The Bronze Age in Norway began around 1800 BCE, marked by significant agricultural and technological advancements. Farmers began ploughing fields with ards, establishing permanent farms with houses and yards, particularly in fertile areas like the Oslofjord, Trondheimsfjord, Mjøsa, and Jæren. Some farms produced high yields, allowing farmers to trade surplus goods like furs and skins for luxury items, particularly with traders from Jutland. This period also saw the development of trade routes that connected Norway to the rest of Europe, with evidence of imported amber and bronze items.
Around 1000 BCE, speakers of Uralic languages arrived in the northern regions, eventually merging with the indigenous population to form the Sami people. By 500 CE, the Sámi language had taken shape in central Scandinavia.
A climate shift around 500 BCE brought colder temperatures, leading to changes in agriculture and shelter. Birch, pine, and spruce trees replaced the once-dominant elm, lime, ash, and oak forests. The colder climate also prompted farmers to build more durable homes. Knowledge of ironworking, introduced by the Celts, led to the production of better tools and weapons, marking the transition to the Iron Age. This period laid important foundations for Norway's economic and cultural connections with the broader European continent.