Info about Iceland
iceland history
If the history of one country goes back with millenniums BC, this is not the case for Iceland. Actually this island formed much later and the inhabitants are believed to have living on this place only in the recent years. When talking about recent formation of the island we are of course referring to geological years or periods.
the proofs of people living in this land show that probably the first people to land foot on this island did this somewhere around the 3rd century, although this is not sure because the proofs happened to be some coins that belonged to the Romans, coins that were used for many centuries after they have been made.
One of the people that are dating back the history of Iceland to have lived the land is the Norse.
There are many stories and legends referring to the land inhabitants that are as well interesting and fascinating. These people had many origins and mostly they were coming from the nearby lands, like Irish, Scottish or Norwegian.
The first parliament that was settled in Iceland formed in 930 and it was called Alpingi, which had to make laws or amend them and to also take care of the judicial issues.
Seat of Alþingi. The Christianization of this land started in the 10th century. Until that time the people that were living here were worshiping gods which were the Norse gods.
Between the 13th and the 20th century Iceland was under the domination of Norway and Danish.
after two natural disasters that have stroked Iceland, one being a very severe climate and the second a volcanic eruption that killed 9000 people and almost all of the livestock, the country needed its independency even though there were many that emigrated to other lands. In 1944 Iceland was an independent republic. The new republic tried to keep the highest standards of living and have actually managed. After 5 years since Iceland was a republic, the country became member of NATO.
During the 1990 years the economy of Iceland increased and the inflation reduced because of the state helping small and big companies to develop.
Probably the key of success in this country was the fact that the same government won the elections three times in a row. Like all other countries in 2008 Iceland had to face the financial crises, when like many of the European countries had to take loans from IMF. This crises lead to the dismissal of the head of the government and the place was taken by the first gay person that had this kind of a position and that has openly admitted his status.