History of Iceland
This is a summary of the history of Iceland in chronological order. Additionally you’ll find some facts on the History of the Vikings in Europe during the Middle Ages and their settlement in Iceland.
Further there is a Historic overview on the vikings and some facts and photos of the Viking Festival in Hafnafjörður.
| Year | Event |
| 17 mio years ago | Iceland was formed as a result of volcanic eruptions on the Mid-Atlantic-Ridge. |
| 120,000 up to 10,000 years ago | The island was buried under a large ice cap serveral times. The characteristic table mountains were formed. |
| around 750 | Irish monks stayed in Iceland and the Faroes for a short time. |
| 874 | Ingólfur Arnarson was the first documented permanent settler. Further settlers followed. |
| 930 | The parliament "Althingi" was founded at Thingvellir. |
| 982 | Erik Thorvaldson ("Eric the Red") settled in Greenland. |
| 1000 | Leif Eriksson discovered North America. Adoption of Christianity in Iceland. |
| 1056 | The first bishop was established at Skálholt in South Iceland. |
| 1120-1250 | The Sagas were written down. Snorri Sturluson counts to the most important authors. |
| 1241 | Snorri Sturluson was murdered in West Iceland. |
| 1262 | Iceland became a Norwegian colony. |
| 1380 | Norway and Iceland became colonies of Denmark. |
| 1402-1404 | Two-thirds of the Icelandic people died due to the plague. |
| 1550 | Reformation in Iceland. The last Catholic bishop was beheaded. |
| 1602 | Denmark established a Royal trade monopoly. |
| 1783-1790 | Natural disaster (Laki eruption) with 10,000 victims. |
| 1787 | Denmark abolished the trade monopoly. |
| 1800 | Denmark decided to abolish the Althingi, Iceland’s parliament. |
| 1818 | The National Library has been founded. |
| 1843 | Althingi was reinstated as a consultative assembly. |
| 1863 | National museum has been founded. |
| 1874 | 1000 years of settlement. A new constitution and limited home rule were granted to Iceland by Denmark. |
| 1885 | Foundation of the National Bank. |
| 1904 | Start of the self-government. Iceland received an own minister in Copenhagen. |
| 1911 | Foundation of the University of Iceland |
| 1918 | Sovereignty: Act of Crown Union with Denmark |
| 1940 | Iceland was occupied by British forces to prevent a German invasion. Replacement in 1941 by American troops. |
| 1944 | The Republic of Iceland has been proclaimed at Thingvellir, South Iceland. |
| 1947 | Iceland became a member of the United Nations |
| 1947 | Iceland became a member of the OEEC (later OECD) |
| 1949 | Iceland became a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). |
| 1950 | Iceland became a member of the Council of Europe |
| 1952 | Iceland joined the Nordic Council |
| 1952, 1958, 1972, 1975 |
Iceland gradually extended its fishery zone from 3 to 200 nautical miles. |
| 1963-1967 | Surtsey was formed in the Westman archipelago. |
| 1970 | Iceland became a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). |
| 1973 | Volcanic eruption on Heimaey, Westman Islands. |
| 1986 | Reagan-Gorbachev Summit held in Reykjavik. |
| 2000 | Reykjavik was a European Capital of Culture, designated by the European Union for a period of one year. |
| 2004 | Thingvellir has been included on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list. |
| 2006 | The US Air Base in Keflavik closed and the American military left Iceland. |
| 2008 | Surtsey has included on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list. |
| 2008-2010 | Icelandic financial crisis. |