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Skræling

January 19, 2024

Skræling (Old Norse and Icelandic: skrælingi, plural skrælingjar) is the name the Norse Greenlanders used for the peoples they encountered in North America (Canada and Greenland).[1] In surviving sources, it is first applied to the Thule people, the proto-Inuit group with whom the Norse coexisted in Greenland after about the 13th century. In the sagas, it is also used for the peoples of the region known as Vinland whom the Norse encountered and fought during their expeditions there in the early 11th century.

Maps showing the archaeological cultures of Greenland, Labrador, Newfoundland and the Canadian arctic islands in the years 900, 1100, 1300 and 1500. The green colour shows the Dorset Culture, blue the Thule Culture, red Norse Culture, yellow Innu and orange Beothuk

Etymology edit

The word is most likely related to the Old Norse word skrá, meaning "dried skin", in reference to the animal pelts worn by the Inuit.[2] William Thalbitzer (1932: 14) speculated that skræling might have been derived from the Old Norse verb skrækja, meaning "bawl, shout, or yell".[3] In modern Icelandic, skrælingi means "barbarian", whereas the Danish descendant, skrælling, means "weakling".

The term is thought to have first been used by Ari Thorgilsson in his work Íslendingabók, also called The Book of the Icelanders,[4] written well after the period in which Norse explorers made their first contacts with indigenous Americans. By the time these sources were recorded, skræling was the common term Norse Greenlanders used for the Thule people, the ancestors to the modern Inuit. The Thule first arrived in Greenland from the North American mainland in the 13th century and were thereafter in contact with the Greenlanders. The Greenlanders' Saga and the Saga of Erik the Red, which were written in the 13th century, use this same term for the people of the area known as Vinland whom the Norse met in the early 11th century. The word subsequently became well known, and has been used in the English language since the 18th century.[5]

"Kalaallit", the name of the largest ethnic group of Greenlandic Inuit, is probably derived from skræling.[3] In 1750, Paul Egede mentions that the Inuit used "Inuit" among themselves, but used Kalaallit when speaking to non-Inuit, stating that this was the term used by Norse settlers.[3]

Norse exploration of the New World edit

Main article: Norse colonization of the Americas

Norse exploration of the New World began with the initial sighting of North America by an Icelander named Bjarni Herjólfsson, who spotted land after drifting off course on a journey to Greenland in 985 or 986.

They speculated among themselves as to what land this would be, for Bjarni said he suspected this was not Greenland.[6]

His voyage piqued the interest of later explorers including Leif Eriksson, who would explore and name the areas of Helluland, Markland and Vinland.

First contact edit

Leif laid the groundwork for later colonizing efforts by establishing a foothold on Vinland, where he constructed some "large houses." Upon his return to Greenland,

There was great discussion of Leif's Vinland voyage, and his brother Thorvald felt they had not explored enough of the land. Leif then told Thorvald, 'You go to Vinland, brother, and take my ship if you wish, but before you do so I want the ship to make a trip to the skerry to fetch the wood that Thorir had there'[6]

Thorvald has the first contact with the native population which would come to be known as the skrælings. After attacking and killing eight of the natives, they were attacked beside their beached ships, which they defended:

'I have been wounded under my arm,' he said. 'An arrow flew between the edge of the ship and the shield into my armpit. Here is the arrow, and this wound will cause my death.'[6]

Thorfinn Karlsefni edit

 
Statue of Thorfinn Karlsefni by Einar Jónsson in Philadelphia

Thorfinn Karlsefni was the first Norse explorer to attempt to truly colonize the newly discovered Vinland, on the same site as his predecessors Thorvald and Leif Eriksson. According to the Saga of Erik the Red, he set sail with three ships and 140 men.[7]

Upon reaching Vinland, their intended destination, they found the now famous grapes and self-sown wheat for which the land was named. They spent a very hard winter at this site, barely surviving by fishing, hunting game inland, and gathering eggs on the island. The following summer they sailed to the island of Hop where they had the first peaceful interactions with the native people, with whom they traded. Thorfinn forbade his men to trade their swords and spears, so they mainly exchanged red cloth for pelts. They described the aboriginal inhabitants:

They were short in height with threatening features and tangled hair on their heads. Their eyes were large and their cheeks broad.[7]

Shortly thereafter, the Norsemen were attacked by natives frightened by a bull that broke loose from the Norse encampment. They were forced to retreat to a more defensible location before engaging their attackers; at the end of the battle two of his men had been slain, while "many of the natives" were killed. As with any inhabited foreign land, Thorfinn and his men realized that

despite everything the land had to offer there, they would be under constant threat of attack from its prior inhabitants.[7]

After this adventure, they returned to Greenland. Their three-year excursion would be the longest lasting known European colony in the New World, until Columbus's voyages nearly 500 years later initiated full-scale European conquest of the Americas.

Inuit folktales of the Norse edit

There are also accounts from the Inuit:

[S]oon the kayaker sent out his spear in good earnest, and killed [the Norseman] on the spot. When winter came, it was a general belief that the Kavdlunait would come and avenge the death of their countrymen[8]

Kavdlunait (plural) was the Inuit word for foreigner or European. Compare modern Greenlandic qallunaaq ("Dane"), formerly spelled ĸavdlunâĸ.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Murrin, John M; Johnson, Paul E; McPherson, James M; Gerstle, Gary (2008). Liberty, Equality, Power: A History of the American People, Compact. Thomson Wadsworth. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-495-41101-7. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  2. ^ Ásgeir Blöndal Magnússon (1989). Íslensk orðsifjabók [Icelandic Etymological Dictionary].
  3. ^ a b c Ernst Hakon Jahr; Ingvild Broch (1 January 1996). Language Contact in the Arctic: Northern Pidgins and Contact Languages. Walter de Gruyter. p. 233. ISBN 978-3-11-081330-2.
  4. ^ Seaver, Kirsten (2010). The Last Vikings. I.B. Tauris. pp. 62–63. ISBN 978-1845118693.
  5. ^ "Skraeling". Oxford English Dictionary. June 1989. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c Keneva Kunz (Translator) The Saga of the Greenlanders, in The Saga of Icelanders (New York: Penguin Books, 2001). ISBN 0-670-88990-3
  7. ^ a b c Keneva Kunz (Translator) The Saga of Erik the Red, in The Saga of Icelanders, Penguin Books, New York, 2001. ISBN 0-670-88990-3
  8. ^ Henry Rink Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo (Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1875, p. 310
  • Hans Christian Gulløv, ed., Grønlands Forhistorie, Copenhagen: Gyldendal, 2005. ISBN 8702017245
  • Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Pálsson (Translators), The Vinland Sagas : The Norse Discovery of America, Penguin Books, 1965 Translation, 13th reprint of 1985, p. 65, ISBN 978-0-14-044154-3
  • Kane, Njord (2015) The Vikings: The Story of a People (Spangenhelm Publishing) ISBN 978-1-943066-018

Further reading edit

External links edit

  • Online etymology dictionary
  • Native Languages of the Americas

January 19, 2024
skræling, norse, icelandic, skrælingi, plural, skrælingjar, name, norse, greenlanders, used, peoples, they, encountered, north, america, canada, greenland, surviving, sources, first, applied, thule, people, proto, inuit, group, with, whom, norse, coexisted, gr. Skraeling Old Norse and Icelandic skraelingi plural skraelingjar is the name the Norse Greenlanders used for the peoples they encountered in North America Canada and Greenland 1 In surviving sources it is first applied to the Thule people the proto Inuit group with whom the Norse coexisted in Greenland after about the 13th century In the sagas it is also used for the peoples of the region known as Vinland whom the Norse encountered and fought during their expeditions there in the early 11th century Maps showing the archaeological cultures of Greenland Labrador Newfoundland and the Canadian arctic islands in the years 900 1100 1300 and 1500 The green colour shows the Dorset Culture blue the Thule Culture red Norse Culture yellow Innu and orange Beothuk Contents 1 Etymology 2 Norse exploration of the New World 3 First contact 4 Thorfinn Karlsefni 5 Inuit folktales of the Norse 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksEtymology editThe word is most likely related to the Old Norse word skra meaning dried skin in reference to the animal pelts worn by the Inuit 2 William Thalbitzer 1932 14 speculated that skraeling might have been derived from the Old Norse verb skraekja meaning bawl shout or yell 3 In modern Icelandic skraelingi means barbarian whereas the Danish descendant skraelling means weakling The term is thought to have first been used by Ari Thorgilsson in his work Islendingabok also called The Book of the Icelanders 4 written well after the period in which Norse explorers made their first contacts with indigenous Americans By the time these sources were recorded skraeling was the common term Norse Greenlanders used for the Thule people the ancestors to the modern Inuit The Thule first arrived in Greenland from the North American mainland in the 13th century and were thereafter in contact with the Greenlanders The Greenlanders Saga and the Saga of Erik the Red which were written in the 13th century use this same term for the people of the area known as Vinland whom the Norse met in the early 11th century The word subsequently became well known and has been used in the English language since the 18th century 5 Kalaallit the name of the largest ethnic group of Greenlandic Inuit is probably derived from skraeling 3 In 1750 Paul Egede mentions that the Inuit used Inuit among themselves but used Kalaallit when speaking to non Inuit stating that this was the term used by Norse settlers 3 Norse exploration of the New World editMain article Norse colonization of the Americas Norse exploration of the New World began with the initial sighting of North America by an Icelander named Bjarni Herjolfsson who spotted land after drifting off course on a journey to Greenland in 985 or 986 They speculated among themselves as to what land this would be for Bjarni said he suspected this was not Greenland 6 His voyage piqued the interest of later explorers including Leif Eriksson who would explore and name the areas of Helluland Markland and Vinland First contact editLeif laid the groundwork for later colonizing efforts by establishing a foothold on Vinland where he constructed some large houses Upon his return to Greenland There was great discussion of Leif s Vinland voyage and his brother Thorvald felt they had not explored enough of the land Leif then told Thorvald You go to Vinland brother and take my ship if you wish but before you do so I want the ship to make a trip to the skerry to fetch the wood that Thorir had there 6 Thorvald has the first contact with the native population which would come to be known as the skraelings After attacking and killing eight of the natives they were attacked beside their beached ships which they defended I have been wounded under my arm he said An arrow flew between the edge of the ship and the shield into my armpit Here is the arrow and this wound will cause my death 6 Thorfinn Karlsefni edit nbsp Statue of Thorfinn Karlsefni by Einar Jonsson in PhiladelphiaThorfinn Karlsefni was the first Norse explorer to attempt to truly colonize the newly discovered Vinland on the same site as his predecessors Thorvald and Leif Eriksson According to the Saga of Erik the Red he set sail with three ships and 140 men 7 Upon reaching Vinland their intended destination they found the now famous grapes and self sown wheat for which the land was named They spent a very hard winter at this site barely surviving by fishing hunting game inland and gathering eggs on the island The following summer they sailed to the island of Hop where they had the first peaceful interactions with the native people with whom they traded Thorfinn forbade his men to trade their swords and spears so they mainly exchanged red cloth for pelts They described the aboriginal inhabitants They were short in height with threatening features and tangled hair on their heads Their eyes were large and their cheeks broad 7 Shortly thereafter the Norsemen were attacked by natives frightened by a bull that broke loose from the Norse encampment They were forced to retreat to a more defensible location before engaging their attackers at the end of the battle two of his men had been slain while many of the natives were killed As with any inhabited foreign land Thorfinn and his men realized that despite everything the land had to offer there they would be under constant threat of attack from its prior inhabitants 7 After this adventure they returned to Greenland Their three year excursion would be the longest lasting known European colony in the New World until Columbus s voyages nearly 500 years later initiated full scale European conquest of the Americas Inuit folktales of the Norse editThere are also accounts from the Inuit S oon the kayaker sent out his spear in good earnest and killed the Norseman on the spot When winter came it was a general belief that the Kavdlunait would come and avenge the death of their countrymen 8 Kavdlunait plural was the Inuit word for foreigner or European Compare modern Greenlandic qallunaaq Dane formerly spelled ĸavdlunaĸ See also editSkraeling IslandReferences edit Murrin John M Johnson Paul E McPherson James M Gerstle Gary 2008 Liberty Equality Power A History of the American People Compact Thomson Wadsworth p 6 ISBN 978 0 495 41101 7 Retrieved 2010 11 24 Asgeir Blondal Magnusson 1989 Islensk ordsifjabok Icelandic Etymological Dictionary a b c Ernst Hakon Jahr Ingvild Broch 1 January 1996 Language Contact in the Arctic Northern Pidgins and Contact Languages Walter de Gruyter p 233 ISBN 978 3 11 081330 2 Seaver Kirsten 2010 The Last Vikings I B Tauris pp 62 63 ISBN 978 1845118693 Skraeling Oxford English Dictionary June 1989 Retrieved October 12 2010 a b c Keneva Kunz Translator The Saga of the Greenlanders in The Saga of Icelanders New York Penguin Books 2001 ISBN 0 670 88990 3 a b c Keneva Kunz Translator The Saga of Erik the Red in The Saga of Icelanders Penguin Books New York 2001 ISBN 0 670 88990 3 Henry Rink Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo Edinburgh Blackwood 1875 p 310 Hans Christian Gullov ed Gronlands Forhistorie Copenhagen Gyldendal 2005 ISBN 8702017245 Magnus Magnusson and Hermann Palsson Translators The Vinland Sagas The Norse Discovery of America Penguin Books 1965 Translation 13th reprint of 1985 p 65 ISBN 978 0 14 044154 3 Kane Njord 2015 The Vikings The Story of a People Spangenhelm Publishing ISBN 978 1 943066 018Further reading edit Skraeling First Peoples of Helluland Markland and Vinland Odess Daniel Stephen Loring and William W Fitzhugh in Vikings The North Atlantic Saga Fitzhugh William W and Elisabeth I Ward editors Washington DC Smithsonian Institution 2000 Pages 193 205 ISBN 1 56098 995 5 The Viking discovery of America the excavation of a Norse settlement in L Anse aux Meadows Newfoundland Ingstad Helge Checkmark Books New York 2001 ISBN 0 8160 4716 2 Kane Njord 2015 The Vikings The Story of a People Spangenhelm Publishing ISBN 978 1 943066 018 http blogmeridian blogspot com 2008 08 unknowing world html http www newadvent org cathen 01416a htm Norse contact with Native Americans before the Viking Age by Njord Kane 2016 http spangenhelm com norse contact native americans viking age External links editOnline etymology dictionary Native Languages of the Americas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Skraeling amp oldid 1189292062, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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