landnámsöld

Landnámsöld, often translated as the Age of Settlement, refers to the period in Iceland's history when Norse settlers first colonized the island. This era is traditionally believed to have begun around 870 AD with the arrival of Ingólfr Arnarson, a Norwegian chieftain who established his farm in Reykjavík. The settlement was not a single, organized event but rather a gradual process driven by a variety of factors. Many settlers were fleeing the consolidation of power under King Harald Fairhair in Norway, seeking new lands and opportunities. Others were drawn by the prospect of unclaimed territory and the potential for wealth through farming and trade.

The settlers brought with them their Norse pagan religion, their legal traditions, and their language, which evolved into modern Icelandic. Archaeological evidence, along with literary sources like the Landnámabók (The Book of Settlements) and the Íslendingabók (The Book of Icelanders), provides much of our knowledge about this period. These texts, though written centuries later, detail the journeys, disputes, and land claims of the early settlers. The landnámsöld laid the foundation for Icelandic society, culture, and political institutions, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Althing, the world's oldest parliament, in 930 AD. The period of significant settlement is generally considered to have lasted until around 930 AD, after which the island's population had reached a stable level.