A short history of sweden
- 2. Basic facts • Official name: Kingdom of Sweden • Form of government: Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy • Head of State: King Carl XVI Gustaf (since 1973) • Prime minister: Fredrik Reinfeldt (since 2006) from Moderaterna, a liberal/conservative party. • Population: approximately 9,5 million • Capital: Stockholm. Population approximately 1,4 million • Area: approximately 450.000 km² (3rd largest country in the EU) The Swedish flag. Blue and yellow has been the Swedish colours since the Middle Ages. According to mythology, king Eric the Holy, upon landing in Finland for a crusade in 1157, witnessed a golden cross on the blue sky. He saw it as a sign from God and adopted the colours for his banner.
- 3. Extra facts! • Sweden has the third lowest infant mortality in the world. • 85% of all Swedes live in an urban area. • Sweden last fought a war in 1814, and has since been at peace for 199 years – the longest in the world! • Sweden is generally considered to be one of the most secular countries in the world with approximately 75% non-believers. • In 2011 Sweden was the most gender equal country in the world.
- 4. The Vikings • The Swedes are first noticed in history during the 8th – 10th centuries when the ”Vikings” travelled by sea from all of Scandinavia. • The Danes went southwest, conquered England and raided the French coast. • The Norse travelled northwest, conquered Ireland and settled Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland. • The Swedes went east across the Baltic Sea – They settled in Finland and traded with the Baltic countries. – The Viking leader Rurik is believed to have founded Russia. – Via the river Dniepr, they reached and raided Constantinople. – In 988 the Vikings became the personal guard of Constantinople’s emperor Basil II. – The guards were called ”The Varangian Guards” and were known for their loyalty and physical strength.
- 5. The Vikings The Swedish Vikings’ route to Constantinople in blue.
- 6. The Middle Ages • In the 10th century Sweden was christened by English missionaries. • The first Christian king was baptized in ca 995. • During the Middle Ages (1000 – 1523) Sweden was divided into several counties, ruled by noblemen. • Stockholm was founded in 1252. • Slavery was abolished in 1335 by King Magnus Eriksson. • From 1397 Sweden was ruled by the Danes. • In the early 1520s, the Swedes rebelled against the Danes and the leader of the rebellion, Gustav Vasa, was crowned King in 1523. • The crowning of Gustav Vasa ends the Middle Ages in Swedish history. The Danish kingdom 1397 - 1523 Gustav Vasa in the late 16th century
- 7. The Swedish Empire • Gustav Vasa introduced the Reformation and adopted the Protestant faith. • Gustav Vasa and his heirs continued to strengthen the state. • Through several successful wars, Sweden extended its borders on behalf of its neighbours. • After a successful campaign during the 30-years-war, led by King Gustavus II Adolphus, Sweden became an Empire. • Gustavus II Adolphus planned to become the new Holy Roman Emperor, but died in battle in The Swedish Empire in 1660
- 8. The end of the Swedish Empire • The Great Northern War (1700 – 1721) put an end to the Swedish Empire when Russian, Polish-Lithuanian, Saxon and Danish armies defeated us. • After the great loss at Poltava (1709) the Swedish king, Carl XII, was exiled in the town Bender where he was a guest of the Ottoman Empire. • The Ottoman Empire was at war with Russia and Carl XII wanted an alliance with the Turks. • When the Turks made peace with the Russians in 1713 they attacked the Swedish king’s residence, but he managed to escape. • The event is called ”Kalabaliken i Bender”. • Carl XII died in 1721 in battle in Norway. • During their time in the Ottoman Empire, the Swedes learned to drink coffee and imported for example the word kiosk (köşk). • The end of the Swedish Empire marks the start for the Age of Liberty.
- 9. The End of the Swedish Empire The Swedish king Carl XII fighting his Turkish attackers in Bender. This very famous national romantic painting pictures the dead Carl XII being carried back to Sweden by his troops in 1721.
- 10. The Age of Liberty and Industrialization • During the 18th and 19th century Sweden transformed from an autocratic state to a democracy. • The king gradually lost his power to the parliament. • As the first country in the world, Sweden adopted freedom of speech in 1766. • During the 19th century Sweden became industrialized. • After a small war against Norway in 1814, Sweden has never been at war. • 1814 – 1905 Sweden was in a union with Norway. • Due to famine and poverty during the late 19th century about 20% of the entire population emigrated – mainly to the United States. • From 1842 are all children in Sweden entitled to go to school. • 1921 equal voting rights for both men and women was established.
- 11. The 20th century • Sweden manages to stay out of both world wars and the country’s industry and infrastructure is saved. • In 1928 the social democratic leader Per-Albin Hansson formulates a vision for the Swedish society, called ”folkhemmet” (The people’s home). • From 1932 the Social Democratic Party has almost uninterrupted power until 2006. • After the second world war the social democrats start building the Swedish welfare state – folkhemmet. • During the 1950s and 1960s, Sweden is the fastest developing country in the world with high taxes and increasing social security. • From the 1960s Sweden has to import labour, mainly from the Balkans, Italy and Turkey. • About 15.000 – 20.000 Turks has migrated to Sweden, mainly from the Konya area.
- 12. The 21st century • In 1986 the Swedish prime minster Olof Palme is assassinated in Stockholm. • From the 1980s refugees migrate to Sweden instead of labourers. • The refugees are mainly chileans, iranians, iraqis, yugoslavs, kurds and somalis. • Sweden enters the European Union in 1994. • The Social Democrats lose the election 2006 and a liberal/conservative government is elected. • During the beginning of the 21st century the Swedish society is transforming from a post industrial society to an IT-society.