Norway: History

1380

Norway and Iceland enter a union with the Danish crown.

1397

The Union of Kalmar unites Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

1814

Denmark cedes Norway to Sweden.

1905

The Norwegian parliament proclaims independence from Sweden.

1949 Norway joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

1959 Norway becomes a founding member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Late 1960 Oil and gas deposits are discovered in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. Exploitation of these resources throughout the 1970's leads to oil and gas exports comprising nearly one-third of the nation's annual export earnings.

1972 Norwegian voters reject membership into the European Economic Commission by a 6% margin.

1973 Norway signs a free trade agreement with the European Economic Commission.

1994

Norwegians reject membership of the European Union in a referendum by a narrow margin of 5%.

2011

Extreme right-winger Anders Behring Breivik carries out a mass shooting and bomb strike, resulting in the worst massacre in modern Norway history.