Collapse - Chapter 7

The case study of Greenland is apparently so important to Diamond's message that it warrants two chapters, the first of whichs deal with the Vikings' growth in Greenland. First Diamond gets some background on Greenland out of the way. Basically, the climate is extremely variable and changes both in space and time. Records of the climate were obtained from ice cores, pollen samples and the written remnants of Viking culture. An important thing to note was that there was a trend towards colder climates around the 1300s known as the Little Ice Age.

As for the Vikings themselves, they mainly subsisted on pastoralism (growing domestic livestock) and hunting wild animals. Goats and sheep proved to be the most hardy and successful in Greenland (although culturally, the Norse would have preferred cows and pigs). Interestingly, they mainly used these animals for dairy and only harvested meat during culling. Because most of the land went towards either grazing or growing grass for hay (with little investing in growing cold-resistant crops), the rest of the Viking diet was based on hunting wild animals (namely seals and caribou). Evidence shows that meat was relatively scarce (bone are commonly found split open to suck the marrow), yet there was plenty of fish surrounding them. Diamond suggests that the Greenland Vikings adopted a fish taboo to distinguish themselves from the native Inuits.

More of the Greenland Norse weaknesses come through as the chapter progresses. For one, Diamond stresses the complex and interrelated economy required just to survive. For success, everything from caribou and seal hunting, to hay production and pastoralism had to go right. Stress at any of these points (via climate/environmental changes) may have been a big burden on society. Speaking of society, there were many points that defined the society that may have been to the detriment to the Norse. Their hierarchical system and conservative nature may have prevented the adoption of innovations that may be made life easier. The evidence also points to violent tendencies within the culture, with the artifacts of war readily available to archaeologists.

Perhaps the most damning aspect of the Greenland Norse was their Eurocentricity. Eager to engage in trade with mainland Europe, the Norse would expend a great deal of effort and resources into obtaining valuable ivory. Instead of exchanging it for precious resources like timber and iron, they chose to invest in extravagant churches kept their tie with Europe. The changing styles of Europe are even mirrored in the artifacts from Greenland. Diamond argues that less time aping Europe and more time innovating to a radically different environment would have lead to more success.