|
Despite their high standard of living,
Norwegians
are very simple people. Unlike Sweden and Denmark, Norway never
really had nobility. Here people where either farmers or
fishermen ruled by a king who often had his base abroad. The
harsh climate conditions have through all times forced the
Norwegians to live on the terms of nature. Today this is less
visible in the larger cities, but in rural areas closeness to
nature and values connected to nature, are still very strong.
This make the Norwegians earthbound, fearless and close to basic
values like having time to one another, respecting the person,
honesty, willingness to help and be present in the moment,
values that seem to be fading in modern societies. |
 |
|
Historical Milestones
9000 BC - 8000 BC
Earliest signs of human settlement.
8000 - 4000 BC
Old Stone Age, hunters and fishermen, rock carvings.
4000 BC - 1500 BC
New Stone Age, early agriculture, livestock.
1500 BC - 500 BC
Bronze Age, agricultural tools, jewellery, glass, weapons.
500 BC - 800 AD
Iron Age, iron ploughs and scythes.
800 AD - 1050 AD
Viking Age, longships, trade and conquest, runic inscriptions, voyages of
discovery, Leif Eiriksson discovers America.
900 AD
Norway united into one kingdom.
1030
Christianity adopted in Norway.
1130
Start of High Middle Ages, population growth, and consolidation of power
both of church and crown.
1100 - 1200
Monarchy controls the church, slavery abolished.
1350
The Black Death reduces the population by almost two-thirds.
1380 - 1536
Union with Denmark through royal intermarriage.
1536
Norway ceases to be an independent kingdom.
1814
The Norwegian Constitution adopted, based on the American Declaration of
Independence.
1814 - 1905
Union with Sweden.
1905
End of Union. Haakon VII crowned king.
1913
Universal right to vote for women: Norway is among the first in the world to
grant suffrage.
1940 - 1945
World War II, Norway occupied by Germany.
1957
Death of Haakon VII - Olav V crowned king.
1970
Oil and gas deposits discovered off the Norwegian coast.
1981
Norway's first female Prime Minister.
1991
Death of Olav V, Harald V becomes king.
|
