Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden ( Swedish : Konungariket Sverige  ), is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe . Its capital city is Stockholm . It is surrounded by Norway (west), Finland (northeast), the Skagerrak , Kattegat and Oresund straits (southwest) and the Baltic Sea (east). It has maritime borders with Denmark , Germany , Poland , Russia , Lithuania , Latvia , and Estonia , and it is also linked to Denmark (southwest) by the Oresund Bridge . It has been a member of the European Union since 1995.

Sweden has a low population density except in its metropolitan areas ; 84 percent of the population lives in urban areas, which take up only 1.3 percent of the total land area. The citizens enjoy a high standard of living and the country is generally perceived as modern and liberal , with an organizational and corporate culture that is non-hierarchical and collectivistic compared to its Anglo-Saxon counterparts. Nature conservation , environmental protection and energy efficiency are generally prioritized in policy making and embraced by the general public in Sweden.

Sweden has a long tradition as a major exporter of iron , copper and timber . Improved transportation and communication allowed more remote natural assets to be utilized on a larger scale, most notably timber and iron ore . In the 1890s, universal schooling and industrialization enabled the country to develop a successful manufacturing industry and by the twentieth century, Sweden emerged as a welfare state , consistently achieving a high position among the top-ranking countries in the UN Human Development Index (HDI). Sweden has a rich supply of water power, but lacks significant oil and coal deposits.

During the Middle Ages , Denmark , Norway and Sweden (including the Swedish-controlled areas of what is today Finland ), were united through the Kalmar Union , formed in 1397 under Margaret I of Denmark . Sweden left the union in the 16th century, and battled its neighbours for many years, especially Russia and Denmark-Norway . In the seventeenth century, during an era of absolute monarchy , the Swedish kings expanded Sweden's territory through warfare , creating Swedish dominions on the Scandinavian peninsula, in the Baltic and in areas in present-day Germany. After the death of Charles XII in 1718, the Swedish empire crumbled. In 1809, the eastern part of Sweden, Osterland and the eastern part of Norrland became Finland, the semi-autonomous Grand Duchy of Imperial Russia and by 1814, Sweden had lost all of the conquered territory outside the Scandinavian peninsula. In 1814, Norway was coerced into a personal union with Sweden which lasted until 1905. Since 1814, Sweden has been at peace, adopting a non-aligned foreign policy in peacetime and neutrality in wartime.

Prehistoric Sweden

The early record of human activity in Scandinavia is sparse and the interpretations of the records from the Nordic Stone Age (10,000 BC – 1700 BC) are often conflicting. The oldest archaeological evidence of human habitation in Scandinavia has been found in what is now Denmark and consists of flint tools from 9,500 to 9,000 BC. Some scholars argue that the population slowly spread into what is present-day Sweden during the ensuing millennia.

In 4200 BC, fired pottery, systematic farming and permanent settlements developed in southern Scandinavia and spread northward. Hundreds of Mediterranean-style megalithic graves dated 3300–2000 BC have been found in Denmark and southern Sweden . The early hunter-gatherers and farmers were followed between 2500 and 2000 BC by a new ethnolinguistic group, the so-called boat ax, battle ax, or single-grave people, named for their stone weapons and graves. They were Indo-European nomads from the eastern Urals who spread across much of northern Europe and may have also established cultural dominance over the earlier peoples of southern and central Scandinavia . This period was followed by the Nordic Bronze Age (1700–500 BC), one of the richest periods in the Nordic region, especially in southern Scandinavia . The conditions were geologically and topographically very similar to those in the modern-day Scandinavian landscape, but the climate was milder. An elite is believed to have emerged during this period, a chieftain-trader class with possible roots in the social structure of the battle ax people. Archaeological finds of this era are the petroglyphs of southern Sweden and Norway , grave goods from several large burial mounds, and offering finds from what is believed to have been sacrificial sites. Because of the wide access to water, Sweden 's early inhabitants came in waves from many surrounding areas, with no recognized borders yet existing in Scandinavia . Societies in Sweden remained on the preliterate tribal and chiefdom levels until the emergence of writing on rune stones in the Viking Age . It is not known when and how the kingdom of Sweden was born, but the list of Swedish monarchs is drawn from when the first kings who ruled Svealand ( Sweden ) and Gotaland (Gothia) as one. Sweden and Gothia where two separate nations long before that. For how long they had been existing, is impossible to say; as it is now anyhow.

A tribe populating a region of what is today Sweden was first mentioned in 98 AD by the Roman historian Tacitus , who wrote about the Suiones who lived out in the sea and were powerful in both arms and ships. According to Tacitus, they venerated wealth and therefore had a single ruler who exacted unlimited obedience from them and governed without restriction in power. Tacitus expressed concern that these Suiones might ally with neighboring tribes and cause trouble for the Roman Empire . Some scholars believe that Tacitus referred to the inhabitants of present-day eastern Sweden : Svealand , primarily the region around lake Malaren . The modern name Sweden is derived through "back-formation" from Old English Sweo?eod , which meant "people of the Swedes" (Old Norse Svi?jo? , Latin Suetidi ). This word is derived from Sweon/Sweonas (Old Norse Sviar , Latin S uiones ) (see Etymology of Sweden ). The southern parts, on the other hand, were inhabited by the Geats in the Gotaland territory, and Beowulf described semi-legendary Swedish-Geatish wars in the sixth century AD . The northern part, Norrland , was probably mostly populated by Sami .

The Swedish Viking Age lasted roughly between the eighth and eleventh centuries AD. It is during this period, it is believed that the Swedes expanded from eastern Sweden and incorporated the Geats to the south. While Vikings from what is today Norway, Denmark and the west coast and south of Sweden traveled south and west, Swedish vikings traveled east and south, going to Finland, the Baltic countries, and Russia, whose name probably comes from the Slavic name for these Vikings: Rus . Their routes passed the rivers of Russia down south to Constantinople ( Byzantine Empire ) (present-day Istanbul , Turkey ) on which they did numerous raids. The Byzantine Emperor Theophilos noticed their great skills in war, and invited them to provide a few mercenaries for his army.

Middle Ages

Visby , a medieval city on Gotland .

See also: Early Swedish history  and Foundation of Modern Sweden

During the early stages of the Scandinavian Viking Age , Ystad in Scania and Paviken on Gotland , in present-day Sweden, were flourishing trade centers. Remains from 600–700 AD of what is believed to have been a large market have been found in Ystad. In Paviken, an important center of trade in the Baltic region during the ninth and tenth century, remains have been found of a large Viking Age harbour with shipbuilding yards and handicraft industries. Between 800 and 1000, trade brought an abundance of silver to Gotland and according to some scholars, the Gotlanders of this era horded more silver than the rest of the population of Scandinavia combined.

St. Ansgar introduced Christianity around 829, but the new religion did not begin to fully replace paganism until the twelfth century and onward. The period between 1100 and 1400 was characterized by internal power struggles and competition among the Nordic kingdoms, including struggles for territory and comparative power. Swedish kings also began to expand the Swedish-controlled territory in Finland , creating conflicts with the Rus .

In the fourteenth century, Sweden was struck by the Black Death (the Plague). During this period the Swedish cities also began to acquire greater rights and were strongly influenced by German merchants of the Hanseatic League , active especially at Visby . In 1319, Sweden and Norway were united under Magnus VII , and in 1397 Queen Margaret I of Denmark effected the personal union of Sweden , Norway , and Denmark through the Kalmar Union . However, Margaret's successors, whose rule was also centered in Denmark , were unable to control the Swedish nobility. Real power was held for long periods by regents (notably those of the Sture family) chosen by the Swedish parliament. King Christian II of Denmark , who asserted his claim to Sweden by force of arms, ordered a massacre in 1520 of Swedish nobles at Stockholm . This came to be known as the “ Stockholm blood bath ” and stirred the Swedish nobility to new resistance and, on the 6th of June ( Sweden 's national holiday) in 1523, they made Gustav Vasa their king. This is sometimes considered as the foundation of modern Sweden . Shortly afterwards he rejected Catholicism and led Sweden to the Protestant Reformation . Gustav Vasa is by some considered to be Sweden 's " Father of the Nation ".

Modern history

The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw a significant population increase, which the writer Esaias Tegner in 1833 famously attributed to "the peace, the ( smallpox ) vaccine , and the potatoes " . Between 1750 and 1850, the population in Sweden doubled. According to some scholars, mass emigration to America became the only way to prevent famine and rebellion; over 1 percent of the population emigrated annually during the 1880s. Nevertheless, Sweden remained poor, retaining a nearly entirely agricultural economy even as Denmark and Western European countries began to industrialize. Many looked towards America for a better life during this time. It is believed that between 1850 and 1910 more than one million Swedes moved to the United States . In the early 20th century, more Swedes lived in Chicago than in Gothenburg ( Sweden 's second largest city). Most Swedish immigrants moved to the Midwestern United States , with a large population in Minnesota . Some also moved to Canada and others in smaller numbers to Argentina .

A map of Sweden with largest cities and lakes and most important roads and railroads, from a printed CIA World Factbook . (See also: Atlas of Sweden )

Despite the slow rate of industrialization into the 19th century, many important changes were taking place in the agrarian economy due to innovations and the large population growth. These innovations included government-sponsored programs of enclosure , aggressive exploitation of agricultural lands, and the introduction of new crops such as the potato. Due also to the fact that the Swedish peasantry had never been enserfed as elsewhere in Europe, the Swedish farming culture began to take on a critical role in the Swedish political process, which has continued through modern times with modern Agrarian party (now called the Centre Party). Between 1870 and 1914, Sweden finally began developing into the industrialized economy that exists today.

During the late nineteenth century, Sweden was influenced by Protestant temperance movements , mainly of American origin. As a result of their intense propaganda, it is often claimed that alcohol consumption was unusually high in Sweden at this time. However, there is no factual ground for believing that alcohol consumption was higher than in other comparable countries.

Strong grassroots movements sprung up in Sweden during the latter half of the nineteenth century (unions, temperance groups, and independent religious groups), creating a strong foundation of democratic principles. These movements precipitated Sweden 's migration into a modern parliamentary democracy, achieved by the time of World War I . As the Industrial Revolution progressed during the twentieth century, people gradually began moving into cities to work in factories , and became involved in Socialist unions . A Socialist revolution was avoided in 1917, following the re-introduction of Parliamentarism , and the country was democratized .

Administrative divisions

Image near Kebnekaise from Lappland in northern Norrland

Sweden is divided into twenty-one counties ( lan ). They are Stockholm County , Uppsala County , Sodermanland County , Ostergotland County , Jonkoping County , Kronoberg County , Kalmar County , Gotland County , Blekinge County , Skane County , Halland County , Vastra Gotaland County , Varmland County , Orebro County , Vastmanland County , Dalarna County , Gavleborg County , Vasternorrland County , Jamtland County , Vasterbotten County and Norrbotten County .

Each county has a County Administrative Board or lansstyrelse , which is appointed by the Government (the first Swedish County Administrative Board was made up by the Swedish Prime minister Axel Oxenstierna in 1634). In each county there is also a separate County Council or landsting , which is elected directly by the people. Each county further divides into a number of municipalities or kommuner , making a total of 290 municipalities in 2004. There are also older historical divisions, primarily the twenty-five provinces and three lands , which still retain some significance.

Largest municipalities

Gamla Stan , Stockholm .

Halso Island in Gothenburg's archipelago , northern Gotaland .

Skane , in southern Gotaland .

Denotes inhabitants in the municipality ( kommun ) area. Area is in km? . The figures are as of December 31, 2006.

Culture

Traditional Swedish rural house , painted in the traditional Swedish Falu red .

At 190 metres , the award-winning Turning Torso skyscraper in Malmo is the tallest skyscraper in Sweden and the second-tallest residential building in Europe .

Swedish authors of worldwide recognition include Henning Mankell , Carolus Linnaeus (the father of botany), Emanuel Swedenborg , August Strindberg , Selma Lagerlof , Vilhelm Moberg , Harry Martinson and Astrid Lindgren , the author of the Pippi Longstocking books.

Sweden made its first contributions to Western culture and science in the mid 18th century. The nation's most well-known artists are painters Carl Larsson , Anders Zorn , and Alexander Roslin , and the sculptors Tobias Sergel and Carl Milles .

Some well-known inventions and discoveries, historical and modern, were made by Swedes. Some notable figures are Alfred Nobel , Anders Celsius , Baltzar von Platen , Carl Wilhelm Scheele , Jons Jakob Berzelius , John Ericsson , Anders Jonas Angstrom , Lars Magnus Ericsson , Svante Arrhenius , Arvid Carlsson , Hakan Lans .

Swedish twentieth-century culture is noted by pioneering works in the early days of cinema , with Mauritz Stiller and Victor Sjostrom . In the 1920s–1980s, the filmmakers Ingmar Bergman and Bo Widerberg received Academy Awards , and actresses Greta Garbo , Ingrid Bergman , Ann-Margret , Lena Olin , Zarah Leander , and Anita Ekberg made careers abroad. The actors Max von Sydow , Stellan Skarsgard , Dolph Lundgren and Peter Stormare are also worth mentioning. More recently, the films of Lukas Moodysson and Lasse Hallstrom have received international recognition.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Sweden was seen as an international leader in what is now referred to as the " sexual revolution ", with gender equality having particularly been promoted. At the present time, the number of single people is one of the highest in the world. The early Swedish film I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967) reflected a liberal view of sexuality, including scenes of love making that caught international attention, and introduced the concept of the "Swedish sin". Sweden has also become, in recent decades, fairly liberal regarding homosexuality , as is reflected in the popular acceptance of films such as Fucking Amal . In the absence of legislation on same-sex marriages , Sweden has a civil union for same-sex couples ("registered partnership").