Islandic History

-

 

Settlement of Iceland 874 AD

The settlement's history isn’t documented because it was long ago. Every knowledge is based on archeological findings. However, we have a few theories. 


https://images.app.goo.gl/ny3PEcrqZfd2RysPA

Naddoddr and Garðar

Landnámabók claims that the first person who sailed to Iceland was a viking Naddoddr. He didn’t stay there for a long time. However, he called this place the Land of Snow, Snæland. Soon after him, Garðar Svavarsson came there for one winter and changed its name to Garðarshólmur, Garðar’s Island. One of his men, Náttfari, stayed behind. 


Hrafna-Flóki

https://images.app.goo.gl/6F7ZNsMuZjkPd6fe8

Next, Hrafna-Flóki was guided there by three ravens. He wasn’t in Iceland for a long time because a harsh winter killed his cattle. That inspired him to call the land Iceland. Even though he didn’t have an easy time, he left the island for another year. After that, he came back to Norway but after some time he retired and settled in a region called Flókadalur.


Ingólfur Arnarson

https://images.app.goo.gl/GjBgtVGvV9EqaKtL6

Ingólfr Arnarson is considered a beginner in the settlement of Iceland around 874. Ingólfur cast his high seat pillars into the sea, swearing to settle where they washed ashore, which turned out to be Reykjavík.


To this day we aren’t sure why the Norse started migrating to Iceland. There are a few theories: the land was attractive, valuable resources, and an increasing population in Europe.

It is said that Iceland was “fully settled” by 930. However, archeological evidence shows that people came throughout the 10th century to sustain the population. 


Women’s right movement 1915

https://images.app.goo.gl/eWEZ7yGoCqC3WkzC6

Everything started in 1881 when women’s rights were extended by allowing them to vote in local elections for the first time. In the next few years, the Icelandic Women’s Rights Association began to focus on their action on social equity. Therefore, in 1911, the Icelandic parliament tried to restrict the right to vote for women under 40 years old, which started a huge debate. Earlier, only men could vote from age 25 and women only at 40 years old. Even though the bill was rejected, people still opposed it. National newspapers that supported women's rights wrote anti-columns criticizing the idea.

In 1912, the Women's Election Paper encouraged women to vote. They said that women in politics were crucial for societal change. This whole movement started a great change. Already in 1922, Ingibjorg Bjarnason was elected president as the first woman in the world (Styrkársdóttir).


NATO membership 1949

https://images.app.goo.gl/S4TLLAHjjVTr9Lb37

During the Cold War, Iceland was divided between pro-NATO and anti-NATO which became a huge problem. On March 30, 1949, riots broke out outside the Althing when parliament voted to join NATO. Residents threw stones and eggs until the police decided to use tear gas against them.

Iceland had been a neutral country in the past until US troops were invented in 1941. Iceland's Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson stressed the seriousness of the country's involvement in NATO. He believed that Iceland's geographical and cultural location required cooperation with other countries to face common threats.

NATO opponents feared the influence of foreign forces on Iceland's culture and Iceland's sovereignty.

Iceland's membership in NATO and its geographical location provided a very important role for the organization. It provided control over the seas that protected North America and Europe.



If you want to learn more about Icelandic history you should watch this short YouTube video. 

It shows Icelandic history starting from the Vikings who found the land and how the land was populated. Discovery of Greenland and North America (Canada) is also briefly mentioned there. For better understanding, the video shows how the religion was formed, the battles for possession and their reasons, and the independence of Iceland.


Websites I used to write this blog:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settlement_of_Iceland

https://kvennasogusafn.is/index.php?page=Womens-Suffrage-in-Iceland

https://borgenproject.org/womens-rights-in-iceland/

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_162083.htm

https://youtu.be/JzYvFypr26U?si=bfWpVUG_KiB3Y93a


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Business in Iceland

-
Image
Have you ever thought about differences in the business world across various countries? In this blog, I will discuss the business values in Iceland and compare them with those in the United States. https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/business-people-shaking-hands-on-iceland-55575229 In Iceland, business protocols and practices are not only traditional but also modern. One of the most important aspects is direct communication. Icelanders are straightforward not only in everyday situations but also in their business interactions. Additionally, punctuality is highly valued. Everyone is on time at their meetings, and if they are running late, letting them know the host is recommended. Icelanders shake hands as a greeting, which is the most appropriate way to meet someone in their culture. While the conversation it is vital to maintain eye contact. It shows the respect and interest in the conversation. If you want to start a conversation, the most popular and safe topic is wea...
Read more

Nonverbal Messages

-
Image
Britannica defines nonverbal communication as the “transfer of information from one person to another without the use of words or spoken language. It can occur in a variety of ways, including through facial expressions, gestures, and body posture or position.” Understanding non-verbal speech is very crucial to avoid misunderstandings. In various cultures, the same signs have different meanings, so knowledge is essential. Being familiar with these signs might help have a more fluent conversation. Additionally, nonverbal communication might be particularly helpful when a language barrier occurs. For example, while traveling, we might not speak the local language, but gestures can help us communicate with the local community. In Iceland, maintaining eye contact is a vital aspect of nonverbal communication. It shows respect and interest in the conversation. Moreover, one of the most vital gestures is shaking hands with the hosts when visiting someone and taking off your shoes before enter...
Read more

Family Structure & Function

-
Image
Let’s talk about the family in Iceland . Generally family has a few functions in our life: reproductive, economic, socialization, language acquisition, and identity function. All the functions create our personality and it is different in every culture.  https://adventures.com/blog/what-to-do-in-iceland-with-family/ Reproductive function: Icelanders get married mostly late or do not get married at all even though family relations and values are important. Data from 2020 says that the Icelandic mother’s mean age at first birth was 28.7 years and in 2024, the total fertility rate was 1.94 children born per woman ( CIA ). Because of the size of the country, they are close with one another and extended families such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles often help with childcare, they do not live in the same house. What is interesting is that Icelandic families are usually larger than those of other Northern Europeans. Economic function: In the country, gender equity is highly promoted. A...
Read more