How was Norway created?

The Kingdom of Norway came into existence in the 9th century when Harald Fairhair united various petty kingdoms in western Norway. After Harald’s reign, Norway was ruled by a series of powerful kings who expanded the country’s territory. In the 11th century, Norway became a Christian nation and soon after began to expand outwards, conquering and controlling areas of what are today Scotland and the Northern Isles of Britain as well as large areas around the North Atlantic including Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland.

Over the centuries, the Norwegian kingdom was alternately split apart and re-united. Between 1380 and 1814, Norway was in personal union with Denmark and then Sweden, but it maintained a large degree of autonomy. In 1814, Norway became an independent kingdom in personal union with Sweden but gained its full independence in 1905.

The current political structure of Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. The King is the head of state, but the real power lies in the hands of the Prime Minister and the Parliament. Norway is a highly developed country with a strong social welfare system and a high standard of living. It is also a member of the United Nations, NATO, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).