Description
Book SynopsisSharing his extensive and meticulous research, Jacques Privat reveals that the Vikings were in Greenland, its neighbouring islands, and the eastern shores of Canada long before Columbus. He examines in depth how Greenland and its surroundings were inhabited for nearly 5 centuries by two Nordic colonies,
Vestri-bygd and
Eystri-bygd, which disappeared mysteriously: one in 1342 and the other in the 16th century. Drawing on the still-living indigenous oral tradition of the Far North, as well as surviving sculptural art such as carvings, he shows how, far from being constantly at odds with the native population, the Norsemen and the Inuit formed a harmonious community. He reveals how this friendly Inuit-Viking relationship encouraged the Scandinavian settlers to forsake Christianity and return to their pagan roots.
Working with ancient European maps and other cartography, such as the 15th-century Martin Behaim globe, as well as explorers’ records of their voyages, the author examines the English, Irish, German, Danish, Flemish, and Portuguese presence in the Far North. He explores how Portugal dominated many seas and produced the first correct cartography of Greenland as an island. He also reveals how Portugal may have been behind the disappearance of the Vikings in Greenland by enslaving them for their European plantations.
Dispelling once and for all the theories that the Inuit were responsible for the failure of the Scandinavian colonies of the Far North, the author reveals how, ultimately, the Church opted to cut all ties with the settlements--rather than publicise that a formerly Christian people had become pagan again. When the lands of the Far North were officially “discovered” after the Middle Ages, the Norse colonies had vanished, leaving behind only legends and mysterious ruins.
Trade Review“Privat has carried out a remarkable piece of historical detective work, drawing on written sources in several different languages and sifting through archaeological and anthropological evidence. The result is a detailed picture of the settlers as well as the indigenous Inuit population and the ways in which they interacted. This book will go down as a landmark in the area of Scandinavian studies and Viking exploration.” * Christopher McIntosh, author of Occult Russia *
“Jacques Privat revives the presence of the Scandinavians in Greenland during the Middle Ages. He sheds new light on contacts between Scandinavians and Inuit and on the premises of the great discoveries in Canada and North America.” * Jean-Marie Maillefer, professor emeritus of Scandinavian languages and civilizations at Paris-Sorbon *
“The work of Jacques Privat forms a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the medieval history of the Scandinavians in Greenland. He introduces a new historical, geographical, and ethnographical vision. He offers new definitions of the relationship of this people with the church, the Inuit people, and the other nations of Europe. This book offers a new view of the disappearance of these Scandinavian settlers by freeing itself from the overly restrictive context of some earlier analyses.” * Pierre Robbe, Professor at the Muséum National de l’Histoire Naturelle *
“Privat’s research is enticing because of the wide variety of fields it tackles, and the result is a truly original theory. Another new aspect is his examination of the evidence provided by Inuit art, whose value is obvious.” * Regis Boyer, French literary scholar, historian, and translator, specializing in Nordic literature a *
“Having put together a vast and imposing collection of archival data, Privat was able to establish important parallels between the written source material, archaeological and ethnological evidence, and the contributions offered by ancient cartography.” * Jöelle Robert-Lamblin, Research Director of the French National Centre for Scientific Research *
Table of ContentsForeword by Claude Lecouteux
Introduction: The Arctic beyond Your Imagination
1 The Inuit in Greenland
2 The Vikings in Greenland
3 The Traditional Inuit Cultural Background as a Research Element
4 Inuit Art as a Research Element
5 Inuit Loans, Inussuk Culture, and the Vikings
6 Prolonged Contact or Cohabitation of Inuit and Vikings
7 The Testimony of the Nordic Source Texts
8 The Different Theories on Inuit and Viking Contact
9 The Church in Greenland
10 The Scandinavian Presence in the Far North
11 The European Presence in the Far North
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
