I don't think the Viking settlements on Greenland were abandoned until about 1400. It was since about 1350 that the climate grew progressively colder in both Greenland and Northern Europe. This trend culminated with the "little ice-age" which ended between 1850 and 1900.
Recently, there has also been speculation that the downfall of the Mayan civilisation was caused by the same events, leading to drought in the middle-americas. Jostein ----- Original Message ----- From: "Graywolf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 11:21 PM Subject: Re: Some really neat northern lights photos > The volcanic eruption in Sri Lanka caused global cooling that caused Greenland > to become uninhabitable about 1100 or so. At least that is the current theory > (or the latest one I have seen, anyway) > > > graywolf > http://www.graywolfphoto.com > "Idiot Proof" <==> "Expert Proof" > ----------------------------------- > > > > > Jon Glass wrote: > > On Dec 3, 2004, at 12:41 PM, Herb Chong wrote: > > > >> 1) the weather was a lot warmer back then, almost like it is today, so > >> Greenland and Vinland really were a lot greener, on the coasts anyway. > >> then > >> came the Little Ice Age. > >> > > You know, I remember learning as a young lad, that Greenland, when it > > was named, was first sighted at the one time of year when it is actually > > green (those few, rare days in the summer?) and that it was such a sight > > to the poor-sea-faring eyes of the discoverers, and looked so pleasant, > > that they named it green land, because that was how it looked. However, > > only later did they discover the truth. Wasn't the settlement there > > eventually abandoned because it was so uninhabitable? >
