Sweden is one of Scandinavia 's most fascinating countries and is home to many interesting sights which attract millions of tourists from all over the world each year. The largest of the five Nordic countries, Sweden forms part of Scandinavia in northwestern Europe and shares a long land frontier with Norway to the west. Along the south, the country is bordered by Finland, the Gulf of Bothania , and the Baltic Sea to the east.
The country has a quite homogeneous population in ethnic stock, religion, and language. Its population is currently estimated to be at around 9 million, with Swedes comprising the majority of the population. Finnish and Lapp minorities and foreign-born immigrants like the Norwegians, Danes, Yugoslavs, and Greeks are also present.
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After all the sightseeing you can finish things off with a visit to the island of Gotland in the Baltic, famed for its beaches, spas, and sailing for a bit of relaxation and recreation. This is also a good place to dust up on your Swedish history by visiting the capital of Visby , one of the oldest cities in Sweden as well as the preserved medieval town at Kattlundsgård.
Sweden 's history dates back to the end of the Ice age, c.10, 000-c.8000 B.C. when it was first populated by Paleolithic hunters. During the Bronze Age, c.15, 000-500 B.C. the people inhabiting the land which was to become Sweden traded lively with the rest of Europe . From c.100, extensive trade was shared with Rome and in the 4 th century trade was centered particularly on Gothland. Around this time, small kingdoms were created by tribes like the Suiones, the Goths, the Halsgins, and Lapps all of which are considered the most popular.
The Christian faith came in Sweden in the 9 th century. When the Goths were finally conquered by the Siuones by 1000, this led to the creation of the first Swedish state. In the 19 th century parts of Finland and Keralia were occupied by the Swedes. Slavery was ended in 1335, and first Swedish national law was established in 1350.
In 1397, the Danish Queen Margaret I unified Denmark , Sweden , and Norway under the Kalmar Union, which lasted until 1523. During this time, Swedish opposition against Denmark and the Hanseatic League was at its strongest, led by Gustav Vasa, who used the murder of Swedish leaders in the Bloodbath of Stockholm to lead an uprising against Denmark . Gustav Vasa ruled Sweden from 1523 to 1560 after years of fighting for Swedish independence. He was also the one who introduced Lutheranism to Sweden and made it the national religion.
Under the leadership of Gustav II Adolf from 1611- 1632, the country entered the 30 Years' War on the side of the Protestants and gained lands in Northern Germany . Sweden 's period as an empire reached its peak under the leadership of Charles X Gustav (1654-1660) but eventually waned in the 18 th century with the rise of Russia as a united empire under the leadership of Peter I.
Sweden lost its Baltic territories and Northern German lands in the Great Northern War, on the death of Charles XII. Sweden 's Age of Freedom came soon after, an era where an early form of parliamentary was established. This era came to a sudden halt in 1772 following a coup d'etat by Gustav III and the reestablishment of a strong monarchy.
Sweden joined the Third Coalition against France during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1809, Russia , which was an ally of France , seized Finland which leads to Gustav IV Adolf's abdication from the throne and the succession of Charles XIII. Soon after, the Riksdag gave Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, a marshal in Napoleon's army, the title of crown prince. From 1818 to 1844, he ruled as Charles XIV John. Norway was ceded to Sweden in 1814 and remained with Sweden until 1905.
Sweden stayed out of the two world wars with its policy of nonalignment and focused instead on social and economic improvement. It joined the UN in 1946, one of the first countries who did not take an active role in WWII to do so. Sweden 's neutrality during the war made it an asset in the post-war rebuilding of Europe , which also led to an economic upswing in the 50's and 60's.
The social democratic party ruled the nation for 44 years and spent the better part of the 50's and 60's founding the Swedish welfare state. By 1976, the social democrats lost to the liberal/right wing coalition and over the next six years four governments ruled and fell, and the social democrats regained their hold on the government by 1982.
A stunning blow came to the whole country when Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated on February 28, 1986. The Social Democrats were again ousted from power after the September 1991 elections, replaced by a new coalition of four conservative parties who resolved to reduce taxes and the welfare state but keep Sweden 's neutrality intact. In September 1994, the social democratic party again regained the majority after three years as the opposition.
Swedish constituents voted for membership to the European Union in 1994, although they rejected the Euro when it came out in 1999 and again in 2003. The Swedish government is now being run by a center-right alliance under the leadership of Fredrick Reinfeldt of the Moderate Party after wining the September 2006 elections.
