Identity Of Iceland

Throughout the world there are many diverse political cultures. A political culture is the attitudes, beliefs or practices among a group of likeminded individuals. (Giardino pg. 27) There are different categories that embrace a political culture like an Individualistic, traditionalistic and moralistic. An individualistic culture is one that prefers less government involvement. The traditionalists’ culture maintains government as the social and economic hierarchy and does not like change. The moralistic culture favors public good and it revolves around social issues. In shaping a political culture demographics such as population size, growth, distribution and diversity are essential to determine how a state is in any of the three categories. Society is strongly affected by decisions of who, what and when does an individual receive any types of goods or services. Government is the structure, buildings and institutions that are held within politics.

One country with an icecap as large as Sweden. Another country with the most active volcanic area in the world. These two nations may sound very different and yet they have a large quantity of similarities as well. The average population size for a country is 38.2 million people, and although the scale is offset by heavily overpopulated nations, there are also countries that greatly decrease the average. Two of these are Iceland and Greenland. Both are northern island nations with fierce, snowy climates, and neither is home to greater than 350,000 people with Greenland containing just over 55,000. By the names of these two countries, one may assume Iceland is a cold land covered in snow and ice. One may also assume that Greenland is home to the more verdant scenery than its counterpart; however, the entire population of Greenland is forced along the coastline due to the interior being too icy and cold to inhabit. If one moved to Iceland, they would be 88.7% less likely to see the coastline on a daily basis due to the interior of the country being warmer and more inhabitable. These two island nations have a great variety of similarities and differences with holidays, history, culture, and beliefs. This is largely due to their large blend of foreign influence which makes them such unique countries.

Norse mythology is the religion of the Viking people, who were seafaring warriors, raiders, and explorers from the region which includes modern-day Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland. They occupied this region from approximately 793 CE to 1000 CE. This religion did not have a proper name and was simply referred to as “tradition.” For this project, I would like to explore the role of women in the religion, particularly, Freya and Frigg and their similarities to one another.

Most Vikings came from the regions of Scandinavia now known as Denmark, Norway and Sweden. However, they were not united by race or nationality. To the people they raided, the Vikings shared several common features. They were great sailors, ferocious fighters, and hailed from

Culturally, I identify more with the United States mainstream culture. I did not know that I was partially Norwegian until I began writing this paper. I find it very interesting to know where I came from and how my ancestors got to this country. It is also very interesting to learn all of the things that they believe in and what they like to do. However, seeing as I never knew that part of my life, I never had the change to experience that part. I have also identified more with the United States culture seeing as most of my family, from what we know, have been born here.

This traditional society in Samoa and other Polynesian islands was based on the clan and the extended family, each of which had elders, chiefs and patriarchs. It was a collectivist and hierarchical society, not at all a democracy, in which the hereditary elites were the governing

The Norse people were a very complex group who were portrayed as savages and killers, but instead were an advanced group, skilled workers and very democratic and this can be seen through their gods, goddesses, and rituals. Could it be that the way that people describe a civilization for so long change the way that people see them? Throughout history the Norse people have been portrayed poorly while in reality they are not completely the way that they are described to be. Not only are they polytheism, believing in multiple gods, but they act very much like their gods.

They first survived by hunting and fishing, but gradually began to farm the land and raised livestock. The first farms were created around 500 BC. This period is known as the Bronze Age, since bronze was the metal used to create weapons, jewelry and tools. The Bronze Age was followed by the Iron Age, which lasted until around 1000 AD. During this time, better tools were made and trade grew. The Viking Age lasted from around 800 to 1030 AD and was certainly an eventful chapter in Norwegian history. The Vikings built fast, ocean-going ships and travelled across the world raiding countries for their treasures and resources. However, many Vikings settled abroad, and as well as being skilled sailors and explorers, they became traders who set up communities in foreign lands. Around the year 1030, the lands of Norway were made into one kingdom and Christianity was introduced. By the 13th century, Norway ruled over other countries including Iceland, Greenland, Shetland, the Faeroes and the Orkney Islands. This rule, known as the Norwegian empire, lasted until around 1350 when the plague known as the Black Death wiped out more than half of Norway’s population. From 1380 until 1814 Norway was in a union with Denmark. When the union ended, it wrote its own national constitution. Later that year, Norway entered into a new union with Sweden which lasted until 1905. Norway was then able to choose its own king, and Prince Carl of Denmark, who became known as King Haakon VII, became the first ruler of an independent Norway for 525 years. During World War II, Norway was under German occupation. Britain was one of Norway’s allies and King Haakon and his family lived in exile in the UK until the war was over. Norway is a peace-loving nation and is a member of the United Nations (UN) and NATO. Norway’s belief in negotiation as a way of settling conflict makes them the ideal country to award the Nobel Peace Prize each year. In

The Vikings were not just a savage group of people that murdered and stole or a people that solely engaged in violent events, the Vikings were also a group that greatly benefited society. They were very adaptive; they made unique weapons, clothing and ships to survive in their conditions. They were great explorers and founded many important pieces of land. They had a large contribution to the revival of the European economy.

The people from the north, Norsemen, lived in villages and on dispersed farms in various regions. The Norwegian Vikings were from Iceland and Ireland. The Danish Vikings were from France and Britain. The Swedish Vikings were from Russia. Regardless of region, Vikings are addressed as one group of people. Written documentation from this era, sagas specify the region of Vikings being recorded.

So, even though the legacy of the Vikings are true and they built legends destruction and strength. They lived lives of normal people with represented values.

They were used every single day in their lives and were a big key to their happiness. They practiced a pagan, polytheistic religion, meaning they held beliefs other than those of the main world religions and worshipped multiple gods. “A page from an early copy of the ‘Johnsbok,’ which dates from a time after the Vikings had become Christians” (Grant 10). The Vikings believed that if warriors died in battle, their souls would be taken to Valhalla, Odin’s “hall of slain” in Asgard. There, the dead warriors would train for Ragnarok, the last battle between gods and evil monsters. The Vikings believed that when good people died they went to Asgard to join the gods. Their faith was very was strong and they were confident in it. Vikings had people called gothi, who are similar to present day priests. They ran all religious ceremonies and were in charge of sacrifices. They Vikings sacrificed animals, objects, and even humans. The human scarifies were usually Thrall slaves. They showed their dedication to their gods by doing so. Their dead ancestors were honored with food and gift

The Althing in Iceland accepted Christianity in 1000 A.D. (Roesdahl 269). Before that, I majority of Icelanders practiced the old faith, worshiping multiple gods. Many elements of Christianity were introduced though Viking exploration and cooperation with Christian nations, however. This is exemplified in The Saga of Gisli Sursson. Gisli died around twenty years before the particular Althing, but many aspects of his life indicate he was influenced by Christianity. The saga never mentions the faith by name, but references to the religion are there. Through the events portrayed in The Saga of Gisli Sursson, support is given for Christianity.

The capital of Iceland is Reykjavík that is acclaimed for its numerous contradictories. In the city, one can see old houses made out of iron by present day high flats' structures. This is the main spot on the planet where travelers who visit Iceland can see the superb patio nurseries alongside volcanic unpleasant territories.

When it comes to the historical features of Iceland there are some that seem to stand out more than others. It could be the original inhabitants, date of their independence, historical warfare, or maybe just the historical events and how they influenced the current society. The original inhabitants of Iceland were said to be “Irish monks who probably settled there in the eighth century” (Lacy 66). It was the last European country to be colonized. According to the CIA World Factbook (2010), Iceland became a soverieign state on December 1st, 1918 state under the Danish Crown and then got its independence on June 17th, 1944 from Denmark. “Iceland historical warfare include World War One which was from 1914-1918 and then World War Two which was from 1939- 1945. In 1976 Great Britain and Iceland signed an agreement to end the Cod War” (Lacy p. 237). One of the major disaster which wiped out much