Title Translation: Finmarchia (Norwegian for Finnmark)

This antique map from 1665 depicts the region of Finnmark in northern Norway. In the early 17th century, Norway was a sparsely populated country, with most of its population living in coastal towns and villages. The economy was dominated by fishing, particularly the lucrative cod industry, and the country was ruled by the Danish-Norwegian monarchy. The Finnmark region, depicted on this map, was known for its harsh climate and rugged terrain, with vast expanses of tundra and numerous fjords and islands. Despite its challenging environment, the region was home to a small but resilient population of indigenous Sami people, who relied on reindeer herding and fishing for their livelihoods. The central locations of Tromsø, Hammerfest and Alta on the map indicate their importance as trading and fishing centres in the region.