Scandinavia

Scandinavia is a historical and cultural-linguistic region in Northern Europe characterized by a common ethno-cultural Germanic heritage and related languages that includes the three countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

The term Scandinavia is usually used as a cultural term, but in English usage, it is occasionally confused with the purely geographical term Scandinavian Peninsula, which took its name from the cultural-linguistic concept. The name Scandinavia historically referred vaguely to Scania. The terms Scandinavia and Scandinavian entered usage in the 18th century as terms for the three Scandinavian countries, their peoples and associated language and culture, being introduced by the early linguistic and cultural Scandinavist movement. Sometimes the term Scandinavia is also taken to include Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Finland, on account of their historical association with the Scandinavian countries. Such usage, however, may be considered inaccurate in the area itself, where the term Nordic countries instead refers to this broader group.

Scandinavia in "The Pugnacious Peacemaker"
The Scandinavian group, the Vikings, terrorized Europe with daring raids and attacks. Later, however, they settled down and colonized North America. Being more technologically primitive than Europeans, the Skraelings (Native Americans) were able to catch up and stand up to them militarily.

The Scandinavians in North America were also accompanied by some Irish tribes. The European slaves the Vikings had brought along were gradually assimilated upon emancipation.