The Settlement of Iceland: How Vikings Built a Nation From Nothing
Published: July 7, 2026
Duration: 9:29
The Settlement of Iceland is one of the most fascinating and well-documented events of the Viking Age. Between 870 and 930 CE, Norse settlers left Scandinavia and built a new society from scratch on the remote island of Iceland.
In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we go deeper into the history than ever before—exploring why settlers left Norway under Harald Fairhair, how they survived Iceland’s harsh environment, and how they built a unique legal system without a king through the creation of the Icelandic Althing in 930 CE.
From turf houses and farming struggles to early environmental chal...
In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we go deeper into the history than ever before—exploring why settlers left Norway under Harald Fairhair, how they survived Iceland’s harsh environment, and how they built a unique legal system without a king through the creation of the Icelandic Althing in 930 CE.
From turf houses and farming struggles to early environmental chal...