Sagas, Sheep and Parliaments: Iceland's Past

Who is traditionally named as Iceland's first permanent settler?

Erik the Red

Ingólfur Arnarson

Leif Erikson

Harald Fairhair

or press Enter ⏎

Spot on, saga scholar!

Correct! Ingólfur Arnarson settled in Reykjavík around 874, according to the Book of Settlements.

Not quite, but keep exploring!

It was Ingólfur Arnarson, who settled in Reykjavík around 874, according to the medieval Book of Settlements (Landnámabók).

To get feedback you first need to answer the question above.

or press Enter ⏎

In what year was the Althing, Iceland's parliament, founded?

1262

874

930

1000

or press Enter ⏎

Spot on, saga scholar!

Yes! The Althing first met in 930 at Þingvellir, making it one of the oldest parliaments in the world.

Not quite, but keep exploring!

It was founded in 930 at Þingvellir, an open-air site where chieftains met each summer to make laws and settle disputes.

To get feedback you first need to answer the question above.

or press Enter ⏎

Around the year 1000, the Althing decided Iceland would adopt which religion?

Christianity

Norse paganism

Islam

Judaism

or press Enter ⏎

Spot on, saga scholar!

Right! The lawspeaker Þorgeir chose Christianity to keep the country united, while pagans could still worship privately at first.

Not quite, but keep exploring!

It was Christianity. Lawspeaker Þorgeir decided it to avoid civil war, though private pagan worship was tolerated for a while.

To get feedback you first need to answer the question above.

or press Enter ⏎

Scratch the card to reveal a fact about Iceland's past

Irish monks called papar likely lived in Iceland before the Norse arrived, leaving when the pagan settlers came.

or press Enter ⏎

Which kingdom did Iceland submit to in 1262–1264, ending the Commonwealth era?

Denmark

Sweden

Scotland

Norway

or press Enter ⏎

Spot on, saga scholar!

Exactly! After the bloody Sturlung Age, Icelandic chieftains accepted the Norwegian king's rule.

Not quite, but keep exploring!

It was Norway. Exhausted by the violent Sturlung Age, Icelanders accepted the Norwegian king through the 'Old Covenant'.

To get feedback you first need to answer the question above.

or press Enter ⏎

Which Icelandic chieftain and writer composed the Prose Edda?

Egill Skallagrímsson

Snorri Sturluson

Ari the Learned

Njáll Þorgeirsson

or press Enter ⏎

Spot on, saga scholar!

Correct! Snorri Sturluson wrote the Prose Edda in the 1200s, preserving much of what we know about Norse mythology.

Not quite, but keep exploring!

It was Snorri Sturluson, a powerful 13th-century chieftain whose Prose Edda preserves much of Norse mythology. He was murdered in 1241.

To get feedback you first need to answer the question above.

or press Enter ⏎

Flip the card to discover a surprising fact

Iceland's medieval sagas are still readable by Icelanders today, as the language has changed remarkably little in 800 years.

Did you know?

or press Enter ⏎

The 1783–84 Laki eruption caused the 'Mist Hardships'. What was its worst effect in Iceland?

It buried Reykjavík in lava

It caused a tsunami

Famine killing about a fifth of the people

It split the island in two

or press Enter ⏎

Spot on, saga scholar!

Yes! Poisonous gases killed much of the livestock, and the famine that followed killed roughly 20% of Icelanders.

Not quite, but keep exploring!

The worst effect was famine: toxic gases killed much of the livestock, and roughly a fifth of Iceland's population died.

To get feedback you first need to answer the question above.

or press Enter ⏎

On which date did Iceland become a fully independent republic?

1 December 1918

17 June 1944

17 June 1811

1 May 1949

or press Enter ⏎

Spot on, saga scholar!

Right! The republic was declared at Þingvellir on 17 June 1944, the birthday of independence hero Jón Sigurðsson.

Not quite, but keep exploring!

It was 17 June 1944. In 1918 Iceland became a sovereign kingdom in union with Denmark, but full independence came in 1944.

To get feedback you first need to answer the question above.

or press Enter ⏎

Which country occupied Iceland first during World War II, in 1940?

Germany

The United States

Britain

Soviet Union

or press Enter ⏎

Spot on, saga scholar!

Correct! British forces landed in May 1940 to stop Germany from using Iceland; US troops took over in 1941.

Not quite, but keep exploring!

It was Britain, in May 1940, to keep Germany out of the North Atlantic. The United States took over the defence in 1941.

To get feedback you first need to answer the question above.

or press Enter ⏎

Drag the slider to reveal a historical surprise

Who raided Iceland in 1627?

In 1627, Barbary pirates from North Africa raided Iceland, kidnapping around 400 people to sell into slavery in Algiers.

or press Enter ⏎

The 'Cod Wars' of 1958–1976 were disputes between Iceland and which country?

Norway

Denmark

Russia

The United Kingdom

or press Enter ⏎

Spot on, saga scholar!

Yes! Iceland extended its fishing limits step by step to 200 nautical miles and won against the UK.

Not quite, but keep exploring!

It was the United Kingdom. Iceland expanded its fishing zone to 200 nautical miles, and Britain eventually accepted it.

To get feedback you first need to answer the question above.

or press Enter ⏎

In 1980, Iceland made history by electing Vigdís Finnbogadóttir. Why?

First democratically elected female president

First president born abroad

Youngest head of state ever

First president from Reykjavík

or press Enter ⏎

Spot on, saga scholar!

Exactly! Vigdís was the world's first woman democratically elected as president, and served for 16 years.

Not quite, but keep exploring!

She was the world's first democratically elected female president, and served from 1980 to 1996.

To get feedback you first need to answer the question above.

or press Enter ⏎

Perfect! Every answer right!

10 of 10 right

Challenge your friends to see how well they know Iceland's past!

Your nickname, if you want

Without one, it says “A friend”.

See your answers · all right

Question 1:
Who is traditionally named as Iceland's first permanent settler?
Erik the Red
Ingólfur Arnarson
Leif Erikson
Harald Fairhair
Correct! Ingólfur Arnarson settled in Reykjavík around 874, according to the Book of Settlements.
It was Ingólfur Arnarson, who settled in Reykjavík around 874, according to the medieval Book of Settlements (Landnámabók).
Question 2:
In what year was the Althing, Iceland's parliament, founded?
1262
874
930
1000
Yes! The Althing first met in 930 at Þingvellir, making it one of the oldest parliaments in the world.
It was founded in 930 at Þingvellir, an open-air site where chieftains met each summer to make laws and settle disputes.
Question 3:
Around the year 1000, the Althing decided Iceland would adopt which religion?
Christianity
Norse paganism
Islam
Judaism
Right! The lawspeaker Þorgeir chose Christianity to keep the country united, while pagans could still worship privately at first.
It was Christianity. Lawspeaker Þorgeir decided it to avoid civil war, though private pagan worship was tolerated for a while.
Question 4:
Which kingdom did Iceland submit to in 1262–1264, ending the Commonwealth era?
Denmark
Sweden
Scotland
Norway
Exactly! After the bloody Sturlung Age, Icelandic chieftains accepted the Norwegian king's rule.
It was Norway. Exhausted by the violent Sturlung Age, Icelanders accepted the Norwegian king through the 'Old Covenant'.
Question 5:
Which Icelandic chieftain and writer composed the Prose Edda?
Egill Skallagrímsson
Snorri Sturluson
Ari the Learned
Njáll Þorgeirsson
Correct! Snorri Sturluson wrote the Prose Edda in the 1200s, preserving much of what we know about Norse mythology.
It was Snorri Sturluson, a powerful 13th-century chieftain whose Prose Edda preserves much of Norse mythology. He was murdered in 1241.
Question 6:
The 1783–84 Laki eruption caused the 'Mist Hardships'. What was its worst effect in Iceland?
It buried Reykjavík in lava
It caused a tsunami
Famine killing about a fifth of the people
It split the island in two
Yes! Poisonous gases killed much of the livestock, and the famine that followed killed roughly 20% of Icelanders.
The worst effect was famine: toxic gases killed much of the livestock, and roughly a fifth of Iceland's population died.
Question 7:
On which date did Iceland become a fully independent republic?
1 December 1918
17 June 1944
17 June 1811
1 May 1949
Right! The republic was declared at Þingvellir on 17 June 1944, the birthday of independence hero Jón Sigurðsson.
It was 17 June 1944. In 1918 Iceland became a sovereign kingdom in union with Denmark, but full independence came in 1944.
Question 8:
Which country occupied Iceland first during World War II, in 1940?
Germany
The United States
Britain
Soviet Union
Correct! British forces landed in May 1940 to stop Germany from using Iceland; US troops took over in 1941.
It was Britain, in May 1940, to keep Germany out of the North Atlantic. The United States took over the defence in 1941.
Question 9:
The 'Cod Wars' of 1958–1976 were disputes between Iceland and which country?
Norway
Denmark
Russia
The United Kingdom
Yes! Iceland extended its fishing limits step by step to 200 nautical miles and won against the UK.
It was the United Kingdom. Iceland expanded its fishing zone to 200 nautical miles, and Britain eventually accepted it.
Question 10:
In 1980, Iceland made history by electing Vigdís Finnbogadóttir. Why?
First democratically elected female president
First president born abroad
Youngest head of state ever
First president from Reykjavík
Exactly! Vigdís was the world's first woman democratically elected as president, and served for 16 years.
She was the world's first democratically elected female president, and served from 1980 to 1996.

Play another quiz

Play in 3D

Make your own quiz – it takes 20 seconds

Make your own version Report quiz Help and feedback Privacy and termsMade with Tjaz in 20 seconds

Help and feedback Privacy and terms