We usually think of the United States as the oldest democracy in the world. But what if you learned that one country sent representatives to gather and make decisions over 1,000 years ago?
The Althing is Iceland’s parliament. A parliament is a legislative branch of government. The Althingfirst met at Thingvellir in southwestern Iceland in 930 CE. The country’s most powerful leaders would meet there once a year. There, leaders recited laws, made speeches, settled disagreements, and made proposals. The meeting would last for weeks. All free men could attend the assembly. People travelled to the Althing and made temporary shelters to live in. It became an important social and cultural event.
So, why don’t people call Iceland the world’s oldest democracy? For much of its history, Iceland was controlled by the Kingdom of Denmark. While they could make some decisions during the Althing they were not an independent nation. In fact, Denmark stopped the Althing in 1800. In 1845, it started again in the capital of Iceland, Reykavik (rayk-yay-vik). It was more like a modern government with permanent elected officials.
The Althingdid meet in Thingvellir one last time on June 17, 1944. That day, Iceland gained its independence.
What Do You Think? Do you think Iceland is the world’s oldest democracy? Why or why not?
Photo Credit: Marion Kaplan/Alamy Stock Photo
