SCPL Online NonFiction Book Club discussion

Adam starts out with discussing the Skalholt Map which was created in 1590 by the Sigurd Stefansson. The map incorporates references to the Vikings voyages to Vineland. For many years people believed that the Vikings couldn’t have settled in Canada because nothing had ever been found that definitively proved a Viking presence. It was not until an archaeological investigation in 1961 led by Anne Stine Ingstad that proof of Viking presence in Canada was found.

Adam notes that while we do not know what drove the Vikings to travel over such a large part of the world, theories range from overpopulation in Scandinavia to a desire to maintain a sense of freedom. A medieval manuscript known as “The King’s Mirror” proposed that the answer lies in the threefold nature of man: competitiveness, curiosity and acquisitiveness (acquiring wealth).

What do you think drives people to explore? Have you ever had a desire to travel and explore a new city or a new place? What drives you to explore and discover something new?

I think there are a lot of factors that drive people to explore. Curiosity and acquisitiveness are definitely important ones. Economic considerations in your home country often pay a role and yes, competitiveness for sure. I *LOVE* travelling and exploring. I’m not like Adam who likes to go “where no man has gone before” I prefer experiencing well established locales and discovering them for myself. My biggest adventures to date have been moving from BC to Ontario, travelling to the East coast, and touring Europe. All of those trips were basically solo. I met up with a few friends along the way but the bulk of my travel (by car in Canada and by plans, trains, and buses in Europe) were done alone. What drives me? The excitement of discovery! I even enjoy exploring locally but going further afield is definitely way more interesting.

Hi Heidi, thank you for your response! Those sounds like amazing adventures. I would agree that the excitement and curiosity of exploring a new place drive me to travel - there are so many interesting places and things to do, I don't think I could stay in just one place! Adam certainly has a different level of exploring and I wish I could say that I would like to do that - but I like my modern conveniences. However, I know that for the historic explorers, the beauty of Canada would have been a sight to see!