The history of Norway began before the age of the Vikings and was indistinct from that of the rest of Scandinavia. In the 9th century the country was still divided among the numerous kings. Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe curtailed the adoption of Christianity by King Olav Tryggvason in 994. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that was to last for more than four centuries, however rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence.
The fishing industry flourished in the late 17th century, and lumbering became an important industry in the 18th century. Norway grew to became a naval power. The name Norway -in Norwegian, Norge or Noreg- is derived from Norvegr, meaning "the way to the north." The Vikings used the term more than 1,000 years ago to describe the shipping route along the west coast of Norway.
