Frances E. Willard, the Great Temperance Crusader; Clara Barton, Who Founded the Red Cross Society in America; RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES OF OUR COUNTRY How Farm and Factory Helped Build the Nation MACE'S BEGINNER'S HISTORY THE NORTHMEN DISCOVER THE LEIF ERICSON, WHO DISCOVERED VINLAND I. The Voyages of the Northmen. The Northmen were a bold seafaring people who lived in northern Europe hundreds of years ago. Some of the very boldest once sailed so far to the west that they reached the shores of Iceland and Greenland, where many of them settled. Among these were Eric the Red and his son Leif Ericson. The North men Now Leif had heard of a land to the south of Green- discover Iceland land from some Northmen who had been driven far south and in a great storm. He determined to set out in search Greenof it. After sailing for many days he reached the shore of land this New World (A.D. 1000). There he found vines with grapes on them growing so abundantly that he called the new land Vinland, a country of grapes. Leif's discovery caused great excitement among his people. Some of them could hardly wait until the winter was over, and the snow and ice broken up, so as to let their ships go out to this new land. This time Thorvald, one of Leif's brothers, led the expedition. On reaching land, as they stepped ashore, he exclaimed: "It is a fair region and here I should like of to make my home." But Thorvald was killed in a battle with the Indians and was buried where he had wanted to build his home. The Northmen continued to visit the new land, but finally the Indians became so unfriendly that the Northmen went away and never came again. SUGGESTIONS INTENDED TO HELP THE PUPIL The Leading Facts. I. The Northmen, bold sailors, settled Iceland and Greenland. 2. Leif Ericson reached the shores of North America and called the country Vinland. 3. The Northmen continued to visit the new land, but finally ceased to come on account of the Indians. Study Questions. I. In what new countries did the Northmen settle? 2. Tell the story of Leif Ericson's voyage. 3. What did he call the new land, and why? Suggested Readings. THE NORTHMEN: Glascock, Stories of Columbia, 7-9; Higginson, American Explorers, 3-15; Old South Leaflets, No. 31. EARLY EXPLORERS IN AMERICA CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, THE FIRST GREAT MAN IN 2. Old Trade Routes to Asia. More than four hundred fifty years ago Christopher Columbus spent his Boyhood boyhood in the queer old Italian town of Genoa on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Even in that far-away Colum- time the Mediterranean was dotted with the white sails of ships busy in carrying the richest trade in the world. But no merchants were richer or had bolder sailors than those of Columbus' own town. bus Genoa had her own trading routes to India, China, and Japan. Her vessels sailed eastward and crossed the Black Sea to the very shores of Asia. There they found stores of rich shawls and silks and of costly spices and jewels, which had already come on the backs of horses and camels from the Far East. As fast as winds and oars could carry them, these merchant ships hastened back to Genoa, where other ships and sailors were waiting to carry their goods to all parts of Europe. Columbus learned to like the sea Every day the boys of Genoa, as they played along the wharves, could see the ships from different countries and could hear the stories of adventure told by the sailors. No wonder Christopher found it hard to work at his Why father's trade of combing wool; he liked to hear stories of the sea and to make maps and to study geography far better than he liked to comb wool or study arithmetic or grammar. He was eager to go to sea and while but a boy he made his first voyage. He often sailed with a kinsman, who was an old sea captain. These trips were full of danger, not only from storms but from sea robbers, with whom the sailors often had hard fights. While Columbus was growing to be a man, the wise and noble Prince Henry of Portugal was sending his sailors to brave the unknown dangers of the western coast of Africa to find a new way to India. After the statue by Giulio MontThe Turks, by capturing Constantinople, had destroyed Genoa's overland trade routes. The bold deeds of Henry's sailors drew many seamen THE BOY COLUMBUS verde in the Museum of Fine Prince work |