<Tr> <Td> Colonialism portal </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The European colonization of the Americas describes the history of the settlement and establishment of control of the continents of the Americas by various European powers . Starting in either the 10th or 11th century, when West Norse sailors explored and briefly settled on the shores of present - day Canada, according to Icelandic Sagas, violent conflicts with the indigenous population ultimately led to the Norse abandoning those settlements . </P>

Where did the original american settlers came from