Islanda

Republic of Iceland

Founded by Norwegian settlers around 874, Iceland has the world's oldest still-functioning parliament.

Torna alla mappa Vedi le statistiche Dibattiti Attualità collegate

Eredità

The Althing, first convened in 930 at Þingvellir, predates Magna Carta by three centuries. Conversion to Christianity was decided there in the year 1000 by a vote of that assembly — probably a unique case in Europe. The Icelandic sagas form the largest body of vernacular prose of the Western Middle Ages.

Storia

Settled from 874 by Norwegians fleeing the kingdom's unification, Iceland organised in 930 a state without king or executive: the Althing legislated and judged, disputes were settled by law and feud. Christianity was adopted there in the year 1000 by decision of the assembly, to avoid civil war.

The loss of independence to Norway in 1262 and then to Denmark opened difficult centuries, worsened by volcanic eruptions and the Danish trade monopoly.

Autonomy came in 1918 and the republic was proclaimed in 1944, while Denmark was occupied. The “cod wars” with the United Kingdom extended the exclusive economic zone. The banking crisis of 2008 led to an application to the Union, withdrawn in 2015; Iceland remains a member of the EEA and of Schengen.

Tappe

930 Medioevo

Foundation of the Althing

At Þingvellir the world’s oldest still-functioning parliament is born.

1000 Cristianizzazione

Christianisation by vote

The assembly collectively decides to adopt Christianity to preserve civil peace.

1220 Medioevo

The age of the sagas

Snorri Sturluson and his contemporaries commit Norse mythology and settler history to writing.

1262 Medioevo

Old Covenant

Iceland recognises the sovereignty of the king of Norway; the free state ends.

1944 Età contemporanea

Proclamation of the Republic in Iceland

On 17 June, at Þingvellir, Iceland breaks the link with the Danish crown.

1980 Età contemporanea

Vigdís Finnbogadóttir

Iceland elects the world’s first woman head of state by direct universal suffrage.

2008 Età contemporanea

Banking collapse

The three big banks fail; the crisis leads to an EU application, withdrawn in 2015.

Attualità collegate

Tutte le notizie →

Dibattiti

Tutto il forum →

Nessuna discussione aperta al momento.

Lo Stato in cifre

Tutte le statistiche →
PIL per abitante (UE = 100) 127,5 3,1 Spesa pubblica, in % del PIL 47,1 % 1,9 % Pressione fiscale, in % del PIL 36,9 % 1,0 % Detenuti ogni 100 000 abitanti 35,5 0,1