Leif Erikson · Avicenna Were Leif Erikson and Avicenna alive at the same time? Yes. Leif Erikson and Avicenna were alive at the same time, from AD 977–983 to c. 1020. Leif EriksonNorse explorerBorn c. AD 972 · died c. 1020AvicennaPersian polymath, physician and philosopherBorn AD 977–983 · died 18 June 1037 FerdowsiIbn al-HaythamLeif EriksonAl-BiruniAvicennaWilliam the Conqueror Leif Erikson and Avicenna in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.