Skip to main content

Iceland

Lyðveldið Ísland (Republic of Iceland)

  • Chapter
The Statesman’s Yearbook 2005

Part of the book series: The Statesman’s Yearbook ((SYBK))

  • 11 Accesses

Abstract

Scandinavia’s North Atlantic outpost was first settled by Irish monks in the early 9th century but migrants from Scandinavia and Norse settlements in the British Isles drove them out in 874. A ruling class of chieftains, known as the godar, established the first ever democratic national assembly, the Alþingi (Althing), in 930. Primarily an adjudicating body, it also served as a legislature and a fair. In 1000 it adopted Christianity by majority decision as Iceland’s official religion. Bishoprics were established at Skálholt in 1056 and at Hólar in 1106. In the mid-13th century the godar were persuaded to swear allegiance to the king of Norway, bringing Iceland under Norwegian rule but leaving it with relative autonomy. When Norway was joined with Denmark in 1380, Iceland retained the Althing and its own code of law.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Further Reading

  • Statistics Iceland, Landshagir (Statistical Yearbook of Iceland).—Hagtíðindi (Monthly Statistics)

    Google Scholar 

  • Central Bank of Iceland. Economic Statistics Quarterly.—The Economy of Iceland. May 1994

    Google Scholar 

  • Byock, Jesse, Viking Age Iceland. Penguin, London, 2001

    Google Scholar 

  • Hastrup, K., A Place Apart: An Anthropological Study of the Icelandic World. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1998

    Google Scholar 

  • Karlsson, G., The History of Iceland. Univ. of Minnesota Press, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  • Lacy, T., Ring of Seasons: Iceland—Its culture and history. University of Michigan Press, 1998

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • McBride F. R., Iceland. [Bibliography] 2nd ed. ABC-Clio, Oxford and Santa Barbara (CA), 1996

    Google Scholar 

  • Smiley, Jane, (ed.) The Sagas of Icelanders: A Selection. Penguin, London, 2002

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, Barry, (ed.) Scandinavia Profiled. Macmillan, London, 2000

    Google Scholar 

  • National statistical office: Statistics Iceland, Bogartúni 21a, IS-150 Reykjavík.

    Google Scholar 

  • Website: http://www.hagstofa.is

  • National library: Landsbókasafn Islands.—Háskólabókasafn, Reykjavík, Librarian: Sigrún Klara Hannesdóttir.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Barry Turner

Copyright information

© 2004 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Turner, B. (2004). Iceland. In: Turner, B. (eds) The Statesman’s Yearbook 2005. The Statesman’s Yearbook. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230271333_181

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics