Bergen, Norway — History and Culture
By the beginning of the 13th century, Bergen was Norway's capital, a status it enjoyed until the late 1200s, when the seat of government transferred to Christiania - the city nowadays known as Oslo. Economic success was further assured in the 14th century when the Hanseatic League chose Bergen as one of its four main bases. By 1600, the city was Scandinavia's largest, with 15,000 inhabitants.
