Editing Icelanders (section)

== History ==
{{main|History of Iceland}}

Iceland is a geologically young land mass, having formed an estimated 20 million years ago due to [[Volcano|volcanic eruptions]] on the [[Mid-Atlantic Ridge]]. One of the last larger islands to remain uninhabited, the first human settlement date is generally accepted to be 874, although there is some evidence to suggest human activity prior to the Norse arrival.<ref>Jónsson ''et al.'', 1991, pp. 17–23</ref>

=== Initial migration and settlement ===
{{main|Settlement of Iceland}}
[[Image:Iceland in Europe.svg|220px|right|thumb|Map showing Iceland in northern Europe]]
The first Viking to sight Iceland was [[Gardar Svavarsson]], who went off course due to harsh conditions when sailing from Norway to the [[Faroe Islands]]. His reports led to the first efforts to settle the island. [[Flóki Vilgerðarson]] (b. 9th century) was the first Norseman to sail to Iceland intentionally. His story is documented in the {{Lang|is|[[Landnámabók]]}} manuscript, and he is said to have named the island Ísland ([[Iceland]]). The first permanent settler in Iceland is usually considered to have been a [[Norway|Norwegian]] [[Germanic chieftain|chieftain]] named [[Ingólfur Arnarson]]. He settled with his family in around 874, at a place he named "Bay of Smokes", or [[Reykjavík]] in Icelandic.<ref>Þórðarson, c. 1200</ref>

Following Ingólfur, and also in 874, another group of Norwegians set sail across the [[North Atlantic Ocean]] with their families, livestock, slaves, and possessions, escaping the domination of the first [[Hereditary Kingdom of Norway|King of Norway]], [[Harald Fairhair]]. They traveled {{convert|1,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} in their [[Viking]] [[longship]]s to the island of Iceland. These people were primarily of Norwegian, [[Irish People|Irish]] or Gaelic Scottish origin. The Irish and the Scottish Gaels were either slaves or servants of the Norse chiefs, according to the [[Icelandic sagas]], or descendants of a "[[Norse-Gaels|group of Norsemen]] who had settled in [[Scotland]] and [[Ireland]] and intermarried with Gaelic-speaking people".<ref>Fiske ''et al.'', 1972, p. 4</ref> Genetic evidence suggests that approximately 62% of the Icelandic maternal gene pool is derived from Ireland and Scotland, which is much higher than other Scandinavian countries, although comparable to the [[Faroe Islands|Faroese]], while 37% is of Nordic origin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.electricscotland.com/history/iceland/icelandic_women.htm |title=Icelandic Women are of Scots descent |publisher=Electricscotland.lcom |date=4 March 2001 |access-date=8 July 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611071506/http://www.electricscotland.com/history/iceland/icelandic_women.htm |archive-date=11 June 2010 }}</ref> About 20–25% of the Icelandic paternal gene pool is of Gaelic origin, with the rest being Nordic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/why-people-in-iceland-look-just-like-us-1.1104676|title=Why people in Iceland look just like us|website=irishtimes.com|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929074900/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/why-people-in-iceland-look-just-like-us-1.1104676|archive-date=29 September 2017}}</ref>

The Icelandic Age of Settlement ({{langx|is|Landnámsöld|link=no}}) is considered to have lasted from 874 to 930, at which point most of the island had been claimed and the {{lang|is|[[Althing|Alþingi]]}} (Althing), the assembly of the [[Icelandic Commonwealth]], was founded at [[Þingvellir]].<ref>Þorgilsson, c. 1100</ref>

=== Hardship and conflict ===

[[Image:Rock of law in Þingvellir.jpg|220px|right|thumb|Rock of law in [[Þingvellir]] was used to make speeches.]]
In 930, on the [[Þingvellir]] ({{langx|en|Thingvellir}}) plain near [[Reykjavík]], the chieftains and their families met and established the Alþingi, Iceland's first national [[Legislative Assembly|assembly]]. However, the Alþingi lacked the power to enforce the laws it made. In 1262, struggles between rival chieftains left Iceland so divided that [[King Haakon IV]] of Norway was asked to step in as a final arbitrator for all disputes, as part of the [[Old Covenant (Iceland)|Old Covenant]]. This is known as the [[Age of the Sturlungs]].<ref>Byock, 1990</ref>

Iceland was under Norwegian leadership until 1380, when the [[Hereditary Kingdom of Norway|Royal House of Norway]] died out. At this point, both Iceland and Norway came under the control of the [[Monarchy of Denmark|Danish Crown]]. With the introduction of [[absolute monarchy]] in Denmark, the Icelanders relinquished their [[autonomy]] to the crown, including the right to initiate and consent to legislation. This meant a loss of independence for Iceland, which led to nearly 300 years of decline: perhaps largely because Denmark and its Crown did not consider Iceland to be a [[colony]] to be supported and assisted. In particular, the lack of help in [[Defense (military)|defense]] led to constant [[Turkish Abductions|raids by marauding pirates]] along the Icelandic coasts.<ref name="F5">Fiske ''et al.'', 1972, p. 5</ref>

Unlike Norway, Denmark did not need Iceland's fish and homespun wool. This created a dramatic deficit in Iceland's trade, and no new ships were built as a result. In 1602, Iceland was forbidden to trade with other countries by order of the [[Danish Government]], and in the 18th century climatic conditions had reached an all-time low since Settlement.<ref name="F5"/>

[[Image:Lakagigar Iceland 2004-07-01.jpg|220px|right|thumb|[[Laki]] erupted in 1783–84 with catastrophic consequences for Iceland.]]
In 1783–84, [[Laki (volcano)|Laki]], a [[Fissure vent|volcanic fissure]] in the south of the island, erupted. The eruption produced about {{convert|15|km3|mi3|abbr=on}} of [[basalt]] lava, and the total volume of [[tephra]] emitted was 0.91&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup>.<ref>Global Volcanism Program, 2007</ref> The [[Particulate|aerosols]] that built up caused a cooling effect in the [[Northern Hemisphere]]. The consequences for Iceland were catastrophic, with approximately 25–33% of the population dying in the [[famine]] of 1783 and 1784. Around 80% of sheep, 50% of cattle, and 50% of horses died of [[Skeletal fluorosis|fluorosis]] from the 8 million tons of fluorine that were released.<ref name="Stone, 2004">Stone, 2004</ref>  This disaster is known as the [[Mist Hardship]] (Icelandic: ''[[Móðuharðindin]]'').

In 1798–99, the Alþingi was discontinued for several decades, eventually being restored in 1844. It was moved to [[Reykjavík]], the capital, after being held at [[Þingvellir]] for over nine centuries.

=== Independence and prosperity ===
[[Image:JonSigurdssonStatue.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Statue of Jón Sigurðsson in [[Reykjavík]]]]
The 19th century brought significant improvement in the Icelanders' situation. A protest movement was led by [[Jón Sigurðsson]], a statesman, historian, and authority on [[Icelandic literature]]. Inspired by the [[Romanticism|romantic]] and [[Nationalism|nationalist]] currents from mainland Europe, Jón protested strongly, through political journals and self-publications, for 'a return to national consciousness' and for political and social changes to be made to help speed up Iceland's development.<ref name="F6">Fiske ''et al.'', 1972, p. 6</ref>

In 1854, the [[Danish government]] relaxed the trade ban that had been imposed in 1602, and Iceland gradually began to rejoin Western Europe economically and socially. With this return of contact with other peoples came a reawakening of Iceland's arts, especially its literature. Twenty years later in 1874, Iceland was granted a constitution. Icelanders today recognize Jón's efforts as largely responsible for their economic and social resurgence.<ref name="F6"/>

Iceland gained full sovereignty and independence from Denmark in 1918 after [[World War I]]. It became the [[Kingdom of Iceland]]. The King of Denmark also served as the King of Iceland but Iceland retained only formal ties with the Danish Crown. On 17 June 1944 the monarchy was abolished and a republic was established on Jón Sigurðsson's 133rd birthday. This ended nearly six centuries of ties with Denmark.<ref name="F6"/>