What do you think?
Rate this book
History of Iceland: A Captivating Guide to the History of the Land of Fire and Ice, from the Viking Age to the Present
Did you know that Iceland was likely initially settled by Irish monks?
Iceland, the land of fire and ice, has a storied history. After the Norse discovered Iceland, they began to settle it, allying the island nation with Norway. However, as power shifted in Scandinavia, Iceland would come to be governed by Denmark for several centuries.
For much of Iceland’s history, it practiced a subsistence society. The people were dependent on fishing and farming to survive, and because of their isolation, they did not advance at the same rate as the rest of Europe. In addition, they were often subject to forces beyond their control. The often-violent environment not only shaped their daily lives but also created many of the struggles they faced. Although the Icelanders were isolated, they were impacted by the events in Europe, especially those in the Scandinavian nations.
It took centuries, but the Icelanders were able to become a sovereign nation, doing so in 1944. Thanks to the Icelanders’ connection to their past, they have maintained their rich literary tradition and have developed a distinct national identity.
Iceland is often mentioned in history books, but how much do you actually know about it? In this book, you will learn all about the history of Iceland, from the settlement period to the 20th century. Here is just a snippet of what you will find
The Old Covenant with Norway and what that meant for IcelandThe development of the Althing, which is the oldest existing legislature in the world todayThe conversion from paganism to ChristianityThe arrival of the plague and its devastating consequencesThe spread of literacy and Iceland’s rich history of literatureThe role of fish in Iceland’s history and economyIceland’s struggle for independenceAnd much more!
Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to begin your journey into Iceland’s past!
Iceland, the land of fire and ice, has a storied history. After the Norse discovered Iceland, they began to settle it, allying the island nation with Norway. However, as power shifted in Scandinavia, Iceland would come to be governed by Denmark for several centuries.
For much of Iceland’s history, it practiced a subsistence society. The people were dependent on fishing and farming to survive, and because of their isolation, they did not advance at the same rate as the rest of Europe. In addition, they were often subject to forces beyond their control. The often-violent environment not only shaped their daily lives but also created many of the struggles they faced. Although the Icelanders were isolated, they were impacted by the events in Europe, especially those in the Scandinavian nations.
It took centuries, but the Icelanders were able to become a sovereign nation, doing so in 1944. Thanks to the Icelanders’ connection to their past, they have maintained their rich literary tradition and have developed a distinct national identity.
Iceland is often mentioned in history books, but how much do you actually know about it? In this book, you will learn all about the history of Iceland, from the settlement period to the 20th century. Here is just a snippet of what you will find
The Old Covenant with Norway and what that meant for IcelandThe development of the Althing, which is the oldest existing legislature in the world todayThe conversion from paganism to ChristianityThe arrival of the plague and its devastating consequencesThe spread of literacy and Iceland’s rich history of literatureThe role of fish in Iceland’s history and economyIceland’s struggle for independenceAnd much more!
Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to begin your journey into Iceland’s past!
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
123 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2022
140 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 31, 2023
The fact that the word “captivating” is used in the title is laughable— this book reminded me of a high school student who cut and pasted most of their research from a Wikipedia article. I was really hopeful this book would be a “captivating” read on the history of Iceland because the previous books I have read did not deliver. At this point I may as well resort to Lonely Planet!
September 12, 2024
Послухала книгу для базового розуміння історії Ісландії, дізналась багато цікавих фактів, наприклад про роль США для Ісландії в 2 світовій
March 5, 2023
This is an eye-opening story about Iceland. I always thought they were an independent nation. That is not true.
Seventy million years ago, a magma pocket formed the Iceland island. Although its location puts it in the range of a harsh environment, it is tempered by the Gulf Stream. Nevertheless, I was surprised that only 20-25% of Iceland is habitable. Those areas are the south and east of the island.
The Vikings may not have been the first to find Iceland; it is thought that the Greeks saw it first but did not settle any people there. Instead, the Scandinavians primarily influenced Iceland.
The Icelandic language most closely sounds like Old Norse. Because they were isolated, their language wasn't influenced by others.
The land was empty when the first settlers arrived, and life was hard. It took a long time before any government was formed. The small number of people who live in Iceland have been buffeted by difficult times, including losing 1/4 of their population to smallpox. This country has had a varied and complex history. This book does a great job of explaining how and why things occurred over the generations. The chapters take turns discussing every aspect of Icelandic life and history. Interesting reading.
Seventy million years ago, a magma pocket formed the Iceland island. Although its location puts it in the range of a harsh environment, it is tempered by the Gulf Stream. Nevertheless, I was surprised that only 20-25% of Iceland is habitable. Those areas are the south and east of the island.
The Vikings may not have been the first to find Iceland; it is thought that the Greeks saw it first but did not settle any people there. Instead, the Scandinavians primarily influenced Iceland.
The Icelandic language most closely sounds like Old Norse. Because they were isolated, their language wasn't influenced by others.
The land was empty when the first settlers arrived, and life was hard. It took a long time before any government was formed. The small number of people who live in Iceland have been buffeted by difficult times, including losing 1/4 of their population to smallpox. This country has had a varied and complex history. This book does a great job of explaining how and why things occurred over the generations. The chapters take turns discussing every aspect of Icelandic life and history. Interesting reading.
November 6, 2022
I thoroughly enjoy this series, so I was ecstatic when I saw a book about Iceland's history, since it's a subject matter not necessarily written about as often as other nations. A good introduction and jumping off place for further research. Great for history lovers and high school students, the writing flows well.
Booksprout Review Copy
Booksprout Review Copy
December 9, 2024
sko já mjög fræðandi verð að segja er smá hissa að sumt af þessu dóti er bara ekkert kennt í skólum á íslandi; en á sama tíma missti bókin mig smá í blálokin. þurfum fleiri svona, og helst á íslensku, þar sem er bara stiklað á stóru svo krakkar geti í alvöru lært td afh ísland heitir ísland og grænland heitir grænland, hvað actually gerðist í tyrkjaráninu, og bara já saga alþingis.
November 20, 2022
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. My knowledge of Iceland is very slim, so I found this fascinating and informative.
February 7, 2023
Very solid short read on the history of Iceland. I could have used a bit more info on the geography and major cites around the country but this set a nice foundation for my visit.
March 6, 2023
Audiobook.
Concise intro to the subject. I especially appreciated the early history and exploration.
Concise intro to the subject. I especially appreciated the early history and exploration.
June 18, 2024
A short and interesting introduction to Iceland history.
July 7, 2024
3.5 Listened to this while on a driving tour of Iceland. It filled the time and provided us with a good basic set of facts. Although it was dry, it was short and to the point.
August 1, 2024
Really flat narration. Also, very little on the ancient, modern and contemporary.
January 5, 2025
Read as part of our preparation for a trip to Iceland. Informative, maybe overly so, but I wouldn't call it "captivating".
August 21, 2025
I am headed there in 10 days, so this was helpful.
December 9, 2024
книга дає базові знання з історії Ісландії та пояснює різні процеси, що відбувалися в цій країні. гарний початок для подальшого вивчення теми.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews