Icelandic History Trivia

1. It is known that the Vikings settled in Iceland in the 9th century, but there is evidence that what Christian mission had discovered Iceland before that?

From Quiz History of Iceland

Answer: Hiberno-Scottish Mission

There is evidence of the Papars being in Iceland as early as the 8th century, whereas the Norse settled in Iceland the 9th century. The Hiberno-Scottish Mission expeditions saw a lot of lands, and there is evidence Iceland is one of them. These were Irish clergy known as 'Papars' and are first mentioned in the 'Íslendingabók' or 'Book of Icelanders' which was written in the 12th century.

From Quiz The History of Reykjavik

Answer: Ingólfr Arnarson

When exactly Ingólfr Arnarson founded the city is unknown but it was sometime around 870. The early history of the city and all of Iceland is detailed in Landnámabók, which means "Book of Settlements" when translated into English.

From Quiz Icelandic History

Answer: Norse

The ancient Norse people, from what are now the countries of Norway and Sweden, first permanently colonized in Iceland in 874 AD. Within sixty years, almost all of the habitable land on the island was settled by the Norse.

From Quiz An Icelandic Timeline (874-1970)

Answer: 874

According to the story Ingolfur Arnarson threw two carved pillars overboard as he got closer to land, vowing to settle where ever the pillars landed. He then sailed along the coast until he saw the pillars in the southwestern peninsula. He then settled with his family around 874 in Iceland. The place he settled was named Reykjavik.

From Quiz History of Iceland

Answer: Naddodd

Naddodd was also one of the first settlers of the Faroe Islands, located around 200 miles north of Scotland, about halfway between Iceland and Norway. Naddodd was in the process of sailing to the Faroe Islands from Norway, but he got so lost he ended up on the east coast of Iceland, in the 9th century.

From Quiz The History of Reykjavik

Answer: He used an old Viking tradition involving sending pillars out to sea.

The tradition involved sending "Öndvegissúlur" ashore and building the farm community in the location in which they landed. "Öndvegissúlur" are high-seated chairs with poles attached to them used as a seat by the man of the household. There are no pictures or drawings of what "Öndvegissúlur", so all descriptions used are derived from vague accounts from old texts.

From Quiz Icelandic History

Answer: Reykjavík

Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, and is also the largest city with well over 100,000 inhabitants. Ingólfur Arnarson named his settlement Reykjavík, which translates as "Bay of Smokes," because of the geothermal steam he saw rising from the ground.

From Quiz An Icelandic Timeline (874-1970)

Answer: 1000

The settlers of Iceland were predominantly pagans and worshiped, among others, Din, Thor and Fryja, but in the 10th century political pressure from Europe to convert to Christianity became increasingly strong. As civil war between religious groups became more and more likely Iceland appointed Porgeirr Ljosvetningagooi to decide the matter.

From Quiz History of Iceland

Answer: Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson

Landnámabók is the manuscript that describes Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson's journey to Iceland, as well as other Norsemen who followed. Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson had heard about the island from a Swedish Viking, and according to The Book of Settlement sailed for what is now Iceland in 868 AD, bringing three ravens with him. One flew back to the Faroe Islands. The other flew into the air, then back to the boat after a time. The third flew ahead, and he followed this raven to Iceland.

From Quiz The History of Reykjavik

Answer: R

The city was originally called Reykjarvik after the hot springs and geysers that created the appearance of smoke. Reykjavik is also sometimes translated as "Smoke Cove."

From Quiz Icelandic History

Answer: Icelandic Commonwealth

The Icelandic Commonwealth was one of the oldest parliamentary states in the world and lasted from 930 to 1262 AD. Its capital was Þingvellir; this city is still a popular tourist destination, and has become home to a national park.

From Quiz An Icelandic Timeline (874-1970)

Answer: 1380

Iceland came under Danish rule when the Royal House of Norway died out. Iceland and Norway came to be ruled by the Danish Crown. Unlike with Norway, Denmark did not need Iceland's fish and homespun wool. This created a dramatic loss in Iceland's trade.

From Quiz History of Iceland

Answer: Garðar Svavarsson

Garðar Svavarsson is also featured in Landnámabók. In the AD 860s, he got lost at sea (as a storm sent his ship up north from where he was sailing in the strait of Pentland Firth, near Scotland). He was pushed to the coast of Iceland by the storm. He named the island "Garðarshólmi" after himself, but upon telling Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson about the island and inspiring him to sail for it, Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson thought better of the name, instead calling the island "Land of Ice."

From Quiz Icelandic History

Answer: 1000 AD

The efforts to Christianize Iceland started in the 10th century AD, when missionaries sent from the Christan king of Norway came to Iceland. The country became officially Christian in 1000 AD, and even today more that 95 percent of the population consider themselves to be Christians.

From Quiz An Icelandic Timeline (874-1970)

Answer: 1904

In 1904 Denmark granted Iceland autonomy, following a revision of the constitution inn 1903. Iceland gained full independence from Denmark in 1944.

From Quiz History of Iceland

Answer: Beer

Beer was banned in Iceland for 74 years (from January 1,1915) -- on March 1, 1989 beer was no longer banned. March 1 has been coined "Beer Day" (or "Bjórdagurinn") in Iceland, and celebrated annually ever since. Residents of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, particularly appreciate and take part in Beer Day.

From Quiz The History of Reykjavik

Answer: Wool and weaving

Skúli Magnusson helped found the wool industry in 1750 by using the abundance of sheep and farmland around Reykjavik. Today, Iceland's biggest industries are fishing and tourism.

From Quiz Icelandic History

Answer: Haakon IV

Under Haakon IV, the medieval Norwegian kingdom reached what is considered to be its "golden age" of peace and prosperity. Gaining Iceland was part of an effort by Haakon IV to expand the Norwegian kingdom.

From Quiz History of Iceland

Answer: Thursday

Broadcasting from 1966, Iceland used to have just one television channel available, broadcast via the government. This was to encourage the country to be productive, socialise and not spend too much time in front of the television. It also did not broadcast any programmes during the holiday month of July, until 1983.

From Quiz The History of Reykjavik

Answer: Althing

The Althing, called Alþingi in Icelandic, was originaly founded in Þingvellir in 930 and existed until 1799. It was reorganized in Reykjavik in 1844 and it is the world's oldest parliamentary institution.

From Quiz An Icelandic Timeline (874-1970)

Answer: 1402

The bubonic plague is an infection of the lymphatic system, in which it can affect your heart. It is usually resulting from the bite of a flea. The bacteria would rapidly spread to the lymph nodes and multiply. The bubonic plague wiped out a quarter of the Icelandic population.

From Quiz History of Iceland

Answer: Battle of Víðines

In the 13th century secular and clerical forces went to war in Iceland, in the Battle of Víðines. Catholic bishop Guðmundur Arason wanted to keep the judicial powers over its members and the clergy, and was against the idea of sharing those powers with the chieftains and secular members of Iceland. This ended in violence when some of these secular men came looking for a bishop they claimed to have business with. Kolbeinn Tumason died in this battle by a wound to the head, from a rock. Over 700 years after the battle, Icelandic composer Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson wrote music for the poem Tumason had written. In 2013 the hymn went viral after being performed on Youtube by Icelandic indie rock group, Árstíðir. Two episodes of the Handmaids Tale also feature this hymn.

From Quiz An Icelandic Timeline (874-1970)

Answer: 930

The Althing was the national Parliament of Iceland. It was abolished in 1800. It was then again put in to power in 1844.

From Quiz History of Iceland

Answer: Bahá'i

The Baháʼí Faith teaches that all world religions are valid, and should all exist in peace and unity. The religion has its roots in Bábism, a religion established in Persia in the 1840s. She was introduced to this religion by Amelia Collins, a prominent figure in the religion from America. She helped Martha Root, a teacher of the faith, navigate Iceland to spread their message in 1936.

From Quiz The History of Reykjavik

Answer: Allied forces occupied the city and helped improve its infastructure.

Nazi Germany had taken over Iceland's allies Norway and Denmark. Allied troops occupied the city because it was a strategic base and to save it from Germany. However, Reykjavik did not have many paved roads and had no airport. The Allies built two airports and a few naval ports.

From Quiz Icelandic History

Answer: Jón Sigurðsson

Jón Sigurðsson was the leader of the Icelandic independence movement, and his birthday, June 17, is celebrated as Iceland's National Holiday. Gissur Ísleifsson was a bishop, Eggert Ólafsson was an explorer, and Viktor Jensen is a racecar driver.

From Quiz History of Iceland

Answer: Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson

Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson played for Arsenal of England, and some other teams in his professional football career. He played for Arsenal from 1944-1946. He was Arsenal's second foreign player. After retiring from professional football, Albert Sigurður Guðmundsson became a member of the Alþingi (Icelandic parliament) and was active in it for around 15 years. He began his career in the Alþingi in 1974. By 1983 he was Minister of Finance for Iceland. By 1985 he was Minister of Industry, but was forced to resigned in 1987, over a tax scandal.

From Quiz The History of Reykjavik

Answer: Reagan and Gorbachev

The talks were ultimately unsuccessful as Reagan believed Gorbachev was trying to limit U.S. research on the Strategic Defense Initiative. Reagan also wanted to talk about other world issues, while Gorbachev was purely focused on arms reduction.

From Quiz An Icelandic Timeline (874-1970)

Answer: 1241

Snorri Sturluson was born in 1178 and he died in 1241. He was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician.

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