The History of Sweden: Runestones and Royal Crowns | Paperback Book

This book provides an overview of Sweden's history from the Viking Age to modern times, covering political, cultural, and military developments. It discusses key figures, events, and societal changes that shaped the nation.

Key Topics Covered:

• Viking Period: Trade centers like Birka and runestone memorials.
• Medieval Unions: The Kalmar Union and related conflicts.
• Reformation Era: Gustav Vasa's policies and church reforms.
• 17th–18th Century Wars: Gustavus Adolphus' campaigns and Charles XII's reign.
• 19th Century Transitions: The Bernadotte dynasty's establishment.

Reader Feedback Example: "This book describes battles and historical events clearly." — Dr. Elin Vogt (Scandinavian History, Uppsala University)

Book Features:

• Comprehensive Coverage: Explores periods from early raids to dynastic shifts.
• Intended Audience: Suitable for those interested in Scandinavian history and military events.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1: The Stone Age and Early Settlers

• Early human migration routes
• Hunter-gatherer life and mobility
• Transition from Mesolithic to Neolithic farming

Chapter 2: The Bronze Age and Emerging Societies

• Long-distance trade in copper and tin
• Development of bronze tools and weapons
• Rock carvings and religious practices

Chapter 3: The Iron Age and Tribal Formations

• Spread of ironworking technology
• Contacts with the Roman Empire
• Hillforts and tribal power structures

Chapter 4: The Viking Age: Trade, Exploration, and Society

• Longships and voyages across seas and rivers
• Birka and Helgö as major trade centers
• Runestones, jarls, and Viking social hierarchies

Chapter 5: Christianization and New Power Structures

• Missionaries and royal conversions
• Church’s growing role in governance
• Tensions between pagan traditions and Christianity

Chapter 6: Early Medieval Kingdoms and Law Codes

• Regional laws and local Things
• Riksdag precursors and noble conflicts
• Attempts at unifying legal structures

Chapter 7: Royal Dynasties and Shifting Alliances

• Civil wars between Sverker and Eric lines
• Magnus Ladulås’s efforts to consolidate power
• Foreign marriages influencing dynastic politics

Chapter 8: The Rise of Towns and Commercial Growth

• Hanseatic trade connections
• Urban charters, guilds, and merchant influence
• Commercial changes affecting social structures

Chapter 9: The Kalmar Union and Queen Margaret

• Union’s establishment in 1397
• Power imbalances favoring Denmark
• Swedish noble resentment and eventual rebellions

Chapter 10: Internal Conflicts and Noble Power

• Civil wars under union rule
• Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson’s uprising
• Sten Sture regents guarding Swedish autonomy

Chapter 11: The Road to Independence from the Union

• Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520
• Gustav Vasa’s rebellion
• Dissolution of the Kalmar Union

Chapter 12: The Early Vasa Era

• Reformation and royal control over the Church
• New taxation and centralized administration
• Rural uprisings, including Dacke’s rebellion

Chapter 13: Gustav Vasa’s Reforms and Centralization

• Reduction of noble influence
• Mining sector and expanded revenue
• Foundations of a modern Swedish state

Chapter 14: Expansion under Gustavus Adolphus

• Military innovations and lighter artillery
• Conflicts with Poland-Lithuania and Denmark
• Rising Baltic dominance and early triumphs

Chapter 15: The Thirty Years’ War and Its Effects

• Sweden’s intervention in German conflicts
• Key victories at Breitenfeld and Lützen
• Peace of Westphalia and territorial gains

Chapter 16: The Great Power Period and Baltic Dominance

• Territorial expansion after Westphalia
• Charles X and Charles XI’s consolidation
• Absolute monarchy and state reforms

Chapter 17: The Great Northern War and Decline

• Charles XII’s ambitious campaigns
• Narva and Poltava as pivotal battles
• Treaty of Nystad and the end of Swedish empire

Chapter 18: The Age of Liberty and Parliamentary Rule

• Rise of Hats vs. Caps party factions
• Looser censorship and economic shifts
• Gustav III’s 1772 coup d’état ending the era

Chapter 19: Gustav III, Enlightenment, and Conflicts

• Cultural reforms (opera, theater, literature)
• Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)
• Assassination of the king in 1792

Chapter 20: The Napoleonic Era and the Transition to 19th Century

• Loss of Finland to Russia (1809)
• Adoption of the Bernadotte dynasty
• Union with Norway and constitutional changes

Product Details

Dimensions: 5.8 × 8.3 inches / 15.24 x 22.86 cm
Cover: Paperback