800 A.D. - 1050 A.D.

During the Viking age, seafarers set out to conquer other lands. In 985, Erik the Red leads settlers to Greenland.

995

King Olav establishes Christianity as the region's main religion.

1350

Bubonic plague, called the Black Death, kills more than half of the population.

1397

Under the Kalmar Union, Norway, Sweden and Denmark agree to share a monarch. The union lasts until 1523, when Sweden becomes independent.

1536

Norway is proclaimed a Danish province.

1905

Norway proclaims its independence from Sweden. Prince Carl of Denmark becomes king.

1940:

German forces invade neutral Norway. They occupy Norway until the end of the World War II, in 1945.

1949

Norway joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance of nations.

1960s

Oil and gas are discovered in waters near Norway, boosting the country's economy.

1972

Norwegians vote against joining the European Union. They reject the EU again in 1994.

2000–2009

Norway acts as a mediator in solving the conflict between the government of Sri Lanka and Tamils who want to separate from it.

Brief History