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.
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.
