History of Norway

History of Norway

Key Dates

• Prehistory: The country is inhabited by the ancestors of the Sami, who gradually settle in the north, while the south is progressively occupied by Germanic tribes.

• 1st–5th century AD: Scandinavia and Ancient Rome maintain some trade relations. The territory remains fragmented among various populations, increasingly called Vikings, often in conflict.

• 8th–10th century: The Viking Age sees raids across Western Europe and the discovery of Greenland. These expeditions enrich Norway.

• 11th century: As the country unifies, Christianity gradually replaces the old pagan beliefs.

• 13th century: Norway reaches its peak with the annexation of Iceland and Greenland.

• 14th century: A decline begins as royal power weakens and society shifts from warriors and conquerors to a peasant-based structure.

• 1319: Norway repeatedly falls under the royal rule of Sweden and, especially, Denmark, which eventually asserts authority over what becomes more or less a Danish province by the early 16th century.

• Late 16th–mid-17th century: Norway becomes a recurring battleground between Denmark and Sweden. Sweden invades multiple times, but Denmark ultimately reasserts its supremacy.

• 17th century: After fishing and timber trade, mining (copper, iron, silver) drives economic growth. However, Norway remains sparsely populated, with Bergen, its largest city, not exceeding 10,000 inhabitants.

• Late 18th century: Early nationalist movements emerge, advocating for Norwegian cultural and economic independence.

• 1814: After renewed conflicts between Denmark and Sweden, the Treaty of Kiel transfers Norway from Danish to Swedish rule. Norwegian authorities seize the moment to declare independence. After a brief conflict with Sweden, independence is recognized, though both countries must share the same monarch.

• 1905: Norway breaks ties with Sweden and achieves full, official independence.

• 1920s–1930s: The era of great Norwegian explorers (Nansen, Amundsen) conquering the poles. In 1920, Norway is granted sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago, long coveted by other Scandinavian countries and Russia.

• 1940–1945: Despite its neutrality, Norway is occupied by German forces during World War II.

• 1945–1950: Like much of Europe, Norway benefits from the Marshall Plan and joins NATO in 1949.

• 1960s–1970s: The discovery of oil and gas in the North Sea, combined with traditional chemical and mining industries, boosts the national economy, giving Norway one of the highest GDPs in the world.

• 1994: After rejecting EC membership in 1972, Norwegians vote "no" in a referendum on joining the European Union. However, the country remains part of the European Economic Area.

• 2001: Norway effectively joins the Schengen Area.

• 2011: Norway is targeted by two attacks carried out by Anders Behring Breivik, a far-right Norwegian terrorist, resulting in 77 deaths.