Sweden's rich history that includes the Viking Ages lasted briefly between the eighth and eleventh century. Many believed that the Vikings traveled only East and South of present day Sweden. This would take the soldiers to present day Finland, the Baltic countries, Russia, Belarus, The Ukraine and quite possibly as far as the Black Sea. There routes took them down south past Constantinople where they performed numerous raids.
Many people feared the Vikings but one individual general took interest in their great prowess and wanted to use it to his benefit. The Vikings spoke of to their expeditions as "merchant journeys". Theopolis, the Byzantine Emperor admired their war skills and summoned them to serve has his private guard. One Arabic writer comment on the Vikings as "the perfect physical specimens. Big, blonde and ruddy. They wear neither caftans or tunics, but the men wear a garment that covers one side of the body and leaves a hand free. Every man has an axe, sword and knife and keeps each by him at all times. Their swords are broad and grooved, sort of a Frankish sort."
Rune stones in Sweden memorialize many of the Swedish Vikings escapades. The Greece and Varangian Rune stones in particular. They also took routes westward which are commiserated on English Rune stones. Their last escapade appears to be ill fated. It took the barbarians to Serkland led by Ingvar the Far-Travelled, the region south-east of the Caspian Sea. There are Ingvar Rune stones, which mention no survivors of this excursion. What happened to the crew is not known. The general belief is that they all perished due to a sickness that spread through the crews' population.
The Scandinavian Viking Age documents a flourishing country of trade centers. An important trade center in the Baltic area during the ninth and tenth centuries there have been remains found of reflecting the Vikings had a large harbor with shipbuilding yards and handcraft industries. During this time trade brought an abundance of silver.
Christianity was made known to the Vikings in the year 829. However, paganism was not fully substituted by Christianity up until almost 400 years later. Rivalry and domestic skirmishes marred the Nordic's from 1100-1400k, nearly 300 hundred years. Sweden also began to expand into Finland throughout this time era. Feudalism never progressed in Sweden as it did the remainder of Europe throughout this time. Because feudalism wasn't stretched across Sweden, their large populace of peasants persisted as a free class of farmers. Slavery was rare in Sweden and with acceptance of Christianity, what small amount there was Christianity thrust out of the region. In addition, slaves were problematic to obtain from the lands west of the Baltic Sea and the expansion of cities found no need for slave labor. Serfdom and slavery were mutually abolished by decree of King Magnus Erickson in 1335. The peasantry absorbed the former slaves and they converted to laborers in the towns.
Even with the growth of towns and abolishment of slavery and serfdom, Sweden persisted to be a deprived economically backward kingdom. Their chief form of exchange continued to be bartering. The Black Death struck Sweden in the 14th century and annihilated the population. During this period Sweden and Norway were combined and under the queen of Denmark in 1397, Sweden, Norway and Denmark were all united. However, though combined, the Danish aristocracy was unable to control the Swedish nobility.
Many people feared the Vikings but one individual general took interest in their great prowess and wanted to use it to his benefit. The Vikings spoke of to their expeditions as "merchant journeys". Theopolis, the Byzantine Emperor admired their war skills and summoned them to serve has his private guard. One Arabic writer comment on the Vikings as "the perfect physical specimens. Big, blonde and ruddy. They wear neither caftans or tunics, but the men wear a garment that covers one side of the body and leaves a hand free. Every man has an axe, sword and knife and keeps each by him at all times. Their swords are broad and grooved, sort of a Frankish sort."
Rune stones in Sweden memorialize many of the Swedish Vikings escapades. The Greece and Varangian Rune stones in particular. They also took routes westward which are commiserated on English Rune stones. Their last escapade appears to be ill fated. It took the barbarians to Serkland led by Ingvar the Far-Travelled, the region south-east of the Caspian Sea. There are Ingvar Rune stones, which mention no survivors of this excursion. What happened to the crew is not known. The general belief is that they all perished due to a sickness that spread through the crews' population.
The Scandinavian Viking Age documents a flourishing country of trade centers. An important trade center in the Baltic area during the ninth and tenth centuries there have been remains found of reflecting the Vikings had a large harbor with shipbuilding yards and handcraft industries. During this time trade brought an abundance of silver.
Christianity was made known to the Vikings in the year 829. However, paganism was not fully substituted by Christianity up until almost 400 years later. Rivalry and domestic skirmishes marred the Nordic's from 1100-1400k, nearly 300 hundred years. Sweden also began to expand into Finland throughout this time era. Feudalism never progressed in Sweden as it did the remainder of Europe throughout this time. Because feudalism wasn't stretched across Sweden, their large populace of peasants persisted as a free class of farmers. Slavery was rare in Sweden and with acceptance of Christianity, what small amount there was Christianity thrust out of the region. In addition, slaves were problematic to obtain from the lands west of the Baltic Sea and the expansion of cities found no need for slave labor. Serfdom and slavery were mutually abolished by decree of King Magnus Erickson in 1335. The peasantry absorbed the former slaves and they converted to laborers in the towns.
Even with the growth of towns and abolishment of slavery and serfdom, Sweden persisted to be a deprived economically backward kingdom. Their chief form of exchange continued to be bartering. The Black Death struck Sweden in the 14th century and annihilated the population. During this period Sweden and Norway were combined and under the queen of Denmark in 1397, Sweden, Norway and Denmark were all united. However, though combined, the Danish aristocracy was unable to control the Swedish nobility.
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