The vikings had already had great impact on the the European continent before expanding past the ocean. Their interest to create new settlements stemmed from a need of land and a dissatisfaction with the king, which led to a migration across the North Atlantic. By observing their colonies and actions in Iceland, Greenland, and North America it is possible to see the impact they had on the formation of these countries and of the settlement in the new world. .
The first area to have been discovered by the vikings was Iceland. The credit for this discovery is given to Naddod, who name it Snowland, after happening upon it by accident. Despite these early vikings, settlement of the new land would not occur until 870 A.D., with Ingolf Arnarson. Ingolf and his foster-brother set out to find the land Floki spoke of. They eventually found it and stayed for a winter before returning to Norway, in order to plan a permanent settlement. They would return years later with their families and some Irish slaves. Ingolf tossed his pillars overboard, "vowing that he would make his home wherever Thor saw fit to bring them ashore." (Jones 275). This settlement of Ingolf began colonization of the area. Most of the land was uninhabitable for human life and by 930, all the suitable land was taken. Most of the impact of Iceland came from south-west Norway, which established Iceland's law, language, and religion. Jones states, for example, that ".the settlers.built temples for the worship of their god." (Jones 281). In addition, the influence of the political system, as men were given the title of godi and godar. In creating a legal system, they adopted the Gulathing Law, which was the law of western Norway. This would later influence the establishment of Greenland's laws as well. .
The next discovery was by Erik the Red, after he had been exiled from Iceland for murder. During his exile, he sailed west to discover what would become Greenland.