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A Brief History of Norway. Norway: history - the oldest period Norway independence

A report on Norway for a student will briefly tell you a lot of useful information about this amazing maritime country. Also, a report on Norway will help prepare for a lesson in geography.

Norway: briefly about the country

It is a maritime country, the territory of which is washed by 3 seas: North, Norwegian and Barents. The coastline is literally strewn with small islands. There are about 50,000 of them. The country also includes Bouvet Island in the Atlantic, the Spitsbergen archipelago, Jan Mayen and Bear Islands. The most high mountain Norway - Gallhepiggen; the longest river is Glomma; the largest lake is Miesa.

Norway is a democratic hereditary constitutional monarchy. Received state independence in 1905. Before that, the country was ruled by Denmark and Sweden.

Norway climate

Norway is an amazing country. Even locals often joke that you can see summer, autumn, winter and spring here in one day. Temperatures can vary dramatically depending on the region. So, the average winter temperature in the north is -17 0 C, and on the south-western coast + 1-20 0 C. The average summer temperature in the north is +7 0 C, in the south - +17 0 C.

In winter, snow covers the entire territory of Norway. The farther from the coastline, the lower the temperature. In the interior regions of the country, the temperature can be as low as -40 0 C. It rains along the sea coast at any time of the year. But the warm Gulf Stream makes the climate milder than in Siberia, Alaska or Greenland, which, by the way, are on the same latitude as Norway.

Relief of norway

The country occupies the western mountainous part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The highest peak is Mount Gallhepiggen. Also, the country is crossed by such mountain ranges as: Hardangervidda, Jotunheimen, Finnmarksvidda, Dovrefjell, Sunnmer Alps, Trolltunga, Lyngsalpene. Almost all mountains are covered with forests and tundra vegetation, there are lakes, waterfalls and non-melting glaciers. The ridges on the coast are cut by fjords.

Water resources of Norway

Large rivers flow through the country - Tana, Glomma, Otra, Pasvik, Alta, Namsen, Logen, mostly mountainous and deep, with rapids. The food is glacial and rain-fed. Many rivers have waterfalls, and there are a lot of fish in their beds. There are about 400 lakes in Norway.

The flora and fauna of Norway

The vegetation of the sea country is quite interesting. The coastal areas are the territory of forests and shrubs, to the north are the plantings of dwarf birches, deciduous and coniferous forests. Grasses, mosses and lichens grow at the heights. On the territory of the kingdom there are wolves, brown bears, hares, squirrels, moose, foxes, red deer.

Natural resources of Norway

Norway has relatively few minerals. The main part is represented by gas, oil, iron ore, which are mainly concentrated on the islands. The country is famous for its fish stocks, seafood and timber.

Norway landmarks

If you decide to visit Norway, be sure to visit Vigeland Park, Bryggen, the Royal Palace of Oslo, Geiranger Fjord, Akershus Fortress and Castle.

The country's standard of living is the highest in the world.
The most famous landmark of the country is an ancient frame church - Borgun Stavkirka. It was built in the XII century.
Here is the highest waterfall in Europe - Winnufossen.
Norway is home to modern skiing.
Local public universities are free for all students in the world.

We hope that this short report on Norway has helped you in preparing for the lesson and that you have learned a lot of useful information about this country. And you can expand the story about Norway through the comment form below.

Appeared in the Stone Age. The ancestors of modern Norwegians lived on this land several thousand years ago, as evidenced by archaeological finds and rock paintings.

Early middle ages

The early Norse state flourished during the Viking Age. Historically, this era covers a three-hundred-year period, which fell on the VIII-XI centuries of our era. The main occupations of the Vikings were navigation, trade and plunder. But they became famous not only for robberies. It was the Vikings who founded a large number of cities in Northern Europe, including the current capital of Ireland, Dublin, and the Duchy of Normandy, which is now part of France. Also, thanks to the Vikings, the development of new northern territories, including the islands of Greenland, largely took place.

The Vikings also had a significant influence on Ancient Russia, since their trade routes - "from the Varangians to the Greeks" - passed precisely through its territory. Runic letters found during excavations on the territory of our country in rather large quantities indicate a close connection between the people of Russia and the Vikings. There is an opinion that the very origin of the word "Rus" is Scandinavian, since according to one version the legendary Rurik was from the Scandinavian town of Roslagen.

The turn of the 9th-10th centuries is one of the main milestones in the history of Norway. It was at this time that the unification of 29 disparate lands into a single state took place, the main role in which was played by King Harold Horfager, who, moreover, seized the Orkney and Shetland Islands, to which a significant number of Norwegian inhabitants later moved. At the end of the 10th century, Viking ships reached the shores of North America. Their settlement existed on the land of the modern United States for several decades, which was proved by excavations in the 60s of the last century.

Late middle ages

The era of the decline of the Viking empire coincided with the beginning of the conversion of Norway to Christianity. This process lasted about 200 years, and the main role in it was played by the Norwegian king Olaf Trygvasson. He ruled the country at the beginning of the 10th century and turned it into an absolute monarchy, which caused the discontent of most of the nobles. Olaf was forced to flee to Russia, but in 1030 he returned to his homeland and in the same year was killed in the bloody battle of Siklestad. More than a hundred years after his death, Olaf was canonized and today he is considered the patron saint of Norway.

Olaf's young son, Magnus, whom King Olaf brought to Russia, remained there at the insistence of his mother's half-sister - the wife of the Russian ruler Yaroslav the Wise. Magnus was adopted by Yaroslav and was brought up in his family as his own child. When King Knud the Great died in Norway in 1035, Magnus, who at that time was only 11 years old, was proclaimed the new king of Norway - this happened largely thanks to the support of the same Yaroslav the Wise. In addition, Scandinavian mercenaries lived at the court of the Russian prince, for whom magnificent stone mansions were built, decorated with silks and velvets. Among them was another hero of the Norse sagas - the Viking Eymund.

The end of the 11th century was marked by large quantity wars with Sweden, Ireland and Scotland. In the end, these wars led to the fact that 3 people became the rulers of Norway at once. This kind of polyarchy continued until the second half of the 12th century, when in 1163 Magnus Erlingsson, who at that time was only 7 years old, became the first officially crowned ruler.

The 13th century became one of the most prosperous in the history of medieval Norway. The country's borders have expanded significantly, including Greenland and Iceland. A large number of fortresses were built on the territory of the state. The next century, the XIV, on the contrary, became one of the most tragic in the history of this Scandinavian country - more than half of its population was exterminated by the plague. On the threshold of the 15th century, Norway came under the rule of the Kalmar Union, which united the three Scandinavian countries - Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The main goal of the union was to protect Scandinavia from the power of the almighty Hanseatic League, but in practice this led to the fact that many territories of Norway - more than 40% - were under the rule of the Danish king.

New time

The Kalmar Union existed until the beginning of the 16th century, when Sweden withdrew from it, gaining the right to possession of some Norwegian territories. Norway remained at the same time actually part of Denmark. This situation remained until the Napoleonic Wars at the beginning of the 19th century. The wars affected Norway in the worst way - hunger and devastation reigned in the country. However, it was this war that eventually brought independence to the country - in 1814 it seceded from the union with Denmark. In the same 1814, a new religion, Lutheranism, was legislatively established in Norway. The Norwegians entered the new union with Sweden - this time completely voluntarily. Norway had its own laws and parliament, but the actual power belonged to the Swedish king Charles XIII. The union lasted until 1905, when, according to the results of a referendum, Norway received the status of an independent state and Haakon VII was proclaimed its king. It was during the period of union in Norway that there was a massive outflow of the population - about ¾ million people left for the United States.

Recent history

The beginning of the XX century is the era of the beginning of the recovery of the Norwegian economy. The rise was mainly due to the development of the fishing industry, but in many economic indicators Norway lagged far behind its European neighbors. Almost all large mining enterprises were owned by foreigners, but in 1906 a law was passed to transfer them into the hands of the Norwegian authorities, which significantly raised the level of state treasury revenues. At the beginning of the century, the famous expedition of the Norwegian Roald Amundsen, who first conquered the South Pole of the Earth, took place.

Norway did not take part in World War I, observing de facto neutrality. However, at this time in the country there were several spy scandals that received wide resonance in the world. German spy Baron von Rosen, a Swede, was arrested in Norway and controversy was discovered. anthrax... In 1915-1929, the country was experiencing a new economic upsurge, culminating in the worldwide crisis of the early 1930s.

At the end of the 30s, the crisis began to decline, but already in the early 40s the world was engulfed in the Second World War, which became a period of occupation for Norway, which ended only on May 8, 1945, during which the country's government was in exile. Many residents of the country during this period were sent to concentration camps or killed, the bombing destroyed several cities in Norway. During the war, a powerful partisan movement was active in the country.

In 1949 Norway joined NATO and was one of the founding countries of the United Nations. It was her citizen Trygve Lee who became the first General Secretary of this organization. In the late 1960s, large oil and gas fields were found in Norway, which gave a strong impetus to the development of its economy. Today the country ranks 3rd in the world in the export of oil and gas raw materials. Norway is not a member of the EU - the referendum on this issue has failed twice.

First settlers in the territory Norway appeared, perhaps 10,000 -11,000 thousand years ago. People settled mainly along the sea, which fed them. In addition, they hunted. Approximately five thousand years later, the ancestors of the Norwegians were already engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. However, in the north Norway, as before, only hunting and fishing gave life to people. Norwegian villages were usually located so as to reveal their presence as little as possible (on this score, the Norwegians have a joke that the best neighbor is the one who is not visible). For some time, these small groups lived like this: independently of each other and of the whole world. Beautiful, but cold nature (and at that time it was even colder here) made it difficult for a person to survive in the territory of the present Norway... Gradually, agriculture developed, the settlements acquired a stable character. In the fourth century A.D. e. v Norway some Germanic tribes (rugii, chords) appear. Perhaps the invasion of these foreigners led to the beginning of the Viking Age? Be that as it may, by the seven hundredth year, all the land had been explored, inequality was strengthened, and society was divided into masters and servants. Neighborhood feud was forgotten, the boats were built and the rage was at a boiling point. The Vikings were ready to conquer Europe, conquer Britain, found Russia (or were the Swedes involved in this?) And discover America.

Initially, they settled in the Shetland and Orkney Islands. From there they headed north to the Faroes and south to North Scotland. By 820 the entire Irish coastline was inhabited by Vikings. Anyone who got in their way was unceremoniously kicked out. Even now, there are about 100,000 places with Norwegian names in the Shetland Islands! And the farmers here spoke Norwegian until the early 19th century!

Voyages of conquests continued in the south, along the rivers of France, in Spain, in the Mediterranean. In France and southern Europe, the Norse Vikings acted alongside the Danes, while in Constantinople, they met the Swedes. Moreover, the Norwegians in their campaigns landed even in East Africa, on the territory of present-day Morocco! By the end of the 9th century, the Vikings were keeping the whole of Europe at bay. By this time, the attacks themselves had grown from scattered forays into organized, well-planned campaigns of large detachments. The Vikings combined their conquests with trade in all those (including slaves) that they managed to take away from the occupied territories. Around the same time, a transition from plunder and tribute collection to the settlement of the conquered lands is planned. In Northern France, the Vikings found the Duchy of Normandy.

It is the Norwegians who populate Iceland and Greenland. Reach America ...

It has been reliably established that the first Norwegian to set foot on the American coast was Life Ericsson (although in reality the man who first discovered America was called Bjarne Herolvsson, but he did not bother to go ashore!). According to the Norwegian saga, Life Ericsson, the discoverer of a new continent, actually intended to sail to Greenland (which was discovered, by the way, by his father, Eric the Red), but ended up in America. This is how historical events sometimes come true!

The Viking era lasted until about 1050. She had the strongest influence on: the kingdom of Dublin, settlements in the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, the County of Orkney, and Greenland. As mentioned above, around 1050 the Viking campaigns stopped. Some scholars argue about the reasons that prompted the Vikings so suddenly to abandon the "noble" cause, which they have been doing no less than 250 years. As a joke version, one can put forward the idea that when the Norwegians reached the southern territories, they (given the difference in climate) were exposed to the sun, and simply began to get sunburn. They did not like the darkening of the skin at all, which prompted them to return ... In contrast to the reasons that prompted the Vikings to retreat, the reasons why the Norwegians initiated the conquests are more or less known: the strengthening of the nobility, for which war booty served as an important source of enrichment, relative overcrowding coastal areas, lack of land suitable for cultivation, development of trade ...

What good can be said about the Vikings in custody? Were they only barbarians, knowledgeable only in murder, devastation and violence? Of course not! Do not forget about their fair laws, active trade, the art of shipbuilding, beautiful ornaments ... about the mythology that they left as a legacy to their descendants ...

The time when Norway began to acquire the features of a single state, it is considered the 9-10th centuries. Around 900, King Harald Herfagre subdued the rulers of the rest of the area and became the first supreme ruler. Norway... Around the same time, the Christianization of Norway began (in fact, it was the instrument with which attempts were made to unite the country). It must be said that both of these processes were rather slow and met with resistance from the people. Norwegian kings were opposed by nobles and peasants who were on their own, and defended their patriarchal democratic order. With regard to this country, it is fair to say that it was baptized with fire and sword. Those who did not agree with the new order were either made slaves or simply destroyed. A striking example is King Olaf Haraldson, who paid with his life for his excessive efforts. This, however, did not prevent him from receiving the status of a saint after his death. Moreover, the day of July 29 is immortalized in his honor.

As a result of the struggle, the church was endowed with large land holdings, while the land was given to the peasants for short-term holdings. Thus, the peasantry of that time had a contradictory position: they had personal freedom, the right to participate in local peasant meetings (tings), to bear arms, but at the same time their position was rather precarious: the peasants were not endowed with solid rights to land, they carried heavy government duties. This situation was the cause of contention. The most serious attempt to change the state of affairs was the uprising of 1184, as a result of which the impostor Sverrir came to the throne. However, he failed to do anything dramatic. Sverrir abolished the privileges of the church, tried to make the church dependent on royal power. However, the followers of Sverrir were reconciled with the church, and the struggle ceased.

Gradually, feudalism in Norway got stronger. Tingi, from local self-government bodies turned into bodies controlled by the king, a state code was adopted - "Land of Words", in 1262-1264 to Norway the Orkney and Shetland Islands, Greenland, Iceland were withdrawn, were subordinated to the Sami.

However, not rich in terms of natural resources, the country lived for a long time by subsistence farming, cities and trade remained undeveloped, which contributed to the strengthening of the Hanseatic merchants. To top it all off, in 1347-1350. a plague epidemic hit Norway, taking away a significant part of the population. Perhaps no country has suffered more from the black death than Norway.

These circumstances led to the conclusion of a union with Sweden in 1319, with Denmark in 1380, and in 1397 - the Kalmar Union of the Scandinavian kingdoms. Dependence on Denmark persisted until the 19th century (while Sweden withdrew from the union in 1523). In the 16th century Norway was completely turned into a Danish province, with the result that the Danish king became the owner of half of all Norwegian lands. During this time Norway lost the Orkney and Shetland Islands, Iceland and Greenland. From the very beginning of the union, and further, over time, the struggle for independence grew in the country. This was facilitated by the national identity of the Norwegians, the economic rise of the state. As a result of popular resistance, the Danes were forced to make some concessions. By the 19th century, in Norway, 75% of the peasants were landowners, the export of timber, fish, and iron was growing steadily. But in general, Norway remained a poor state. Its relative well-being was explained by the fact that the Danish-Norwegian kingdom remained neutral in the European wars, until 1807. However, this was followed by the Anglo-Danish War of 1807-1814, and in Norway hunger began.

Under these conditions, the Norwegian kingdom was freed from the Danish yoke, and was obliged to enter into union with Sweden. In these extraordinary circumstances, a Constituent Assembly was convened in the country, which on May 17, 1814 adopted the basic law of the country. This constitution is valid in Norway to this day, being one of the oldest in the world! The Norwegian basic law is also called the Eidsvoll Constitution, after the name of the town in which the Constituent Assembly sat (Eidsvoll is located in the south of the country, not far from the capital). For that time, the constitution contained advanced ideas and provisions. She established a parliamentary monarchy in the country. The king was proclaimed the head of the kingdom, with the right of a suspensive veto.

In honor of the adoption in Norway Constitution, the most important Norwegian national holiday was established - Constitution Day, celebrated on 17 May. However, the Norwegians did not succeed in gaining independence in the 19th century, since in the summer of 1814 war broke out with Sweden, which forced Norway give in and remain in union with his "older brother" for almost a hundred more years. Relations between Norway and Sweden were enshrined in a special law, according to which Norway received internal independence. It was in the subsequent period of time that the active political life of Norwegian society began. In 1884, two leading political parties of the country were organized: the left, Venstre, and the right, Høire. Then in Norway a parliamentary system is being formed. In 1898, the Storting election begins with the one-person-one-vote rule. In 1913, women were admitted to the elections.

The desire with which the Norwegians wanted independence found a way out in everything. In law, for example, Norway was the first Scandinavian country to adopt a criminal code in 1842. By this and many others, the people Norway tried to show his independence. At the same time, the country's international prestige grew, which was facilitated by the activity. R. Amundsen, F. Nansen, G. Ibsen. And so, in June 1905, the Storting unanimously dissolves the union with Sweden. In October 1905, a referendum held confirmed this decision. Norway becomes an independent state ...

At the beginning 1st world war Norway declared its neutrality. In 1920, she receives the island of Svalbard. Then the world economic crisis broke out, which had a heavy impact on the situation of the Norwegian people. In the first three years, production fell by 25%, 30% of workers lose their jobs, and there are massive demonstrations interspersed with riots.

In foreign policy Norway adheres to the principle of non-interference, and at the beginning of World War II declares its neutrality. However, this did not prevent Germany on April 9, 1940 from starting the landing of its troops on the territory Norway... Under these conditions, the government and the king moved to Great Britain. Most of the country's citizens had no choice but to watch how their region is engaged German soldiers- 10,000 thousandth forces of the German army, which after five years increase by 300,000 people. Naturally, some kind of resistance was shown - from April to June, the Norwegian army lost about 850 people. In total, it is believed that Norway lost 10,000 people. It seems to be not so much when compared with other countries. But for such a small country, this loss was a national disaster. In a society where everyone knows each other, the loss of a person is felt especially acutely and irreparably. In general, one cannot say that the Norwegians, from the very first day of the occupation, all as one stood up against the German forces. Many simply did not undertake anything, or, in any case, did not undertake in an organized way. Some part of the population was not at all hostile to the aliens ... The reasons for this are different. Perhaps a positive role was played by the fact that the Germans in Norway there was no such catastrophic damage that was done in other countries. Perhaps the fact that the Norwegians and Germans are a bit similar in culture, language, views is also important ... And yet, speaking of "insignificant damage", one should not forget that the north of Norway suffered quite seriously. There, during the withdrawal of the German troops, 11,000 residential buildings, 420 shops, 53 hotels and hotels, 106 schools, 21 hospitals, 27 churches and much more were destroyed ... about 9,000 children were born ...

After the surrender of Germany, in Norway a series of trials and lawsuits dragged on, the main result of which was the punishment of 46,000 (!) Norwegians from the National Socialist Party (in 1948, an amnesty was declared against them). In addition, 12 Germans and 25 Norwegians were executed. Among the latter was Vid kun Quisling, the head of the Norwegian Nazis.

Talking about post-war development Norway, it is necessary to immediately note three dates: 1949 - accession to NATO, December 23, 1969 - production of the first barrel of oil, September 22, 1972 - a negative response to a referendum on the issue of accession Norway weight. (in 1994 in a repeated referendum, on the same issue - the same decision)

Post-war development Norway characterized by the evolutionary development of the country's social and economic life. From the formal "you", the Norwegians are moving to the more familiar "you". The work week is gradually shrinking, vacations are increasing, along with inflation, and wage... Foreign capital is actively entering the Norwegian economy. Finally, in the early 70s, oil is found in the country - a new era begins, an era of restrained satisfaction from the successes achieved Norway, primarily in the economic sphere. From the most backward Scandinavian state, Norway, in the end, turns into the most prosperous ...

Lives in Scandinavia about 8.000.000 people, 8 times less than in Germany (which it is 1.5 times larger in space). The bulk of the population is made up of Swedes and Norwegians - peoples akin to the Danes and together with them constituting one group of northern Germans. In the north, in addition to them, there are two more peoples of the yellow race: the Lapps and the Finns, which together number only a few tens of thousands of people.

Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland.

What is Norwegian Cooking? Even potatoes, which are considered a real Norwegian dish, were actually introduced to Norway just 250 years ago. When a survey was conducted in Norway in 1994 regarding favorite dishes, it turned out that in all regions quitsoyballs (fish meatballs) ranked first, lefse ranked second, and lutefisk (dried cod soaked in liquor). There is one long line in the history of Norwegian cuisine. It is closely related to the gifts of nature: lake and sea fish, forest and mountain game, cereals, milk and meat. And, despite the influence of "West and East", the cuisine has managed to maintain the dominance of traditional products and customs associated with their preparation. The Norwegian table is a wonderful sight: food is not served "packed" in sauces and jellies, but in such a way that the natural taste of the products is emphasized as much as possible. In addition, ONLY Norwegian products are sold in the country, with the exception of, of course, exotic fruits. And now

Among seafood delicacies in Norway, of course, salmon occupies the first place, but besides it there are many other fish that enjoy attention: herring, cod, trout, halibut, mackerel, catfish, and in the summer it is simply necessary to try fresh Norwegian shrimp. Norwegians love to buy them directly from fishing trawlers that have just returned from the sea. It is quite possible to try whale meat in a restaurant or buy it at the fish market, although whale hunting is strictly limited today.

For over 1000 years Northern Norway has been exporting dried cod and herring to Europe. The latter has always been so abundant here that it was fed to cattle in winter when there was no hay. Herring is cooked in different ways, for example, beaten in water with wooden mallets, soaked and served with mustard or butter. By the way, when smoked, this herring acquires a sharp spicy aroma and red color. And "lutefisk" (dried cod) is soaked in lye to soften it, and then boiled, as a result of which the fish becomes almost as juicy as freshly caught. Lutefisk is served with pea pudding, fresh potatoes, fried bacon, mustard and goat cheese.
Herring is considered one of the main food products here. An old saying goes, "A true Norwegian eats herring twenty-one times a week." What is not prepared here from herring! These are cold appetizers, and pates, and salads, and soups, and hot dishes, and pies. And every Norwegian starts the morning with breakfast: coffee and a herring sandwich.
Non-fish sights

Fried pork ribs and canned lamb and sheep's heads are other Norwegian delicacies. Typically, these dishes are eaten at Christmas. Lamb, boiled with stewed cabbage and peppercorns and subsequently baked with them under a brown flour sauce, is another national dish. It is called "forikol" and is traditionally prepared in the fall.
As a delicious meat, tourists are advised to try elk and venison. Moose meat has one very important advantage over all other meat: it is a healthy and organic food, since all moose, without exception, live in natural conditions and are allowed to hunt them in Norway only at certain times.

One cannot fail to mention brown goat cheese, which is made only in Norway, and tourists buy it as a souvenir. It has several varieties, each with its own flavor, and the color ranges from the usual yellow to dark brown, almost chocolate.
Homemade cake baking is part of the Norwegian culinary tradition. This is done in accordance with the established traditions of each region (fylke). The same goes for bread, which is why homemade pastry shops in Norway are more popular than regular bakeries.
If you are thirsty or just thirsty ...
Norwegians usually drink milk or coffee. No other country in the world consumes as much milk per capita as here.

The absolute leader among alcoholic beverages is "akevitt", which is made from potatoes with caraway seeds. The most famous - "Linie-akevitt" - according to the recipe, must necessarily sail in the hold of a ship to Australia and back, that is, cross the equator twice (linie - equator), and only then it acquires its true taste.
When it comes to beer, Norwegian beer is Rignes. Quite worthy and at the level of the famous European breweries.
And the most "winter" drink in Norway is "gløgg". It is brewed closer to winter from red wine with cardamom, cloves, raisins and almonds. Gingerbread cookies are served with him.
"Strawberries in the snow" ...
The long summer nights in Norway have the most beneficial effect on many plants and berries. The proof of this is the fragrant strawberries, which are tastier here than in most other European countries. Therefore, in Norway the most traditional dessert is strawberries with cream or sugar. And the blooming of fruit trees in the Hardanger area is a fantastic sight.
A favorite dessert of Norwegian families is prepared quite easily: on a layer of applesauce (it is enough to beat baked apples without a peel with a mixer) a layer of biscuit or biscuit crumbs is poured, and whipped cream is put on top, then apples again, then crumbs, and so on. You can put dessert in the freezer for an hour or two to make a wonderful ice cream cake.
Short summer Strawberries in northern Norway often ripen in forests and gardens under the first snow, and in order to collect them, you have to sweep away the snowdrifts. Therefore, the "most Norwegian" dessert - "earthlings. In Norway there are dishes that, in no other country, can not cook so deliciously. These are traditional salted herring snacks, but especially, fish from crystal clear mountain rivers and fjords - primarily salmon and trout.

The meat of a young lamb, which, due to the unpretentiousness of these animals, is most often used, is prepared in a variety of ways, such as, lamb with headlight cabbage and clav.

Favorite holiday foods include reindeer and roe deer liver... Very tasty roe deer saddle under cream sauce and, oddly enough, currant jelly, which gives the dish a slight sourness.

In many hot dishes, sour cream is often used as a substitute for spices. With a shortage of southern spices for flavoring and spicing food, the Norwegians have developed their own ways to improve the taste of dairy products, meat and fish. Typical for Norway brown cheeses from cow and goat milk, various methods of roasting and smoking meat.

Norwegians have one national product that is highly appreciated by lovers of spirits: ligne-aquavit vodka... Linier means equator. It owes its name to the fact that at first this vodka in oak barrels is transported by sea to the southern hemisphere and back, while it crosses the equator twice. Due to the constant movement inside the barrel, the vodka absorbs the aroma of the wood, acquires a pleasant velvety taste and a yellowish color. And only after that the drink is bottled and sold. On the inside of the label on each bottle, you can read which vessel transported the vodka across the equator. ika in the snow "...

Norway, due to the fact that there is a polar day from May to July, is sometimes called the "Land of the Midnight Sun". This, of course, is a mysterious and somewhat romantic name, but it does not cause a strong desire to come to this country. However, Norway is not only the "Land of the Midnight Sun". First of all, Norway is the Vikings, fjords of amazing beauty, 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. In the north-east, Norway borders with Finland and Russia, in the east - with Sweden. In the northeast, Norway is washed 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 Svalbard, Jan Mayen and Bear in the Arctic Ocean, is 385,186 square kilometers.

Mountains occupy a significant part of the territory of Norway. The highest of them are Mount Gallhoppigen (2469 m) and Mount Glittertinn (2452 m).

There are many rivers in Norway, the longest of which are Glomma (604 km), Logen (359 km), and Otra (245 km).

Norway is sometimes referred to as the "land of the lake". This is not surprising, given that there are several hundred lakes in it. The largest of them are Mjosa, Rösvatn, Femunn, and Hornindalsvatnet.

Capital

The capital of Norway is Oslo, which is now home to more than 620 thousand people. Oslo is believed to have been 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 Nynorsk is popular for some reason 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 residents are Muslim and 1.1% are Catholics.

Government of Norway

Norway is a constitutional monarchy with the King as the head of state, according to the 1814 Constitution.

The executive power in Norway belongs to the King, and the legislative power belongs to the local unicameral parliament - the Storting (169 deputies).

The main political parties in Norway are the liberal-conservative Progress Party, the Social Democratic Norwegian Labor Party, the Christian Democratic Party and the Socialist Left Party.

Climate and weather

Norway is at the same latitude as Alaska and Siberia, but this Scandinavian country has a much milder climate. In late June - early August, the weather in Norway is warm and the days are long. At this time, the average air temperature reaches + 25-30C, and the average sea temperature is + 18C.

The warmest and most stable weather is always observed on the southern coast of Norway. However, even in the north of Norway in summer the air temperature can exceed + 25C. However, in the central regions and in the north of Norway, the weather changes frequently.

In winter, much of Norway tends to be a snowy paradise. In winter, in Norway, the air temperature can even drop to -40C.

Sea in Norway

In the northeast, Norway is washed 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 coastline of 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 - + 18С
September - + 15C
October - + 12C
November - + 9C
December - + 5C

Norway's real gem is the Norwegian fjords. The most beautiful of these are Naeroyfjord, Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Hardangerfjord, Lysefjord, and Aurlandsfjord.

Rivers and lakes

Norway has many rivers, the longest of which are Glomma in the east (604 km), Logen in the southeast (359 km), and Otra in Serland (245 km). The largest Norwegian lakes are Mjøsa, Rösvatn, Femund, and Hornindalsvatnet.

Many tourists come to Norway to fish. Salmon, trout, whitefish, pike, perch and grayling are abundant in Norwegian rivers and lakes.

History of Norway

Archaeologists have proven that people on the territory of modern Norway lived in the 10th millennium BC. But real story Norway began in the era of the Vikings, whose cruelty is still legendary on the coast of Great Britain.

In 800-1066, the Norse Vikings became known throughout Europe as brave warriors, ruthless invaders, cunning traders and inquisitive navigators. The history of the Vikings ended in 1066 when the Norse 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 conquered parts of the British Isles, Iceland and Greenland. This was the time of the greatest prosperity of the Norwegian kingdom. However, the country was greatly weakened by competition from the Hanseatic League and the plague epidemic.

In 1380, Norway and Denmark formed an alliance and became one country. The union of these states lasted for more than four centuries.

In 1814 Norway, according to the Treaty of Kiel, began to belong to Sweden. 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 a 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. During World War II, Norway also declared its neutrality, but it was still occupied by 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 peoples of Europe. 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 the Norwegian culture.

Music, dance and folklore festivals are held annually in many Norwegian cities. The most popular of these is the Bergen International Cultural Festival (music, dance, theater).

It cannot be said that the Norwegians made a huge contribution to world culture, but the fact that he was significant is undoubtedly. The most famous Norwegians are the polar explorers Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, the composers Varg Vikernes and Edvard Grieg, the artist Edvard Munch, the writers and playwrights Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun, and the traveler Thor Heyerdahl.

Norwegian cuisine

The main products of Norwegian cuisine are fish, meat, potatoes and other vegetables, cheese. A favorite traditional Norwegian snack is pölse (potato flatbread 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 - smoked salmon omelet.
Lutefisk is a baked cod.
Rømmegrøt - sour cream porridge.
Multekrem - cloudberry cream for dessert.

The traditional alcoholic drink in Norway is Aquavit, the strength of which is usually 40%. The production of aquavita in Scandinavia dates back to the 15th century.

Norway landmarks

Norwegians have always been distinguished by the fact that they are very careful about their history. Therefore, we advise tourists in Norway to definitely see:

Cities and resorts

The largest Norwegian cities are Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Stavanger.

Norway is famous for its great ski resorts. Various ski championships are held in Norway every winter. The ten best ski resorts in Norway include, in our opinion, the following:

Trysil
Hemsedal
Hafjell
Geilo
Tryvann
Norefjell (Nurefjell)
Oppdal
Hovden
Kvitfjell
Kongsberg (Consberg)

Souvenirs / shopping

Tourists from Norway are advised to bring a genuine Norwegian wool sweater, toy trolls, modern tableware, wooden kitchenware, silverware, ceramics, dried lamb, brown goat cheese, and Norwegian vodka - aquavit.

Opening hours of institutions

The first settlers on the territory of Norway appeared, perhaps 10,000 -11,000 thousand years ago. People settled mainly along the sea, which fed them. In addition, they hunted. Approximately five thousand years later, the ancestors of the Norwegians were already engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. However, in the north, as before, only hunting and fishing gave life to people. The villages were usually located so as to reveal their presence as little as possible ( in this regard, the Norwegians have a joke that the best neighbor is the one who is not visible). For some time, these small groups lived like this: independently of each other and of the whole world. Beautiful, but cold nature (and at that time it was even colder here) made it difficult for humans to survive in the territory of present-day Norway. Gradually, agriculture developed, the settlements acquired a stable character. In the fourth century A.D. e. some Germanic tribes (rugii, chords) appear in Norway. Perhaps the invasion of these foreigners led to the beginning of the Viking Age? Be that as it may, by the seven hundredth year, all the land had been explored, inequality was strengthened, and society was divided into masters and servants. Neighborhood feud was forgotten, the boats were built and the rage was at a boiling point. The Vikings were ready to conquer Europe, conquer Britain, found Russia (or were the Swedes involved in this?) And discover America.

Three Norwegian ships sailed to England. The representative of the king, who went to them, the Vikings, in their usual manner, were killed. This was the first mention of a Viking invasion in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The next attack on June 8, 793, was carried out on one of the monasteries that then existed on the territory of what is now Britain, the Kingdom of Northumbria. The Vikings attacked defenseless nuns and monks, killed some, slaughtered their livestock, loaded their ships with provisions ... The Viking saga began ...
Initially, they settled in the Shetland and Orkney Islands. From there they headed north to the Faroes and south to North Scotland. By 820 the entire Irish coastline was inhabited by Vikings. Anyone who got in their way was unceremoniously kicked out. Even now, there are about 100,000 places with Norwegian names in the Shetland Islands! And the farmers here spoke Norwegian until the early 19th century!
Voyages of conquests continued in the south, along the rivers of France, in Spain, in the Mediterranean. In France and southern Europe, the Norse Vikings acted alongside the Danes, while in Constantinople, they met the Swedes. Moreover, the Norwegians in their campaigns landed even in East Africa, on the territory of present-day Morocco! By the end of the 9th century, the Vikings were keeping the whole of Europe at bay. By this time, the attacks themselves had grown from scattered forays into organized, well-planned campaigns of large detachments. The Vikings combined their conquests with trade in all those (including slaves) that they managed to take away from the occupied territories. Around the same time, a transition from plunder and tribute collection to the settlement of the conquered lands is planned. In Northern France, the Vikings found the Duchy of Normandy. It is the Norwegians who populate Iceland and Greenland. Reach America ...
It has been reliably established that the first Norwegian to set foot on the American coast was Life Ericsson (although in reality the man who first discovered America was called Bjarne Herolvsson, but he did not bother to go ashore!). According to the Norwegian saga, Life Ericsson, the discoverer of a new continent, actually intended to sail to Greenland (which was discovered, by the way, by his father, Eric the Red), but ended up in America. This is how historical events sometimes come true!
The Viking era lasted until about 1050. She had the strongest influence on: the kingdom of Dublin, settlements in the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, the County of Orkney, and Greenland. As mentioned above, around 1050 the Viking campaigns stopped. Some scholars argue about the reasons that prompted the Vikings so suddenly to abandon the "noble" cause, which they have been doing no less than 250 years. As a joke version, one can put forward the idea that when the Norwegians reached the southern territories, they (given the difference in climate) were exposed to the sun, and simply began to get sunburn. They did not like the darkening of the skin at all, which prompted them to return ... In contrast to the reasons that prompted the Vikings to retreat, the reasons why the Norwegians initiated the conquests are more or less known: the strengthening of the nobility, for which war booty served as an important source of enrichment, relative overcrowding coastal areas, lack of land suitable for cultivation, development of trade ...

The time when Norway began to acquire the features of a single state is considered to be the 9-10th centuries. Around 900, King Harald Herfagre subdued the rulers of the rest of the area and became the first supreme ruler of Norway. Around the same time, the Christianization of Norway began (in fact, it was the instrument with which attempts were made to unite the country). It must be said that both of these processes were rather slow and met with resistance from the people. Norwegian kings were opposed by nobles and peasants who were on their own, and defended their patriarchal democratic order. With regard to this country, it is fair to say that it was baptized with fire and sword. Those who did not agree with the new order were either made slaves or simply destroyed. A striking example is King Olaf Haraldson, who paid with his life for his excessive efforts. This, however, did not prevent him from receiving the status of a saint after his death. Moreover, the day of July 29 is immortalized in his honor.
As a result of the struggle, the church was endowed with large land holdings, while the land was given to the peasants for short-term holdings. Thus, the peasantry of that time had a contradictory position: they had personal freedom, the right to participate in local peasant meetings (tings), to bear arms, but at the same time their position was rather precarious: the peasants were not endowed with solid rights to land, they carried heavy government duties. This situation was the cause of contention. The most serious attempt to change the state of affairs was the uprising of 1184, as a result of which the impostor Sverrir came to the throne. However, he failed to do anything dramatic. Sverrir abolished the privileges of the church, tried to make the church dependent on royal power. However, the followers of Sverrir were reconciled with the church, and the struggle ceased.
Gradually, feudalism in Norway grew stronger. Tinges, from local government bodies turned into bodies under the control of the king, a national code - "Landslov" was adopted, in 1262-1264 the Orkney and Shetland Islands, Greenland, Iceland were subordinated to Norway, were subordinated to the Sami.
However, not rich in terms of natural resources, the country lived for a long time by subsistence farming, cities and trade remained undeveloped, which contributed to the strengthening of the Hanseatic merchants. To top it all off, in 1347-1350. a plague epidemic hit Norway, taking away a significant part of the population. Perhaps no country has suffered more from the black death than Norway.
These circumstances led to the conclusion of a union with Sweden in 1319, with Denmark in 1380, and in 1397 - the Kalmar Union of the Scandinavian kingdoms. Dependence on Denmark persisted until the 19th century (while Sweden withdrew from the union in 1523). In the 16th century, Norway was completely turned into a Danish province, with the result that the Danish king became the owner of half of all Norwegian lands. During this time, Norway lost the Orkney and Shetland Islands, Iceland and Greenland. From the very beginning of the union, and further, over time, the struggle for independence grew in the country. This was facilitated by the national identity of the Norwegians, the economic rise of the state. As a result of popular resistance, the Danes were forced to make some concessions. By the 19th century, in Norway, 75% of the peasants were landowners, the export of timber, fish, and iron was growing steadily. But, in general, Norway remained a poor state. Its relative well-being was explained by the fact that the Danish-Norwegian kingdom remained neutral in the European wars, until 1807. However, the Anglo-Danish War of 1807-1814 followed, and famine began in Norway.
Under these conditions, the Norwegian kingdom was freed from the Danish yoke, and was obliged to enter into union with Sweden. In these extraordinary circumstances, a Constituent Assembly was convened in the country, which on May 17, 1814 adopted the basic law of the country. This constitution is valid in Norway to this day, being one of the oldest in the world! The Norwegian basic law is also called the Eidsvoll Constitution, after the name of the town in which the Constituent Assembly sat (Eidsvoll is located in the south of the country, not far from the capital). For that time, the constitution contained advanced ideas and provisions. She established a parliamentary monarchy in the country. The king was proclaimed the head of the kingdom, with the right of a suspensive veto.
In honor of the adoption of the constitution, Norway's most important national holiday, Constitution Day, celebrated on 17 May, was instituted. However, the Norwegians did not succeed in gaining independence in the 19th century, since in the summer of 1814 a war broke out with Sweden, which forced Norway to cede and remain in union with its "older brother" for almost a hundred years. Relations between Norway and Sweden were enshrined in a special law, according to which Norway received internal independence. It was in the subsequent period of time that the active political life of Norwegian society began. In 1884, two leading political parties of the country were organized: the left, Venstre, and the right, Høire. At the same time, a parliamentary system was formed. In 1898, the Storting election begins with the one-person-one-vote rule. In 1913, women were admitted to the elections.
The desire with which the Norwegians wanted independence found a way out in everything. In law, for example, Norway was the first Scandinavian country to adopt a criminal code in 1842. With this and many others, the people of Norway tried to show their independence. At the same time, the country's international prestige grew, which was facilitated by the activities of R. Amundsen, F. Nansen, G. Ibsen, E. Grieg, E. Munch. And so, in June 1905, the Storting unanimously dissolves the union with Sweden. In October 1905, a referendum held confirmed this decision. Norway becomes an independent state ...

At the beginning of World War I, Norway declared its neutrality. In 1920, she receives the island of Svalbard. Then the world economic crisis broke out, which had a heavy impact on the situation of the Norwegian people. In the first three years, production fell by 25%, 30% of workers lose their jobs, and there are massive demonstrations interspersed with riots.
In foreign policy, Norway adheres to the principle of non-interference, and at the beginning of World War II declares its neutrality. However, this did not prevent Germany on April 9, 1940 from starting the landing of its troops on the territory of Norway. Under these conditions, the government and the king moved to Great Britain. Most of the country's citizens had no choice but to watch how their land was occupied by German soldiers - 10,000 thousandth forces of the German army, which, after five years, increase by 300,000 people. Naturally, some kind of resistance was shown - from April to June, the Norwegian army lost about 850 people. In total, Norway is believed to have lost 10,000 people. It seems to be not so much when compared with other countries. But for such a small country, this loss was a national disaster. In a society where everyone knows each other, the loss of a person is felt especially acutely and irreparably. In general, one cannot say that the Norwegians, from the very first day of the occupation, all as one stood up against the German forces. Many simply did not do anything, or, in any case, did not do anything. organized... Some part of the population was not at all hostile to the aliens ... The reasons for this are different. Perhaps a positive role was played by the fact that the Germans in Norway did not inflict such catastrophic damage as was done in other countries. Perhaps the fact that the Norwegians and Germans are a bit similar in culture, language, views is also important ... And yet, speaking of "insignificant damage", one should not forget that the north of Norway suffered quite seriously. There, during the withdrawal of the German troops, 11,000 residential buildings, 420 shops, 53 hotels and hotels, 106 schools, 21 hospitals, 27 churches and much more were destroyed ... about 9,000 children were born ...
After the surrender of Germany, a series of trials and lawsuits dragged on in Norway, the main result of which was the punishment of 46,000 (!) Norwegians from the National Socialist Party (in 1948, an amnesty was declared against them). In addition, 12 Germans and 25 Norwegians were executed. Among the latter was Vidkun Quisling, the head of the Norwegian Nazis.

Speaking about the post-war development of the country, it is necessary to immediately note three dates:
1949 - joining NATO
December 23, 1969 - production of the first barrel of oil.
September 22, 1972 - negative answer in a referendum on Norway's accession to the EU.
(in 1994 in a repeated referendum, on the same issue - the same decision)

The post-war development of Norway is characterized by the evolutionary development of the country's social and economic life. From the formal "you", the Norwegians are moving to the more familiar "you". The working week is gradually shrinking, vacations are increasing, and wages are rising along with inflation. Foreign capital is actively entering the Norwegian economy. Finally, at the beginning of the 70s, oil is found in the country - a new era begins, an era of restrained satisfaction from the successes that Norway is achieving, primarily in the economic sphere. From the most backward Scandinavian state, Norway, in the end, turns into the most prosperous ...

All of the above are my own fabrications based on reading the relevant foreign and domestic books, literature, TV and radio broadcasts I watched, publications on the Internet, communication with Norwegians and Russians ... Here I tried to describe as objectively as possible what happened with Norway over the past, at least a thousand years. Of course, you can argue and disagree with me in some way, so if there is a desire, write me. For reasonable criticism I will be very grateful.