Photo Credit: "Mountains Outside Narvik," by Alexander Cahlenstein, June 10, 2011 via flickr is licensed by CC BY 2.0.
Earliest Settlements
Norway, with a population of 5,109,000, is Europe’s northernmost country. Its official name is the Kingdom of Norway and includes the Arctic Islands of Svalbard and Jan Mayen. Norway borders the countries of Finland, Sweden and Russia. The country itself is only slightly larger than that of New Mexico, and the topography of the country was created during the Pleistocene era as a result of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet. The research I found on the earliest settlements in the country of Norway, supports Jared Diamond’s diffusion theory which he presents in Guns, Germs and Steel.
Approximately 18,000 years ago the Scandinavian Ice Sheet dominated the landscape of Western Europe. It originated in the Jostedalsbreen area in Southern Norway and extended west to Great Britain, east to Moscow, Russia and south towards Germany and Poland. 11,700 years ago the ice sheet retreated to Jostedalsbreen, where it still remains today as the largest glacier in Europe. This ice sheet had a tremendous impact on the landscape as well as the settlement and population density within the country of Norway. Under the weight of the ice sheet, the land became depressed, and as the ice melted, rivers dug out gorges and canyons into the coastline. Fjords then dominated the landscape of the country. The earliest inhabitants can be traced back to the coastline were the ice first began to melt between 11,000 and 8,000 BC. The livelihood of these earliest inhabitants depended upon hunting and fishing which then lead to the rich seafaring tradition that became central to the country’s development. Even as the ice sheet continued to retreat, the extreme climate and difficult terrain left the interior of the country sparsely settled.
In support of Diamond’s diffusion theory, around 3000-2500 BC new immigrants began to settle along Eastern Norway. These new immigrants were farmers that grew grain and raised cows and sheep. Norway has approximately 2,000 species of plants, but very few of these are endemic to the land and consist of mostly mountain plants. Early rock carvings dating back to 5000 BC from the early hunters and fisherman depict only deer, reindeer, elk, bears, birds, seals, whales, and fish. This further supports Diamond’s theories from Guns, Germs, and Steel as one can then conclude that these farmers brought the grain, cows and sheep with them, as they spread throughout Europe from the Fertile Crescent.
Around the years 600-800 AD, permanent communities were being established in the country. The Sami people, whose origins are obscure and often debated as to when they migrated to the country, would eventually settle in the northern area of Norway, along the rugged Finnmark Plateau. The early Norwegians seafaring tradition would reach its climax during the Viking era between the years 800 to 1030 AD. During this time they built ocean-going ships and sailed around the world raiding other countries for treasures and resources. During this time they raided along the coasts of Western Europe, the British Isles, as well as areas of Russia. They explored foreign lands and began establishing colonies and communities in areas such as Iceland and Greenland. Leif Eriksson was one such Viking explorer who sailed from Norway to Newfoundland in North America.
Modern Norway became a leader in specialized shipbuilding and with the discovery of offshore oil and natural gas in the 1970’s, they emerged as a world leader in petroleum exports. The Finnmark Plateau is still home to a large population of Sami people, some which still practice traditional reindeer herding. In the 21st century, three quarters of the population are living in towns and urban areas. Nearly half of these inhabitants live in the southern region of Norway.
In summary, the Kingdom of Norway’s earliest settlements began after the Scandinavian Ice Sheet began to melt. These first inhabitants were hunters and fisherman that lived along the coast. Around the 3000-2500 BC farmers began to migrate into the area bringing with them grain, cows and sheep, further supporting Jared Diamond’s theory in Guns, Germs and Steel. The population of Norway continued to grow when the Sami’s settled along the Finnmark Plateau in the Northern region of Norway. The increasing population in conjunction with the seafaring lifestyle reached a climax during the Viking era. Vikings began sailing to other countries to raid them of their resources and eventually settling and colonizing in some of these foreign lands. Today, the mostly densely populated area is found in Norway is the southern region around the capital of Oslo.
Approximately 18,000 years ago the Scandinavian Ice Sheet dominated the landscape of Western Europe. It originated in the Jostedalsbreen area in Southern Norway and extended west to Great Britain, east to Moscow, Russia and south towards Germany and Poland. 11,700 years ago the ice sheet retreated to Jostedalsbreen, where it still remains today as the largest glacier in Europe. This ice sheet had a tremendous impact on the landscape as well as the settlement and population density within the country of Norway. Under the weight of the ice sheet, the land became depressed, and as the ice melted, rivers dug out gorges and canyons into the coastline. Fjords then dominated the landscape of the country. The earliest inhabitants can be traced back to the coastline were the ice first began to melt between 11,000 and 8,000 BC. The livelihood of these earliest inhabitants depended upon hunting and fishing which then lead to the rich seafaring tradition that became central to the country’s development. Even as the ice sheet continued to retreat, the extreme climate and difficult terrain left the interior of the country sparsely settled.
In support of Diamond’s diffusion theory, around 3000-2500 BC new immigrants began to settle along Eastern Norway. These new immigrants were farmers that grew grain and raised cows and sheep. Norway has approximately 2,000 species of plants, but very few of these are endemic to the land and consist of mostly mountain plants. Early rock carvings dating back to 5000 BC from the early hunters and fisherman depict only deer, reindeer, elk, bears, birds, seals, whales, and fish. This further supports Diamond’s theories from Guns, Germs, and Steel as one can then conclude that these farmers brought the grain, cows and sheep with them, as they spread throughout Europe from the Fertile Crescent.
Around the years 600-800 AD, permanent communities were being established in the country. The Sami people, whose origins are obscure and often debated as to when they migrated to the country, would eventually settle in the northern area of Norway, along the rugged Finnmark Plateau. The early Norwegians seafaring tradition would reach its climax during the Viking era between the years 800 to 1030 AD. During this time they built ocean-going ships and sailed around the world raiding other countries for treasures and resources. During this time they raided along the coasts of Western Europe, the British Isles, as well as areas of Russia. They explored foreign lands and began establishing colonies and communities in areas such as Iceland and Greenland. Leif Eriksson was one such Viking explorer who sailed from Norway to Newfoundland in North America.
Modern Norway became a leader in specialized shipbuilding and with the discovery of offshore oil and natural gas in the 1970’s, they emerged as a world leader in petroleum exports. The Finnmark Plateau is still home to a large population of Sami people, some which still practice traditional reindeer herding. In the 21st century, three quarters of the population are living in towns and urban areas. Nearly half of these inhabitants live in the southern region of Norway.
In summary, the Kingdom of Norway’s earliest settlements began after the Scandinavian Ice Sheet began to melt. These first inhabitants were hunters and fisherman that lived along the coast. Around the 3000-2500 BC farmers began to migrate into the area bringing with them grain, cows and sheep, further supporting Jared Diamond’s theory in Guns, Germs and Steel. The population of Norway continued to grow when the Sami’s settled along the Finnmark Plateau in the Northern region of Norway. The increasing population in conjunction with the seafaring lifestyle reached a climax during the Viking era. Vikings began sailing to other countries to raid them of their resources and eventually settling and colonizing in some of these foreign lands. Today, the mostly densely populated area is found in Norway is the southern region around the capital of Oslo.
Maps
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/2/1/38212721/3527869.jpg?379)
This map shows the Scandinavian Ice Sheet that dominated Western Europe during the last ice age. The Ice Sheet originated in the Jostedalsbreen area of Norway.
Citation: World Map Showing Extent of Glaciation of Last Ice Age. (n.d) Retrieved February 2, 2015 from http://www.metatech.org/07/ice_age_global_warming.html
![Picture](/uploads/3/8/2/1/38212721/9986874.png?399)
This map shows the population density of the country of Norway in the year 2000. It shows that the majority of people reside along the coastlines as the interior of the country is very rugged and has a very harsh climate.
Citation: Norway, Population Density, 2000. (n.d.) Retrieved February 3, 2015 from http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/gpw-v3-population-density/maps?facets=region%3Aeurope&facets=country%3Anorway
Population Pyramids
Additional Resources and Information
These are two fantastic and fun sites for further exploring the country of Norway!
1. Time for Kids. As a future educator this site can be fun to explore for elementary students. It includes a sightseeing guide, a history timeline, Native Lingo and more! It can be accessed with this link: http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/norway
2. Breheimsenteret. This site is for exploring more of the Jostedalbreen region at its National Park. It is geared towards tourism, but allows one to further explore the area where the Scandinavian Ice Sheet originated from. It can be accessed with this link: http://www.jostedal.com/
1. Time for Kids. As a future educator this site can be fun to explore for elementary students. It includes a sightseeing guide, a history timeline, Native Lingo and more! It can be accessed with this link: http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/norway
2. Breheimsenteret. This site is for exploring more of the Jostedalbreen region at its National Park. It is geared towards tourism, but allows one to further explore the area where the Scandinavian Ice Sheet originated from. It can be accessed with this link: http://www.jostedal.com/
References
1. Norway. (2015). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/420178/Norway/39300/Earliest-peoples
2. Who were the Vikings? (2005, February 8). Retrieved January 27, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/who-were-vikings.html
3. Norway Profile. (2014, June 10). Retrieved January 29, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17743896
4. Norway. (2007, January 1). Retrieved January 29, 2015, from http://www.allcountries.eu/norway.htm
5. Simms, D. (n.d.). The Early Beginnings of Sami History, From the Beginnings to the 16th Century. Retrieved January 29, 2015, from http://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/dieda/hist/early.htm
6. A Short History of Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://www.norway.org.uk/studywork/Norway-For-Young-People/History/Historical-Figures/#.VNHAmC4YGYd
7. Norway Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/norway-facts/
8. Ice Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2015, from http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/ice-sheet/?ar_a=1
2. Who were the Vikings? (2005, February 8). Retrieved January 27, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/who-were-vikings.html
3. Norway Profile. (2014, June 10). Retrieved January 29, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17743896
4. Norway. (2007, January 1). Retrieved January 29, 2015, from http://www.allcountries.eu/norway.htm
5. Simms, D. (n.d.). The Early Beginnings of Sami History, From the Beginnings to the 16th Century. Retrieved January 29, 2015, from http://www.utexas.edu/courses/sami/dieda/hist/early.htm
6. A Short History of Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://www.norway.org.uk/studywork/Norway-For-Young-People/History/Historical-Figures/#.VNHAmC4YGYd
7. Norway Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/norway-facts/
8. Ice Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2015, from http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/ice-sheet/?ar_a=1