What is the ethnic composition of Iceland and Greenland?

Question

How long have they been inhabited and who by?

Answer 1

The compostion of Greenland is variable because it so small.  The Vikings are the only people to ever settle it.  It is likely the ancestors of the small group of Eskimo's in Eastern Canada passed over it in prehistoric times, but they were nomadic.  Since the Vikings, it has provided a base for whaling, fishing, air search, and scientific research.

Answer 2

The history of human habitation in Greenland is fairly well documented. Pre-historic remains of early Inuit culture indicate a succession of cultures, the latest of which was the Dorset culture - the common ancestor for all Inuit in the Canadian Arctic.

When the first europeans arrived from Norway circa 982 AD, led by the intrepid Erik The Red, there does not appear to have been much in the way of permanent inuit settlement. This may not be too surprising as their lifestyle is nomadic. The Norse settlements eventually disappeared, perhaps due to unfavourable climate change. Between the middle ages and modern times, title to Greenland has shifted between the Scandinavian countries. Greenland is part of Denmark, and it's current population (ethnically) is predominantly Scandinavian.

Iceland has no indigenous population. It was discovered in the early middle ages by norse fishermen and has renained predominantly Norwegian and Danish ever since

Answer 3

Puffins, many many puffins. For as long as i can remember

Answer 4

Icelander's are descended from vikings/Norsemen and Greenland are mainly Inuit who some claim [wrongly] are descended from ancient Russian/Chinese tribes

Answer 5

Mainly Nordic and Gaeilic

Greenland has been colonized by icelanders and Norwegians in the 11 century.

Icelands in the 9th century by Nordic and Gaelic too!