Norway – then and now
From more than 10 000 for years people lived in the areas of today's Norway. For many thousands of years, the northern people lived by hunting, fisheries and agriculture.
Viking legend reigns, known for their maritime war expeditions to other countries, durable 300 years, from approx. year 800. Just a year ago 900, Norway was united into a kingdom by King Harald Fairhair. 100 years later, kings Olaf Tryggvason and Olaf the Holy, they brought Christianity into the country.
The Black Death ravaged Norway over the years 1348-1350 and caused the death of at least half of the population. In 1537, the so-called "400-year-old night" began when Norway was in union with Denmark and under its rule. W 1814 year, Norway received its first constitution, a w 1905 year the country gained independence. Since then, Norway had three kings, Lesson VII, Olaf V and Harald V.
Norway is a constitutional monarchy, where the king is the head of state, without real political power. The country is governed by parliamentary rules, where the Storting has legislative power, and the executive government. Norway, through two referenda, w 1972 i 1994 a year she rejected membership of the European Union, EU.
It is one of the countries at the fore in building a modern welfare state, whose aim is to ensure social and economic security for its inhabitants. This means an extensive state social security and pension system, free health service, support for families with children, as well as free education for everyone.
Over the years 1970, oil and gas are produced on the Norwegian continental shelf. Norway is today one of the leading oil exporters and one of the main gas suppliers to the European continent. Norway is also the fourth largest maritime power in the world, and also a great exporter of fish.
Since the Middle Ages, fishing has been a very important sector of the economy.