Greenland, the world's largest island, is at the centre of a rapidly heating geopolitical struggle.

In this video, historian Matt Lewis breaks down the brief history of Greenland, from its Indigenous Inuit origins and Norse settlements to Danish rule and modern self-governance. But history is only half the story. The real question is why the United States cares so much about Greenland right now.

As climate change melts Arctic ice, Greenland is no longer just the world’s largest island—it’s a strategic goldmine. New shipping routes, untapped rare earth minerals, and massive energy potential are turning the Arctic into the next great power competition zone. The U.S., China, and Russia are all watching closely, but America’s interest in Greenland goes back decades, from Cold War military bases to recent, very public attempts to increase influence.

0:00 Introduction
1:23 Prehistory
2:50 Viking Age
7:50 Rediscovery
9:21 Polar Exploration
11:30 World War Two
13:35 The Cold War
19:14 Modern Era

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