Q&A · 4:11:37-4:12:24

If Jamestown met an established Viking America

An enduring Norse presence would probably be known in Europe before Jamestown and would turn the encounter into a strategic choice about trade, conquest, or alliance against Spain.

Question

What if Jamestown's settlers discovered a large surviving Viking settlement in North America?

Short answer

Europe would probably already know they were there, so England would choose among trade, conquest, or alliance - possibly using them against Spain - rather than experience a sudden surprise.

Notes

An enduring Viking presence in North America would probably already be known to the English through their northern connections. English Atlantic voyages used routes through Iceland as well as the Spanish route into the Caribbean. England could therefore have begun trading, attempted conquest, or negotiated an agreement before establishing Jamestown. An alliance could include helping the settlers defend themselves against Spain. The initial English response would depend on those existing contacts.