The name Norway emerged from the Old English word Norþweg recorded in an account by Ohthere of Hålogaland around 890. This phrase meant northern way or way leading to the north describing the sailing route along the Atlantic coast that Anglo-Saxons observed.
Harald Fairhair unified nine petty realms into one kingdom after the Battle of Hafrsfjord in Stavanger during 872. His realm remained primarily a South Norwegian coastal state while many Norwegians fled to Iceland Greenland and parts of Britain.
The Black Death reached Norway in 1349 killing a third of the population within just one year. Later plagues reduced the total population to half its starting point by 1400 leaving abundant land for surviving farmers to switch toward animal husbandry.
Oil discovered at Balder field in 1967 began production only in 1999 while Phillips Petroleum found resources at Ekofisk field west of Norway in 1969. Statoil founded as state oil company in 1973 now operates as Equinor managing petroleum extraction across North Sea.
King Harald V House Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg ascended throne 1991 first monarch born country since fourteenth century. Constitution adopted the 17th of May 1814 inspired United States Declaration Independence French Revolution establishing unitary constitutional monarchy parliamentary system.