The iron age | 500 BC – AD 1050
The Scandinavians traded with its neighbours to the east, and the Europeans to the south, including the Romans. During the iron age, the farming communities became more structured and socially divided.
It was probably during this period that people started thinking in terms of land ownership. The rune alphabet appeared, and rune inscriptions contribute greatly to our modern-day understanding of the Iron age language, mindset, and religious beliefs.
The climate worsened and plagues and other illnesses haunted the population. Old Norse myths about fimbulwinter (the great winter) and ragnarok (the end of the world) may have their roots in Iron age events.
During the AD 700s, the characteristics of the Viking age emerged, with maritime and settlement expansion, increased trade, and the founding of more established trading locations. One distinct feature was the typical Viking ship. It was fast and able to sail across vast oceans. The raid on the island monastery of Lindisfarne in AD 793, off the coast of Northumbria in England, is often defined as the start of the Viking era. The Vikings are known as aggressive and murderous brutes, but back home they were also farmers, hunters and fishermen, and excellent traders and explorers. The Vikings kept slaves – in Norwegian known as treller.
Written sources emerged during the latter part of the iron age, and the population increased. Laws and the concept of government developed, and regional assemblies – things – were established. Harald Hardråde – Harald Hardrada – is regarded as the last Viking king. He fell during a battle at Stamford Bridge in AD 1066, when attempting to conquer England. It was also towards the end of this era that the Christian Catholic faith expanded and gradually replaced the old Norse beliefs. The total population around year AD 1000 was an estimated 100,000 – 200,000.
Norwegian history timeline
- The latest ice age
115,000-10,000 BC - The Stone age
10,000-1800 BC - The Bronze age
1800-500 BC - The Iron age
500 BC-AD 1050 - The High middle ages
AD 1050-1350 - The Late middle ages
AD 1350-1537 - The Early modern period
AD 1537-1814 - Norway reborn as a sovereign state
AD 1814 - Norway in union with Sweden
AD 1814-1905 - Full independence at last
AD 1905 - Prosperity, war and depression
AD 1905-1940 - World War 2 and occupation
AD 1940-1945 - The post World War 2 era
AD 1945-1970 - Transformation and neoliberalism
AD 1970-1990 - Technology and globalisation
AD 1990-today
BC = before Christ | AD = anno domini = after Christ
Main source: Store norske leksikon – snl.no
