Sweden

Sweden ( i/ˈswiːdən/ SWEE-dən; Swedish: Sverige [ˈsværjɛ] ( )), officially the Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: Konungariket Sverige ), is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. Sweden borders Norway and Finland, and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Øresund. Etymology Main article: Name of Sweden The etymology of Swedes, and thus Sweden, is generally not agreed upon but may derive from Proto-Germanic Swihoniz meaning "one's own",[18] referring to one's own Germanic tribe. History Prehistory A Vendel-era helmet, at the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities. Sweden's prehistory begins in the Allerød oscillation, a warm period around 12,000 BC, with Late Palaeolithic reindeer-hunting camps of the Bromme culture at the edge of the ice in what is now the country's southernmost province. Viking and Middle Ages Viking expeditions (blue): going into Russia were Swedish Vikings. I have seen the Rus as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the Itil. The Kingdom of Sweden

History of Sweden Modern Sweden started out of the Kalmar Union formed in 1397 and by the unification of the country by King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. In the 17th century Sweden expanded its territories to form the Swedish empire. Most of these conquered territories had to be given up during the 18th century. Pre-historic age: 9,000 BC–AD 800[edit] Sweden, as well as the adjacent country Norway, has a high concentration of petroglyphs (hällristningar[2] in Swedish) throughout the country, with the highest concentration in the province of Bohuslän and around Gamleby and Västervik in northern county of Kalmar, also called "Tjust" (Peterson 2009). Early Swedish history: 800–1500[edit] For centuries, the Swedes were merchant sea men well known for their far-reaching trade. Viking expeditions (blue): depicting the immense breadth of their voyages throughout most of Europe, North Atlantic and Mediterranean The Vikings from Sweden mainly traveled east into Russia. Modern Sweden: 1523[edit]