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500 B.C. - 800 A.D., The Iron Age. The Greek sea-captain Pytheas of Massilia wrote that the Scandinavians "live on oats and the like, namely greens, wild fruits and roots". The Roman Empire was the economic and political center of power during the first four centuries A.D.
400 AD - 800 AD, the farms of Dale, Såheim, and Bøen of Tinn, Telemark record signs of life during the pre-viking years. Artifacts have been preserved for us to enjoy.
800-1100, The age of the Vikings. Voyages set off and reached as far east as the Russian plains, as far south as the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, and Caspian Sea, as far north as the Barents Sea and as far west as America. The term Viking can be related to the Norwegian work vik meaning "bay" or "cove". Many of those that had no farm to inherit chose to seek their fortunes as Vikings on voyages to foreign countries. They used a special variety of ship, the knarr, which was especially well-suited to the transport of goods. They worshiped Odin, the god of war. A Viking would far rather die an honourable death doing battle for his chieftain than die of old age in his own bed. The Vikings believed that if they were killed in battle, Odin would transport them to Valhalla, the heavenly kingdom of death. Here they would fight all day and in the evenings, beautiful maidens would serve them meats and mead. The god of thunder was called Thor. Eric Raude of Rogaland (Eric the Red) settled Greenland. His son, Leiv Ericsen, went to America about the year 1000. He wintered near the northern tip of Newfoundland. Harald Fairhair set about unifying Norway. Accompanied by his warriors, the hind, he travelled about the kingdom on veitsle, or journeys of state. Harald died about 930 and his son Håkon the Good inherited the kingdom. He built a great navy for defense. Olav Haraldsson, also of the Fairhair (Håfagr) line, took command until he was killed at the battle of Stiklestad on July 29, 1030. Norlie, The History of the Norwegian People in America, p. 36.
Norsemen have left a deep and lasting imprint on Scotland - on the race, language, literature, art customs, beliefs. Norlie, The History of the Norwegian People in America, p. 40.
William the Conqueror was the great-grandson of Rolf Ganger, the Norwegian founder of Normandy. Norlie, The History of the Norwegian People in America, p. 48.
874, Iceland is occupied by the Norsemen. Anderson, Rasmus, Norwegian Immigration, p. 15.
876, Greenland was seen for the first time by Gunnbjorn Ulfson from Norway. Anderson, Rasmus, Norwegian Immigration, p. 17. Also see Norlie, The History of the Norwegian People in America, p. 56.
983, Eric the Red rediscovered Greenland. Norlie, The History of the Norwegian People in America, p. 96.
986, Bjarni Herjulfson discovered the coast of New England but did not land. Norlie, The History of the Norwegian People in America, p. 96.
