Earliest settlements in Norway
In the last Ice Age Norway was barely livable, however, when the ice started to melt Norway had its first major migration 11,000 years ago by the Komsa people (later known as the Sami) from the east to Norway's Arctic north. As Norway started to warm up and become even more inhabitable people from central Europe called the Nøstvet-Øksers migrated to the south coast due to the plentiful fish and seal.
As well as the fish and seal there were also reindeer who then retreated up north due to the ice stating to melt in southern Norway. These hunters who migrated were known as the Sami. They followed the reindeer up north to hunt. The Sami were the first humans to travel up north and due to the climate and domain they were restricted to seasonal camps.
In 3000 and 2500 BC new immigrants, farmers, settled in eastern Norway where they brought forth the early age of agriculture and livestock. The farmers tended to cows and sheep and they grew grain.
In 1500 BC the bronze age began and Norwegians stated to trade their goods for bronze.
Over the ages Norway started to have settled cultures and during the reign of the Roman Empire they were sent fabric, iron, and pottery. These resources then lead to the Norwegians to build more permanent settlements and eventually by the 5th century they were able to find their own resources in the start to tame Norway's rough landscape.
In the 780s due to growing population there was a shrinkage of agricultural land in Norway. This caused people to then move to the coast of the British Isles. When these people returned to Norway they brought back stories of weekly defended coastlines and the traded goods. A group in Norway known as the Vikings heard of this and started to make plans to conquer the world.
As well as the fish and seal there were also reindeer who then retreated up north due to the ice stating to melt in southern Norway. These hunters who migrated were known as the Sami. They followed the reindeer up north to hunt. The Sami were the first humans to travel up north and due to the climate and domain they were restricted to seasonal camps.
In 3000 and 2500 BC new immigrants, farmers, settled in eastern Norway where they brought forth the early age of agriculture and livestock. The farmers tended to cows and sheep and they grew grain.
In 1500 BC the bronze age began and Norwegians stated to trade their goods for bronze.
Over the ages Norway started to have settled cultures and during the reign of the Roman Empire they were sent fabric, iron, and pottery. These resources then lead to the Norwegians to build more permanent settlements and eventually by the 5th century they were able to find their own resources in the start to tame Norway's rough landscape.
In the 780s due to growing population there was a shrinkage of agricultural land in Norway. This caused people to then move to the coast of the British Isles. When these people returned to Norway they brought back stories of weekly defended coastlines and the traded goods. A group in Norway known as the Vikings heard of this and started to make plans to conquer the world.
For more information on the earliest settlement in Norway, visit:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/history
http://www.naha.stolaf.edu/pubs/nas/volume32/vol32_03.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/420178/Norway/39300/Earliest-peoples
http://www.visitnorway.com/us/about-norway/history/historical-milestones/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/history
http://www.naha.stolaf.edu/pubs/nas/volume32/vol32_03.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/420178/Norway/39300/Earliest-peoples
http://www.visitnorway.com/us/about-norway/history/historical-milestones/
- These sources are great if you wanted to read more into Norway's early settlements and just learn a little more indepth about Norway's history, especially if you're interested in learning more about the Vikings.
Sources/ Work Cited:
History of Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/history
Joys, C. (2013, November 11). Norway. Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/420178/Norway/39300/Earliest-
peoples
History of Norway. (n.d.). Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/history
Joys, C. (2013, November 11). Norway. Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/420178/Norway/39300/Earliest-
peoples