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Icelands history is one of a kind

It is controversial when the Viking Age started. Some claim it started in 789 when the Vikings attacked Portland in England, while others believe the attack on Lindisfarne in 793 was the beginning of the Viking era. At least the latter attack really made its mark in European history.

The Vikings emigrated in search of commerce and goods. The simplest form of "trade" was looting. We all know that this was the violent variant. The problem of the Vikings was largely that the kingdoms in Scandinavia claimed taxes and fees. This was an obstacle to the Vikings, and many sought to find happiness throughout the world. Some Vikings traveled south, some east and some traveled west. Ingolf Arnarsson was the Viking who settled down in Iceland in 874 and since that time, the population has increased with immigration from Denmark, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. The people in Iceland wanted to create a nation with laws and order, and therefore formed an allotment where lawless could be punished. Everything was added to what we today know as Thingvellir. The area was originally a farmer's country, but he was deprived of the area as a punishment to kill another peasant's trell.

It was here at Thingvellir that Iceland was released from Norway. Not long after, there were disagreements between the families in Iceland and the Norwegians took Iceland back. "Norway" retained Iceland from 1262 to 1918. In 1397, Iceland was incorporated under Danish rule, also known as the Kalmar Union. If you ask a Norwegian and this period in time is known as "the four hundred and nineteen nights". 

Iceland survives the Black Death, volcanic eruptions, powerful earthquakes and the little ice age. The country was naturally weakened and the power was moved from Iceland to Denmark. In 1662, the King of Denmark wanted to move Icelanders to Jutland, but that did not happen because the Icelanders wanted to live on perhaps the world's least habitable island.

In 1874, Denmark had enough of Iceland's fierce strive for independence and gave the Icelanders parts of the power. 44 years later, they became even more independent when Denmark abandoned all power except defense and foreign policy. The people of Iceland arrange everything else themselves. Not long afterwards, Germany came knocking on the door (1940). They wanted power over Denmark, and therefore Iceland. The King of Denmark had little to oppose Hitler's power and surrendered after just 2 hours of "war." Hitler's acquisition of Denmark meant that Iceland also became part of Germany. Once again, Iceland was under a different country's rule. 

The 17th of June 1994, after a century of being handed around and picked on by Norway, Denmark and Germany, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, a small ice age, Iceland was finally an independent nation, and recognized as such. Not long after the Americans came knocking and wanted to have a military base situated on the island due to an ongoing conflict with Russia. 
As a sign of their amazing hospitality and friendliness, they said nothing else but "Yes!”. 

In more recent years Iceland entered the world stage by halting all air traffic in Europe in 2010, and has ever since become a very popular tourist destination for travelers from all over the world. In 2018, Iceland was ranked number 1 with the highest number of "Certificate of Excellence" on Trip Advisor.