Sweden

Geography/Facts



Area Sq. Mi./ 449,964 sq km Land able to grow crops/ 5.93% Climate/ temperate in south; subarctic in north Highest point/ 2,111 meters ( Kebnekaise ) Lowest Point/ - 2.4 meters (bay of Lake Hammarsjon) Population/ 9,059,651 Birth Rate/ 10.13 births/ 1,000 people Life Expectancy/ Male: 78.59 years Female: 83.26 years Religions/ 87% Jewish; 13% other Literacy Rate/ 99% Government/ Constitutional Monarchy Capital/ Stockholm Constitution Gained/ Jan. 1, 1975 Unemployment Rate/ 6.4% Greatest Imports/ Iron and Steel, Precision Equipment (radio and telephone parts), Wood Pulp and Paper, Processed Foods, and Motor Vehicles. Roadways/ 425,300 km Railroads/ 11,528 km Waterways/ 2,052 km Airports/ 97

(All facts obtained and belong to CIA-World Factbook; []) History Sweden started to attract people around 10,000 years ago, when, due to inland ice melting, settlers started to gather. These people, known as the Vikings, first survived by scavenging, hunting, and fishing, but during the stone age, farming techniuqes were created. Vikings main occupations were farming and trade. Many viking journeys were made to trade, and usually turned into pillaging and looting villages. Few expeditions were created to loot and pillage, and it is a common misconception that Vikings were mainly Pillagers. Swedish vikings went on trade expeditions to eastern Europe, including Byzantium, the Caliphate, and Russia. Swedish Vikings were also heavy influences on Russia, through trade, and their general presence. Then between 750-1060 AD the Vikings started to create a state ruled by two kings. The two states, called "Göter" and "Svear", which later came together to form the country that is known as Sweden. //**BECOMING A NATION**// In 1100 AD., a political system started to be created. During the Middle Ages, Chiefs vied for power over the king. After many struggles for power an event known as "The Bloodbath of Stockholm" in 1520 caused Gustav Vasa to come out on top in 1521. Gustav started to force taxes upon farms and farms became single units, enforced by the sheriffs to pay their taxes. This caused a rebellion among farmers, but Gustav squashed the rebellion and in the process showed even more authority. Gustav also introduced Protestantism among the Catholic Nation and converted it. The King used this to create propaganda in the church with, instead of the Pope as a leader, him as the ruler. This gave Gustav more power, but caused the country to have to reform the schools and hospitals, which were services the Abby's provided, and it cut him off religious-wise from the rest of the heavily Cathiloc Country. Gustav's health then started to decrease in the 1550's, and after giving his so called, "Last Speech," in 1560, he died after telling the people, who were most likely terrified under his rule, to stay unified. Sweden, Denmark, Poland, and Russia found an opportunity to gain more land once the Baltic territories were no longer under the rule of Germany. In the process Sweden gained control of the northern part of Estonia. Sweden also took advantage of Russia's civil war, and gained the, "Finnish part," of Sweden. With control of some of the Baltic territories it made trade between them and Western Europe extremely easy. Sweden also now fought for power over the Baltic Sea. Once they controlled it, this led to a period called, "The Great Power Period," under the rule of Gustav II Adolf. Gustav was in constant war, and with the responsibility of taking part in The 30 Year War and defending Sweden's large borders, he died in The Battle of Lützen. Karl XI then took control of Sweden, but found it hard to control Sweden's the borders Gustav once ruled over. Karl XII, his son, gained control of Sweden after his father's death, and did very well defending Sweden's borders, defeating Denmark and Russia. Karl then tried to fight for a decisive victory over Russia by attacking them again, but as Russia retreated, they burned the villages of Sweden to the ground. Karl tried for another victory over Norway and then died in the trenches and, without a ruler, Sweden could not defend themselves. In 1721 they signed a peace treaty and lost their Baltic Provinces, their territories in northern Germany, and the Finnish part of Sweden.
 * //SWEDEN'S ORIGINS//**
 * //"THE GREAT POWER PERIOD," RISE AND FALL//**

//**MODERN SWEDEN STARTS TO BE CREATED**// After their fall from power, Sweden went through a reform at the end of the 18th century. They created an absolute monarchy, but in 1809 introduced a constitution bringing the courts, parliament, and King into political power. Then a revivalist and temperance movement took place in the 19th century halting paychecks to be partly payed in alcohol, and causing education to take a more important place in Swedish Culture. Sweden started becoming a, "modern-welfare state," and developing into a political and economic country over an agricultural country.

//**THE NEUTRAL COUNTRY**// Ever since Sweden fell from its position as the Great Power, it never really got back to being that all powerful army that was in constant war. Instead, they were focused on education and health. They even introduced a Parliament government, and when World War I came around, they gave food and other supporting factors to nearby countries, but the declared themselves neutral. Other countries thought it impossible for Sweden to stay neutral during World War II, especially since their neighboring countries were already captured. Sure enough though, Sweden stayed neutral. Germany didn't even attack them, mostly because there was a key mine in Sweden that provided the Germans with iron ore. They also transported German troops by rail. And, due to Germany not laying waste to their country, Sweden was much better off then the countries around them, causing an economic boom. The economy's rise gradually slowed down, but while it was around it helped Sweden establish welfare policies they wanted. The welfare policies combined with the overall prosperous way Sweden was managing their country caused Sweden to become a very successful, modern country to this day.

Cinema Sweden has had a rich film culture during it's long history. Sweden's first movies, loosely based the novels Miss Julie and The Father by August Strindberg, were made in 1911. The People of Hemsö was made 10 years later being another work of Strindberg, and is renowned worldwide as one of the best films in early Swedish film history. After these movies, Sweden entered a Golden Age of film, but this age came to an abrupt halt in the 1950's when everyone moved to Hollywood, except for Ingmar Bergman, probably the most famous early filmaker in Sweden. During the time after the ,"Golden Age," he made __Smiles of Summer__, __Wild Strawberries__, and __Through a Glass Darkly__, which at the time were all very popular films. Ingrid Bergman, an actress from Sweden, also acheived international fame after winning three Oscars, and starring in the famous, __Casablanca__. The Gothenburg Film Festival has also been a gathering place, in earlier times and today, to watch and interpret films. Sweden even has the most Cinemas per Capita of any country in Europe.



 Music The Swedes have produced some of the most popular musicians in the world. One of the most well known pop bands also came from Sweden. Abba made it's first hit song, "Waterloo," in 1974, and proceeded to become one of the most famous Europop groups ever. They made other famous pop bands, such as Roxette and Ace of Base, able to become well known among other countries. Other than the Volvo car company, no one made more money for Sweden during their existence. They were also covered by bands such as A*Teen, Lush, and U2, and even had a movie and famous broadway musical based on them and their music. The most famous recent band from Sweden is considered The Hives, but smaller bands, including the Shout Out Louds and The Knife, have written music for the show, __One Tree Hill__, appeared on David Letterman's and Jay Leno's talk shows, and have won several Swedish Grammis Awards.

media type="custom" key="3948495"

[]