L'Anse aux Meadows Flashcards
1
Q
L’Anse aux Meadows: what is it? Why does it matter?
A
- In Newfoundland, site of 1st European settlement in North America
- Argument 1: important because it was first viking settlement in New World -> “milestone of human migration”
- Argument 2: important because it’s where the PWTL and the PWTR finally met after 100,000 years of separation (“full circle theory”) -> the place where globalization began
2
Q
Human Migration: opposing viewpoints
A
- View 1: people started in Africa, but left to find food -> either to Europe (PWTL) or Africa (PWTR) -> PWTR crossed land bridge and colonized Americas
- View 2: First Nations people believe they originated in North America rather than Africa (here since “time immemorial”)
3
Q
The People Who Turned Right
A
- Originated in Africa, but left in search of food -> went to Asia first
- Eventually crossed the land bridge from Siberia to North America, then moved South to colonize the Americas
- Likely happened between 15,000-20,000 years ago (footprints on Calvert Island on BC coast from 13,500 years ago)
- Eventually met up with PWTL at L’Anse aux Meadows
4
Q
What was the world like 10,000 years ago when the PWTL and PWTR met up?
A
- Diverse: people who went different ways now looked different, had different customs, etc.
- Isolated: when people split up (some went left, some went right), they stuck to their own territory
- Uniform: everyone lived in the same basic way, even if they’d split up (hunting, foraging)
5
Q
Consequences of reconnection between PWTL and PWTR
A
- Violence
- indigenous peoples (who the Norse called “Skraelings”) drove Norse people out of the area
- Skraelings were later driven out themselves -> Shawnadithit was last Beothuk descendant, who died in 1829
6
Q
Vinland
A
- Visited and named by Leif Eriksson in 1000 CE
- Named after the wild grapes found in the area (Vinland = “land of wine”)
- Exact location unknown, but likely somewhere near Gulf of St. Lawrence
