The Icelandic Althing: The World's Oldest Parliament

Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More

Gary Arndt

Education, History

4.7 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 4 April 2026

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Long before modern democracies, before constitutions or elections as we know them, a society of Viking settlers gathered in a windswept valley to create laws, settle disputes, and govern themselves without a monarch. Against the odds, this institution endured for over a thousand years, in various forms, shaping a nation and influencing ideas about law and representation. It wasn’t just one of the first parliaments ever created; it helped define what governance could look like. Learn more about the Icelandic Althing, one of the oldest and most influential political institutions in history, on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Mint Mobile Save 50% on Unlimited premium wireless plans starting at $15/month at MintMobile.com/EED Audible Listen to Project Hail Mary Audible.com/hailmary Fast Growing Trees Get 20% off your first purchase when using the code DAILY at checkout at fastgrowingtrees.com/daily ButcherBox Get your choice between chicken breast or top sirloin for a year OR ground beef for life, PLUS $20 off when you go to ButcherBox.com/everything Subscribe to the podcast! https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Austin Oetken & Cameron Kieffer Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Ds7Rx7jvPJ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/ Disce aliquid novi cotidie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Long before modern democracies, before constitutions, or elections as we know them today,
0:05.5	a society of Viking settlers gathered in a windswept valley to create laws, settle disputes,
0:11.1	and govern themselves without a monarch. Against the odds, this institution endured for over
0:15.9	a thousand years in various forms, shaping a nation and influencing ideas about laws and representation.
0:22.6	Learn more about the Icelandic Althing, one of the oldest political institutions in history,
0:28.0	on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Jamie Lang and Sophie Haboo have arrived on Disney Plus.
0:47.6	We're having a baby.
0:50.1	I've always wanted to be mum.
0:52.5	And we're bringing you on our journey through everything.
0:55.4	I have no idea what we're doing.
0:56.7	Thank you. I have more of an idea.
0:58.6	I think of it like a Tamagocchi.
1:00.8	At the end of all of this...
1:03.0	We're going to have a little baby?
1:04.9	Raising Chelsea, a Hulu original series
1:07.7	streaming exclusively on Disney Plus.
1:10.4	18 plus subscription required teas and tea supply.
1:13.2	McGriddles, a new McDonald's breakfast.
1:15.6	So it's maple syrup infused.
1:17.7	It's sweet, then it's savoury.
1:19.5	Because the sausage, you know, and the cheese and the egg.
1:22.2	Oh, it's got the golden arches stamped on it too.
	...

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