Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
After 500 BC, the Iron Age brought about technological advances, demonstrated by ar-
chaeological finds of agricultural tools, graves and primitive furnaces, but as the climate
worsened again, the downturn in agriculture coincided with the arrival of the Svea -
powerful tribes who ended up settling much of Sweden. By AD 600, the Svea people of
the Mälaren valley (just west of Stockholm) had gained supremacy, and their kingdom,
Svea Rike, gave the country of Sweden its name: Sverige.
The Vikings
, by Magnus Magnusson, is an extremely readable history book, covering Vik-
ing achievements in Scandinavia (including Sweden), as well as their wild deeds around
the world.
Vikings & Christians
Scandinavia's greatest impact on world history probably occurred during the Viking Age,
when hardy pagan Norsemen set sail for other shores. The Swedish Vikings were more in-
clined towards trade than their Norwegian or Danish counterparts, but their reputation as
fearsome warriors was fully justified. At home it was the height of paganism; Viking lead-
ers claimed descent from Freyr, 'God of the World', and celebrations at Uppsala involved
human sacrifices.
The Vikings sailed a new type of boat that was fast and highly manoeuvrable, but still
sturdy enough for ocean crossings. Initial hit-and-run raids along the European coast were
followed by major military expeditions, settlement and trade. The well-travelled Vikings
settled part of the Slavic heartland, giving it the name 'Rus' and ventured as far as New-
foundland, Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) and Baghdad, setting up trade with the
Byzantine Empire.
Christianity only took hold when Sweden's first Christian king, Olof Skötkonung (c
968-1020) was baptised. By 1160, King Erik Jedvarsson (Sweden's patron saint, St Erik)
had virtually destroyed the last remnants of paganism.
Rise of the Swedish State
By the 13th century, royal power disintegrated over succession squabbles between the Erik
and Sverker families, with medieval statesman Birger Jarl (1210-66) rising to fill the gap.
