The Economy Of The Norse Peoples - 1483 Words

The economy of the Norse peoples settled in Iceland evolved primarily around husbandry of cattle, pigs, and goats. Livestock provided an array of foodstuffs and wool, which was used to make cloth, while agriculture was geared more towards pastoral care and dairy farming than the cultivation of cereal grains due to the cold climates and poor soil. Their grains consisted mainly of oats and barley, which could be grown during the short growing season. Chieftains and wealthy individuals also relied upon seafaring trade for valued luxury goods from continental Europe. Economics were deeply intertwined with social practices of the time. Kin groups functioned as economic units. Members of the community often relied upon one another. The Haensa-Thorir’s Saga is an example of close knit socioeconomic community struggling to preserve the health of their pastorally based economy upon the backdrop of a poor harvest as a result of famine. The Nordic people established extensive trade networks that transverse Europe and lined the Scandinavian coast. Near the beginning of the story, Ørn, a Norwegian merchant, docked his vessel in the Borgarfjord harbor with the intent to sell his goods. The local chieftain, Odd, visited the merchants and declared that â€Å" he always set the prices on goods that were sold there,† to which Ørn replied â€Å"We’ll deal with our goods as we see fit, whatever you say, because this cargo belongs to us and not to you.† Ørn challenges the political power of theShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Collapse of the Greenland Norse760 Words   |  4 Pagesattempt to explain the Collapse of the Greenland Norse, one of the many societies to rise and fall. The Greenland Norse faced multiple challenges including economical, agricultural, and unfriendly neighbors. Alongside Greenland other North Atlantic islands faced geographical challenges that lead to some of their falls a s well. 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