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History of Greenland
From antiquity to the modern era — the historical eras, key events, and narrative that shaped Greenland.
Overview
In 1721, with the aid of the Danish king, a Norwegian priest called Hans Egede successfully mounted an expedition to Greenland, where he wished to rechristianize the Northerners. At that time, no-one knew that they had long since disappeared. Instead, the outcome was a Lutheran mission and a trading post among the Greenlanders. Thus was ushered in the colonial age, which lasted until the constitutional amendment of 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute over stringent fishing quotas.
On May 1st 1979, Greenland was granted home rule within the Danish Commonwealth. The former National Council was abolished, instead creating the basis for a parliament proper, the Landsting. The Greenland Home Rule Parliament, as it is officially called, has policy-making authority and appoints a Landsstyre, the rough equivalent of a government.
There are elections to the Landsting at least every fourth year, and today the Landsting consists today of 31 MPs spread over four political parties, representing all constituencies from north to east by power of the Election Act. The Landsstyre also elects its own officers, in the form of a Premier, prime minister, and a number of members of the Home Rule Government, who enjoy ministerial status.
The Greenland Home Rule has gradually assumed more and more areas of responsibility since 1979, and the Danish government thus has legislative competence only within foreign policy, defense, the judiciary and currency matters. Also, under the Danish constitution, Greenland is guaranteed two representatives in the Danish parliament, The Folketing.
Historical Eras
The major periods of {country}’s history at a glance.
Paleo-Eskimo Cultures
2500 BCE – 986
Greenland's earliest inhabitants arrived from the Canadian Arctic in successive waves, including the Saqqaq, Dorset, and Independence cultures. These Paleo-Eskimo peoples developed sophisticated adaptations to the Arctic environment over millennia. The last of these pre-Norse cultures had largely disappeared by the time Viking settlers arrived in the late 10th century.
Norse Settlement
986 – 1500
Erik the Red, exiled from Iceland, discovered and named Greenland around 982 CE and led the first permanent Norse settlements beginning in 986, establishing the Eastern and Western Settlements. At its peak, the Norse population numbered several thousand and maintained trade ties with Europe. By approximately 1400–1500, all Norse colonies had vanished, likely due to a combination of climate cooling, economic decline, and conflict with Inuit peoples.
Inuit Dominance
1500 – 1721
Following the collapse of Norse settlements, Greenland was inhabited solely by Thule culture Inuit, ancestors of the modern Greenlandic people, who had migrated from the northwest from around 1200 onward. European whalers and explorers made sporadic contact during this period, including English expeditions under Martin Frobisher and John Davis. Greenland remained beyond effective European colonial control until the 18th century.
Danish Colonial Era
1721 – 1953
In 1721, Norwegian-Danish missionary Hans Egede established a Lutheran mission and trading post, inaugurating formal Danish colonization. The Danish crown assumed a full trade monopoly in 1776, tightly controlling Greenland's economy. During World War II the United States assumed protective custody of the island, and in 1953 a constitutional amendment formally made Greenland an integral county of the Kingdom of Denmark, ending its colonial status.
Danish County & EEC
1953 – 1979
As a Danish county from 1953, Greenland gained representation in the Folketing but saw significant social disruption, including the forced relocation of Inuit hunters from ancestral lands in the far north. Greenland joined the European Community alongside Denmark in 1973, though fishing quota disputes quickly generated public resentment. Growing Greenlandic political consciousness and demands for self-determination laid the groundwork for home rule.
Home Rule & Self-Government
1979 – present
Greenland was granted home rule on May 1, 1979, establishing the Landsting parliament and the Landsstyre government with broad domestic policy authority. Greenlanders voted to withdraw from the European Community in 1982, completing the exit in 1985. Expanded self-government was granted in 2009, transferring additional powers to Nuuk while Denmark retained control over foreign affairs, defense, and currency, amid ongoing discussions about full independence.
Timeline Preview
The first 7 key events. View the full chronology on the timeline page.
982
Eric the Red (Eiric Rauthornpi), father of Leif Ericson, discovered Greenland.
Eric the Red (Eiric Rauthornpi), father of Leif Ericson, discovered Greenland.
986
Eric the Red and his followers began to settle Greenland.
Eric the Red and his followers began to settle Greenland.
986 – 1000
Eric the Red and his followers began to settle Greenland.
More settlers arrive from Scandinavia and they gradually settle the Southwest coast of Greenland from Cape Farewell to present-day Nuuk. The Norse population center around two major settlements, the Western and the Eastern.
1000
Eric the Red and his followers began to settle Greenland.
Leif Eriksson, son of Erik the Red, returns to Greenland from Norway, bringing along the first Christian missionary. Soon hereafter, the first Christian church on the North American continent, Thjódhildur’s Church, is built at Brattahlid.
1350 – 1360
Eric the Red and his followers began to settle Greenland.
Ivar Bardarsson, an Icelandic clerical official, reports the Western Settlement abandoned. Inuit begin to appear near the Norse areas, settling along the coastline.
1600
By this time all Norse settlements in Greenland have vanished.
By this time all Norse settlements in Greenland have vanished. The only inhabitants are Inuit.
1776
Danish government assumes a full monopoly of trade with Greenland.
Danish government assumes a full monopoly of trade with Greenland.