Final answer:
The statement is true; Viking settlements in America were indeed brief and largely unknown to broader Europe, with any knowledge of their voyages to North America residing in Norse sagas, until possibly influencing later explorers like Columbus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the Viking settlement of America did not last very long, and most people in Europe were unaware of the Vikings' settlements is true. The Norse explorers, often referred to as Vikings, did indeed establish a settlement in Newfoundland, known as Vinland, around the year 1000 CE. The site of L'Anse aux Meadows confirms their presence in North America. However, this settlement was short-lived, possibly due to conflicts with indigenous peoples, among other reasons.
While knowledge of a land farther west survived in Norse sagas, the broader European populace remained largely ignorant of these exploits until much later. It was not until centuries later that this knowledge possibly influenced navigators like Christopher Columbus. Thus, the early Viking exploration efforts in North America did not have a lasting impact on European consciousness at the time.