A mountainous country formed through volcanic eruptions, Iceland's geography is characterized by areas of uninhabitable plateaus and mountains, four major glaciers, coastal valleys and plains, and a great number of fjords, bays, and natural harbors. Settled around 870 by people from Western Norway coming either directly or through the British Isles, Iceland began its formal political history with the establishment of a general assembly of chieftains in 930. After a period of civil war characterized by skirmishes for power between chieftains, the Icelanders accepted rule by the Norwegian king in 1262, continuing with varying degrees of absolutist and parliamentary rule first by the Norse, and later by the Danish until 1904, when it was granted home rule, and finally in 1918, when it was declared a sovereign state. Iceland's final step towards independence was taken in June of 1944, when the republic of Iceland was formally founded, allowing it to become a full member of the international community. The Historical Dictionary of Iceland contains a detailed chronology, notes on the Icelandic language, a listing of abbreviations and acronyms, an introduction which highlights important events in Icelandic history, and a bibliography of titles to assist the interested researcher in learning more about this small but important European country.