Local Histories

By Tim Lambert Ancient Norway The first people arrived in Norway after 7,000 BC when rising temperatures after the end of the last ice age made the country habitable. The first Norwegians lived by hunting (elk, deer, seals, and whales) and by fishing. After 3,000 BC farming was introduced into Norway. The earliest farmers made… Continue reading A Short History of Norway

By Tim Lambert Ancient Portugal Human beings have lived in Portugal since about 30,000 BC when the world was in the grip of an ice age. The first Portuguese were hunters and fishermen. They also gathered plants for food. They wore leather clothes and they made stone tools. In about 5,000 BC farming was introduced… Continue reading A Short History of Portugal

By Tim Lambert Ancient Spain From about 900 BC a seafaring people called the Phoenicians who came from what is now Lebanon traded with what is now Spain. They founded a chain of trading settlements along the coast on islands and peninsulas. The Iberians gave the Phoenicians silver in return for wine and olive oil… Continue reading A Short History of Spain

By Tim Lambert Ancient Sweden The first humans arrived in Sweden by 8,000 BC after the end of the ice age, when warming temperatures first made the country habitable. The first Swedes were stone-age hunters and fishermen who lived near the coast. However, after 4,000 BC farming was introduced into Sweden. The farmers used stone… Continue reading A Short History of Sweden

By Tim Lambert Early Switzerland About 500 BC a Celtic people called the Helveti entered Switzerland from the west. However, by 58 BC the Romans ruled the area and they built a capital at Aventicum (Avenches). In the following centuries, Switzerland became thoroughly Romanized. The Romans built roads and other towns. However, in 260 a… Continue reading A Short History of Switzerland

By Tim Lambert Ancient Albania The people of Albania learned to use bronze about 2,100 BC. Then about 1,000 BC, they learned to use iron. The Iron Age people of Albania are called the Illyrians. The Illyrians eventually came into conflict with Rome and the Romans conquered them in 167 BC. Under Roman rule, Albania… Continue reading A Short History of Albania

By Tim Lambert Ancient Bulgaria From about 400 BC a race called the Thracians lived in parts of what is now Bulgaria. The Thracians were a tribal society and they were superb horsemen. They were also known for making beautiful gold and silver jewelry. By 100 AD the Romans conquered Bulgaria. The Romans founded the… Continue reading A Short History of Bulgaria

By Tim Lambert Ancient Croatia Before 5,000 BC the people of what is now Croatia learned to farm although they only had stone tools. Later they learned to use bronze and then iron. After 390 BC Greeks settled in colonies along the coast. Then after 229 BC the Romans gradually took control of Croatia. By… Continue reading A Short History of Croatia

By Tim Lambert THE FIRST CZECHS From about 400 BC what is now the Czech Republic was inhabited by a Celtic race. The Romans called them the Boii and they gave their name to Bohemia. Then about 100 AD a Germanic people called the Marcomanni conquered the area. The Romans traded with the Marcomanni and… Continue reading A Short History of Czech Republic

By Tim Lambert Early Estonia The Estonians are a Finno-Ugric people related to the Finns. A first-century Roman writer named Tacitus mentioned the Estonians. He called them the Aesti. Amber was exported from Estonia to other parts of Europe. However, for centuries the tribes of Estonia had little contact with Western civilization. They traded with… Continue reading A Short History of Estonia