grants in Viking times special mention should be made of Eirik Raude, who fled from Norway to Iceland, discovered West Greenland in 982, and in 985 established Norwegian colonies there. His son, Leiv Ejirikssg@n, discovered the American continent on a voyage from Norway to Greenland in the year 1000. He wintered there and sailed as far south as the present city of Boston. In love of achievement, in artistic crafts, but first and foremost in poetry and the scaldic art, the Saga period laid the foundations of that civilised community which created a Norwegian empire, and which at its zenith comprised West Greenland, the Kola peninsula, Iceland; the Faroes, Orkneys, Shetlands and Hebrides; and the Isle of Man; also the present Swedish provinces of Jimt- land, Herjedalen. and Bohuslan; for shorter periods also Helsingland, Varmland, Dalsland, and Nord-Halland. About the year 1000 Christianity was introduced into Norway. Olav Tryggvessén (995-1000) and Olav Haraldss¢én the Saint (1016-1030) christi- anised the whole of Norway and the Norwegian colonies in the West. From that time — the 11th and 12th centuries — originate the numerous wooden <stav» churches in Norway, which testify to the high stage of development attained in wood architecture. The splendid stone cathedrals at Trondheim and Stavanger, and the smaller stone churches in the cities and rural districts, are evidence of the intimate connection between the 9