The first known early settlers of Iceland began around 800 AD --Irish monks and hermits-- and what is interesting about the first settlers of Iceland is that the names of the settlers are known because of a book written. It is said that the island was first discovered by Norwegian Viking sailors who blew off course while sailing to colonies in the Faeroes and ended up there. They went back to Norway and boasted about how suitable the land was to their lifestyle. Viking raids started in 793 A.D. and they typically raided the coasts of England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, France, and sometimes inland Russia. The Vikings typically attacked the coasts because it was the easiest spots for them to reach with their boats plus the attacks were fast. This allowed them to get in and out swiftly usually before any counterattacks. The attack strategies of the Vikings can explain how they stumbled upon Iceland.
One Viking in particular man named Naddoddur from a Norsemen ship landed on Iceland in 860 AD. He named the country “Snowland” but it was later changed to Iceland by a different man named Hrafna-Flóki who visited the country during winter and saw ice in the sea. There were many more explorations to the island to figure out more about it. The first known permanent settler was Ingólfur Arnarson from Norway who settled in Reykjavík. Story goes that to decide on where to live he threw the carved pillars of his high seat overboard and decided that he would live wherever they landed. It was not until after living in Iceland for sometime, did his servants find one of the pillars. He moved to the place and named it Reykjavík— translating to steam bay— after the steam from hot springs close to the area. While another man named Hjörleifur went to Iceland with Arnarson, he was killed by his Irish servants; this left only Ingólfur Arnarson and his wife Hallveig Frodardottir to settle.
Much like Ingólfur Arnarson the early settlers assumed their home mostly along the coast and even in the same area of him. This was because the land offered lots of good land to farm on as well as nice costal areas. Because many of the early settlers were Norwegian they were used to living in costal cities because the inland terrain was too rough and the climate was to extreme. They lived their lives based off of farming and fishing. Many of the settlers were Vikings as well which helped them live along the coast. For those who settled in Reykjavík, the hot springs there helped provide heat for houses and a balance to the climate there which allowed for better farming.
While the early settlers traveled to Iceland to escape Harald Fairhair and his control over Norway, many later settlers followed for different reasons. Based on Jared Diamond’s theory that success is not based on racial or biological genes but rather because of their physical geography which allows them to distribute goods or gain access to these distributed goods. The Early settlers came from Norway and traveled an East-West axis. This allowed them to be able to adapt better to the new Environment because the climates were fairly similar. The settlers were successful in thriving in Iceland because it was a almost untouched climate/area— that being the coast— that they were already used to. This allowed them to bring knowledge and advances from home to use in their new home in Iceland.
Currently there are 323,002 people living in Iceland. The population has grown vastly over time when compared to the estimated 400 early settlers. What drew people to Iceland at first was the fact that it had lots of land to farm on. Along with that the fact that Iceland is an island made it easier for many people to get to the country. Lastly the population has grown more due to reproduction and people moving to live there. Much of Iceland still contains relatives of the early settlement members and still remains fairly traditional to the customs of those settlers.
One Viking in particular man named Naddoddur from a Norsemen ship landed on Iceland in 860 AD. He named the country “Snowland” but it was later changed to Iceland by a different man named Hrafna-Flóki who visited the country during winter and saw ice in the sea. There were many more explorations to the island to figure out more about it. The first known permanent settler was Ingólfur Arnarson from Norway who settled in Reykjavík. Story goes that to decide on where to live he threw the carved pillars of his high seat overboard and decided that he would live wherever they landed. It was not until after living in Iceland for sometime, did his servants find one of the pillars. He moved to the place and named it Reykjavík— translating to steam bay— after the steam from hot springs close to the area. While another man named Hjörleifur went to Iceland with Arnarson, he was killed by his Irish servants; this left only Ingólfur Arnarson and his wife Hallveig Frodardottir to settle.
Much like Ingólfur Arnarson the early settlers assumed their home mostly along the coast and even in the same area of him. This was because the land offered lots of good land to farm on as well as nice costal areas. Because many of the early settlers were Norwegian they were used to living in costal cities because the inland terrain was too rough and the climate was to extreme. They lived their lives based off of farming and fishing. Many of the settlers were Vikings as well which helped them live along the coast. For those who settled in Reykjavík, the hot springs there helped provide heat for houses and a balance to the climate there which allowed for better farming.
While the early settlers traveled to Iceland to escape Harald Fairhair and his control over Norway, many later settlers followed for different reasons. Based on Jared Diamond’s theory that success is not based on racial or biological genes but rather because of their physical geography which allows them to distribute goods or gain access to these distributed goods. The Early settlers came from Norway and traveled an East-West axis. This allowed them to be able to adapt better to the new Environment because the climates were fairly similar. The settlers were successful in thriving in Iceland because it was a almost untouched climate/area— that being the coast— that they were already used to. This allowed them to bring knowledge and advances from home to use in their new home in Iceland.
Currently there are 323,002 people living in Iceland. The population has grown vastly over time when compared to the estimated 400 early settlers. What drew people to Iceland at first was the fact that it had lots of land to farm on. Along with that the fact that Iceland is an island made it easier for many people to get to the country. Lastly the population has grown more due to reproduction and people moving to live there. Much of Iceland still contains relatives of the early settlement members and still remains fairly traditional to the customs of those settlers.
Map of the popular cities in Iceland- This map shows the popular cities that are in
Iceland. Notice that all of these popular cities are located along the coast. This is because
first it is were many of the early settlers decided to make their homes because it was
easy to get to. Second the climate and geography along the coast was much better suited
for the lifestyle the settlers wanted.
APA Citation: Images Iceland Iceland - All countries destinations pictures. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.bestourism.com/bests/bestimages/Iceland_c_112
Iceland. Notice that all of these popular cities are located along the coast. This is because
first it is were many of the early settlers decided to make their homes because it was
easy to get to. Second the climate and geography along the coast was much better suited
for the lifestyle the settlers wanted.
APA Citation: Images Iceland Iceland - All countries destinations pictures. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.bestourism.com/bests/bestimages/Iceland_c_112
Map of the Yearly Temperatures in Iceland- In the winter Iceland's temperatures are not too low although it is located near the polar circle. Iceland also is tempered by the Gulf stream. Where the climate gets the worst the population is very sparse.
APA Citation: Climate Of Iceland. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://icelandic-habitat.e-monsite.com/pages/climate-of-iceland.html
APA Citation: Climate Of Iceland. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://icelandic-habitat.e-monsite.com/pages/climate-of-iceland.html
Population Demographics in Iceland- This population demographic shows how right now the biggest population in Iceland is the working force. That is good for the older people at the top because they are supported and there is not a lot of them. This could possibly be bad for those in the working force now because when they retire they may not be supported depending on what the population demographics looks like then.
APA Citation: Iceland Age structure. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
APA Citation: Iceland Age structure. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
Population Pyramids of Iceland
This population pyramid is of 1950. In this pyramid for the most part it is pyramid shaped. In this specific pyramid it seems as though lots of women were having children so the fertility rate is higher. However around 5-15 there seems to be a higher death rate among the children. This was due to illnesses such as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease which was a big disease in Iceland in the 1950s) and other diseases. The working population in the pyramid was pretty steady and out numbered the elderly. Ultimately though because the working class is so big when they stop working, unless the birth rate stays the same, there may not be enough working class to support them.
APA Citation: Iceland 1950. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2015, from http://populationpyramid.net/iceland/2020/ |
which was a big disease in Iceland in the 1950sThis population pyramid is of 2015. This pyramid resembles more of a rectangle rather than a pyramid. This is because many women have started having less children to either focus on work or have children later in their life. However this is concerning because the working class is so large that when they retire the people moving into the working class may not be able to support them because there is so little of them compared to the amount of elderly needing support.
APA Citation: Iceland 2015. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2015, from http://populationpyramid.net/iceland/2020/ |
CITATIONS FOR POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT
Archeology: When did the First Settlers Come to Iceland? (2014, January 30). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://icelandreview.com/news/2010/04/05/archeology-when-did-first-settlers-come-iceland
History of Iceland. Viking Times. Cod Wars. Age of Settlement. Christianisation of Iceland. (2009). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.iceland4you.is/eng/History_of_Iceland/
Ingólfur Arnarson, The First Icelander - The Saga Museum. (2013). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.sagamuseum.is/overview/ingolfur-arnarson
Karlsson, G. (2015, May 7). Iceland | history - geography. Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/place/Iceland
Sandvik, G. (2015, May 26). Norway | history - geography. Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/place/Norway
The Viking Age: An Overview. (2014, August 14). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.historyonthenet.com/vikings/the-viking-age-an-overview.html
Viking Explorations and Settlements: Iceland, Greenland and Vinland. (2014, August 14). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.historyonthenet.com/vikings/viking-explorations-and-settlements.html
Why Iceland? (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.studyiniceland.is/page/whyiceland
Additional Resources
Iceland On The Web. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.icelandontheweb.com/articles-on-iceland/history/facts/
- This website is helpful because it has a timeline for the different settlements as well as a history section.
Harris, R. (2007, December 3). Viking Farms Tell Cautionary Climate Tale. Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16835101
- This website talks about how the climate influenced where early settlers chose to live in Iceland.
ICELAND VIKINGS. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.nat.is/travelguideeng/icelandic_vikings.htm
- This website provides more insight and detail to the history behind the Vikings and how they ended up in Iceland.
Iceland Facts for Kids: Geography, Animals, Attractions, People. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2015, from http://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/iceland-facts.html
- This website is a good place for children to have this information I presented above broken down in a way that they can understand. It also has good pictures to help them visualize things.