4.5.2010
Commonwealth (930-1262)
http://netsaga.is/media/files/Handan_vid_Hafid.mp3 Iceland enjoyed a mostly uninterrupted period of growth in its commonwealth years. Settlements from that era have been found in southwest Greenland and eastern Canada, and sagas such as Eirķks saga Rauša and Gręnlendinga saga speak of the settlers' exploits.
Commonwealth (930-1262) 
In 930, the ruling chiefs established an assembly called the Alžingi (Althing). The parliament convened each summer at Žingvellir, where representative chieftains (Gošoršsmenn or Gošar) amended laws, settled disputes and appointed juries to judge lawsuits. Laws were not written down, but were instead memorized by an elected Lawspeaker (lögsögumašur). The Alžingi is sometimes stated to be the world's oldest existing parliament. Importantly, there was no central executive power, and therefore laws were enforced only by the people. This gave rise to blood-feuds, which provided the writers of the Icelanders' sagas with plenty of material.