DID YOU
KNOW?:
An archived
article of:
Skjold Lodge
- Sons of Norway
Arlington
Heights, Illinois
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the Internet at www.skjoldlodge.com.
SOME BACKGROUND ON NORWAY
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SOME BACKGROUND ON NORWAY
Two centuries of Viking
raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King
Olav TRYGGVASON in 994.
Conversion of the Norwegian
kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed
into a union with Denmark that was to last for more than four centuries. In
1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a
new constitution.
Sweden then invaded Norway
but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the
union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led
to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence.
Norway remained neutral in
World War I and proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II. Nevertheless,
it was not able to avoid a five-year occupation by Nazi Germany (1940-1945). In
1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO.
Discovery of oil and gas in
adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes.
The current focus is on
containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time
when petroleum reserves are depleted.
In referenda held in 1972
and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.
This information came from
the CIA web site. While a bit dry and
statistical, a lot of it is interesting.
Visit their site at http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/no.html