| 750 |
Around 750 Irish monks stayed in Iceland and the Faroes for a short time. |
| 874 |
Ingólfur Arnarson was the first documented permanent settler, followed by further settlers during the next decades. |
| 930 |
The parliament “Althingi” was founded. |
| 982 |
“Eric the Red” settled in Greenland. |
| 999 |
Leifur Eriksson discovered North America. |
| 1000 |
Adoption of Christianity in Iceland. |
| 1056 |
The first bishop was established at Skálholt. |
| 1120-1250 |
Beginning of the literary age and the writing down of The Sagas. Snorri Sturluson counts to the most important authors. |
| 1240 |
Snorri Sturluson was murdered in Reykholt. |
| 1262 |
Iceland came under the control of Norway. |
| 1380 |
Norway and Iceland became colonies of Denmark. |
| 1402-1404 |
2/3 of the icelandic people died due to the plague. |
| 1550 |
Reformation in Iceland. |
| 1602 |
Denmark established a Royal trade monopoly. |
| 1783-1790 |
Natural disaster (Laki eruption) with 10.000 victims. |
| 1800 |
Denmark decided to abolish the Althingi, Iceland’s parliament. |
| 1843 |
Althingi was reinstated as a consultative assembly. |
| 1874 |
A new constitution and limited home rule were granted to Iceland by Denmark. |
| 1911 |
Foundation of the University of Iceland. |
| 1918 |
Sovereignty: Act of Crown Union with Denmark. |
| 1940 |
Iceland was occupied by British forces to prevent a German invasion. Replacement in 1941 by American troops. |
| 1944 |
June 17. The Republic of Iceland was proclaimed at Thingvellir. |
| 1947 |
Iceland became a member of the OEEC (later OECD). |
| 1949 |
Iceland became a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). |
| 1958-1975 |
Iceland gradually extended its fishery zone from 3 to 200 nautical miles. |
| 1963-1967 |
Surtsey was formed in the Westman archipelago. |
| 1973 |
Volcanic eruption on Heimaey, Westman Islands. |
| 1986 |
Reagan-Gorbachev Summit held in Reykjavik. |
| 1996 |
Vulcanic eruption under Vatnajökull glacier. |
| 2000 |
Reykjavik was a European City of Culture. |
| 2004 |
Thingvellir was included on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list. |
