Iceland's history began with Viking settlements in the 9th century. It faced challenges like famine, disease, and volcanic eruptions in the 1700s.
Irish Monks, known as Papar, were the first settlers in Iceland. They left behind artifacts, books, crosses, and bells before the Norse arrived.
Icelandic history began with the first settlements around the year 870, marking the arrival of the Vikings to the island.
In 874, the first official settlement was established in Iceland by Vikings, marking the beginning of organized human habitation on the island.
In 930, Icelanders founded the world's first parliament, known as the Althing, making it a significant milestone in the history of democratic governance.
In 961, the Eldgjá volcano in Southern Iceland erupted, spewing 7.7 square miles of lava and sulfuric gas that affected Northern Europe and even reached Northern China. This event led many Norse settlers in Iceland to convert to Christianity, partly due to the belief that the eruption was a sign from God.
In 999 AD, King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway attempted to force Icelanders to convert to Christianity after failed missionary attempts. He closed trading routes and Norwegian ports to pressure Icelanders into accepting the new religion.
In the year 1000, the Alþingi appointed chieftain Thorgeir Ljosvetningagodi to arbitrate a potential civil war between religious groups in Iceland. He decided that the country should convert to Christianity, but pagans were allowed to worship privately. This marked a significant shift in Iceland's religious landscape.
In 1056, the first Icelandic bishop, Ísleifur Gissurarson, was consecrated by bishop Adalbert of Hamburg. This event marked an important development in the Christianization of Iceland.
In the 13th century, a civil war known as the Age of the Sturlungs occurred in Iceland, where powerful chieftains battled over whether Iceland should become a subject of the King of Norway.
After years of internal conflict, Icelandic chieftains gathered at Þingvellir in 1262 to negotiate with the Norwegian king and ultimately agreed to bring Iceland under the Norwegian crown. However, the East-Fjords region resisted this agreement initially.
The staðamál disputes, which revolved around the benefits of secular aristocrats from proprietary churches, concluded in 1297. This resolution led to a significant transfer of wealth and power from the aristocracy to the Church in Iceland.
In 1380, Iceland entered a union with Norway under the Danish crown, marking a significant political development in the region.
In 1397, the Kalmar Union was established, bringing together Sweden, Norway, and eventually Iceland under Danish rule. This union brought a period of relative peace to Iceland for about a century.
In 1547, a special map of Iceland appeared in a printed book for the first time. This map provided a visual representation of the country and its geographical features.
In the year 1550, the Catholic bishop Jón Arason in Iceland resisted the Danish government's attempt to impose Lutheranism and seize church property. Despite gaining followers, he was ultimately executed along with his two sons for his defiance.
After being frightened into control by the Danes, Icelanders faced a crippling trade monopoly where only Swedish and Danish companies were allowed trading rights in Iceland for 12-year periods, leading to tough times for the next 250 years.
In 1627, barbarian pirates launched a famous raid on the Vestmannaeyjar islands in Iceland, attacking from different fronts and causing devastation. They kidnapped 242 Icelanders, taking them to Algeria to be sold into slavery.
In 1707, Iceland was hit by a powerful smallpox epidemic that resulted in the death of 18,000 people.
A map from 1761 depicting Landsfjörður, the four administrative districts into which Iceland was divided in 965, showcasing Iceland's historical administrative divisions.
The violent eruption of the Laki volcano in Iceland from June 1783 to February 1784 killed 9,000 citizens and wiped out 80 percent of the nation's livestock, leading to a devastating famine.
The last Althing, a traditional Icelandic assembly, was held at Thingvellir National Park in 1798 before being re-established later on.
Before the vaccination law was imposed in 1821, smallpox ravaged Iceland at frequent intervals, leading to population decline.
In 1844, the first official election was held for the re-established Althing, marking a significant step in Iceland's political history.
In 1845, the 'Althing' was restored in Iceland as a national consultative assembly, marking a step towards greater independence from Denmark.
Starting in 1870, a significant number of people from Iceland began migrating to countries like Canada, North America, Australia, and Brazil, seeking new opportunities and a better life.
Amidst foreign oppression for centuries, Icelanders were inspired by the liberal movements in Europe and the rejection of being displayed as uneducated at the World Fair, leading to a strong push for independence.
In 1875, the Askja volcano in Iceland erupted, spewing poisonous ash that resulted in the death of livestock in the area. The eruption added to the challenges faced by the Icelandic population, contributing to the reasons for emigration.
During the 1800s, the Icelandic people fought for political reforms and in 1903, they achieved complete domestic autonomy, gaining more control over their internal affairs.
In 1910, Iceland was featured in Benjamin Vincent's article in the 25th edition of Haydn's Dictionary of Dates.
The Catholic Encyclopedia published in 1913 includes information about Iceland. It provides historical and cultural insights about the country.
As a result of Iceland's competent governance during World War I and its ability to acquire further powers, Denmark recognized Iceland as a fully sovereign state in 1918.
The outbreak of the Great Depression in Iceland led to a severe economic crash, causing a significant decrease in the value of exports and lasting economic hardship until the outbreak of World War II.
Due to the occupation of Denmark by Nazi Germany, Iceland took temporary control of foreign affairs and the Coast Guard on April 10, 1940, leading to the country becoming de facto fully sovereign.
British military forces invaded Iceland in Operation Fork due to the country's strategic importance and the risk of German takeover. The occupation lasted throughout the war, with the British stationing 25,000 troops in Iceland.
Responsibility for Iceland's occupation and defense was transferred to the United States under a U.S.-Icelandic agreement, ensuring Iceland's absolute independence. Up to 40,000 American troops replaced the British forces in Iceland.
Iceland gained independence from Denmark on June 17, 1944.
On 17 June 1944, Iceland was formally proclaimed a republic after the Althing adopted a resolution ending the Icelandic-Danish Act of Union, solidifying its status as an independent nation.
In October 1946, the Icelandic and United States governments agreed to terminate U.S. responsibility for the defense of Iceland, but the United States retained certain rights at Keflavík.
Iceland became a charter member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on 30 March 1949, with the reservation that it would never take part in offensive action against another nation.
In 1950, Iceland officially dissolved the personal union with Denmark, reclaiming more control over its foreign affairs and cultural heritage.
After the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the United States and Iceland agreed that the United States should again take responsibility for Iceland's defense. This agreement was the authority for the controversial U.S. military presence in Iceland, which remained until 2006.
The Cod Wars were a series of confrontations between Iceland and the United Kingdom over fishing rights in the North Atlantic Ocean. Iceland's victory was achieved by using enormous ocean scissors to cut the nets of British ships fishing in Icelandic territory, without causing harm to humans.
In 1968, Iceland's population reached 200,000 for the first time, reflecting demographic changes and growth in the country.
In 1970, Iceland's population had increased to 204,930, indicating further growth and development in the country.
After the third Cod War in 1976, the United Kingdom finally agreed to the territory as being Icelandic. Icelanders had even threatened to leave NATO if the situation did not change.
In 1980, Icelanders made history by electing Vígdís Finnbogadóttir as the first female president in the world. This event marked a significant milestone for gender equality and women's empowerment in Iceland.
The census of 1984 revealed that Iceland's population had reached 240,443, demonstrating continued population growth and stability.
In 1986, Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan met in Reykjavík to discuss and prepare for a later meeting in Washington. Although no clear decision was reached, this meeting was a significant step towards the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Jesse Byock published a book titled 'Medieval Iceland: Society, Sagas and Power' in 1988, focusing on the society, sagas, and power dynamics of medieval Iceland.
In 1989, Iceland made a significant step towards equality by electing its first female president, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir. She became the world's first democratically voted female president and served until 1996.
In 1990, Iceland's population was estimated to be around 250,000, showing a steady increase in the number of inhabitants.
In 1991, the Independence Party, led by Davíð Oddsson, formed a coalition government with the Social Democrats in Iceland, initiating market liberalisation policies and privatisation of state-owned companies.
Iceland became a member of the European Economic Area in 1994, leading to economic stability and significant reduction in inflation.
In 1995, the Independence Party formed a coalition government with the Progressive Party in Iceland, implementing free market policies, privatising banks and telecom companies, and reducing corporate income tax.
The book 'Bloodtaking and Peacemaking: Feud, Law, and Society in Saga Iceland' was published by the University of Chicago Press in 1997, exploring the legal and societal aspects of feuds in Icelandic sagas.
Gunnar Karlsson published a book titled 'History of Iceland' in 2000, providing insights into the historical narrative of Iceland.
A publication titled 'Ísland á 20. öld' was released in 2002, focusing on Iceland in the 20th century.
In 2003, Europa Publications included an entry on Iceland in their 'Political Chronology of Europe', providing political timeline information about the country.
In 2004, Davíð Oddsson, Iceland’s longest-serving Prime Minister, stepped down after 13 years in office, leading to a change in leadership with Halldór Ásgrímsson taking over as prime minister.
In March 2006, the United States announced the withdrawal of the Icelandic Defence Force, with the last four F-15's leaving Icelandic airspace on 12 August 2006.
In October 2008, the Icelandic banking system collapsed, leading Iceland to seek large loans from the International Monetary Fund and other countries.
Widespread protests in late 2008 and early 2009 resulted in the resignation of the Haarde government, which was replaced by a coalition government led by the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement.
In April 2010, the powerful Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland erupted unexpectedly, causing the shutdown of air traffic across Europe. The eruption lasted until May 22 of the same year.
In 2011, an eruption occurred at Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland. The volcanic activity added to the geological history of the region, showcasing the dynamic nature of Iceland's landscape.
Sverrir Jakobsson contributed to 'The Territorialization of Power in the Icelandic Commonwealth' in 2012, part of the book 'Statsutvikling i Skandinavia i middelalderen'.
In April 2013, Eurosceptic and centre-right parties won the parliamentary election in Iceland, reflecting a backlash against the Social Democrats' austerity measures.
Eruptions originating from Baroarbunga stratovolcano led to the formation of the Holuhraun lava field in 2014. The volcanic activity was significant but less impactful compared to other eruptions in Iceland.
On 1 August 2016, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson became the new president of Iceland, and he was re-elected with an overwhelming majority of the vote in the 2020 presidential election.
In 2017, the Icelandic population observed signs of potential eruption beneath Hekla volcano. This event highlighted the continuous volcanic activity in Iceland and the need for monitoring such geological phenomena.
Comprehensive guide to Iceland's Blue Lagoon.
Agnes Arnórsdóttir provided a concise summary of the history of Iceland from the Vikings to modern times on August 26, 2019.
Arctic Adventures community consists of staff members, guest bloggers, travelers, nature lovers, and Iceland enthusiasts. They share stories about Iceland's history, including how the island formed, the settlement of Vikings, historical sagas, fight for independence, volcanic eruptions, ice ages, and current status.
An event where certain tours and destinations in Iceland are recognized as top choices by travelers in the year 2023.