A Brief History Of Greenland (And Why Trump Wants To Control It)

Greenland: From Viking Sagas to Strategic Stakes

Greenland, the world’s largest island, is a land of extreme cold and immense strategic value. While geographically part of North America, it has maintained deep political and cultural ties with Europe for over a millennium. This video explores Greenland’s journey from early Inuit migrations and Viking settlements to its current status as a focal point of international interest.

The Dawn of Settlement: Inuits and Vikings

The earliest known inhabitants were Inuit peoples who migrated from North America as early as 2500 B.C.E. Much later, in 982 A.D., the Norse Viking Eric the Red arrived, famously naming the land “Greenland” to entice settlers. The Viking presence lasted for nearly 500 years before mysteriously vanishing, possibly due to the Little Ice Age.

World War II and the Cold War Pivot

Greenland’s strategic importance surged during World War II when it became a U.S. protectorate to counter German influence. During the Cold War, it served as a vital radar and missile observation point due to its location between Washington D.C. and Moscow. The establishment of Thule Air Base remains a significant, though sometimes controversial, piece of this history.

Modern Interests: Resources and Independence

Today, the conversation around Greenland has shifted toward its vast natural resources, including oil, gas, and 25 of the 34 rare earth minerals critical for modern technology. This wealth of minerals has attracted the attention of global powers like the U.S. and China. Meanwhile, the Greenlandic people continue to push for greater independence from Denmark, focusing on their unique identity and economic future.

Final Thoughts

Greenland’s story is one of resilience and transformation. From a remote frozen frontier to a key player in global geopolitics and the green energy transition, the island’s importance only continues to grow as the world looks toward the Arctic for the resources of the future.

Vocabulary Table

Term	Pronunciation	Definition	Used in sentence
Millennium	/mɪˈleniəm/	A period of a thousand years.	Greenland has had closer political and cultural ties with Europe for over a millennium.
Devolved	/dɪˈvɒlvd/	Transfer or delegate (power) to a lower level, especially from central government to local or regional administration.	Further powers were devolved to Greenland in 2009.
Inhabitant	/ɪnˈhæbɪtənt/	A person or animal that lives in or occupies a place.	The earliest known inhabitants of Greenland are believed to be the Inuit peoples.
Protagonist	/prəˈtæɡənɪst/	The leading character or one of the major characters in a fictional text or historical account.	It tells a colorful story of its protagonist’s life (referring to Eric the Red).
Exile	/ˈeksaɪl/	The state of being barred from one’s native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.	After the third year, his exile was over and Eric returned to Iceland.
Deceive	/dɪˈsiːv/	(Of a person) cause (someone) to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some personal advantage.	Eric called the new place Greenland to deliberately deceive the Icelanders.
Commodity	/kəˈmɒdəti/	A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold.	They hunted seals, walrus… and whales, all incredibly valuable commodities.
Ratified	/ˈrætɪfaɪd/	Sign or give formal consent to (a treaty, contract, or agreement), making it officially valid.	The Danish ambassador returned to Denmark where his treaty with the US was ratified.
Counter	/ˈkaʊntər/	Speak or act in opposition to.	The US believed it was an important position from which to counter Russia’s control.
Contaminated	/kənˈtæmɪneɪtɪd/	Make (something) impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance.	Radioactive debris from the crash contaminated the surrounding area.
Tacitly	/ˈtæsɪtli/	In a way that is understood or implied without being stated directly.	The Danish government were discovered to have tacitly allowed this to happen.
Autonomous	/ɔːˈtɒnəməs/	(Of a country or region) having the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs.	Greenland ceased to be termed a colony… when it was recognized instead as an autonomous overseas province.
Withdrawal	/wɪðˈdrɔːəl/	The action of withdrawing something.	Including allowing the withdrawal of Danish as the official national language.
Geopolitical	/ˌdʒiːəʊpəˈlɪtɪkl/	Relating to politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors.	(Inferred context) Greenland remains such a prominent geopolitical concern for the USA.
Extraction	/ɪkˈstrækʃn/	The action of taking out something, especially using effort or force.	Oil and gas extraction is currently banned in Greenland.

Vocabulary Flashcards

Lexical Focus: Collocations & Chunks

Don’t just learn isolated words—learn chunks of language. These patterns will help you speak more naturally.

as far as the eye could see
Idiom
Sure enough, they found land, but it was frozen as far as the eye could see.
follow in someone’s footsteps
Idiom
Following in his father’s footsteps, Eric got into trouble with the law, too.
low on options
Phrase
Low on options, Eric packed his young family into a ship and sailed west.
hot property
Idiom
The story of how somewhere so cold became such hot property is a long and fascinating one.
shore up control
Collocation
As part of its desire to shore up control in the Caribbean.
on one’s own accord
Fixed Expression
Halvar Devald occupied part of the uninhabited east coast of Greenland on his own accord.
national security asset
Political Term
The base remains in place and is considered a vital national security asset by the US.
Constituent part
Formal Phrase
It’s since been considered a constituent part of Denmark.
shock result
Collocation
In 2025, elections delivered a shock result as the center-right Democratic Party tripled its vote.
critical raw materials
Economic Term
Greenland contains 25 of the 34 rare earth minerals considered critical raw materials.

De-Chunking: Complete the Expressions

Select the correct phrase from the box below to complete the sentences based on the video history of Greenland.

hot property
as far as the eye could see
shore up control
on his own accord
shock result

1. Despite being a frozen wilderness, Greenland’s resources and location have made it for international powers.

2. When Eric the Red first arrived, he found a landscape that was covered in ice .

3. The United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark in an effort to in the Caribbean.

4. In 1931, a Norwegian meteorologist decided to occupy a part of the coast , causing a diplomatic dispute.

5. The 2025 elections in Greenland delivered a , with pro-independence parties gaining significant ground.

While-viewing Tasks

Complete these tasks while watching the video to stay focused on the key historical and political details:

Guided Notes

Fill in the missing information as you listen to the narrator:

The name “Greenland” was chosen by Eric the Red to Icelanders.
During World War II, the U.S. established military bases in Greenland.
Greenland contains of the 34 rare earth minerals considered critical today.
In 1946, the U.S. offered Denmark in gold bullion to buy Greenland.

Quick Quiz

Answer these questions while watching:

Why did the early Norse settlements in Greenland likely fail after 500 years?
What happened in 1968 that caused “shock, fear, and outrage” in Greenland?
When did Greenland officially leave the European Economic Community (EEC)?

Key Topics Checklist

Check off these topics as they appear in the video:

Embedded Video:

Fill in the Blanks Exercise

1. Greenland is technically part of the continent of but has close ties with Europe.

2. The capital city of Greenland is .

3. Eric the Red was banished from before he settled in Greenland.

4. The name “Greenland” was a deliberate attempt to potential settlers.

5. Leaf Erikson is credited with being the first European to discover .

6. The mystery of why the Norse settlements failed may be linked to the .

7. In 1776, the government claimed a complete monopoly on trade with Greenland.

8. During World War II, the US established military bases in Greenland.

9. The “sledge patrol” used sledges to locate German bases during the war.

10. In 1946, the US offered to buy Greenland for $100 million in gold .

11. The Air Base in the northwest remains a vital US security asset.

12. In 1968, a US B-52 bomber crashed, carrying four .

13. Greenland officially left the European Economic Community in .

14. It is estimated that Greenland has 17.5 billion barrels of beneath it.

15. The extraction of rare earth minerals is currently dominated globally by .

Extension Activities

Choose from these activities to extend your learning about Greenland’s past and future:

Geopolitical Research

Research the current status of Independence movements in Greenland. Write a short summary of the main arguments for and against becoming a fully independent nation.

Difficulty:
Medium

Rare Earth Minerals Map

Create a simple infographic explaining what Rare Earth Minerals are and why they are so important for “green technologies” like electric cars and wind turbines.

Difficulty:
Easy

The Sagas vs. Reality

Discuss with a partner: Why do you think Eric the Red’s “sales trick” (naming a frozen land ‘Greenland’) was so successful? Would a similar marketing tactic work today?