1000-1200 Reign of Christian Chieftains

After becoming Christian, the Icelanders adopted the medieval Christian culture. They established two bishoprics, divided the country into parishes, and introduced the tithe, a tax payable to the church. They learned to write the Latin alphabet on vellum, and went on to write down their laws and stories in their native language, then known as norræna or Norse.

The chieftains of the old pagan society retained their worldly powers. They were regional rulers in a system of government that has been called the Old Commonwealth. The power of the chieftains began to be concentrated in the hands of a few powerful families.

The Icelanders lived on farms which were widely distributed around the country, living mainly of sheep and cattle husbandry. Cultivation of cereal crops was minimal, while fishing was an important sideline. The main modes of transport were the horse and the boat. Iceland’s most principal export was woollen cloth, vaðmál.

The Key Object of this Time Period: Christ the King

11th- and 12th-Century Exhibits

Highlights of the Exhibition

• The Church becomes Established - A Whole New World
• Chieftains’ Families - Large Farms and Private Churches
• Activities on Large Farms - Woollen Cloth and Exports
• Mt. Hekla - Life in the Þjórsá Valley