The recorded
history of Iceland began with the settlement by
Viking explorers and their slaves from the east, particularly
Norway and the
British Isles, in the late 9th century, since
Iceland was uninhabited long after the rest of western Europe was settled. Recorded settlement has conventionally been dated back to 874 AD, although archaeological evidence indicates Gaelic monks had settled Iceland previously. The land was settled quickly, mainly by Norwegians who may have been fleeing conflict or seeking new land to farm. By 930, the chieftains had established a form of governance (
Althing), making it one of the world's oldest parliaments. Also towards the end of the tenth century Christianity came to Iceland due to the influence of the Norwegian king,
Olaf Tryggvason. During this time Iceland remained independent, a period known as the Old Commonwealth and Icelandic historians began to document the nation's history in books referred to as
Sagas (
Icelandic for story or history). In the early thirteenth century internal conflict (
Age of the Sturlungs) weakened Iceland which eventually became subjugated to Norway through the
Old Covenant (1262–4), effectively ending the Commonwealth. Norway in turn was united with Sweden (1319) and then
Denmark (1376). Eventually, all of the Nordic states were united in one alliance, the
Kalmar Union (1397–1523), but on its dissolution Iceland fell under Danish rule. Denmark then imposed a strict
trade monopoly in the 17th and 18th centuries, much to the detriment of the Icelandic economy. Iceland's subsequent poverty was aggravated by
natural disasters. During this time the population declined.