Imagine it’s the year 870 CE and you live in Norway, a frigid place with little farmland, where the fertile valleys that do exist are crowded. Another harsh winter has ruined the crops and starved or frozen the animals. What do you do?
Well, you and your family might decide to set out in a trading ship, called a knörr (k’nurr), to find a more welcoming place. You know the trip will take you through uncharted waters. The icebound North Atlantic Ocean will be treacherous, but you decide to risk it. After all, even if you survive this winter, the next one may be worse.
Where do you go, and what do you discover? You may be surprised to find out.
