The territory of Norway is so large and the population is so small that there is a unique opportunity to relax alone with nature. Far from industrial pollution and the noise of big cities, you can gain new strength surrounded by pristine nature. Wherever you are, nature is always around you. Have lunch at a city street restaurant before heading out for a bike ride through the forest or before taking a dip in the sea.
Many thousands of years ago, a huge layer of ice covered Norway. The glacier settled in lakes, at the bottom of rivers and deepened steep valleys that stretched towards the sea. The glacier advanced and retreated 5, 10, or perhaps even 20 times before finally retreating 14,000 years ago. As a reminder of itself, the glacier left deep valleys that were filled by the sea, and magnificent fjords, which many consider the soul of Norway.
The Vikings, among others, founded their settlements here and used the fjords and small bays as the main routes of communication during their campaigns. Today the fjords are more famous for their spectacular scenery than for the Vikings. What makes them unique is that people still live here. These days, you can find working farms high up in the hills, clinging idyllically to the mountainside.
Fjords exist along the entire Norwegian coastline - from Oslofjord to Varangerfjord. Each of them is beautiful in its own way. Still, the world's most famous fjords are located in western Norway. Some of the largest and most powerful waterfalls are also found in this part of Norway. They form on the edges of rocks, high above your head and cascade into the emerald green water of the fjords. Equally high is the “Church Pulpit” rock (Prekestolen) - a mountain shelf rising 600 meters above Lysefjord in Rogaland.
Norway is a long and narrow country with a coastline that is as beautiful, amazing and diverse as the rest of its territory. Wherever you are, the sea is always near you. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Norwegians are such experienced and skilled sailors. For a long time, the sea was the only route connecting the coastal regions of Norway - with its coastline stretching for many thousands of kilometers.
The northern regions of Europe began to be inhabited by people from the 10th-9th centuries BC. The early history of Norway is associated mainly with the settlement of the Scandinavian Peninsula by various Germanic tribes. In Western Europe they were called Normans or Vikings.
The 8th-9th centuries in Norway fall during the Viking Age, which had a huge influence on the military and political traditions of the country. The ancient Norse were a nation of sailors and explorers. Thanks to their successes in shipbuilding and navigation, they discovered Shetland, Orkney, the Hebrides, the Faroe Islands, the Isle of Man, Iceland, Greenland, and also reached the shores of North America (they called it Vinland) long before Columbus. The British Isles and the north of France also became objects of Norwegian colonization, and there the Scandinavians were gradually assimilated by the local population, adopted Christianity and began to lead a sedentary lifestyle.
In the 8th-9th centuries, a large number of small proto-state formations existed on the territory of modern Norway. Due to geographical and topographical features, the process of unifying the Norwegian lands was quite lengthy and took about two centuries. In 882, King Harald Fairhair won an important victory at the Battle of Hafrsfjord, which actually marked the beginning of the unification of the Norwegian lands around the Viken region. The unification process ended by the middle of the 11th century. Icelandic and Norwegian sagas name Olaf the Saint (1015-1028) as the first king to rule over all of Norway. From 1028 to 1035 Norway was under Danish control.
During the reigns of Kings Hakon the Tutor Æthelstan (933-959), Olaf Tryggvason (955-999) and Olaf Haraldson the Saint (1015-1028), Norway converted to Christianity, and Viking raids on the rest of Europe gradually ceased. Norway reached its maximum territorial conquests by 1265, after which their reduction began. Norway ceded the Hebrides and the Isle of Man to Scotland in 1266, and Orkney and Shetland in 1468. Iceland and the Faroe Islands were ceded by Norway to Denmark in 1814.
Norwegian society of the Middle Ages differed in its structure from other European countries in that the overwhelming majority of the population were free landowners - bonds, who, together with the nobility, decided all administrative and political issues at regional legislative assemblies - Things, which gathered all free people in the area, regardless of from social status. In the middle of the 10th century, an interregional body was formed - Lagting, which united representatives of different regions.
The Middle Ages in Norway were marked by long internecine wars, which continued with brief interruptions for about 100 years (from 1130 to 1227), the gradual strengthening of the power of the monarch, as well as the development of cities and trade and economic relations. Already by the beginning of the 13th century, Norway had developed legislation: King Magnus the Corrector of Laws (1263-1280) codified local laws and brought them together in 1274 into the Code, which determined the development of the country’s legal system for about 400 years to come.
From 1319-1320 to 1536, a unique political institution functioned in Norway - Riksrod, which represented the interests of the elite and acted on behalf of the state. It consisted of 20-30 members and served as a collective adviser to the monarch. Unlike Denmark and Sweden, Norway royalty was inherited, so the power of Rixrod was more limited than that of a similar Danish body.
In the 14th century, Norway experienced a demographic crisis due to a plague epidemic, which caused desolation in agriculture. According to historians, the plague killed 40-50% of the country's population. By that time, the largest landowner in the country had become the church, which controlled 40% of the land (after 1350 - 50%). All this led to the impoverishment of the population and weakened the power of the king. The rise of the Hanseatic League, which enjoyed numerous benefits in trade, intensified the decline foreign trade Norway.
Norway, due to the fact that the polar day lasts from May to July, is sometimes called the “Land of the Midnight Sun”. This, of course, is a mysterious and somewhat even romantic name, but it does not evoke a strong desire to come to this country. However, Norway is not only the “Land of the Midnight Sun”. First of all, Norway is home to Vikings, amazingly beautiful fjords, some of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and, of course, prestigious ski resorts.
Geography of Norway
Norway is located in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Norway borders Finland and Russia in the northeast, and Sweden in the east. Norway is washed in the northeast by the Barents Sea, in the southwest by the North Sea, and in the west by the Norwegian Sea. The Skagerrak Strait separates Norway from Denmark.
The total territory of Norway, including the islands of Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen and Bear in the Arctic Ocean, is 385,186 square kilometers.
A significant part of Norway's territory is occupied by mountains. The highest of them are Mount Gallhöppigen (2469 m) and Mount Glittertinn (2452 m).
There are a lot of rivers in Norway, the longest of which are Glomma (604 km), Logen (359 km), and Otra (245 km).
Norway is sometimes called the "lake region". This is not surprising, given that it has several hundred lakes. The largest of them are Mjøsa, Røsvatn, Femunn, and Hornindalsvatnet.
Capital
The capital of Norway is Oslo, which is now home to more than 620 thousand people. It is believed that Oslo was founded in 1048 by the Norwegian king Harald III.
Official language of Norway
The official language in Norway is Norwegian, which consists of two dialects (Bokmål and Nynorsk). Most often, Norwegians speak Bukol, but for some reason Nynorsk is popular among Norwegian Internet users.
Religion
More than 80% of Norwegians are Lutherans (Protestants), belonging to the Church of Norway. However, only about 5% of Norwegians go to church every week. In addition, 1.69% of Norway's inhabitants are Muslim, and 1.1% are Catholic.
Government of Norway
Norway is a constitutional monarchy in which the head of state, according to the Constitution of 1814, is the King.
Executive power in Norway belongs to the King, and legislative power belongs to the local unicameral parliament - the Storting (169 deputies).
Main political parties in Norway - the liberal-conservative "Progress Party", the social democratic "Norwegian Workers' Party", the "Christian Democratic Party" and the "Social Left Party".
Climate and weather
Norway is located at the same latitude as Alaska and Siberia, but this Scandinavian country has a much milder climate. At the end of June - at the beginning of August in Norway the weather is warm and the days are long. At this time, the average air temperature reaches +25-30C, and the average sea temperature - +18C.
The warmest and most stable weather is always observed on the southern coast of Norway. However, even in northern Norway in summer the air temperature can exceed +25C. However, in central and northern Norway the weather changes frequently.
In winter, most of Norway tends to turn into a snowy paradise. In winter in Norway, the air temperature can even drop to -40C.
Sea in Norway
Norway is washed in the northeast by the Barents Sea, in the southwest by the North Sea, and in the west by the Norwegian Sea. The Skagerrak Strait separates Norway from Denmark. General coastline Norway is 25,148 km.
Average sea temperature in Oslo:
- January – +4C
- February - +3C
- March - +3C
- April - +6C
- May - +11C
- June - +14C
- July - +17C
- August – +18C
- September - +15C
- October - +12C
- November - +9C
- December - +5C
The real jewel of Norway is the Norwegian fjords. The most beautiful of them are Naeroyfjord, Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Hardangerfjord, Lysefjord, and Aurlandsfjord.
Rivers and lakes
Norway has a lot of rivers, the longest of which are Glomma in the east (604 km), Logen in the southeast (359 km), and Otra in Sørland (245 km). The largest Norwegian lakes are Mjøsa, Røsvatn, Femunn, and Hornindalsvatnet.
Many tourists come to Norway to go fishing. In Norwegian rivers and lakes in large quantities There are salmon, trout, whitefish, pike, perch and grayling.
History of Norway
Archaeologists have proven that people lived on the territory of modern Norway back in the 10th millennium BC. But real story Norway began during the Viking Age, whose cruelty is still legendary on the coast of Great Britain, for example.
Between 800 and 1066, the Norse Vikings became known throughout Europe as brave warriors, ruthless invaders, cunning traders and inquisitive seafarers. The history of the Vikings ended in 1066, when the Norwegian king Harald III died in England. After him, Olaf III became king of Norway. It was under Olaf III that Christianity began to spread rapidly in Norway.
In the 12th century, Norway captured part of the British Isles, Iceland and Greenland. This was the time of greatest prosperity for the Norwegian kingdom. However, the country was greatly weakened by competition from the Hanseatic League and the plague epidemic.
In 1380, Norway and Denmark entered into an alliance and became one country. The union of these states lasted more than four centuries.
In 1814, Norway became part of Sweden under the Treaty of Kiel. However, Norway did not submit to this and the Swedes invaded its territory. In the end, Norway agreed to be part of Sweden if they were left with the constitution.
Nationalism grew throughout the 19th century in Norway, leading to the 1905 referendum. According to the results of this referendum, Norway became an independent state.
During the First World War, Norway remained neutral. In the Second world war Norway also declared its neutrality, but was still occupied German troops(for Germany this was a strategic step).
After the end of World War II, Norway suddenly forgot about its neutrality and became one of the founders of the NATO military bloc.
Norwegian culture
The culture of Norway differs markedly from the cultures of other European nations. The fact is that this Scandinavian country is located far from such European cultural centers as Florence, Rome and Paris. However, tourists will be pleasantly impressed by Norwegian culture.
Many Norwegian cities host music, dance and folk festivals every year. The most popular of them is the international cultural festival in Bergen (music, dance, theater).
It cannot be said that the Norwegians made a huge contribution to world culture, but the fact that it was significant is undeniable. The most famous Norwegians are polar explorers Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, composers Varg Vikernes and Edvard Grieg, artist Edvard Munch, writers and playwrights Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun, as well as traveler Thor Heyerdahl.
Norwegian cuisine
The main products of Norwegian cuisine are fish, meat, potatoes and other vegetables, and cheese. Norway's favorite traditional snack is pölse (potato cake with sausage).
- Fenalår - dried lamb.
- Fårikål - lamb stew with cabbage.
- Pinnekjøtt - salted ribs.
- Roast wild elk or deer.
- Kjøttkaker – fried beef meatballs.
- Laks og eggerøre – omelette with smoked salmon.
- Lutefisk – baked cod.
- Rømmegrøt - sour cream porridge.
- Multekrem – cloudberry cream for dessert.
The traditional alcoholic drink in Norway is Aquavit, which is usually 40% ABV. The production of aquavita in Scandinavia began in the 15th century.
Sights of Norway
Norwegians have always been distinguished by the fact that they are very careful about their history. Therefore, we advise tourists to Norway to definitely see:
Cities and resorts
The largest Norwegian cities are Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger.
Norway is famous for its magnificent ski resorts. Every winter, various ski championships are held in Norway. The top ten best ski resorts in Norway include, in our opinion, the following:
- Trysil (Trisil)
- Hemsedal (Hemsedal)
- Hafjell
- Geilo (Geilo)
- Tryvann
- Norefjell
- Oppdal (Oppdal)
- Hovden
- Kvitfjell
- Kongsberg
Souvenirs/shopping
We advise tourists from Norway to bring a real Norwegian wool sweater, toy trolls, modern dishes, wooden kitchen utensils, silverware, ceramics, dried lamb, brown goat cheese, and Norwegian vodka - aquavit.
Office hours
The most ancient period.There is evidence that early hunters lived in some areas on the northern and northwestern coast of Norway shortly after the ice sheet retreated. However, naturalistic paintings on cave walls along the West Coast were created much later. Agriculture spread slowly to Norway after 3000 BC. During the Roman Empire, the inhabitants of Norway had contact with the Gauls, the development of runic writing (used from the 3rd to 13th centuries AD by Germanic tribes, especially the Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons for tombstone inscriptions as well as for magic spells), and the settlement process territory of Norway was carried out at a rapid pace. From 400 AD the population was replenished by migrants from the south, who paved the “path to the north” (Nordwegr, hence the name of the country - Norway). At that time, the first tiny kingdoms were created to organize local self-defense. In particular, the Ynglings, a branch of the first Swedish royal family, founded one of the most ancient feudal states west of the Oslofjord.
Around 900, Harald Fairhair (son of Halfdan the Black, a minor ruler of the Yngling family) managed to found a larger kingdom, winning, together with Earl Hladir of Trønnelag, over other small feudal lords at the Battle of Havsfjord. Having suffered defeat and lost their independence, the dissatisfied feudal lords took part in the Viking campaigns. Due to the growing population on the coast, some residents were pushed into inland barren areas, while others began to pirate raids, engage in trade, or settle in overseas countries.
The sparsely populated islands of Scotland were probably settled by people from Norway long before the first documented Viking expedition to England in 793 AD. Over the next two centuries, Norwegian Vikings were actively engaged in plundering foreign lands. They conquered possessions in Ireland, Scotland, northeast England and northern France, and also colonized the Faroe Islands, Iceland and even Greenland. In addition to ships, the Vikings had iron tools and were skilled woodcarvers. Once in overseas countries, the Vikings settled there and expanded trade. In Norway itself, even before the creation of cities (they arose only in the 11th century), markets grew on the coasts of the fjords.
The state left as a legacy by Harald Fairhair was the subject of fierce disputes between claimants to the throne for 80 years. Kings and jarls, pagan and Christian Vikings, Norwegians and Danes staged bloody showdowns. Olaf (Olav) II (c. 1016–1028), a descendant of Harald, succeeded in briefly unifying Norway and introducing Christianity. He was killed at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 by rebel chieftains (hövdings) who had formed an alliance with Denmark. After his death, Olaf was almost immediately canonized and canonized in 1154. A building was erected in his honor. Cathedral in Trondheim, and after a short period of Danish rule (1028–1035) the throne was returned to his family.
The first Christian missionaries in Norway were predominantly English; the abbots of English monasteries became owners of large estates. Only the carved decorations of the new wooden churches (dragons and other pagan symbols) were reminiscent of the Viking Age. Harald the Severe was the last Norwegian king to claim power in England (where he died in 1066), and his grandson Magnus III Barefoot was the last king who claimed power in Ireland. In 1170, by decree of the pope, the archbishopric of Trondheim was created with five suffragan bishoprics in Norway and six in the western islands, Iceland and Greenland. Norway became the spiritual center of a vast territory in the North Atlantic.
Although Catholic Church wanted the throne to pass to the eldest legitimate son of the king, this continuity was often violated. The most famous is the impostor Sverre from the Faroe Islands, who seized the throne despite being excommunicated. During the long reign of Haakon IV (1217–1263) civil wars subsided, and Norway entered a short-lived “era of prosperity.” At this time, the creation of centralized government of the country was completed: a royal council was established, the king appointed regional governors and judicial officials. Although the regional legislative assembly (ting) inherited from the past still remained, in 1274 a national code of laws was adopted. The power of the Norwegian king was first recognized by Iceland and Greenland, and it was more firmly established than previously in the Faroe, Shetland and Orkney Islands. Other Norwegian possessions in Scotland were formally returned to the Scottish king in 1266. At this time, overseas trade flourished, and Haakon IV, whose residence was in the center of trade - Bergen, concluded the very first known trade agreement with the king of England.
The 13th century was the last period of independence and greatness in early history Norway. During this century, Norwegian sagas telling about the country's past were collected. In Iceland, Snorri Sturluson recorded Heimskringlu And Younger Edda, and Snorri's nephew, Sturla Thordsson - Saga of the Icelanders, Saga o Sturlingach And The saga of Håkon Håkonsson, which are considered the most early works Scandinavian literature.
The decline in the role of the Norwegian merchant class began ca. 1250 when Hanseatic League(uniting shopping centers northern Germany) established his office in Bergen. His agents imported grain from the Baltic countries in exchange for Norway's traditional export of dried cod. The aristocracy died out during the plague that struck the country in 1349 and killed almost half the entire population. Huge damage was caused to dairy farming, which formed the basis of agriculture on many estates. Against this background, Norway had become the weakest of the Scandinavian monarchies by the time the extinction royal dynasties Denmark, Sweden and Norway united under the Union of Kalmar in 1397.
Sweden seceded from the union in 1523, but Norway was increasingly seen as an appendage of the Danish crown, which ceded Orkney and Shetland to Scotland. Relations with Denmark became strained at the beginning of the Reformation, when the last Catholic archbishop of Trondheim tried unsuccessfully to oppose the introduction of the new religion in 1536. Lutheranism spread north to Bergen, a center of activity for German merchants, and then to more northern parts of the country. Norway received the status of a Danish province, which was governed directly from Copenhagen and was forced to adopt the Lutheran Danish liturgy and bible.
Until the middle of the 17th century. There were no prominent politicians or artists in Norway, and few books were published until 1643. The Danish king Christian IV (1588–1648) took a keen interest in Norway. He encouraged the mining of silver, copper and iron and fortified the frontier in the far north. He also established a small Norwegian army and promoted the recruitment of conscripts in Norway and the construction of ships for navy Denmark. However, due to participation in the wars waged by Denmark, Norway was forced to permanently cede three border districts to Sweden. Around 1550, the first sawmills appeared in Norway, which contributed to the development of timber trade with Dutch and other foreign customers. The logs were floated down the rivers to the coast, where they were sawed and loaded onto ships. Revival economic activity contributed to the growth of the population, which in 1660 amounted to approx. 450 thousand people versus 400 thousand in 1350.
After the establishment of absolutism in 1661, Denmark and Norway began to be considered “twin kingdoms”; thus, their equality was formally recognized. The law code of Christian IV (1670–1699), which had a great influence on Danish law, did not extend the serfdom that existed in Denmark to Norway, where the number of free landowners was rapidly growing. The civil, ecclesiastical, and military officials who ruled Norway spoke Danish, studied in Denmark, and administered that country's policies, but often belonged to families that had lived in Norway for generations. The mercantilism policy of that time led to the concentration of trade in cities. There, new opportunities opened up for people from Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Denmark and a class of merchant bourgeoisie developed, replacing the local nobility and the Hanseatic associations (the latter of these associations lost its privileges at the end of the 16th century).
In the 18th century the timber was sold mainly to Great Britain and was often transported on Norwegian ships. Fish was exported from Bergen and other ports. Norwegian trade flourished especially during wars between the great powers. In an environment of growing prosperity in the cities, the preconditions were created for the establishment of a national Norwegian bank and university. Despite occasional protests against excessive taxes or illegal actions of government officials, in general the peasantry passively took a loyal position towards the king, who lived in distant Copenhagen.
Ideas French Revolution had some influence on Norway, which was also greatly enriched by the expansion of trade during the Napoleonic wars. In 1807, the British subjected Copenhagen to brutal shelling and took the Danish-Norwegian fleet to England so that it would not fall to Napoleon. The blockade of Norway by English military courts caused great damage, and the Danish king was forced to establish a temporary administration - the Government Commission. After Napoleon's defeat, Denmark was forced to cede Norway to the Swedish king (according to the Treaty of Kiel, 1814).
Viking Age
Period between 800 and 1100 AD we call it the Viking Age. At the beginning of the Viking Age, Norway was not a single state. The country was divided into many small principalities, each of which was headed by its own prince. In 872, the Viking Harald Fairhair became the first king of all Norway.
Many Vikings sailed overseas to other countries. Some of them were merchants who bought and sold goods, while others were warriors who were engaged in robbery and murder.
Today, when we talk about Vikings, we often imagine warriors.
The baptism of Norway took place in the 11th century. Christianity replaced the ancient pagan faith.
Danish-Norwegian Union
In the 14th century, Denmark's influence began to increase in Norway, and in 1397 Norway formally entered into an alliance with Denmark and Sweden. The union was headed by one common king. After some time, Sweden left the union, but the union between Denmark and Norway continued until 1814.
Denmark ruled politics. Copenhagen became the cultural center of the union, and Norwegians read and wrote Danish. Norwegian peasants paid taxes to the king sitting in Copenhagen.
Collapse of the union and a new union
1814 – important year in Norwegian history. On May 17 this year, Norway received its own constitution.
IN early XIX V. Battles raged on the fields of Europe. One of the largest wars of that time was fought between England and France. Denmark-Norway sided with France. And when France lost the war, the king of Denmark was forced to cede Norway to Sweden, which stood on the side of England.
In 1814, the union between Denmark and Norway fell apart. Many Norwegians hoped that after the collapse of the union Norway would become an independent state, and several influential people gathered in the city of Eidsvoll in the county of Akershus. One of the goals of this meeting was to write a constitution for an independent Norway. However, Norway was forced to enter into an alliance with Sweden, and in November 1814 the Swedish-Norwegian union became a fact.
The union with Sweden was looser than the previous union with Denmark. Norway retained its constitution with some changes and had internal self-government. Foreign policy was determined by Sweden, and the Swedish king became king of both countries.
National romanticism and Norwegian identity
In the middle of the 19th century, a trend emerged in European culture and art called national romanticism. For the followers of this trend, it was important to highlight national characteristics, exalt them and embellish them. In Norway, the beauty of nature was especially emphasized, and the peasant way of life was considered a “typically Norwegian” way of life.
National romanticism found its expression in literature, fine arts, and music. During this period, Norwegians became increasingly aware of their national identity. Many began to feel a growing sense of pride in belonging to Norway and, as a result, a strong desire for their country to gain independence.
The alliance with Denmark lasted for centuries, and so the written language in Norway was Danish. The written language we know today as Bokmål is the same Danish language that has been further developed.
Since the 19th century, both “bokmål” and “nynorsk” have undergone great changes. However, Norway still has two official forms of the Norwegian language in addition to Sami and Kven.
Industrialization of Norway
In the mid-19th century, about 70% of Norway's population lived in rural areas. They were mainly engaged agriculture and fishing. Life was hard for many of them. The country's population was growing, and there was no longer enough land and work for everyone.
Cities have also undergone changes. More and more factories opened, and many moved from villages to cities in search of work. City life was difficult for many working families. Working days were long and living conditions were poor. Families often had many children, and often several families had to share a small apartment. Many children also had to work in factories, this was the only way their family could survive. Many Norwegians wanted to try their luck in other countries: between 1850 and 1920, more than 800,000 Norwegians emigrated to America.
Free and independent country
In 1905, the alliance with Sweden was broken. There had long been political differences between the Norwegian Storting and the King of Sweden, and at the beginning of the twentieth century more and more Norwegians believed that Norway should become a free and independent country.
On June 7, 1905, the Storting announced that the Swedish king was no longer the king of Norway and the dissolution of the union with Sweden. This led to strong reactions in Sweden, and Norway and Sweden were on the brink of war. That same year, two national referendums were held, as a result of which it was decided that the union with Sweden would be dissolved and the new state of Norway would become a monarchy.
Danish Prince Charles was chosen as the new King of Norway. He took the Old Norse royal name Haakon. King Haakon VII served as King of Norway from 1905 until his death in 1957.
First half of the twentieth century
TO end of the 19th century century in Norway they began to use the energy of falling water to produce electricity. This led to the construction of new industrial enterprises. The need for labor increased and cities grew. In accordance with a special law, private enterprises built hydroelectric power stations, but water resources remained in public ownership.
In 1914-1918 The battles of the 1st World War raged on the fields of Europe. Norway did not take an active part in this war, but the economic consequences of the war were felt here too.
In the 30s last century in Europe and North America An economic crisis broke out. Many lost their homes and jobs. Although the situation in Norway was not as difficult as in many other countries, we call this time the “hard 30s”.
World War II 1939/1940 – 1945
In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, thereby starting World War 2. On April 9, 1940, German troops occupied Norway.
The fighting in Norway lasted only a few days, and Norway capitulated. The king and government moved to England, from where they continued the struggle for the liberation of the country. Norway began to be ruled by the pro-German, not democratically elected, government of Vidkun Quisling.
There was not much fighting on Norwegian soil, but many resistance groups fought the invaders by committing acts of sabotage, publishing underground newspapers, and organizing civil disobedience and passive resistance to authorities.
Many members of the Resistance were forced to flee the country. During World War II, approximately 50,000 Norwegians fled to Sweden.
German troops suffered defeats on all fronts of the war, and in May 1945 Germany surrendered.
About 9,500 Norwegians died during the war.
Recent history of Norway
After the war, the country had to be rebuilt. There was a great shortage of goods and a shortage of housing in the country. To revive the country in the shortest possible time, joint work and solidarity were required. The state strictly regulated the economy and consumption.
Shortly after the end of the war, the United Nations (UN) was created. The main task of the UN is to work for peace and justice throughout the world. Norway became one of the first countries to join the UN. This happened in November 1945.
After the war, the US offered European countries economic assistance. This economic assistance program, called the Marshall Plan, imposed economic and political demands on recipient countries. Norway received approximately $3 billion under this Plan.
In 1949, Norway and 11 other countries signed the North Atlantic Pact. This led to the creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - NATO. Close connections between Western Europe and the USA continue to this day.
Economic situation of Norway in the 1950s and 1960s. was relatively good, and the government introduced many reforms aimed at improving the lives of the population.
In the 1960s, a number of companies expressed a desire to explore for oil and gas off the coast of Norway. As with hydroelectric power fifty years earlier, oil resources remained publicly owned, and private companies were able to buy the rights to explore, drill, and produce oil in limited areas and for a limited period of time. In 1969, oil was first discovered in the North Sea, and from that moment on, Norway began to develop as an oil power. Today Norway is one of the largest oil exporting countries in the world, and the oil industry has great importance for the Norwegian economy.
Major popular movements were also important in the development of modern Norway. The labor and women's movements played a particularly central role here. The roots of the labor movement in Norway go back to the 17th century. However, it became more organized in the 80s of the 19th century, when the country created big number new jobs. The movement gained even greater influence in the 1920s. The labor movement fought for better working conditions. Among the movement's important causes were shorter work hours, improved workplace safety, workers' health insurance, and the right to economic relief for unemployment.
The women's movement fought for women's rights in society, equality between the sexes, and equal opportunities for men and women. Other important areas of struggle of the women's movement include the right to divorce, the right to use contraception, free abortion and women's right to control own body at your own discretion. Today, men and women have equal rights to education and work, to own property and inheritance, to medical care and good health.
Norway today
Today Norway is a modern democratic state with a high level of prosperity. Most people in Norway have a good economic situation and are relatively high level education. Both men and women participate in working life. The society is governed by a series of laws and treaties that provide the population with education, health care, and economic assistance as needed.
Recent decades have been characterized fast level development in the field of technology and computer technology. This was also of great importance for Norway. New jobs are being created, the content of work is changing, and the personal lives of most people are undergoing changes.
Over the past decades, Norway has developed into a multicultural and diverse society.
