History of Iceland

A Captivating Guide to the History of the Land of Fire and Ice, from the Viking Age to the Present

By: Captivating History

Narrated by: Jason Zenobia

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 audiobook, 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 inside:

• The Old Covenant with Norway and what that meant for Iceland.
• The development of the Althing, which is the oldest existing legislature in the world today.
• The conversion from paganism to Christianity.
• The spread of literacy and Iceland’s rich history of literature.
• The role of fish in Iceland’s history and economy.
• Iceland’s struggle for independence.

©2022 Captivating History (P)2022 Captivating History

Informative and interesting

Read this to learn more about Iceland’s history prior to a trip there and it was a very interesting and informative read. Recommend for anyone interested in a snapshot of Iceland’s history

Great story telling

Great book on Iceland. Week done and entertaining. Really developed my understanding of the unique place!

Rather pedestrian

The history of Iceland could be exciting. Discovery of a new world, frontier life, blood feuds, triumph of democracy. Little of this comes through in this book; it’s mostly dry facts and plodding pace. Some of the supposed facts don’t sound right, either. For example, it’s stated that a devastating volcanic eruption in 1783 covered 1900 square feet with lava. This is trivial. The actual amount of lava is reported by other sources as 18 billion cubic yards! I also noticed grammatical errors which would grate any English professor.

Overall, a disappointment.