Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • History of Iceland

  • A Captivating Guide to the History of the Land of Fire and Ice, from the Viking Age to the Present
  • By: Captivating History
  • Narrated by: Jason Zenobia
  • Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (1 rating)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

History of Iceland

By: Captivating History
Narrated by: Jason Zenobia
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £11.99

Buy Now for £11.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Did you know that Iceland was likely initially settled by Irish monks?

Iceland, the land of fire and ice, has a storied history. After the Norse discovered Iceland, they began to settle it, allying the island nation with Norway. However, as power shifted in Scandinavia, Iceland would come to be governed by Denmark for several centuries.

For much of Iceland’s history, it practiced a subsistence society. The people were dependent on fishing and farming to survive, and because of their isolation, they did not advance at the same rate as the rest of Europe. In addition, they were often subject to forces beyond their control. The often-violent environment not only shaped their daily lives, but also created many of the struggles they faced. Although the Icelanders were isolated, they were impacted by the events in Europe, especially those in the Scandinavian nations.

It took centuries, but the Icelanders were able to become a sovereign nation, doing so in 1944. Thanks to the Icelanders’ connection to their past, they have maintained their rich literary tradition and have developed a distinct national identity.

Iceland is often mentioned in history books, but how much do you actually know about it? In this audiobook, you will learn all about the history of Iceland, from the settlement period to the 20th century.

Here is just a snippet of what you will find inside:

  • The Old Covenant with Norway and what that meant for Iceland.
  • The development of the Althing, which is the oldest existing legislature in the world today.
  • The conversion from paganism to Christianity.
  • The spread of literacy and Iceland’s rich history of literature.
  • The role of fish in Iceland’s history and economy.
  • Iceland’s struggle for independence.
©2022 Captivating History (P)2022 Captivating History
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

History of Denmark cover art
The Basques cover art
History of Sweden cover art
English History cover art
The Reformation cover art
History of the Caribbean cover art
History of Argentina cover art
Leif Erikson: A Captivating Guide to the Viking Explorer Who Beat Columbus to America and Established a Norse Settlement at Vinland cover art
The City-State of Boston cover art
History of Taiwan cover art
They Knew They Were Pilgrims cover art
The Story of Scandinavia cover art
History of England cover art
Irish History cover art
Scottish History: A Captivating Guide to the History of Scotland cover art
History of the Vikings: A Captivating Guide to the Viking Age and Feared Norse Seafarers Such as Ragnar Lothbrok, Ivar the Boneless, Egil Skallagrimsson, and More cover art

What listeners say about History of Iceland

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    0
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    0
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    0
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Handy basic history.

A good short history of Iceland and as a tourist most useful.
would have liked more on modern Iceland but overall I enjoyed it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!