{"product_id":"history-of-norway-a-captivating-guide-to-norwegian-history","title":"History of Norway: A Captivating Guide to Norwegian History","description":"\u003cb\u003eDid you know that the Vikings from Norway were the first to inhabit Greenland?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThey 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eNorway 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eNorway 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eNorway 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRead more to find out: \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhere did the first Norwegians come from?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow did the early Bronze Age societies live in the harsh environment of Scandinavia?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy did the Iron Age come so late to Scandinavia?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWere the Vikings simply pirates or farmers with a higher cause?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow did the Vikings live, and who were the first Norwegian chieftains?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat was the Old Norse religion like, and how was it replaced by Christianity?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy were there so many petty kingdoms in medieval Norway?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow did Denmark come to rule Norway?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow did Norway gain independence through a union with Sweden?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnd how did Norway truly gain independence?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy was Norway neutral during World War I?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy didn't Norway preserve its neutrality during World War II?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow did the country rebuild itself and establish a unique welfare system, often cited as the best in the world?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhen was oil was discovered in Norway, and what does it mean to its citizens today?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eScroll up and click the \"add to cart\" button to learn more about the History of Norway!\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Captivating History","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46358006235372,"sku":"9781637165881","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0684\/1791\/3068\/files\/9781637165881.jpg?v=1744396076","url":"https:\/\/intl.allstora.com\/products\/history-of-norway-a-captivating-guide-to-norwegian-history","provider":"Allstora","version":"1.0","type":"link"}