116-499: Solbakken is a Norwegian surname. It can refer to: Norwegian people b. ^ There are millions of Britons of Scandinavian ancestry and ethnicity, though mixed with others. Norwegians ( Norwegian : Nordmenn ) are an ethnic group and nation native to Norway , where they form the vast majority of the population. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language . Norwegians are descended from
232-677: A Cro-Magnon population that arrived in Europe about 45,000 years ago, Neolithic farmers who migrated from Anatolia during the Neolithic Revolution 9,000 years ago, and Yamnaya steppe pastoralists who expanded into Europe from the Pontic–Caspian steppe in the context of Indo-European migrations 5000 years ago. The Norwegian population is typical of the Northern European population with Haplogroup I1 being
348-475: A puppet state , dissolving the Norwegian Council of State. The Reformation was also imposed in 1537 , strengthening the king's power. All church valuables were sent to Copenhagen and the forty percent of the land which was owned by the church came under the control of the king. Danish was introduced as a written language, although Norwegian retained distinct dialects. Professional administration
464-637: A union with Denmark . In 1814, following Denmark–Norway's defeat in the Napoleonic Wars , Norway entered a union with Sweden and adopted a new constitution . Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence . Although Norway remained officially neutral in World War I , the country was unofficially allied with the Entente powers . In World War II , Norway proclaimed its neutrality, but
580-745: A chance to get back to Norway. There are very few of them left there today. According to recent genetic analysis, both mtDNA ( mitochondrial DNA ) and Y-chromosome polymorphisms showed a noticeable genetic affinity between the Norwegian population and other ethnic groups in Northern and Central Europe , particularly with the Germans. This is due to a history of at least a thousand years of large-scale migration both in and out of Norway. Norwegians, like most Europeans, largely descend from three distinct lineages: Mesolithic hunter-gatherers , descended from
696-658: A labor shortage in the agriculture, which again resulted in increased use of machinery and thus capital. The government stimulated the process through the creation of the Mortgage Bank in 1851 and the State Agricultural College eight years later. The 19th century saw a large increase of road construction and steamship services commenced along the coast. The first railway, the Trunk Line between Christiania and Eidsvoll opened in 1854, followed
812-721: A large membership, although many people do not remain observant as adults. A majority of both ethnic Norwegians and Sámi are nominally Christian, but not necessarily observant. In Norway as of 2018, 70% of the population are members of the Lutheran Church , though only 47.1% answered "Yes" to the question "Do you believe in God?" in a 2018 European Values Study . The Norwegians are and have been referred to by other terms as well. Some of them include: History of Norway#World War I Chronological history The history of Norway has been influenced to an extraordinary degree by
928-549: A new absolute monarchy and advised him instead to convoke a constituent assembly to draw up a liberal constitution and decide the form of government. Representatives from the entire country were elected to meet at Eidsvoll Manor. The 112 members of the Constituent Assembly gathered and, after six weeks of discussion, concluded the work on the Constitution of Norway on 17 May 1814. Power would be split between
1044-485: A period of reconstruction under public planning. Oil was discovered in 1969 and by 1995 Norway was the world's second-largest exporter. This resulted in a large increase of wealth. From the 1980s Norway started deregulation in many sectors, and in 1989–1990 experienced a banking crisis. By the 21st century, Norway became one of the world's most prosperous countries with oil and gas production accounting for 20 percent of its economy. By reinvesting its oil revenues, Norway had
1160-420: A series of legal reforms, such as increasing the voting rights to about half of all men, settling the language conflict by establishing two official written standards, Riksmål and Landsmål , introduced juries , seven years of compulsory education and, as the first European country, universal suffrage for men in 1889. The 1880s and 1890s saw the rise of the labor movement and trade unions became common;
1276-597: A series of wars between Denmark–Norway and Sweden. The Kalmar War between 1611 and 1613 saw 8,000 Norwegian peasants conscripted. Despite lack of training, Denmark–Norway won and Sweden abandoned its claims to the land between Tysfjorden and Varangerfjord . With the Danish participation in the Thirty Years' War in 1618–48, a new conscription system was created in which the country was subdivided into 6,000 legd , each required to support one soldier. Denmark–Norway lost
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#17327657535741392-484: A ten-hour working day and worker protection laws. Waterfalls for hydroelectricity became an important resource in this period and the government secured laws to hinder foreigners from controlling waterfalls, mines and forests. Large industrial companies established in these years were Elkem , Norsk Hydro and Sydvaranger . The Bergen Line was completed in 1909, the Norwegian Institute of Technology
1508-489: A year later by the first telegraph line. Export industry commenced with steam-powered sawmills in the 1860s, followed by canned herring, wood pulp and cellulose . From 1850 to 1880 the Norwegian shipping industry enjoyed a large boom, stimulated by the abolishing of the British Navigation Acts . By 1880 there were 60,000 Norwegian seamen and the country had the world's third-largest merchant marine . As
1624-1098: Is a North Germanic language with approximately 5 million speakers, of whom most are located in Norway . There are also some speakers of Norwegian in Denmark , Sweden , Germany , Britain , Spain , Canada , and the United States , where the largest community of speakers exists, with 55,311 speakers as of 2000; approximately half of the speakers live in Minnesota (8,060), California (5,865), Washington (5,460), New York (4,200), and Wisconsin (3,520). As of 2006, in Canada, there are 7,710 Norwegian speakers , of whom 3,420 reside in British Columbia , 1,360 in Alberta , and 1,145 in Ontario . Norwegian culture
1740-513: Is also a commonly revered holiday. It marks midsummer and the beginning of summer vacation, and is often celebrated by lighting bonfires the evening before. In Northern areas of Norway, this day has 24 hours of light, while southern areas have only 17.5 hours. The conversion of Norway to Christianity from Norse paganism began in 1000. By the middle of the 11th century, Christianity had become well-established in Norway and had become dominant by
1856-478: Is closely linked to the country's history and geography . The unique Norwegian farm culture , sustained to this day, has resulted not only from scarce resources and a harsh climate but also from ancient property laws . In the 18th century, it brought about a strong romantic nationalistic movement, which is still visible in the Norwegian language and media . In the 19th century, Norwegian culture blossomed as efforts continued to achieve an independent identity in
1972-617: The Anglo-Dutch Wars contained Norwegians. Norway benefitted from the many European wars of the 18th century. As a neutral power it was able to expand its share of the shipping market. It also supplied timber to foreign navies. Throughout the period, Bergen was the largest town in the country; its population of 14,000 in the mid 18th century was twice the size of Christiania (later Oslo) and Trondheim combined. Eight townships with privileges existed in 1660—by 1800 this had increased to twenty-three. During this period up to two-thirds of
2088-484: The Black Death spread to Norway and within a year killed nearly two-thirds of the population. Later plagues halved the population by 1400. Many communities were entirely wiped out, resulting in an abundance of land, allowing farmers to switch to more animal husbandry . The reduction in taxes weakened the king's position, and many aristocrats lost their surplus income, reducing some to mere farmers. High tithes made
2204-511: The Constitution of Norway . Many people wear bunad (traditional costumes) and most participate in or watch the Norwegian Constitution Day parade that day, consisting mostly of children, through the cities and towns. The national romanticist author Henrik Wergeland was the founder of the 17 May parade. Common Christian holidays are also celebrated, the most important being Christmas (called Jul in Norway after
2320-460: The Earls of Lade and was able to unify the country after the decisive Battle of Hafrsfjord (circa 870–900). He set up the basics of a state administration with stewards seated at the most important estates of vanquished or exiled chieftains. Iceland , then uninhabited, was discovered by Norwegians during the late 9th century. By 930 the island had been divided among 400 Norse chieftains. Håkon
2436-582: The Fairhair dynasty and the Earls of Lade in alliance with Danish kings. Led by Erik the Red , a Norwegian-born man, a group of Icelanders settled on Greenland in the 980s. Erik's son, Leif Ericson , came across Newfoundland in ca. 1000, naming it Vinland . Unlike Greenland, no permanent settlement was established there. Several Viking ships in burial mounds have been found and placed in museums, including
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#17327657535742552-584: The Kalmar Union was created between the three Scandinavian countries. She waged war against the Hanse, resulting in a trade blockade and higher taxation on Norwegians, which resulted in a rebellion . However, Norway and its Council of State was too weak to secede from the union. Margaret pursued a centralising policy which inevitably favoured Denmark, because it had a greater population than Norway and Sweden combined. Margaret also granted trade privileges to
2668-848: The Norse of the Early Middle Ages who formed a unified Kingdom of Norway in the 9th century. During the Viking Age , Norwegians and other Norse peoples conquered, settled and ruled parts of the British Isles , the Faroe Islands , Iceland and Greenland . Norwegians are closely related to other descendants of the Norsemen such as Danes , Swedes , Icelanders and the Faroe Islanders , as well as groups such as
2784-553: The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions was established in 1899 and the Norwegian Employers' Confederation the following year. The Labor Party had its first parliamentary members elected in 1903. The women's issue became increasingly dominant through the 1880s and they were gradually permitted to take secondary and tertiary education. Norwegian support of the union decreased towards the end of
2900-539: The Oseberg and Gokstad ships. In October 2018, Norwegian archaeologists headed by the archaeologist Lars Gustavsen announced the discovery of a buried 20 m long Gjellestad Viking ship in Halden Municipality . An ancient well-preserved Viking cemetery for more than 1000 years was discovered using ground-penetrating radar. Archaeologists also revealed at least seven other previously unknown burial mounds and
3016-612: The Royal Navy hindered export by ship and import of food. Sweden invaded Norway the following year, but after several Norwegian victories a cease-fire was signed in 1809. After pressure from Norwegian merchants license trade was permitted with corn from Denmark to Eastern Norway in exchange for Norwegian timber export to Great Britain. Following the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, the Treaty of Kiel signed on 14 January 1814 ceded Norway to
3132-638: The Scots whose nation they significantly settled and left a lasting impact in, particularly the Northern Isles ( Orkney and Shetland ). The Norwegian language, with its two official standard forms, more specifically Bokmål and Nynorsk , is part of the larger Scandinavian dialect continuum of generally mutually intelligible languages in Scandinavia . Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in
3248-733: The United States , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , South Africa and the United Kingdom. Norwegians are traditionally Lutheran since the Reformation in Denmark–Norway and Holstein which made Lutheranism the only legal religion in the country, however large portions of the population are now either non-practicing, atheist or agnostic . Towards the end of the 3rd millennium BC, Proto-Indo-European –speaking Battle-Axe peoples migrated to Norway bringing domesticated horses , agriculture , cattle and wheel technology to
3364-580: The 13th century about twenty percent of a farmer's yield went to the king, church and landowners. The 13th century is described as Norway's Golden Age , with peace and increase in trade, especially with the British islands, although Germany became increasingly important towards the end of the century. Throughout the High Middle Ages the king established Norway as a sovereign state with a central administration and local representatives. In 1349,
3480-575: The 17th century through exports especially to England. To avoid deforestation, a royal decree closed a large number of sawmills in 1688; because this mostly affected farmers with small mills, by the mid 18th century only a handful of merchants controlled the entire lumber industry. Mining increased in the 17th century, the largest being the silver mines in Kongsberg and the copper mines in Røros . Fishing continued to be an important income for farmers along
3596-458: The 1890s, especially following the 1897 Swedish abolition of the free trade agreement and the lack of a Norwegian foreign minister. Negotiations of independence commenced, but were not effective because of shifting governments and the Swedish threat of war. With the four-party Michelsen's Cabinet appointed in 1905, Parliament voted to establish a Norwegian consular service. This was rejected by
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3712-606: The 1930s. A short-lived Labor Government reigned in 1928, but did not establish a sound parliamentary support until the 1935 Nygaardsvold's Cabinet , based on an alliance with the Agrarian Party. During the 1920s and 1930s, Norway established three dependencies , Bouvetøya , Peter I Island and Queen Maud Land , annexed Jan Mayen and secured sovereignty of Svalbard through the Svalbard Treaty . Norway's first civil airport, Stavanger , opened in 1937. From
3828-465: The 2000 U.S. Census, three million Americans consider Norwegian to be their sole or primary ancestry. It is estimated that as many as a further 1.5 million more are of partial Norwegian ancestry. Norwegian Americans represent 2–3% of the non-Hispanic Euro-American population in the U.S. They mostly live in both the Upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest . As early as 1814, a party of Norwegians
3944-449: The 8th century Norwegians started expanding across the seas to the British Isles and later Iceland and Greenland . The Viking Age also saw the unification of the country. Christianization was completed during the 11th century and Nidaros became an archdiocese . The population expanded quickly until 1349 (Oslo: 3,000; Bergen: 7,000; Trondheim: 4,000) when it was halved by the Black Death and successive plagues . Bergen became
4060-534: The 8th century and onwards, Norwegian and Danish Vikings also settled in Normandy , most famously those led by Rollo ; some of their Norman descendants would later expand to England, Sicily , and other Mediterranean islands. Apart from Britain and Ireland, Norwegian Vikings established settlements in largely uninhabited regions. The first known permanent Norwegian settler in Iceland was Ingólfur Arnarson . In
4176-549: The Canadian Arctic. Norwegian immigration to Canada lasted from the mid-1880s until 1930, although Norwegians were already working in Canada as early as 1814. It can be divided into three periods of roughly fifteen years each. In the first, to about 1900, thousands of Norwegians homesteaded on the Canadian prairies. In the second, from 1900 to 1914, there was a further heavy influx of Norwegians immigrating to Canada from
4292-585: The Constitution accordingly, and then abdicate. The parliament was convened in Christiania on 7 October, and the necessary amendments were resolved on 4 November 1814. On the same day, king Charles XIII of Sweden was elected king of Norway, thereby establishing the Union. The Napoleonic Wars sent Norway into an economic crisis, as nearly all the merchants had gone bankrupt during the blockade. Recovery
4408-582: The Dutch merchant fleet and navy came to consist of Norwegians and Danes. Most took Dutch names , leaving no trace of Norwegian names in the later Dutch population. The emigration to the Netherlands was so devastating to the homelands that the Danish-Norwegian king issued penalties of death for emigration, but repeatedly had to issue amnesties for those willing to return, announced by posters in
4524-540: The Good – the son of Harald Fairhair, raised in England – assumed the crown in 930 and established two large things , assemblies in which the king met with the free men to make decisions: Gulating for Western Norway and Frostating for Trøndelag . He also established the leidang, a mobilization army/navy. Haakon made an unsuccessful attempt to introduce Christianity in Norway. After his death in 960, war broke out between
4640-609: The Hanseatic merchants of Lübeck in Bergen in return for recognition of her right to rule, and these hurt the Norwegian economy. The Hanseatic merchants formed a state within a state in Bergen for generations. Even worse were the pirates, the " Victual Brothers ", who launched three devastating raids on the port (the last in 1427). Norway slipped ever more into the background under the Oldenburg dynasty ( established 1450 ). There
4756-650: The Ice Program researchers discovered a 1,500-year-old Viking arrowhead dating back to the Germanic Iron Age and locked in a glacier in southern Norway caused by the climate change in the Jotunheimen Mountains. The arrowhead made of iron was revealed with its cracked wooden shaft and a feather, is 17 cm long and weighs just 28 grams. The Viking Age was a period of Scandinavian expansion through trade, raids and colonization. One of
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4872-548: The Isles . Norwegian Vikings settled on the east coast of Ireland circa 800 and founded the island's first cities, including Dublin . Their arrival caused the petty Gaelic kings to ally, and by 900 they had driven out the Norwegians. The mid-9th century saw the largest chieftains of the petty kingdoms engaged in major power struggle. Harald Fairhair began the process of unifying Norway when he entered an alliance with
4988-514: The Netherlands. Christian returned but his army was defeated and he spent the rest of his life in prison. When Frederick died and a three-way war of succession broke out between the supporters of his eldest son Christian (III), his younger Catholic brother Hans and the followers of Christian II. Olaf Engelbrektsson again tried to lead a Catholic Norwegian resistance movement. Christian III triumphed and Engelbrektsson went into exile and, in 1537, Christian demoted Norway from an independent kingdom to
5104-573: The Norwegian farms as a slave workforce. Whenever the men were engaged in warfare and voyages, the homestead was run by those remaining at home, supervised by the wife. The lack of suitable farming land in Western Norway caused Norwegians to travel to and colonize sparsely populated areas of Shetland , Orkney, the Faroe Islands and the Hebrides , the latter of which became the Kingdom of
5220-561: The Norwegian merchant marine was largely used in support of the British, resulting in Norway being classified as The Neutral Ally . Half the Norwegian fleet was sunk and 2,000 seamen were killed by the German Atlantic U-boat Campaign . Some merchants made huge profits from trade and shipping during the war, resulting in an increased division between the classes. The interwar period was dominated by economic instability caused among other by strikes, lock-outs and
5336-610: The Swedish governor-general Baltzar von Platen resigned after he used force against demonstrators in the Battle of the Square . The first half of the century was dominated by the ca. 2,000 officials, as there were few bourgeois and no aristocracy following an 1821 decision to abolish nobility. From the 1832 election , farmers became more conscious of electing themselves, resulting in a majority of farmers in Parliament. This resulted in rural tax cuts and higher import tariffs, shifting
5452-553: The United States ( Michigan , Minnesota , North Dakota , South Dakota , and Montana ) show Scandinavian (which includes Norwegian) ancestry proportions among European descent (white) persons of 10 to 20%. Similarly, Norwegian ancestry has been found to account for about 25% of ancestry of the population of the Shetland Islands and Danish-Norwegian ancestry has been found to account for about 25% of ancestry of
5568-500: The United States because of poor economic conditions in the US, and 18,790 from Norway. In the third, from 1919 to 1930, 21,874 people came directly from Norway, with the peak year in 1927, when 5,103 Norwegians arrived, spurred by severe depression at home. They came with limited means, many leaving dole queues. From 1825 to 1900 some 500,000 Norwegians landed at Ville du Quebec in Canada (and other Canadian ports) for travelling through Canada
5684-435: The United States. As a result of this, many of the Norwegians remaining in Norway were religiously moderate; subsequently, church attendance declined throughout the 20th century, as reflected by 78% of the population stating that religion is unimportant in a Gallup poll and low weekly church attendance, at 2%, particularly when compared to that of North Dakota , the state in which Norwegians constitute approximately 30.4% of
5800-482: The United States. In 1850, the year after Great Britain repealed its restrictive Navigation Acts in Canada, more emigrating Norwegians sailed the shorter route to the Ville de Québec ( Quebec City ) in Canada, to make their way to US cities like Chicago , Milwaukee , and Green Bay by steamship . For example, in the 1850s, 28,640 arrived at Quebec, Canada, en route to the US, and 8,351 at New York directly. According to
5916-458: The amendment in three successive parliaments. The 1882 election saw the first two parties, the Liberals and Conservatives , run for election, and subsequently the majority succeeded at impeaching the cabinet. In 1884, King Oscar II appointed majority leader Johan Sverdrup as prime minister , thus establishing parliamentarism as the first European country. The Liberal Party introduced
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#17327657535746032-507: The areas of literature, art and music. Norway's culinary traditions show the influence of long seafaring and farming traditions with salmon (fresh and cured), herring (pickled or marinated), trout , codfish and other seafood balanced by cheeses, dairy products and excellent breads (predominantly dark/darker). Lefse is a common Norwegian potato flatbread, common around Christmas. For renowned Norwegian dishes, see lutefisk , smalahove , pinnekjøtt , Krotekake and fårikål . Along with
6148-571: The arrival of the Corded Ware culture , which brought new weapons, tools and an Indo-European dialect , from which later the Norwegian language developed. The Bronze Age began around 1800 BC and involved innovations such as ploughing fields with ards , permanent farms with houses and yards, especially in the fertile areas around the Oslofjord, Trondheimsfjord , Mjøsa and Jæren . Some yields were so high that it allowed farmers to trade furs and skins for luxury items, especially with Jutland . About 1000 BC, speakers of Uralic languages arrived in
6264-442: The church more powerful, and the archbishop became a member of the Council of State . The Hanseatic League took control of Norwegian trade in the 14th century and established trading posts in most Norwegian port cities, such as Oslo and Bergen , which had the largest German colony. In 1380, Olaf Haakonsson inherited both the Norwegian and Danish thrones, creating a union between the two countries. In 1397, under Margaret I ,
6380-492: The church's influence on the king also becoming an issue in the civil wars. The wars ended in 1217 with the appointment of Håkon Håkonsson , who introduced clear succession laws. He also managed to subject Greenland and Iceland to Norwegian rule; the Icelandic Commonwealth thus came to an end after the Age of the Sturlungs civil war resulted in a pro-Norwegian victory. The population increased from 150,000 in 1000 to 400,000 in 1300, resulting both in more land being cleared and
6496-582: The classical music of romantic composer Edvard Grieg and the modern music of Arne Nordheim , Norwegian black metal has become something of an export article in recent years. Norway's classical performers include Leif Ove Andsnes , one of the world's more famous pianists, and Truls Mørk , an outstanding cellist. The jazz scene in Norway is also thriving. Jan Garbarek , Mari Boine , Arild Andersen , and Bugge Wesseltoft are internationally recognised while Paal Nilssen-Love , Supersilent , Jaga Jazzist and Wibutee are becoming world-class artists of
6612-483: The coast, but from the 18th century dried cod started being salted, which required fishermen to buy salt from merchants. The first important period of Norwegian shipping was between 1690 and 1710, but the advantage was lost with Denmark–Norway entering the Great Northern War in 1709. However, Norwegian shipping regained its strength towards the end of the century. Many Norwegians earned a living as sailors in foreign ships, especially Dutch ones. The crews in both sides of
6728-438: The construction of simple fortifications. A plague hit southern Norway in the 6th century, with hundreds of farms being depopulated. Most were repopulated in the 7th century, which also saw the construction of several fishing hamlets and a boom in trade of iron and soapstone across the North Sea . Some chieftains were able to control most of the trade and grew in power throughout the 8th century. In February 2020, Secrets of
6844-447: The country from 1848, resulting in Marcus Thrane establishing the first trade unions and demanding that equality before the law be independent of social class. Parliament passed a series of laws abandoning economic privileges and easing domestic trade during the 1840s and 1850s. Population increase forced the clearing of new land, although some of the growth came in the cities. The population of Christiania reached 40,000 in 1855. By 1865
6960-474: The country was at peace. In 1130, a civil war era broke out over succession to the throne , which allowed all the king's sons to rule jointly by dividing Norway into portions for each to rule. At times there were periods of peace, before a lesser son allied himself with a chieftain and started a new conflict. The Archdiocese of Nidaros was created in 1152 in an attempt to control the appointment of kings. The church inevitably took sides in these conflicts, with
7076-400: The country's audited national income was transferred to Copenhagen. In the last decades of the century, Hans Nielsen Hauge started the Haugean movement, which demanded the right to preach the word of God freely. The University of Oslo was established in 1811. Denmark–Norway entered the Napoleonic Wars on France's side in 1807. This had a devastating effect on the Norwegian economy as
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#17327657535747192-459: The country's generous social safety net with an aging population , and preserving economic competitiveness. Norwegian or Norse Vikings raided and settled in Shetland , Orkney , Ireland, Scotland, and northern England. In the United Kingdom, many names for places ending in - kirk , - ness , - thorpe , - toft and - by are likely Norse in origin. In 947, a new wave of Norwegian Vikings appeared in England when Erik Bloodaxe captured York . In
7308-410: The country's official religion, and its central administrative functions were carried out by the Royal Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs until 2017. The Lutheran Church is still mentioned in the constitution , for example, the King is still required to profess a Lutheran faith. When baptised, children are registered in the Church of Norway 's member register, leading to
7424-413: The earliest agricultural settlements appeared around the Oslofjord . Gradually, between 1,500 BC and 500 BC, agricultural settlements spread to the entire south Norway, while the inhabitants of the regions north of Trøndelag continued to hunt and fish. The Neolithic period started in 4,000 BC. The Migration Period caused the first chieftains to take control and hilltop forts to be constructed. From
7540-458: The entire coastline. The Stone Age is evidenced by the Komsa culture in Troms and Finnmark and the Fosna culture further south. The Nøstvet culture took over from the Fosna culture ca. 7000 BC, when a warmer climate led to increased forestation and new species of mammals for hunting. The oldest human skeleton ever discovered in Norway was found in shallow water off Sogne in 1994 and has been carbon dated to 6600 BC. About 4000 BC people in
7656-508: The first coast-to-coast railway, the Røros Line connected the capital to Trondheim in 1877. Norway joined the Scandinavian Monetary Union in 1875 and introduced the Norwegian krone with a gold standard , along with the metric system being introduced. Annual parliamentary sessions were introduced from 1869 and in 1872 ministers were, through a constitutional amendment, required to meet in Parliament to defend their policies. The king, despite having no constitutional right to do so, vetoed
7772-450: The first raids was against Lindisfarne in 793 and is considered the beginning of the Viking Age. This was possible because of the development of the longship , suitable for travel across the sea, and advanced navigation techniques. Vikings were well equipped, had chain mail armor, and were well trained. In addition to gold and silver, an important purpose from the raids was the capture and trading of thralls , which were brought to
7888-447: The foreign service. The union was formally established after the extraordinary Storting adopted the necessary amendments to the Constitution and elected Charles XIII of Sweden as king of Norway on 4 November 1814. Industrialization started in the 1840s, and from the 1860s large-scale emigration to North America took place. In 1884 the king appointed Johan Sverdrup as prime minister, thus establishing parliamentarism. The union with Sweden
8004-426: The harvest, although the number of farms per legd decreased from four to two in the 1670s. Confirmation was introduced in 1736; as it required people to read, elementary education was introduced. The entire period saw mercantilism as the basis for commerce, which involved import regulations and tariffs , monopolies and privileges throughout the county granted to burghers. The lumber industry became important in
8120-414: The introduction of the water-driven saw in the early 16th century. Norway had huge resources of timber but did not have the means to exploit much of it in the Middle Ages as only hand-tools were available. The new saw mills which sprang up in the fjords changed this. In 1544 a deal was struck with the Netherlands (then part of the Holy Roman Empire ) and the Dutch controlled the export of Norwegian timber for
8236-492: The issue would be decided at a thing , a sacred place where all free men from the surrounding area would assemble and could settle disputes and determine sanctions for crimes, such as paying fines in food. The last century BC saw a widespread cultural development. The Norse adapted letters and created their own alphabet, runes . Trading with Romans also took place, largely furs and skins in exchange for luxury goods. Some Scandinavians also served as Roman mercenaries . Some of
8352-399: The king and on 7 June Parliament unanimously approved the dissolution of the union . In the following dissolution referendum , only 184 people voted in favor of a union. The government offered the Norwegian crown to Denmark's Prince Carl, who after a plebiscite became Haakon VII . The following ten years, Parliament passed a series of social reforms, such as sick pay , factory inspection,
8468-523: The king of Sweden by the Treaty of Kiel . Norway declared its independence and adopted a constitution . However, no foreign powers recognized the Norwegian independence but supported the Swedish demand for Norway to comply with the treaty of Kiel. After a short war with Sweden , the countries concluded the Convention of Moss , in which Norway accepted a personal union with Sweden, keeping its Constitution, Storting and separate institutions, except for
8584-489: The king of Sweden. Christian Frederik , heir to the Danish and Norwegian crowns, had since 1813 been viceroy of Norway. He spearheaded the Norwegian resistance against the Kiel Treaty and planned to claim the throne as the legitimate heir. He traveled to Trondheim to gain support for his person, and then assembled twenty-one prominent citizens at Eidsvoll Manor on 16 February 1814 to discuss his plans. They rejected
8700-615: The king – a position to which Christian Frederik was appointed – and the Parliament of Norway . The Swedish army under Crown prince Carl Johan of Sweden invaded Norway in late July; at the armistice Convention of Moss on 14 August Norway accepted to enter a personal union with Sweden on equal terms, while Sweden accepted the Norwegian Constitution and separate institutions in both states. King Christian Frederik agreed to convoke an extraordinary parliament to revise
8816-588: The main trading port, controlled by the Hanseatic League . Norway entered the Kalmar Union with Denmark and Sweden in 1397. After Sweden left the union in 1523, Norway became the junior partner in Denmark–Norway . The Reformation was introduced in 1537 and absolute monarchy imposed in 1661. In 1814, after being on the losing side of the Napoleonic Wars with Denmark, Norway was ceded to
8932-539: The middle of the 12th century. The Norwegians were Catholics until the Danish king Christian III of Denmark forced them to convert to Lutheranism and established a state-governed church. The church undertook a program to convert the Sámi in the 16th and 17th century, with the program being largely successful. In the 19th century, emigration from Norway for political and religious motives began and Lutheranism spread to
9048-467: The monetary policy causing deflation to compensate for too much money having been issued during the war and thus hindering investments. Especially fishermen were hit hard in the period, while farmers retained market prices through organizing regulations. Unemployment peaked at ten percent between 1931 and 1933. Although industrial production increased by eighty percent from 1915 to 1939, the number of jobs remained stable. The Norwegian School of Economics
9164-493: The most common Y-haplogroup, at about 37,3%. Norwegians also show the characteristic R1a genes of the paternal ancestorship at 17.9% to 30.8%. Such large frequencies of R1a have been found only in East Europe and India. R1b gene showing paternal descent is also widespread at 25.9% to 30.8%. Norwegian genetic ancestry also exists in many locations where Norwegians immigrated. In particular, several northern states in
9280-490: The most powerful farmers became chieftains . They functioned as priests and accepted sacrifices from farmers which were again used to pay soldiers, creating a hird . Thus they were able to rule an area of several clans and tribes. The chieftains' power increased during the Migration Period between 400 and 550 as other Germanic tribes migrated northwards and local farmers wanted protection. This also resulted in
9396-525: The next 150 years. Amsterdam was built on piles from Norway. Tree-felling was done in the winter when farm-work was impossible and it was easy to get the felled trees across the snow to the rivers. In the spring, the logs floated down the rivers to the saw mills by the sea. By the mid-16th century the power of the Hanseatic League in Bergen was broken; though German craftsmen remained, they had to accept Danish-Norwegian rule. The 17th century saw
9512-651: The north and assimilated with the indigenous population, becoming the Sami people . According to Ante Aikio the formation of the Sámi language was completed in its southernmost area of usage (central Scandinavia, South Sápmi) by 500 AD. A climate shift with colder weather started about 500 BC. The forests, which had previously consisted of elm , lime , ash and oak , were replaced with birch , pine and spruce . The climate changes also meant that farmers started building more solid structures for shelter. Knowledge of ironworking
9628-528: The north started using slate tools, earthenware , skis, sleds and large skin boats. The first farming, and thus the start of the Neolithic period, began ca. 4000 BC around the Oslofjord , with technology from southern Scandinavia. The break-through occurred between 2900 and 2500 BC, when oats , barley , pigs, cattle, sheep and goats became common and spread as far north as Alta . This period also saw
9744-544: The pagan and early Viking winter solstice) and Easter (Påske). In Norway, the Santa (called Nissen ) comes at Christmas Eve , the 24 December, with the presents, not the morning after as in many English speaking countries. He usually comes late in the evening, after the Christmas dinner many children consider long, boring and unnecessary. Jonsok ( St. John 's Passing), or St. Hans ( St. John 's Day), i.e. 24 June,
9860-401: The population of Greenland . Y-Chromosome DNA ( Y-DNA ) represents the male lineage, The Norwegian Y-chromosome pool may be summarized as follows where haplogroups R1 & I comprise generally more than 85% of the total chromosomes. Mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA ) represents the female lineage, Haplogroup H represent about 40% of the Norwegian mitochondrial DNA lineages Norwegian
9976-498: The population reached 1.7 million; the large increase was largely caused by better nutrition from herring and potatoes, a sharp decrease of infant mortality and increased hygiene. Emigration to North America started in 1825, with the first mass emigration commencing in the 1860s. By 1930, 800,000 people had emigrated, the majority settling in the Midwestern United States . The population decrease resulted in
10092-518: The population. Of all U.S. states, North Dakota has the lowest percentage of non-religious people and the largest number of churches per capita. It weekly church attendance is at 43%. In Norway the Church of Norway and state are not entirely separated. An act approved in 2016 created the Church of Norway as an independent legal entity, effective from 1 January 2017. The Church of Norway was previously
10208-469: The ratio of self-owning farmers from twenty to fifty percent, largely through sales of crown land to finance the lost wars. Crofts became common in the absolutism period, especially in Eastern Norway and Trøndelag, with the smallholder living at the mercy of the farmer. There were 48,000 smallholders in 1800. Compared to Denmark, taxes were very low in Norway, typically at four to ten percent of
10324-402: The region. During the Viking Age , Harald Fairhair unified the Norse petty kingdoms after being victorious at the Battle of Hafrsfjord in the 880s. Two centuries of Viking expansion tapered off following the decline of Norse paganism with the adoption of Christianity in the 11th century. During The Black Death , approximately 60% of the population died and in 1397 Norway entered
10440-643: The remnants of five longhouses with the help of the radar survey. Christianization and the abolition of the traditional Asatru reflected in Norse mythology was first attempted by Håkon the Good , and later by Olav Tryggvason , but he was killed in the Battle of Svolder in 1000. Olav Haraldsson , starting in 1015, made the things pass church laws, destroyed heathen hofs , built churches and created an institution of priests. Many chieftains feared that Christianization would rob them of power as Goðar in traditional Norse paganism , and had Olaf banished from Norway in 1028. When he tried to return in 1030, he
10556-546: The same time. According to the 2011 Census , 452,705 Canadians reported Norwegian ancestry (Norwegian-Canadians). As of 2011, there were 3,710 Norwegian-born Australians, and 23,037 Norwegians of Australian descent. In the 19th century a community known as the Kola Norwegians settled in the environs of the Russian city of Murmansk . They have suffered persecution under Joseph Stalin and after 1992 were offered
10672-415: The start of World War II in 1939, Norway maintained a strict neutrality. Both Britain and Germany realized the strategic location; both made plans to invade Norway, regardless of Norwegian opposition. The Germans struck first and invaded Norway on 9 April 1940 in the so called operation "Weserübung" . After furious battles with Norwegian and British forces, Germany prevailed and controlled the country until
10788-515: The streets of Amsterdam. Increasingly, Dutchmen who search their genealogical roots turn to Norway. Many Norwegians who emigrated to the Netherlands, and often were employed in the Dutch merchant fleet, emigrated further to the many Dutch colonies such as New Amsterdam (New York). Many Norwegians emigrated to the US between the 1850s and the 1920s. The descendants of these people are known as Norwegian Americans. Many Norwegian settlers traveled to and through Canada and Canadian ports while immigrating to
10904-524: The subdivision of farms. While in the Viking Age all farmers owned their own land, by 1300 seventy percent of the land was owned by the king, the church, or the aristocracy. This was a gradual process where farmers would borrow money in meagre times, often not being able to repay them. However, tenants always remained free men and the large distances and often scattered ownership meant that Norwegian farmers enjoyed much more freedom than continental serfs. In
11020-545: The tax burden to the cities. They also passed the Local Committees Act , which established elected municipal councils from 1838. Cultural expression from the 1840s to the 1870s was dominated by the romantic nationalism , which emphasized the uniqueness of Norway. The textile industry started in the 1840s, which was followed up with mechanical workshops to build new machinery as the British embargo hindered import of textile machinery. An economic crisis hit
11136-478: The terrain and the climate of the region. About 10,000 BC, following the retreat inland of the great ice sheets, the earliest inhabitants migrated north into the territory which is now Norway . They traveled steadily northwards along the coastal areas, warmed by the Gulf Stream . They were hunter-gatherers whose diet included seafood and game, particularly reindeer as staple foods. Between 5,000 BC and 4,000 BC
11252-540: The war and was forced to cede Jämtland and Härjedalen to Sweden. The Second Northern War in 1657 to 1660 resulted in Bohuslän being ceded to Sweden. King Frederick III elevated himself to absolute and hereditary king of Denmark and Norway in 1661, eliminating the power of the nobles. A new administrative system was introduced. Departments organized by portfolio were established in Copenhagen, while Norway
11368-461: The world's largest sovereign wealth fund in 2017. Norway's coastline rose from glaciation with the end of the last glacial period about 12,000 BC. The first immigration took place during this period as the Norwegian coast offered rich opportunities for sealing , fishing, and hunting. These early inhabitants were nomadic , and by 9300 BC they were already settled as far north as Magerøya . Increased ice receding from 8000 BC led to settlement along
11484-513: The year 874 he settled in Reykjavík . After his expulsion from Iceland Erik the Red discovered Greenland, a name he chose in hope of attracting Icelandic settlers. Viking settlements were established in the sheltered fjords of the southern and western coast. Erik's relative Leif Eriksson later discovered North America. During the 17th and 18th centuries, many Norwegians emigrated to the Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam . The Netherlands
11600-414: The younger generation. Norway has a strong folk music tradition which remains popular to this day. Among the most prominent folk musicians are Hardanger fiddlers Andrea Een , Olav Jørgen Hegge , Vidar Lande and Annbjørg Lien , violinist Susanne Lundeng , and vocalists Agnes Buen Garnås , Kirsten Bråten Berg and Odd Nordstoga . Norwegians celebrate their national day on 17 May, dedicated to
11716-510: Was dissolved in 1905. From the 1880s to the 1920s, Norwegians such as Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen carried out important polar expeditions. Shipping and hydroelectricity were important sources of income for the country. The following decades saw a fluctuating economy and the rise of the labor movement. Germany occupied Norway between 1940 and 1945 during the Second World War , after which Norway joined NATO and underwent
11832-625: Was a revolt under Knut Alvsson in 1502. Norwegians had some affection for king Christian II , who resided in the country for several years. Norway did not take any part in the events which led to Swedish independence from Denmark in the 1520s . Sweden was able to pull out of the Kalmar Union in 1523, thus creating Denmark–Norway under the rule of a king in Copenhagen . King Frederick I favoured Martin Luther 's Reformation , but it
11948-464: Was also true of the many Americans of Norwegian heritage who immigrated to Canada from the US with "Canada Fever" seeking homesteads and new economic opportunities. By 1921 one-third of all Norwegians in Canada had been born in the US. These new Canadians became British subjects in Canada, and part of the British Empire. Canadian citizenship, as a status distinct from that of a British subject,
12064-640: Was brought to Canada to build a winter road from York Factory on Hudson Bay to the infant Red River settlement at the site of present-day Winnipeg, Manitoba , Canada. Norway House is one of the oldest trading posts and Native-Canadian missions in the Canadian West. Willard Ferdinand Wentzel served the North West Company of Canada in the Athabasca and Mackenzie regions and accompanied Sir John Franklin on his overland expedition in 1819–20 to
12180-465: Was created on 1 January 1947, with Canada being the first Commonwealth country to create their own citizenship. Prior to that date, Canadians were British subjects and Canada's nationality law closely mirrored that of the United Kingdom. On 1 January 1947, Canadian citizenship was conferred on most British subjects connected with Canada. Unlike the US, Canada was part of the British Empire and most Norwegians would have become Canadians and British subjects at
12296-587: Was difficult because of export tariffs and the country experienced high inflation. The Norwegian speciedaler was established as a currency by the Bank of Norway when it was established in 1816, financed through a silver tax which lasted until 1842. Under threat of a coup d'état by Carl Johan, Norway reluctantly paid the debt stated in the Treaty of Kiel, despite never having ratified it. Constitution Day on 17 May became an important political rally every year; in 1829
12412-418: Was divided into counties , each led by a district governor, and further subdivided into bailiwicks. About 1,600 government officials were appointed throughout the country. Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve was the most famous viceroy of Norway (1664–1699). The population of Norway increased from 150,000 in 1500 to 900,000 in 1800. By 1500 most deserted farms were repossessed. The period under absolutism increased
12528-530: Was established in 1936. Norway had nine governments between 1918 and 1935, nearly all minority and lasting an average eighteen months. The Agrarian Party was established in 1920, although this period saw a rise of support for the Conservatives. The Labor Party split in 1921, with the left wing establishing the Communist Party . Although strong during the 1920s, they were marginalized through
12644-500: Was established the following year and women's suffrage was introduced in 1913—as the second country in the world. From the 1880s to the 1920s, Norwegians carried out a series of polar expeditions. The most important explorers were Fridtjof Nansen , Roald Amundsen and Otto Sverdrup . Amundsen's expedition in 1911 became the first to reach the South Pole. Norway adopted a policy of neutrality from 1905; during World War I
12760-469: Was introduced from the Celts , resulting in better weapons and tools. Iron Age tools allowed for more extensive clearing and farming, and thus more areas were cultivated as the population grew with the increased harvests. A new social structure evolved: when sons married, they would remain in the same house; such an extended family was a clan . They would offer protection from other clans; if conflicts arose,
12876-456: Was met by the locals in the Battle of Stiklestad , where Olaf was killed, in accordance with the law. The church elevated Olaf I to sainthood , and Nidaros (today Trondheim ) became the Christian centre of Norway. Within a few years the Danish rule had become sufficiently unpopular that Norway again united under a Norwegian king, Magnus Olavson the Good, in 1035. From the 1040s to 1130
12992-454: Was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940–45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO . Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economy but in referendums held in 1972 and 1994 , Norway rejected joining the EU . Key domestic issues include integration of a fast-growing immigrant population , maintaining
13108-403: Was not popular in Norway, where the Church was the sole remaining national institution and the country was too poor for the clergy to be very corrupt. Initially, Frederick agreed not to try to introduce Protestantism to Norway but in 1529 he changed his mind. Norwegian resistance was led by Olav Engelbrektsson , Archbishop of Trondheim , who invited the old king Christian II back from his exile in
13224-575: Was now needed and power shifted from the pincial nobility to the royal administration: district stipendiary magistrates were appointed as judges and the sheriffs became employees of the crown rather than of the local nobility. In 1572 (or 1556), a viceroy was appointed for Norway with a seat at Akershus Fortress in Oslo. In 1628 the Norwegian Army was founded, and professional military officers were employed. The Norwegian economy improved with
13340-533: Was the second-most popular destination for Norwegian emigrants after Denmark. Loosely estimated, some 10% of the population may have emigrated, in a period when the entire Norwegian population consisted of some 800,000 people. The Norwegians left with the Dutch trade ships that when in Norway traded for timber, hides, herring, and stockfish (dried codfish). Young women took employment as maids in Amsterdam, while young men took employment as sailors. Large parts of
13456-485: Was the shortest corridor to the United States' central states. In spite of efforts by the Government of Canada to retain these immigrants for Canada, very few remained because of Canada's somewhat restrictive land policies at that time and negative stories being told about Canada from U.S. land agents deterring Norwegians from going to Canada. Not until the 1880s did Norwegians accept Canada as a land of opportunity. This
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