Sweden population
The Swedish population in 2010. In Sweden the ages where there are the most people are between 60-64 and 15-19. From looking at these two population pyramids you can see how far Sweden's population has gone, in 1960 no one lived past the age of 90 in Sweden and now there are people in the Swedish population that are over 100 years old.
History of Swedish settlement
This image represents what could have been Sweden during the Ice Age fromhttp://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/se.htm
Much like countries in the region around Sweden, Sweden was a complete icecap due to the Ice Age fourteen thousand years ago. As the ice began to recede humans began entering Southern Sweden—the first dwellings found date back to 12,000 BC. The first humans in Sweden were mostly reindeer-hunting tribes who chose to travel north. Many of the inhabitants were apart of the Sami tribe and this tribe still lives in Sweden and raises reindeer today. The temperatures in much of early Scandinavia were still frigid so many of the settlers stayed near the coasts being near the coasts also allowed the early settlers to fish and potentially have contact with other nations through boating.
From 8,000-6,000 BC many of the first settlers of Sweden were hunters and gatherers and they used basic stone tools and weapons to get the job done, it was not until 4,000 BC when farming was introduced to Swedes and in 2,000 BC that they used bronze tools and weapons. These dwellings and their graves from the Stone Age which last until about 1,800 BC can still be found today in Southern Sweden. In 500 BC iron was finally introduced to the Swedish. During the Iron Age the Swedish had contact with the Roman Empire; they traded slaves, fur, and amber for Mediterranean luxuries.
As Sweden grew the Viking Age (800-1050 AD) started which helped Sweden expand—mostly to the east. Many people have a misconception of Vikings from, they assume that all Vikings were solely traveling to rape and pillage other nations; however they were big on trading with other nations, the Swedes cared deeply about trade. The Vikings traveled along the Baltic coast and rivers which stretched into present-day Russia. In their travels the Vikings developed trade relationships with the Byzantine Empire and Arab kingdoms.
In the Viking Age classes began to develop in Sweden. There were three classes the slaves or thralls, freemen, and then jarls or earls. The slaves like many in that time were treated horribly. Above slaves were freemen whose wealth varied based on how much land they owned. Above the freemen were jarls or earls which were the wealthier and more educated of the population. Around the turn of the millennium the Viking power declined due to an increasing economy in continental Europe.
Christianity finally reached Sweden in the 9th century due to a somewhat unsuccessful mission led by Ansgar. Much of Sweden was pagan for many years. Around this time Sweden also became a kingdom, but it was not a very powerful kingdom at first. When a king died it was not necessary that his oldest would take over; it could be another son or even the dead king’s brother, much like many early monarchies and governments it needed some fine tuning. The kings did eventually become more powerful in the years to come. “In 1280 King Magnus Ladulås issued a statute authorizing the establishment of nobility and the organization of society on the feudal model”. Then Swedish king, Olof Stokonung, became a Christian in 1008 which launched Sweden into Christianity, they became Christian in the 12th century.
From 8,000-6,000 BC many of the first settlers of Sweden were hunters and gatherers and they used basic stone tools and weapons to get the job done, it was not until 4,000 BC when farming was introduced to Swedes and in 2,000 BC that they used bronze tools and weapons. These dwellings and their graves from the Stone Age which last until about 1,800 BC can still be found today in Southern Sweden. In 500 BC iron was finally introduced to the Swedish. During the Iron Age the Swedish had contact with the Roman Empire; they traded slaves, fur, and amber for Mediterranean luxuries.
As Sweden grew the Viking Age (800-1050 AD) started which helped Sweden expand—mostly to the east. Many people have a misconception of Vikings from, they assume that all Vikings were solely traveling to rape and pillage other nations; however they were big on trading with other nations, the Swedes cared deeply about trade. The Vikings traveled along the Baltic coast and rivers which stretched into present-day Russia. In their travels the Vikings developed trade relationships with the Byzantine Empire and Arab kingdoms.
In the Viking Age classes began to develop in Sweden. There were three classes the slaves or thralls, freemen, and then jarls or earls. The slaves like many in that time were treated horribly. Above slaves were freemen whose wealth varied based on how much land they owned. Above the freemen were jarls or earls which were the wealthier and more educated of the population. Around the turn of the millennium the Viking power declined due to an increasing economy in continental Europe.
Christianity finally reached Sweden in the 9th century due to a somewhat unsuccessful mission led by Ansgar. Much of Sweden was pagan for many years. Around this time Sweden also became a kingdom, but it was not a very powerful kingdom at first. When a king died it was not necessary that his oldest would take over; it could be another son or even the dead king’s brother, much like many early monarchies and governments it needed some fine tuning. The kings did eventually become more powerful in the years to come. “In 1280 King Magnus Ladulås issued a statute authorizing the establishment of nobility and the organization of society on the feudal model”. Then Swedish king, Olof Stokonung, became a Christian in 1008 which launched Sweden into Christianity, they became Christian in the 12th century.
From this map you can see why fishing and staying near the coast was important in Sweden. Staying near the coast made trade with countries like Denmark easier and as you can see northern Sweden happens to be near the Arctic Circle which is very cold
from: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/se.htm
from: http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/se.htm
For More Information Check out these websites which will give more insight into Sweden!
http://sweden.se/society/history-of-sweden/
http://www.eupedia.com/sweden/trivia.shtml
http://sweden.se/society/history-of-sweden/
http://www.eupedia.com/sweden/trivia.shtml