In 2007, researchers dated DNA from Greenland mud under 1.2 miles of ice to around 000BC. The DNA revealed the presence of pine, yew, alder trees, and insects. However, due to uncertainties in dating, it was suggested that the samples could also date back to the last interglacial period, around 130,000 to 116,000 years ago.

In 978, Snæbjörn galti Hólmsteinsson becomes the first Norseman to intentionally navigate to Greenland.

Eric the Red, the father of Leif Ericson, landed in Greenland in 982 and spent the next 3 years exploring the area. This exploration marked the beginning of significant Norse presence in Greenland.

In 985, Eric Thorvaldsson, also known as Eric the Red, left Iceland and returned to Greenland, establishing his first settlement there. This settlement played a crucial role in the Norse colonization of Greenland.

In 986, the Norse Settlement of Greenland begins.

Around the year 1000, Norse settlers arrived in Greenland during the Viking period.

In the 11th century, Christianity arrived in Greenland through Erik the Red's son Leif Eriksson. A bishop's seat was established in Greenland in 1126, marking an important religious development in the region.

In 1261, Greenland became part of Norway, marking a shift in political control.

In 1262, Greenland officially became a part of the Norwegian kingdom.

In 1263, Greenland becomes a crown dependency of Norway.

Beginning around 1300, the climate in Greenland started to cool, leading to the onset of the 'Little Ice Age' by 1420. This period saw winters lengthen, springs and summers shorten, impacting agriculture and animal husbandry in Greenland.

In 1345, Roman papal records report that the Greenlanders were excused from paying their tithes due to the colony's poverty, reflecting the economic challenges faced by the Greenland settlement.

By 1350, the Norse had completely deserted their Western Settlement in Greenland. Worsening climatic and economical circumstances were cited as reasons for their migration to Iceland or Scandinavia.

In 1355, King Magnus IV of Sweden and Norway sent a ship to inspect the Western and Eastern Settlements in Greenland. The sailors found the settlements to be entirely Norse and Christian, indicating the continued presence of the Norse in Greenland.

In 1378, there was no longer a bishop at Garðar in the Eastern Settlement of Greenland.

In 1379, there are reports of a potential attack by Inuit (skraelings) on the Eastern Settlement of Greenland, although the accuracy of this account is disputed.

In 1380, Greenland became a possession of Denmark when the Norwegian kingdom came under the Danish Crown. This marked a significant shift in the governance of the island.

By 1400, the Inuit had successfully expanded their winter settlements close to the Europeans in Greenland, reaching the outer fjords of the Western Settlement. This expansion contributed to the eventual desertion of the Western Settlement by the Norse.

The last written record of the Norse Greenlanders dates back to 1408, documenting a marriage at Hvalsey Church, one of the best-preserved Norse buildings in Greenland.

In 1420, the Danish cartographer Claudius Clavus is believed to have visited Greenland, as indicated by historical documents referencing his journey and map of the area.

In 1448, Pope Nicholas V instructed Icelandic bishops to provide priests and a bishop for the inhabitants of Greenland, who had been without proper religious leadership for several decades.

In 1499, Portuguese explorers briefly explored and claimed Greenland, naming it Terra do Lavrador. This name was later applied to Labrador in Canada.

By around 1500, the last Norse settlements in Greenland had vanished, leaving only the Inuit inhabitants.

Around 1514, Norwegian archbishop Erik Valkendorf planned an expedition to Greenland, believing it to still have a Norse population. This expedition reflects the persistent belief in the existence of Norse Greenlanders despite their disappearance.

Greenland was rediscovered in 1578 by British explorers after the first Norse settlements had failed and the colony was neglected by Norway. This rediscovery shed light on the island's history and past inhabitants.

By 1600, all Norse settlements in Greenland had vanished, leaving only the Inuit inhabitants in the region.

Greenland was colonized by Denmark in 1721.

Major Claus Paarss established the settlement of Godthåb in Greenland in 1728, which later became known as 'Good Hope'. The colony faced challenges such as mutiny among soldiers and settlers dying from scurvy.

In 1733, two child converts sent to Copenhagen for the coronation of Christian VI returned to Greenland with smallpox, causing devastation on the island.

In 1776, Denmark assumed a full monopoly of trade with Greenland.

The first census in 1805 showed a population of 5,000 in Greenland.

In 1809, a large volcanic eruption occurred, with evidence later found in ice cores of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. The exact location of the eruption was initially unknown.

The Treaty of Kiel, also known as the Peace of Kiel, was concluded on January 14, 1814, between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Kingdom of Sweden, and the Kingdoms of Denmark and Norway. It ended hostilities between the parties during the Napoleonic Wars.

On April 9, 1822, Aron of Kageq, known as the father of Greenlandic painting, was born in Greenland. He made significant contributions to the art scene of Greenland.

In 1853, Greenlandic explorer Hans Hendrik participated in the first expedition to an island known as Tartupaluk, later named Hans. This island became a subject of territorial dispute between Canada and Denmark, leading to discussions and agreements in later years.

In 1861, the first Greenlandic-language journal was founded, marking a significant cultural development in Greenland.

In 1864, substantial deposits of cryolite, an aluminum ore, were discovered in Greenland, leading to the start of mining operations under Danish government control.

In 1888, Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen led the first expedition to cross Greenland, showcasing the spirit of exploration and adventure in the region.

From a base of 12,000 inhabitants in 1901, the population grew to 21,000 by 1945.

In 1906, sheep farming was introduced in the southern part of Greenland, contributing to the economic activities and livelihoods of the local population.

By 1911, the population of Greenland had reached approximately 14,000 people, mostly Christians due to the missionary efforts of Moravians and Hans Egede. Hans Egede, known as 'the Apostle of Greenland', founded the capital Godthåb, now Nuuk.

The Scottish-built S.S. Terra Nova sank off the coast of Greenland after being damaged by ice. The ship was famous for carrying explorer Robert Scott and his crew to Antarctica in 1910 for an expedition to reach the South Pole. The crew of the Terra Nova was rescued by a United States Coast Guard cutter named Southwind, and the wreckage of the ship was found in 2012.

After purchasing the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917, the United States agreed to relinquish all claims on Greenland, which were based on the explorations of American explorers like Robert Peary in the northern sections of Greenland.

In 1921, Danish historian Paul Norland found human remains from the Eastern Settlement in Greenland. The bodies were dressed in 15th century medieval clothing with crucifixes around their necks, indicating the influence of Christianity and European customs.

In 1931, Norwegian meteorologist Hallvard Devold occupied uninhabited eastern Greenland, claiming it as Erik the Red's Land. However, the Permanent Court of International Justice ruled in favor of Denmark regarding the ownership of Greenland.

Norway occupied eastern Greenland, claiming it as terra nullius. The matter was taken to the Permanent Court of International Justice in 1933, which ruled against Norway.

American artist Rockwell Kent spent his first Arctic winter in Greenland, painting and exploring in the settlement of Igdlorssuit. In 1935, he wrote a memoir titled 'Salamina' about his experiences.

During World War II, Greenland was occupied by German forces on April 9, 1940, as part of the strategic importance of the Arctic region.

In April 1941, Danish Minister Henrik Kauffmann signed a treaty with the United States allowing the establishment of stations in Greenland during World War II. This move was made without the knowledge of the Danish government, leading to accusations of high treason.

During World War II, Greenland was occupied by the United States to prevent Nazi Germany from establishing bases in the Arctic region.

Greenland was granted self-rule by Denmark on December 5, 1954, leading to increased autonomy and eventual independence.

In 1945, Greenland was given back to Denmark, but the US and NATO continued to use the island as a base for operations.

In 1946, the United States proposed to purchase Greenland from Denmark for $100 million. This proposal came after considering the idea of exchanging land in Alaska for strategic parts of the Arctic island.

Greenland became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark on April 5, 1948, with increased autonomy and self-governance.

Greenland has used the Danish krone (DKK) as its official currency since 1949.

In 1951, the monopoly of the Royal Greenland Trading Company was abolished in Greenland, leading to changes in the local economy.

In 1953, Greenland ceased to be a Danish colony and became a county within the Kingdom of Denmark. This marked the beginning of Greenland's journey towards self-governance, culminating in its official status as a self-governed nation within the Kingdom in 2009.

In 1954, a plantation of exotic arctic trees was created near Narsarsuaq in Greenland.

By 1965, the population in Greenland had reached 40,000.

In 1966, the US Army abandoned Camp Century in Greenland, an early warning base for Soviet missile attacks, due to the ice cap beginning to crush the camp.

On January 21, 1968, an American B-52 bomber carrying four hydrogen bombs crashed at North Star Bay, Greenland, resulting in the death of one crew member and the scattering of radioactive material. This incident led to a settlement by the Danish government in 1995.

In 1970, the population in Greenland reached 57,400.

In 1971, Greenland's population was 55,000 residents, with 80% being Inuit and the rest primarily Danes. The population was spread among 120 localities, with Nuuk being the capital and largest town with a population of 13,000. Most of the population, 90%, was concentrated along the southwest coast.

On May 1, 1979, Denmark granted home rule to Greenland, giving the island more autonomy in various areas.

Jonathan Motzfeldt became the first premier of Greenland after the introduction of home rule. He played a significant role in Greenland's governance and was later considered one of the key figures in the home rule agreement with Denmark.

In January 1981, Greenland became an integral part of Denmark with full internal self-government.

In 1982, the people of Greenland voted to leave the EU, reflecting their desire for independence and self-determination in international affairs.

Despite a rich tradition of storytelling and performance, the first professional theatre group in Greenland was not established until 1984.

In a consultative referendum, Greenland, which was a member of the European Community as part of Denmark, decided to leave the Community. However, Greenland still maintains an association with the European Community as an overseas territory.

In 1989, an extensive deposit of gold was discovered in Greenland, although exploitation was challenging due to natural conditions.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in the hemisphere, -69.6 Celsius, was documented at a remote site named Klinck near the highest point on the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Danish government admitted that the United States had stored nuclear weapons in Greenland during the Cold War, violating Denmark's ban on nuclear weapons on its soil.

NASA reported that ice sheets in the low-lying areas of Greenland were melting at a rate of 3 feet per year, indicating significant environmental changes.

In 2000, Greenland celebrated the 1000-year anniversary of Leif Eriksson's voyage to North America, with Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Nordic heads of state in attendance.

The Danish government announced that the US will return to Denmark a section of the U.S. air base at Thule in northern Greenland that was created in 1953.

Greenland Premier Hans Enoksen, leader of the social democratic Siumut party, made a deal with the island's liberal Atassut party after evicting the left-wing Inuit Ataqatigitt party. This left the Arctic island of 56,000 without a government due to a dispute over the use of a healer to chase away evil spirits from government offices.

Dennis Schmitt and 5 companions discovered a 120-foot-long pile of dirt at 83°42’ latitude, which was considered Earth's farthest north piece of known land. The Arctic site was located 432 miles from the North Pole and fell under the jurisdiction of Greenland.

In August 2006, NASA satellite data revealed that the ice sheet in Greenland was melting at a faster rate than previously anticipated, indicating the impact of global warming on the region.

In August 2007, Denmark announced a monthlong expedition starting on August 12 to investigate whether the Lomonosov Ridge, a 1,240-mile underwater mountain range, is connected to Greenland, potentially extending the Danish territory in the Arctic.

Dozens of massacred narwhals, an Arctic whale with a single long tusk, were discovered on the east coast of Greenland, possibly due to poaching. The carcasses were found by a scientific expedition from New Zealand.

Greenland held a referendum on expanding home rule, where voters overwhelmingly approved a plan for more autonomy from Denmark and to exploit potential oil reserves off the island's coast.

In 2009, the Inuit Ataqatigiit party, or IA, secured 44% of votes and 14 out of 31 seats in Greenland's Parliament, defeating the long-governing Social Democrats. This victory came after Greenlanders voted in a November referendum to loosen ties with Denmark.

In 2009, Kuupik Kleist, born in 1958, became the prime minister of Greenland.

Greenland was granted self-government by Denmark on June 21, 2009.

In 2010, native people of Greenland successfully extended their annual whale hunt to include humpback whales after a long battle at the International Whaling Commission.

In August 2010, a massive ice island measuring 100 square miles broke off from the Petermann Glacier in northern Greenland.

Former Greenland premier Jonathan Motzfeldt, who led the Arctic island's government between 1979-1991 and again between 1997-2002, passed away at the age of 72. He was known for advocating for more self-rule and opposing US bases on the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

The Arctic Monitory and Assessment Program (AMAP) released a report stating that the ice of Greenland and the Arctic is melting at a faster rate than previously anticipated. This accelerated melting could potentially lead to a significant rise in global sea levels, possibly up to five feet within this century.

In July 2012, Greenpeace activists climbed the 53,000-ton Leiv Eiriksson oil rig in Arctic waters off Greenland to protest deepwater drilling by Cairn Energy. They demanded a plan for managing potential oil spills. Police arrested 14 activists while 4 remained on the rig.

In 2013, Siumut returned to power in Greenland, with Aleqa Hammond becoming the first female prime minister and implementing various policies.

In October 2014, Aleqa Hammond temporarily stepped down amid accusations of misusing government funds, leading to political changes in Greenland.

In April 2018, parliamentary elections in Greenland resulted in a new coalition government due to differences between the leading parties on fishery-related issues.

In 2020, the population of Greenland reached 56,000, with the capital Nuuk having a population of 15,000. This demographic milestone reflects the growth and diversity of the region.

The April 2021 parliamentary elections in Greenland centered around the development of a rare-earths mine, with differing views on its impact on the environment.

A new local product called Arctic Crisp, also known as Greenlandic sea salt potato chips, is being introduced to the market.