This week we visit the frigid but fascinating land of Norway. The conditions are extreme, yet this corner of Scandinavia ranks high in the major quality of life indicators. Read on to learn more, and prepare for Sue’s lesson. There is much to learn about the history and culture of this Scandinavian locale!

The natural beauty of Norway is one of its greatest attractions. Along the coast Norway has a wet and mild climate, while the inland areas are dry and colder. Summers are surprisingly warm because of Gulf Stream currents.

In terms of biodiversity, Norway has more different habitats than just about any country in Europe (there are some 60,000 species). These habitats include varieties of forest, coast, tundra, and grasslands (Norway 2024 Wiki).

An array of Arctic animals live in Norwegian ecosystems. These include reindeer, lemmings, and wolverines. There is also a large population of red deer and elk, bear, lynx, and wolves. Rivers (there are at least 160 of them throughout the country) and lakes are rich with trout and salmon.

And by the way, nature provides ample opportunity to enjoy the bounty of Norway: during the summer the country gets up to 24 hours of sunlight in one day, according to Greenmatters. The “midnight sun” appears in the middle of night from April through August.

You can be sure that Vikings played an important role in the settling of Norway.

But before the Vikings, way before, early humans lived on the icy coast. Archeologists have found tools made of stone that date back to 6000 BCE. These first Norwegians lived off the land (or should I say ice) and survived by hunting (deer, reindeer, and elk) and fishing.

By 1500 BCE, more immigrant settled in the eastern part of the country, and on the west coast farming was introduced. In this epoch of history, archeologists found stone and bronze objects to mark the tools and rituals the people followed. There were also traces of Roman occupation in the area, dating through 500 CE.

The people lived in groups led by a chief, and communities defended themselves (against outside invaders or neighboring clans) by building forts on the rocky cliffs and hills. By 1000 AD, small states had evolved, organized by the chieftains and wealthier farmers. The people created laws to live by and common meeting places where assemblies  met to resolve disputes and make laws.

Around 870 AD, the Viking government structure shifted from ruling chiefdoms to kingdoms and King Harald I became the first Norwegian king. I mention this because Norway is still ruled by a royal family (at least in name only).

As the Vikings explored (rampaged is a more accurate word) Normandy and England, they were exposed to Christianity. Early on the Vikings thought Christianity threatened their pagan beliefs.  Several early kings, converted to Christians, brought the religion to Norway as well as outposts like Iceland.  King Olaf (991) was a popular monarch who is credited with spreading Christianity throughout Norway and building royal power.

There followed centuries of conflict between Norwegian chieftains and royal rulers who tried to claim the area we know today as Norway. The Norwegians also fought bloody battles against the Danes, who wanted to expand their control.

Many people believed in both the Viking gods as well as Christianity (in case one didn’t work out). Some carvings in old churches reflect the figures from Norse mythology.

Through the 14th century, with the influence of Christian rule in England, the Norwegian monarchy continued to grow and eventually replaced the Viking Age. This increasing power of the church and the monarchy led to a bitter civil war. The church (led by powerful bishops) and royal families vied for power over the ever-increasing population across Norway. 

For many years Norway was considered a province of Denmark. In an effort to stand up to Denmark, the country went through a period of unification with Sweden.

During Norway’s Middle Ages, another notable event was the devastating Black Death of the mid-1400s. It killed over two-thirds of the country’s population. This was a setback in the country’s development. Norway didn’t return to a substantial populace (more than 400,000) until nearly the 18th century.

The Scandinavian Unions (1397-1814) marked the union between Norway, Denmark and Sweden (this also included much of Finland).  This was called the Kalmar Union. The union fell apart in 1814, but Norway remained united with Denmark. Although the kingdoms were united, the countries kept their own military, currency, and laws.

The date of 1814 marks Norwegian independence… at least briefly, as Sweden won country after a short battle.

Through 1905 Norway and Sweden were united under the same monarchy. In 1905 Sweden granted Norway independence as a constitutional monarchy.

Although Norway was modernizing, life was still hard for many people. Hundreds of thousands of Norwegians left the country by the 1930s, many settling in the American Midwest (think of Garrison Keillor and The Prairie Home Companion).

In terms of more modern history, during World War I (1914-1918) Norway remained neutral but still influential in the world economy through its trade and diplomacy.

In World War II (1940-1945), Germany occupied the country and was the site of several bloody battles.

After the war, Norway was able to repair and expand. The country became recognized by hosting the Winter Olympics in 1952. On a related note: Norway cleans up the metals category in the Winter Olympics every year! 

As a huge boon to more recent economic development, Norway’s Oil Age began in the mid 1960s. Oil was discovered in the North Sea. It took a decade of further exploration and technology  for oil recovery, but by 1972 Norway was exporting oil from the Norwegian continental shelf.

More notable recent events:

1979: Bergen’s former Hanseatic trading district Bryggen became  Norway’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. UNESCO praised the renovation work following fires: “rebuilding has traditionally followed old patterns and methods, thus leaving its main structure preserved.”

1987: Norway's Parliament passed the Sami Act, allowing for the creation of the Sami Parliament that first convened two years later.

1992: Norway once again held a referendum on European membership, this time to the EU. The “no” side once again prevailed taking 52.2% of the vote on a turnout of 88.6%.

1994: Norway once again hosted the Winter Olympics. This time, the eyes of the world fall on Lillehammer. It was very cold during the Games, which is potentially why Norway did so well, dominating the medal table.

2015: The Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site becomes Norway’s eighth UNESCO World Heritage site. UNESCO called it “an exceptional combination of industrial assets and themes associated to the natural landscape.”

The geography of Norway, as well as its history, have influenced the development of its culture. The inland population was isolated from Europe until the 1900s. What we might call the old ways of Norway include legends of pixies and other supernatural beings. Yet Norway’s coastal presence made it a seafaring and trading culture, always receptive to ideas from abroad.

Storytelling and folklore are still valued in modern Norway (trolls are not uncommon!). Norwegians celebrate religious holidays (like St. Olaf’s Day, July 29th) as well as secular events like Constitution Day (Grunnlovsdagen—May 17th) and Sankhansaften:  Midsummer).

Education is a high priority in Norway. Public education is free (and is also free for members of the EU). There are seven universities in the country.

Of course we have to mention to famous (and disturbing!) portrait by Edvard Munch (“The Scream”), but many other Norwegian artists have reflected the beauty and scope of Norway’s landcape and people. Some of the names mentioned include Johan Christian Dahl, Kitty Kielland, and Christian Kohg.

As for sports, ice hockey and soccer are extremely popular. Other sports central to the country’s culture include cross-country skiing, speed skating, ski jumping, and mountaineering.

Bandy is a traditional but lesser known sport. This appears to be similar to ice hockey, though the rink is bigger.

With its proximity to the sea, it’s natural that FISH have played an important role in the lives and culture of Norwegians. The cuisine reflects the environment.

Fish dishes such as laks (salmon) and torsk (cod) are popular. Lutefisk, cod soaked in lye, is common during the Christmas holidays.

Norwegians love herring as well.

From the Seafood from Norway website:

Herring swimming into our fjords is an important event for Norway’s coastal communities. People would gather by the docks in anticipation, awaiting the herring. When the boats approached, eager shouts of “The herring is here!” would spread into a chant. They would then fill every bucket, barrel and cart with the silvery fish.

As fishing goes, herring fishing is pretty straightforward, if not necessarily easy. Fishermen take their boats out into the open seas, locate a school of herring, throw out a large net and haul up the catch. 

In addition to fish, Rømmegrøt (sour-cream porridge), pinnekjøtt (dried mutton ribs), reker (boiled shrimp), meatcakes, lefse (griddlecakes), geitost (a sweet semihard cheese made from cow’s or goat’s milk), and reindeer, moose, elk, and other wildlife also are popular traditional delicacies. The strong liquor called aquavit (also spelled akevitt), made of fermented grain or potatoes, is common (Norway, 2024).

There is still a questionable separation between church and state in Norway; the Church of Norway is considered the “church of state”.  What this means is that until recently (2012), members of parliament were required to belong to the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Norway (clergy were seen as state employees). The Royal family was also required to be part of the Lutheran Church.  In 2017 Norway voted to make the church independent from the state, but it still considers that the Lutheran Church is the “people’s church.”

Norway is considered a constitutional monarchy. It divides state power between the Parliament, the Cabinet, and the Supreme Court. Norway didn’t achieve full independence from Sweden until 1905. It became a full democracy in 2019, and the Freedom in the World report from Freedom House ranked Norway at the top of their list in civil liberties and political rights for the populace.

The current prime minister is Erna Solberg, who has held the post since 2013. She leads a right-centered coalition government. The largest individual party in the Norwegian parliament is the Labor party, the main opposition party.

King Harald V is the King of Norway, and he is the oldest monarch in Europe (at 87).

Coalition governments are the norm in Norwegian politics. Since 1961, no single party has commanded a majority in parliament. Non-left leaning governments have been full coalitions, while Labor-led governments have either been coalitions, or relied on the support of other parties to achieve a majority vote.

Norway is a wealthy country, with the second highest Gross Domestic Product in Europe (quiz: which is the first?). The country has been recognized for its efficient universal healthcare and comprehensive social security system. According to the World Bank, Norway has the fourth highest per capita in the world.

It’s considered a mixed economy. It’s a capitalist welfare state that combines state ownership of many natural resources with free market activity. Oil, natural gas, hydroelectric energy, and aluminum are some of the top resources.

Norway is the fifth-largest oil exporter in the world. It’s also the third-largest gas exporter. The government controls most of the oil production, and in fact it oversees all aspects of the industry.

Next to oil and natural gas, sea fishing and fish farming are the highest exports. Norway is the second-highest fish exporting country (after China). If you love salmon (as I do), you probably noticed that the salmon we buy in the U.S. is usually imported from Norway (or Chile).

Norway uses its natural resources to fuel its cities and towns: hydroelectric plants generate 98-99% of the country’s electric power, which is more than any other county.

As times continue to change,  Norway's economy is in a state of transition. The oil and gas will not last forever, and the government is making substantial investment in other technologies. Norway's domestic power needs are met almost exclusively by renewable energy.

Even for an oil-producing powerhouse like Norway, tourism also contributes to the economy. One in 15 Norwegians works in the tourism industry, which is mainly between May and August. Tourists visit the variety of landscapes that stretch across the Arctic Circle, enjoying the coastline, lakes, woods, and mountains (think: ski resorts).

Today Oslo is the center of the government as well as the economy of Norway. It’s the hub of trade and banking, as well as maritime industries. Some of the largest shipping companies in the world are headquartered in Oslo.

Oslo has been recognized as a low carbon city. Public transportation makes it easy to move around, and there is an extensive network of bicycle lanes and tram lines.

Oslo ranks high in quality of life indicators (and was ranked 24th most livable city in the world.

Tramsø is the capital of the Arctic, and it is located in the middle of Northern Norway. This is where many visitors travel in order to see the northern lights. The Lyngenfjord region of Norway is known for skiing, hiking, and biking.

Visitors who want to experience Norways’ famous fjords often start from Bergen. The Bergen Railway Line has been voted one of the world’s most beautiful train rides. Bergen is located on the west coast of Norway and is the second largest city. It is called the “city of seven mountains” because it’s surrounded high peaks.

Bergen is a center of shipping, the offshore petroleum industry, and tourism. In fact, Bergen Port is the busiest in Norway. More than 300 cruise ships transit through Bergen every year, bringing almost half a million passengers.

Bodø is a growing coastal town in the county of Nordland. Its reputation has grown as one of the “hipper” communities.

Back to our lesson’s introduction: now that you know more about Norway, can you see why it ranks high in quality of life and well-being? Humans tend to thrive when they have a strong connection to nature, when they trust their government and welfare resources, and when they develop strong social networks. Norway definitely qualifies.

So you might want to put Norway on your must-see travel itinerary. But bring your long johns and mukluks!

Introduction to Norway. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.lifeinnorway.net/about-norway/

Nikel, D. (2021). Norway Timeline. Retrieved from https://www.lifeinnorway.net/norway-timeline/

Nikel, D. (2018).  Brief History of Norway.  Retrieved from https://www.lifeinnorway.net/history-of-norway/

Norway. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Norway/Cultural-institutions

Norway Wikipedia. (2024). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway