They were also the first people to settle in Iceland and the Faroes Islands. They also founded the first true cities of Ireland. Although Vikings are a huge part of the history of Norway, the era in which they lived was very short.

Norway wasn't a defined country or even a region in its early history. It was geographically, culturally, and linguistically inseparable from the rest of Scandinavia. Therefore, its history is deeply influenced by not only its inhabitants but also its neighbors.

Norway is a unique country located on the fringes of Europe. Its climate and geographical position determined the lifestyle of the people inhabiting it. It was never an easy life. The constant scarcity of arable land, the vast distances they had to traverse due to the myriad of fjords and mountains, and the long and harsh winters in the inland areas made Norwegians constantly struggle for a better life.

Norway was also often a target of much stronger neighboring kingdoms, mainly Denmark and Sweden. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Norway was part of a union with first Denmark and then Sweden. None of the unions was a Norwegian choice. And even though the people were aware of the deep connection they shared with the rest of Scandinavia, they had a distinctive Norwegian identity. It was this identity that pushed Norway to fight for its independence.

Read more to find out:

• Where did the first Norwegians come from?
• How did the early Bronze Age societies live in the harsh environment of Scandinavia?
• Why did the Iron Age come so late to Scandinavia?
• Were the Vikings simply pirates or farmers with a higher cause?
• How did the Vikings live, and who were the first Norwegian chieftains?
• What was the Old Norse religion like, and how was it replaced by Christianity?
• Why were there so many petty kingdoms in medieval Norway?
• How did Denmark come to rule Norway?
• How did Norway gain independence through a union with Sweden?
• And how did Norway truly gain independence?
• Why was Norway neutral during World War I?
• Why didn't Norway preserve its neutrality during World War II?
• How did the country rebuild itself and establish a unique welfare system, often cited as the best in the world?
• When was oil was discovered in Norway, and what does it mean to its citizens today?