1. Climate Change: Greenland's climate began to cool significantly during the 14th and 15th centuries, leading to an increase in ice sheets and glaciers. This made the land less habitable and caused extensive sea ice around Greenland's coast, which obstructed Norse fishing activities and made travel and trade increasingly challenging.
2. Resource Depletion: The Norse settlers relied on livestock farming, hunting, and fishing for survival in Greenland. However, the declining climate made these activities more difficult. Overgrazing by livestock and unsustainable hunting practices contributed to resource depletion and a decrease in food availability.
3. Decline of Trade: The cooling climate and sea ice also disrupted trade routes with neighboring regions in Scandinavia and Europe, which were essential for obtaining necessary goods and supplies not available locally. This limited trade had far-reaching consequences on the Greenlandic economy and overall viability of the settlements.
4. Lack of Reinforcements and Supplies: As conditions in Greenland worsened and the settlements became less sustainable, there was a decrease in support and supplies from the Scandinavian homelands. This was partly due to increased competition for resources and internal conflicts in the Norse homelands.
5. Disease and Social Issues: The challenging conditions and isolation in Greenland contributed to social unrest, conflicts, and disease outbreaks among the settlers. This further weakened the community's resilience and ability to adapt to the harsh environment.
It's important to note that these factors didn't occur in isolation but rather compounded over time, eventually leading to the Norse abandonment of their Greenland settlements.