History

        History Of Grenland

The world's largest island, is the history of life under extreme Arctic conditions: an ice-cap covers about 84 percent of the island, largely restricting human activity to the coasts. Greenland was unknown to Europeans until the 10th century, when it was discovered by Icelandic Vikings.  The first people to set foot in Greenland arrived around 4-5000 years ago from the North American continent via Canada when the sea froze in the narrow strait at Thule in northern Greenland.
No less than six different Inuit cultures have immigrated in several waves. Greenland’s population today is descended from the last immigration, the Thule culture, which arrived here in around the 9th century AD.

THE NORSE SETTLERS AND THE VIKING PERIOD IN GREENLAND

         The Vikings arrived in Greenland at the end of the 10th century. They were led by Erik Thorvaldsson (c.950-1003), known as Erik the Red because of his red hair. Erik first sailed to Greenland about 982 and he like what he saw. Erik the Red is said to have given the country its name 'Greenland' hoping it would attract settlers. At any rate around 985 Erik led the first Viking settlers to Greenland. He set out with a fleet of 25 ships but only 14 of them made it.

                                                              The Vikings were able to live in Greenland because at that time the climate of was milder that it is today and the settlers were able to live by farming. The Vikings made two settlements in Greenland, a Western and an Eastern settlement. Eventually the European population of Greenland rose to over 3,000. In 1126 Greenland gained a bishop and in 1261 Greenland became part of Norway. Then in 1380 Norway was joined to Denmark and Greenland came under Danish rule.

                                           Modern history

In 1578 the Englishman Martin Frobisher landed on Greenland. Then in 1585 and 1587 John Davis explored the eastern coast and the Davis Strait is named after him. From the late 17th century European whalers visited Greenland.

Europeans returned to Greenland permanently in 1721 when the missionary Hans Egede (1686-1758) went to evangelize the Inuit. In 1728 Egede founded Godthab (now called Nuuk). Greenland formally came under Danish rule again in 1729.

In 1888 a Norwegian named Fridtjof Nansen led the first expedition to cross Greenland.

In 1940 the Germans occupied Denmark but afterwards, in 1941 the USA established bases in Greenland. In 1953 Greenland ceased to be a colony of Denmark and became a province (an integral part of the country). The Bank of Greenland was founded in 1966 and in 1973 Greenland with Denmark became part of the EU. However links with Denmark weakened. In 1979 Greenland was granted home rule. In 1982 the people of Greenland voted to leave the EU and they ceded in 1985. Also in 1985 Greenland obtained a flag. Greenland was granted still more autonomy in 2009. Kalaallisut was made the official language of Greenland instead of Danish. Today the official name of Greenland is Kalaallit Nunaat. However the queen of Denmark is still the head of state of Greenland.

Today the population of Greenland is 57,000. The capital of Greenland, Nuuk has a population of 15,000. Most of the population of Greenland are Inuit.

the main industry in Greenland is fishing. However Greenland has great potential for tourism. Greenland is also very rich in minerals