[bboop]

Well, YEH, but CC had the King and Queen behind him and 400 years to fine-tune things. And the Vikings didn't like the Left Coast 'cuz of all the liberals...

[Spruce]

...'cuz of all the liberals...
Hehe. Actually many around these parts figure it was the Ojibwe that made the Vikings turn tail.

[Burkeman1]

The viking settlements and expansion were not financed by anyone. They were totally entrepenurial ventures. If they were successful they all were successful. If they failed- they all failed. No king or power backed the raids and exploration of the Vikings. Columbus was backed by the Crown of Spain itself! His sailors and soldiers and Priests and monks were in the pay of the Crown. It was not just a mission for a small group of settlers. It was a mission of State! There is a difference.