Gistisaðstaða
Gistisaðstaða, also known as "gistisstaða" or "gistisstaðir," refers to a specific type of land tenure system prevalent in Icelandic history. It was a form of land ownership where a person, known as a "gisti," held land in exchange for providing certain services or labor to the landowner. This system was particularly common during the Middle Ages and the early modern period in Iceland.
The term "gisti" comes from the Old Norse word "gisti," which means "guest" or "stranger." The gisti
Gistisaðstaða was a flexible and adaptable system that allowed for the efficient use of land and the
Over time, the gistisaðstaða system evolved and was eventually replaced by other forms of land tenure, such