The Commonwealth: 930-1262ad
By the early tenth century, Iceland was firmly occupied and had begun to see itself as an independent nation in need of national government. The chieftains rejected the idea of a paramount leader, and instead decided, in 930, on a Commonwealth governed by a national assembly, or Alping , which came to be held for two weeks every summer at pingvellir in southwestern Iceland. Here laws were recited by a lawspeaker so that everyone would know them, and disputes settled by four regional courts, with a supreme court formed early in eleventh century. Legal settlement typically involved payment to the injured party or their family; the highest punishment was not death but being declared an outlaw , thus being exiled from Iceland. Courts had no power to enforce decisions, however, only make recommendations, and though they held great public authority, in practice their decisions could be ignored - something which was to undermine the Commonwealth in later years. The first century of the Commonwealth was very much a golden era, however: the country was united, resources were rich, and farming profitable. This was the Saga Age , the time when the first generations of Icelanders were carving out great names for themselves in events that passed into oral lore and would only later be written down. Contact with the outside world continued too, and - in the same way that Iceland itself was discovered - Icelandic seafarers came across their own new worlds. In 980, Eirikur porvaldsson (better known in English as Eric the Red ) was outlawed for killing his neighbour and sailed from the Westfjords to follow up earlier reports of land to the northwest. He found a barren, treeless coastline, then returned to Iceland to whip up support for colonizing what he called Greenland - a misleading name, chosen deliberately to arouse interest. Enough people were hooked to emigrate along with Eirikur, and two settlements were founded in Western Greenland which lasted until the sixteenth century. And it was from Greenland that Eirikur's son Leifur - Leif Eiriksson - heard that land had been sighted even further west, and set sail around the year 1000 to discover Baffin Island, Labrador, and " Vinland ", an as-yet unidentified area of the north American coast. A couple of attempts made by others to colonise these distant lands came to nothing, however, and America was then forgotten about until Columbus rediscovered it.
ANDREAandrea cuevas says "to make better foods// and to cut diz web site
" IcelandAaliyah says "Iceland is a beautiful country! Make sure to bring all your necessities. And have fun,exploring this wonderful country!" This Has To Be!PoorStudent says "This has to be the lamest country ever!" coolioomjay im so cool says "omjay iceland is like sooooo totally awsome ya knw check it out" Icelandcrackhead says "iceland sux, go f*** yourself" ................ says ".........................................is diz tirng ern ?????????????????????????????????????......................................................................" alohaAshley says "this sounds like a good country but you need a liitle more food" alohaAshley says "this sounds like a good country but you need a liitle more food" greathorse world says "the food here is amazing, don't knock it until you try it. this is a place where you can expierence the breathtaking landscapes, the extreme outdoors, delicious foods, a distinctive culture, and many other wonders. " how rude!unknown says "This is a well recpected web sit and it is upsetting to know some of you guys are leaving rude comments. I understand that you have your opinons but if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say nothing all. Well I been to Iceland and the place is absoultly beatuiful." yUR MOM`UNkNOWN' says "AlRiTE lETSz CEE'h hERE,
i CANt EVEN BEGiN tOO' StARt WitH WHy` yEW GUySz EAt ALl tHAT NASty StUFF...MANNNN...
lEMME`h tElL yEW GUySz NEEd tO COM tO tHE UNitEd StATES Of AMERiCA`ANd HAVE SOM CHiCkEN OR PATAtOES, BEANSz && RiCE, AHAHAHHHAHA,,,
HOpE yEW liKE WHAt i ROtE M.P,,, = ]
lAtERRR`*" WTFNot 4 u 2 know says "y da h3!! d0 u guys 3at dat nasty m3ss ram t3sticl3s wow ya!! must hav3 nothin 3!s3 to 3at im d0in a r3p0rt 0n u guys n i hav3 2 ask wat da fr3akin he!! was in ur mind w3n u at3 that crap , u guys need 2 c0m3 2 da U.S n get some human food cuz seriously ram t3sticl3s wtf . (d0nt 4get chick3n , p0tat0es , bread !0! . 1 m0re qu3sti0n y da h3!! do u guys 3at sharks i rath3r lick puss.i !0!" lollipoplanie says "lick lick lick like a lollipop!!" lolandrea says "lmbo!!! (laugh my butt of)" lolandrea says "lmbo!!! (laugh my butt of)" ~Giggle~ASH says "Iceland sux why waste your time!!" you sucknot gonna tell ya says "All you pu**y B***h people suck... So f**k off" reall f0000dsAnge Burns says "you icelandics shoruld really try thaiiii foooood"
Your Tip for Iceland
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Iceland - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Iceland - visit the main Iceland forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Iceland webguide section below! Thanks.
| 
