Leif Erikson

Leif Erikson

May 18, 2026 · 20 min · Episode 249

About this episode

This episode explores the life and voyages of Leif Erikson, a notable Viking explorer.

Leif Erikson was born into a world of ships, sagas, exile and ambition. Son of Erik the Red, raised on the harsh frontier of Greenland, he became one of the most remarkable explorers of the Viking Age. In this episode, we follow Leif's journey from his family's turbulent beginnings to the western voyage that brought Norse sailors to North America around the year 1000, nearly five centuries before Columbus. This is a story of seafaring courage, fragile settlements, religious change, and a brief but extraordinary moment when the Norse world reached beyond the known map. Visit our website: Compact Biographies Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube Please also consider supporting the show by buying us a coffee - head on over to compacthistories.com/biographiescoffee to see how. #LeifErikson, #VikingHistory, #NorseExploration, #Vinland, #Greenland, #ErikTheRed, #CompactBiographies, #HistoryPodcast, #MedievalHistory, #ExplorationHistory

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Host: Compact Biographies

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Places: Greenland, North America

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