Small in numbers. Great on impact on history.
Norway has under 5 million population. Sweden under 10 million.
Yet Norway is home to the "normans" who eventually ruled parts of France, Britain, Italy, and the middle east.
Lief Eriksson was Norwegian, by way of Iceland and Greenland. He voyaged to North America in the year 1,000. Decided leaving was better, than getting wiped out by Skraelings.
Sweden is home to two major vehicle companies, and other major industries.
The term "Rus" from "Russia" was given by Swedish Vikings when they controlled the Volga River corridor, of Russia.
The term "slavic" from "slaves" were given to the locals, enslaved by their Swedish rulers. The culture of Russia derives in part from this occupation.
I agree, sir, a great impact upon history.
My concern with Norway at the moment is that they might still yet succumb to joining the European "Union," and becoming indistinguishable from the French, the Belgians, the Germans, the Swedes, the Luxemburgois, rather than being distintively known as "Norwegian."
True, votes in Norway rejected joining the European "Union" a few years ago, but surely the public "need" to conform, to "be like everybody else," is going to bring up the issue again, and it seems to me this time the Old Europeanists might win.
I am a little nervous about the future of Norway.