Photo: Georg Hansen

The Viking Age

The Viking Age is generally considered to have lasted from 793 – 1066 AD.

Throughout this period Scandinavians and Vikings expanded through trade,

colonization and raids. The first “proper” raid was against Lindisfarne in 793 and is
considered the beginning of the Viking Age.

The Vikings were great ship-builders and their ships had exceptional qualities
compared to other ships of the time. The Vikings were also excellent navigators which

enabled them to spread all over Europe and even to North America! Did you know
that the Viking Leif Eriksson reached the American continent 500 years earlier than

Christopher Columbus?

The Vikings were also well equipped, well trained and fearless fighters. They believed

that by being killed in combat they would end up in Vallhall, and therefore had no fear
when it came to ba le. The Vikings also brought slaves back from their raids, ensuring

that a workforce tended to the farms while the Vikings went plundering.

Alas, every “good” thing must come to an end. A er hundreds of years with Viking
plunderings and raids, the Viking Age ended in 1066 at the Ba le of Stamford Bridge.

Middle Ages
From 1000 – 1300 the population of Norway increased from about 150.000 to

400.000. This period was characterized by land ownership by the king, church or

the aristocracy. There were several wars in this period mainly about unclear
succession laws. These wars ended in 1217 when Håkon Håkonsson was appointed

king and clear laws of succession were introduced.

In Norway, as elsewhere in the world, the middle ages brought with it a rapidly

increasing population, social and political changes, rural exodus and urbanization. The

Black Death, also known as the Great Plague, put an end to this in 1349 killing of more
than 50% of the population in Norway.

Unions
In the 14th Century Norway entered into a union with our neighbors in the south,

Denmark. Political power was lost and “outsourced” and trade and commerce was was
taken over by the Hanseatic League. For about 200 years the Hanseatic League

controlled distribution of fish from Bergen to the Baltic area, Norway’s main export

and income at the time.

Copenhagen (in Denmark) became the capital and the kingdom was named

“Denmark-Norway”. The union was not exactly popular in Norway as Danish became
the official language and government was moved abroad. Although the economy was
growing and the population increasing, the fight for independence within the union

was confirmed by establishing the University in Oslo in 1811.

The year 1814 is in many ways one of the most important years in Norway’s history.

Norway was a er the Napoleonic wars handed over to Sweden, and was now

suddenly in union with their neighbors to the east. Norwegians longed for
independence and a constitutional law was formed and signed at Eidsvoll on the 17th

of May, 1814. By signing the Constitution Norway rejected a new absolute monarchy

from abroad. Power would now be split between the king and the Parliament of

Norway.
Independence and wars
The union with Sweden ended in 1905 as a result of a popular referendum. The

parliament was divided in two and the Royal Palace and parliament building (Storting)
was built. Today, these two buildings form the “heart” of the city centre in Oslo.

Norway declared itself neutral in both the First and Second World War. A er being

invaded by Germany in 1940, Norwegians showed strong national resistance towards

the occupying force and with the help of allies, Norway was liberated in May 1945.
A er the war Norway accepted the Marshall Plan and the country was rebuilt within a
couple of years. Norway also became a member of NATO in 1952. Norwegians have

always had a strong belief in being independent. This is probably one of the reasons
why Norwegians have rejected the European Union in two popular referendums in

1972 and 1994.

Photo: Thea Hermansen

Norway Today
 Crude oil was discovered on Norway’s continental shelf in 1969 and this has
undoubtably had a major impact the economy and life standards in Norway. The
petroleum industry is essential to Norway's economy and the Norwegian oil company

Equinor (formerly Statoil) is among the 50 biggest companies in the world, bigger
than Nestlé, BMW and Boeing.

The Oil Fund (Oljefondet) was established in 1990 with the aim to ensure responsible

and long-term management of revenue from Norway’s oil and gas resources. The Oil
Fund, or the Government Pension Fund Global, aims to benefit both current and

future generations and it is one of the largest funds in the world.

Norway is a good place to live and frequently on top of lists for best living standards,
happiest people and so on. Norwegians are famed for being tolerant with a dry sense

of humor, as well as having a strong sense of community.

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