himself was in this journey with Eyrica Ginger. "

After the first wintering migrants examined the Western shores of the island, too, by about 600 km. Plots came across the places where settlements could be organized. Eica from the unfortunate izgoy turned into a host of an extensive country. One problem - Nature was a Surov. And the other - there was no population. How to attract people here?

By that time, apparently, there were no territories in Iceland, more or less suitable for habitat. When, departing the term of punishment, Eica returned to his native island, he managed to persuade a lot of people to go to Greenland - a green country. Especially since it was (in his surveyed Eyric part) on the same latitudes that Iceland, even south.

Eik is not too exaggerated by calling the "green" land open. He could not know the true size of the island - the largest in the world, nor the fact that it is almost entirely under an ice cover. The researchers did not enter the depths of the island, and its coast is almost everywhere, especially in the southwest, was indeed green. Perhaps, in some places, even small groves met in the valleys. The trunks nailed to the shore served as a construction and heating material.

In 985, Eica led to the new land a whole flotilla - 25 ships with families, belongings, livestock. In the way, they must be storm. Several Dracars sank, few turned back, but most of the reached Greenland. In total, it is supposed to be 400-500 people. They settled on the southern outskirts of the Great Island in places in advance of the chosen by Eyric.

Soon life in a new place has improved. The population of Greenland grew. In the XIII century, there were already about a hundred small towns and up to five thousand inhabitants. With the continent there was an established regular connection: from there the colonists delivered bread, iron products, construction timber. A. large land Grennentians sent food hunting for birds, marine beasts: Gagachi fluff, whale mustache, walrus, sea animal skins.

However, in the XIV century, the situation on the island became increasingly worsening, the settlements came into decline, people were increasingly sick and died. After two hundred years, the Norman population of Greenland almost completely extinct.

Many geographers believe that the so-called "Small Ice Age" is blamed. However, there is no reason for such a global climate change. Was it? In any case, the most significant thing is: the political situation in North-West Europe has changed.

Iceland in 1281 lost independence and was attached to Norway. Now the trading links of the Greenland with Iceland were disturbed, ceased to be regular.

Even in about a century, Denmark set its power over Norway. In Greenland and almost completely stopped going to walk. The settlers had to increasingly join the armed skirmishes with Eskimos who were close to them from the north, where they were forced to retreat. On calm and dietary life now it remained only to dream. After all, agriculture, and without the requirement of great work, it has fallen into decline: in the north of the soil they quickly lose fertility, and the vegetation cover is poorly renewed.

Danes were sent to Greenland only one ship per year (all others were forbidden to have trade relations with northern Islands). Lained full nutrition, good wood and metal tools, tools of hunting, Normans fell into a critical position. Those of them who did not die and moved to the mainland, took the churches and mixed with the Eskimos.

It comes out, both prosperity and death of Europeans in Greenland were determined not by geographic causes, more or less stable, but environmental and socio-political. To live in isolation on the island, where the nature of Surov and Scott can, only joining the primitive system of management, which fully corresponds to local nature.

Mainly for the same reason failed the first attempt of Europeans to establish a colony in the new world - in North America. But this is another story and another great geographical discovery.

Opening of the sea route in the White Sea.

Opening of Greenland and America.

The journey to the White Sea significantly facilitated the fact that it was possible to hold on all the time along the coast. Nevertheless, the storms often attributed navigators in the open sea, and then they got to the mysterious islands that cannot be determined accurately. From the conversation with the faces who visited the White Sea, I made an impression that the descriptions of Icelandic Saga, mainly Sagi Orel-Odde, closest to Solovkov. But this is contrary to the fact that the islands, to which Normanians stick, are not in the White Sea, but in the ocean, and the nearest parking lot from them is in Finmark. It is clear that Normans knew and visited, though, maybe against their will, persecuted by bad weather, and the islands lying in the Arctic Ocean, the KGUEV and, perhaps, New earth. If this island was subsequently attributed to nature, characteristic of actually more south BankThe error is quite understandable with the oral transmission of our sources.

Undoubtedly, the norms of Normanov to Northwest were much greater dangers, since in this direction there was no mainland shore, along which it was possible to swim. We see how normal moves are moving to the West carefully, individual stages, move from the island to the island. Even before the settlement of Iceland, they established themselves on the Shetland, Orcadian and Ferra Islands. At one time it seemed that this desire to the West would be limited to Iceland and would not go further. But stormy winds and then knocked down travelers from a fashionable path. In 920, a certain Gunbiorne was attributed to the beard to the West and saw unknown to the island. To our surprise and until this day failed to find these islands on the map. Therefore, the Moge thinks that these islands were finally destroyed by volcanic eruptions. In any case, in Iceland, Solve spread about again open land in the West. He remembered Eikon Red, when he was sent from Iceland for murder. He really managed to open new country. Three years he studied her and finally decided to settle in it. To this end, he returned to Iceland to recruit with him comrades. He called Greenland, as it seems to me, as opposed to Iceland. If his homeland rejected by his "country of ice", then how promisingly sounded the name - "green country!" This name suggested to him not only the well-known feeling of revenge, but also the desire to bother with them as many comrades. In addition, in some places of the Greenland coastal, green pastures are really visible. This colonization of Greenland applies to about 985 and was quite successful, so, as far as we can now judge, the population of norms reached up to 5,000 souls.

In 999, Leif, the son of Eica Red, makes the first journey from Greenland to Norway. On the way back, he wanders for a long time in the sea and finally sticks to an unknown coast. Here it is striking three things: grape vines, wildly growing wheat and large maple trees. From all of these rarities, he takes himself along the sample and sails to the northeability, to Greenland. It is clear, the news about the new opening excited everyone. But some evil rock pursued further enterprises. Eico Red himself was going on the road, but on the way to the ship fell from the horse, broke his rib and damaged his shoulder. In general, this trip was extremely unsuccessful: travelers were held in the sea for months and, without reaching their goal, tired returned to Greenland. Among them were the eldest to take Leif, Torstain; He soon died soon after this trip. But in 1002, two Icelandic ships arrive in Greenland. Torre, one of the visits of merchants, married Goodrid, widow Torstain. Probably, now Greenlandians gave them a secret about their opening. And then the whole expedition from many ships is equipped. On its way, they open three countries: the first because of the abundance of the rocks they call Helluland, the second, where they were hit by dense forests - Markland, and, finally, Vinland Hin Goda \u003d country of grapes. It is likely to assume that Helluland is Labrador, Markland - Newfundland, and Vinland is a new Scotland (or area near New Iorka). An attempt to settle in this last country was not crowned with success. They were persistent attacks from the natives, and soon they began to quarrel together. Torrech reached Greenland safely, but another Icelandic ship died during a storm. This trip continued, probably more than three years: on the way, Gudrid gives birth to a son who has been fulfilled for three years when they return to their homeland. Up to 140 people participated in this expedition. But its outcome was not particularly encouraged to repetition. It was too risky to swim in the open water space. So from 35 vessels sailing with Eyric Red to Greenland, only 14 reached their new homeland. Such misfortunes sufficiently show us how dangerously there were similar swimming in unknown waters, without a compass, without shore.

In addition to the saga about Eyric Red, from which we draw all the news about the opening of the North American shore, only fragmentary mention of these lands reached us. There is a note that Bishop Eric in 1121 went to look for Wellands, but whether he reached his goal, whether he returned, in general, we do not know much from this trip. At the most promotion of Normanov's intercourse with America applies to 1347 Icelandic chronicles noted that the Greenland ship on the way back from Marcland was abandoned by a storm in Iceland. Nevertheless, Normanians hardly founded some colony in these parts. Not only the complete silence of Norman sources speaks against such an assumption. From the dead colonies in Greenland, the ruins were left, for which we can restore, both the residence of the norms settled here and the number of their yards. North America has no such trace found. On the rocks, however, mysterious inscriptions were found; At one time they went for the Runic, but more thoroughly their research showed that these designs are obliged to their origin to the Indians. In vain also turned to Mexican manuscripts, hoping to find news about the first openers of America or even the impact of Christianity entered by Normanians. All these attempts were in vain, and we must be content with the conclusion that normal only occasionally drove to the American shores for whether fishing Or for other products of the country.

Despite the fragility of intercourse, new discoveries left their traces in cartographic performances. Let's go back to the initial value of ganvik. The belief that the Arctic Ocean in the north from Europe big Bay, It was because normal at their trips from Norway, Finmarock or Biarmaland north, constantly pushed to the ground. Then the Greenlandians took up the study of their country, more northern it parts and impregnable eastern Shore. Finally, they reached the island of Svalbardr, which Storm found it possible to identify with Spitsbergen. So they began to think that only the West and the passage is possible, and then the Earth. After all, for a long time, then they thought that the Kara Sea was not available for swimming, and then again they believed that a little further asia bends on far Northuntil Nordencheld destroyed this legend. The question of the northeastern travel (NordostPassage) actually only an account with the old delusion of ganvik. Adam Bremensky did not know the path past the Nordkapa. Therefore, he does not have an idea of \u200b\u200bNorway northern shore, about Biarmaland and ganvik. But he has an exa of cartographic construction: Greenland is located against Swedish (that is, Norwegian) or Rhyphic Mountains. So entry into ganvik was between Greenland and Northskap. Sakson places in the north of ganvik large desertwithout calling it by name. Neither the location of it is unknown; It is completely withdrawn from the human settlement, only wild extraordinary beasts are there in a variety. Very few visited these edges. We find more specific instructions in the so-called, Breve Chronicon, the manuscript of the XV century, although the original rises, probably by the XIII century. The author of the Chronicles tells such a case that ships heading from Iceland to Norway met the opposite wind and were attributed to the sea, located between Greenland and Biarmalands, and stuck to the shore, where people inevitably live (even to riceland) and to the ground Amazons. From their edge of the Grandia is separated only ice mountains . It is clear, since the author perfectly clearly imagined the map of the European North, he could not put the Amazons near the Scandinavian Peninsula, as his predecessors, Tacit, Adam Bremensky and others did. Therefore, he moved them to the north of Ganvik, where they were alone, but In general, could still fit - MONSTRA VARIA. Greenland, according to the presentation, the author lies against Biarmaland and is associated with it. So, all the polar lands, ranging from Greenland and ending in Norway, constitute a solid mainland shore without a break and form a semicircle, inside of which ganvik is located.

Next, in the same chronicle, we find the definition of the extreme West. This is all the same Greenland - Viridis Terra, which thus acquired monstrous sizes. It is located near the African Islands, where the waters of the World Ocean are flowing. Atlantic Ocean Should somehow eat the waters of the World Ocean. But with this question, the idea of \u200b\u200bAmerican lands was closely related. So far, Norman was considered with America necessary for the coating of the oceans, the Strait could be placed either between Greenland and America or between America and Africa. Once America disappears from sight, only one place for a given strait between Greenland and Africa remains. It could happen the easier that Normans imagined America not in the form big mainlandbut as a number major islands. Of these, the southernmost - Winland, which was considered even associated with Africa. This idea of \u200b\u200bWINLAND was distributed to the other "Islands", and in this way the famous "African Islands" turned out. They appeared as a memory of the American lands, which the author is extremely curious about us! - does not mention at all. So, the memory of their existence is still preserved, while the names have already been forgotten. But were they really forgotten?

In the interpolation of Orvaro Odssagi, which, in any case, arose no later than the beginning of the XV century, describes a female ODDU with a flamund. For a long time, Odda has to find her enemy. Finally, he learns that the flamund retired to the Desert - I Hellulands Ubygdum. There he stopped in Skuggi's fioard. The last name means actually a shadow, darkness, but is also used in the sense of the trait or monsters, ghosts, in general. According to this indication, ODD goes to the "Greenland Sea" and looking for his enemy in the south and in the West along the coast. In addition to various monsters, ODD does not see anyone. Then ODD raises sail again and only now reaches Helluland. The described route leaves no doubt that this country is located in America and corresponds to the lands that normatons opened in the XI century.

Careful studies of Fisher found that Greenland was first recorded on a map of Danish scientists Claudius Clavus in the XV century, but American lands were left to them. So these Norman discoveries have never been registered by cardographs. Nevertheless, some memories could be transmitted to orally and then accidentally get to the card. In this, I convinces one name not maps of the XV century. On the same Catalan map, a long rectangle is drawn with the designation of ILLA Verde and near Round Island - ILLA de Brazil. On the map of 1507 and on the others we find Viridis Insula. Obviously, ILLA VERDE and Viridis Insula is the same Greenland. But Carta Marina has an island called Obrazill instead of Greenland. Then this is the name under different options, like that: brazir or Brezir, is repeated on the XV, XVI cards and even the XVII centuries. On the map of 1367 we find such a prescription: novus Cotus de Brazir. In 1498, the Spanish ambassador at the English courtyard comes that residents of the city of Bristol began to equip an expedition to unknown Island Brazil. Finally, after Columbus, the discovery of the land was followed, to which the name of Brazil was timed up to this day. Storm argued that the Spanish navigaters under Brazil generally understood the terrain that had a rich forest. But then Brazil would answer the Norman Markland, and mysterious Island Brazil would be a direct memory of the discoveries of the XI century. If Markland fell into Spanish maps called ILLA de Brazil, there is nothing surprising in this. On the one hand, the intercourse with Marcland was not entirely interrupted until the middle of the XVI century, on the other, the news even about the most remote edges of the North was undoubtedly uniform and south, as the Fisher indicated a number of examples.

While the memory of Helluland is preserved in some sagas, and Marcland was even listed on Spanish cards, Winland disappeared without a trace of subsequent literature. But this is the oblivion of Winland, we can explain to ourselves. Even who had to read the old essays and the chronicles, I understood the strange spelling of Finland - Vinland. Even on the maps, we sometimes clearly disassemble the Vinland where we expect Finland. Already Rudbek in his "Atlantis" notes this strange mixing: Vocabulum Finlandiae Provinciae Ad Regnum Nostrum Pertinentis Pro Quo Apud Snorrem ET in Historia Regum Nonel Occurit Vinlandiae Nomen. With this complete coincidence of the names, the differentiation of both areas was maintained only until time. Once an idea of \u200b\u200bAmerican WINLAND has become flexible, then European (or even Scandinavian) Winland \u003d Finland departed a completely memory of the first edge. Will not forget that Winland lay much further than other American locations, known to Normanam; Recall that just in Winland the Normans suffered from the attack of Eskimos, and we will understand why the intercourse with Winlands stopped before all.

Despite the fact that the Norman discoveries disappeared not at all without a trace, strong results in the sense of familiarization with ground ball Davids only the settlement of Greenland. But the strange idea of \u200b\u200bganvik one time prevented the correct design of Greenland on the map. Fisher in applications V and VI to its essay reproduces such cards on which Greenland is drawn east of Iceland and north of the Scandinavian Peninsula. On the other cards, Greenland is placed correctly - west of Iceland. But the first delusion, I think, should have caused an exaggerated idea of \u200b\u200bthe magnitude of Greenland. The consequence of such an error was another circumstance that the navigators took different lands for the Greenland coast, which were in the direction of north, but nothing to do with Greenland. I noted this case.

Alternative name - Kalaallit Nunaat (so called their country Inuit of Greenland)

origin of name

The first inhabitants of Greenland were descendants of modern Inuit (Eskimos). They called their country Kalaalit Nunaat, which means the "earth of people". Greenland, this land called the Norwegian researcher Eirikur Torvaldsson (also known as Eric Red).

He sailed from the shores of Iceland in 982 of our era. The next three years he worked on agricultural land southern coast Greenland. In Iceland, he returned in 986, and began to agitate his compatriots to establish a settlement on the island. Subsequently, several colonies were founded in Greenland, but they did not exist for a long time. In 1605, King Denmark Christian IV declared Greenland part of his kingdom.

Until 1953, the island remained the colony of Denmark, then all residents of Greenland received Danish citizenship. In 1979, after a nationwide referendum, Greenland gained the status of an autonomous unit. Still continues to manage the outer policy of the island.

The territory of Greenland consists of three administrative districts: Western Greenland (China in Greenland), Eastern Greenland (Tuna) and Northern Greenland (Avannaa, or Tula District).

80% of the population of Greenland are inuita and people of mixed Danish-Initsky origin. Modern culture of Greenland is based on European values, but, nevertheless, it retains unique Initian traditions.

Differences between cultures lead to the emergence of intense relations between people, but all Greenland residents unites the love of their native land, the cold climate and isolation of the island from the rest of the world.

Education of the country

It is believed that the first settlers stuck to the shores of Greenland approximately 4500-5,000 years ago (probably they were from Elsmir's Island). For unknown reasons, the first Greenlandians disappeared from the face of the earth about 3000 years ago.

After them on the island, representatives of the Eksmos Culture Dorset were settled. They were hunters leading a nomadic lifestyle. They inhabited Greenland from 600 to our era to 200 of our era, and then they suffered their fate of their predecessors.

In the 10th century, the settlements of Tula spread on the territory of Greenland. As part of this culture, the first kayaks, harpuna, sledges with slices were invented. Anthropologists believe that modern Eskimos of Greenland occurred from the people of Tula.

The effect of Tula culture has spread all over the island. At the same time, the Norwegians began to explore coastline Greenland. In 900, Norwezhec Gunnbjern Ulfson became the first European, which was holding on this severe land. 80 years later, Eirikur Torvaldsson (Eric Red) founded the first settlements here. At about 1000, Leif Ericsson, Son Erica Red, began to distribute christian faith Among the population of Greenland.

National identity of Greenland

Culture of Greenland is the synthesis of Inito and Danish traditions. Many Greenlanders are concerned about the increased influence of the West on their lives, which has emerged in recent years. Work is underway to preserve the national identity of the Eskimo culture, which is an integral part of the identity of the Greenland culture as a whole.

Perennial relations of the island with Denmark led to a significant improvement in the material base, health, education. Most of Greenlanders with European roots are very respectful towards the preservation of the traditions of Inito culture.

Early Paleo Eskimo Cultures

The history of ancient Greenland is the history of repeating migrations of Paleo Eskimos from the Arctic Islands of North America. A common feature of all these cultures was the need for survival in the extremely adverse conditions of the most remote edge of the Arctic at the very border of the range of arole. Even small climate fluctuations turned intimately favorable conditions into incompatible with human life and led to the disappearance of insufficiently adapted crops and devastating entire regions as a result of migrations and extinction.

Archaeologists stand out in Greenland four Paleo-Eskimo cultures, which existed before the discovery of the island of Vikings, but the terms of their existence are determined very approximately:

• Sakkak culture: 2500 BC e. - 800 BC e. in southern Greenland;
• Culture Independence I: 2400 BC e. - 1300 BC e. in the north of Greenland;
• Culture Independence II: 800 BC. e. - 1 BC. e. mainly in the north of Greenland;
• Early Dorset Culture, Dorset I: 700 BC. e. - 200 n. e. In the south of Greenland.

These cultures were not unique to Greenland. As a rule, they arose and developed in the territories of Arctic Canada and Alaska long before their penetration to Greenland, and could be maintained in other places of the Arctic after their disappearance from the island.

After the decline of culture, the island remained unnecessary over the centuries. The carriers of the Inito culture of Tula, the ancestors of modern indigenous people of Greenland, began to penetrate the north of the island at the beginning of the XIII century.

Settlements Viking

The last written certificate of Greenland Vikings - a wedding entry in the church of Khwali belongs to 1408. The ruins of this church are one of the most well-preserved monuments of the culture of Viking.

There are many theories regarding the reasons for the disappearance of Norwegian settlements in Greenland. Jared Daimond, author of the book "Collapse: Why some societies survive, and others die," lists five factors that could contribute to the disappearance of the Greenland colony: deterioration ambient, climatic changes, enmity with neighboring peoples, isolation from Europe, inability to adapt. The study of these factors is devoted to a large number of scientific research and publications.

Environmental deterioration

Greenland vegetation belongs to the tundra type and consists mainly of sources, fluffy and lichen; The trees are almost completely absent, with the exception of a dwarf birch, willow and alder who grow in some places. There are very few fertile lands, which, as a result of the absence of forests, suffer from erosion; In addition, the short and cold summer makes farming almost impossible, so the Norwegian settlers were forced mainly to engage in cattle breeding. Excessive exploitation of pastures in an extremely sensitive tundra medium with unstable soils could enhance erosion, lead to worsening pastures and falling their performance.

Climate change

Running results ice ice Allow to know about the climatic situation in Greenland over the centuries. They show that during the medieval climatic optimum there was indeed some mitigation of the local climate from 800 to 1200 years, but at the beginning of the XIV century began cooling; The "Small Ice Age" reached his peak in Greenland in about the 1420s. The lower layers of garbage near the oldest Norwegian settlements contain significantly more bones of sheep and goats than pigs and coarse livestock; However, in the sediments of the middle of the XIV Art. Near the rich dwellings are only bones of cattle and deer, and near the poor are almost solid bone seals. The version of the decline of cattle breeding as a result of cooling and changes in the nature of the nutrition of the Greenland Vikings is also confirmed by studies of skeletons from cemeteries near Norwegian settlements. Most of these skeletons are traces of pronounced rickets, characterized by deformation of the spine and chest, in women - pelvic bones.

Enhance with neighbors

During the foundation of the Norwegian settlements, Greenland was completely devoid of local population, but later the Vikings were forced to contact inuita. Inuit of Culture Tula began to arrive in Greenland from Elsmir Island at the end of the XII - early XIII century. Researchers know that the Vikings called Inuita, as well as Aboriginalov Winland, english (Norv. Skræling). "Icelandic Annals" is one of the few sources, which indicate the existence of contacts between the Norwegians and Inuit. They are told about the attack of Inuit on Norwegians, during which eighteen Norwegians died, and two children were captured. There are archaeological evidence that the Inuites led to the Norwegians trade, because during the excavations of the Initov parking lots, many products of Norwegian work are found; However, the Norwegians, apparently, were not very interested in inuita, at least, the findings of the Initian artifacts in the settlements of Vikings are unknown. The Norwegians also did not adopt the kayak construction technology and receptions of hunting for Killed Nerpen from Inuit. In general, it is believed to be the relationship of Norwegians with Inuitis were quite hostile. From archaeological evidence, it is known that by 1300 the winter parking lots of Inuit existed already on the shores of the fjords near the Western settlement. Somewhere between 1325 and 1350. Norwegians are completely left Western settlement And its surroundings may be due to the unsuccessful opposition to the attacks of Inuit.

Kirsten Siemer in his book "Frozen echo" is trying to bring that Greenland has had a much stronger health and fed better than it was thought, and therefore denies the version of the extinction of the Greenland colony from hunger. She probably claims that the colony died as a result of the attack of the Indians, pirates or the European military expedition, which history did not save information; It is also likely to relocate the Greenland in Iceland or in Wellands in search of a more favorable house.

Contacts with Europe

With quiet winter weather, the ship carried out a 1400-kilometer trip from Iceland to the south of Greenland in two weeks. Greenland should have supported relations with Iceland and Norway to trade with them. Greenlandians could not build ships themselves, because they did not have forests, and depended on the supply of Icelandic merchants and from expeditions for wood to Winland. Sagi talk about Icelandic merchants who flood to trade in Greenland, but trade was in the hands of the holders of large estates. They traded themselves with the commercial merchants, and then resold the goods to small landowners. The main article of Greenland exports were walrus. In Europe, they were used in decorative art as a ivory replacement, whose trade was designed during hostility with the Islamic world in the era of crusades. It is considered likely that as a result of improving the relations of Europe with the world of Islam and with the beginning of Transshar caravan trade in ivory, demand for walrus beeves has fallen significantly, and this could contribute to the loss of interests of merchants to Greenland, reduce contacts and the final decline of the Norwegian colony on the island.

However, the cultural influence of Christian Europe felt in Greenland quite well. In 1921, Danish historian Paul Norland was digging the burial of the Vikings at the church cemetery near the Eastern settlement. The bodies were dressed in European medieval clothing XV century and did not have signs of rickets and genetic degeneration. Most had crucifixions on the neck and drawn up in a prayer gesture.

From records of papal archives, it is known that in 1345, the Greenlandians were exempt from the payment of the church decade due to the fact that the colony was seriously suffering from poverty.

The last vessel, which was visited by Greenland somewhere in the 1510th year, was an Icelandic ship that took the West storm. His team did not come into contact with any inhabitants of the island.

At about the same time, about 1501, the Portuguese expedition was visited in the Greenland area. The re-discovery of the Europeans of Greenland, as it is believed to have been committed about 1500 by the Portuguese expedition of the cortyaria brothers. It is usually attributed to the re-opening of Greenland by Europeans.

Danish expeditions to Greenland in the XV century

From this time, Greenland became a territory, quite well known worldwide. Various English expeditions in search of the north-western passage studied its shore at least 75 ° north latitude.

Strategic value

Autonomous Greenland proclaimed himself by the state of the people of Inuit. Danish geographical names were changed to local. The country began to be called Calallit Nunat. The administrative center of the island, Gothob, became Nuuk, the capital of almost sovereign country, and in 1985 the Greenland flag was adopted. However, the movement for the independence of the island is still weak.

Thanks to the progress of the latest technologies, especially the development of aviation, Greenland has now become much more affordable for the outside world. In 1982, local television broadcasts began.

In 2008, in Greenland, a referendum was held on the issue of self-government, following which on May 20, 2009, the Denmark Parliament adopted the law on the extended autonomy of Greenland. Extended autonomy of Greenland was proclaimed on June 21 of the same year. Both inside Greenland and outside it, there are people who consider the expansion of autonomy as a step towards the independence of Greenland from Denmark