A Concise History of Sweden

by Neil Kent

• ISBN13: 9780521812849
• ISBN10: 0521812844
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-07-14
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

A comprehensive history of Sweden is much needed. Neil Kent's book sweeps through Sweden's history from the Stone Age to the present day. Early coverage includes Viking hegemony, the Scandinavian Union, the Reformation and Sweden's political zenith as Europe's greatest superpower in the seventeenth century, while later chapters explore the Swedish Enlightenment, royal absolutism, the commitment to military neutrality and Pan-Scandinavianism. The author brings his account up to date by focusing on recent developments: the rise of Social Democracy, the establishment of the welfare state, the country's acceptance of membership in the European Union and its progressive ecological programme. The book successfully combines the politics, economics and social and cultural mores of one of the world's most successfully functioning and humane societies. This is an informative and entertaining account for students and general readers.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	p. vi
Maps	p. vii
Preface	p. ix
From prehistory to Viking hegemony	p. 1
The formation and growth of the Swedish state	p. 16
The territorial consolidation of Sweden	p. 49
Towards a centralist and military state	p. 61
The collapse of absolutism and the Age of Freedom	p. 101
Royal absolutism restored	p. 129
Constitutional Sweden	p. 149
The industrialisation and capitalisation of Sweden	p. 172
The world wars and Swedish neutrality	p. 216
Triumph of the Swedish welfare state	p. 238
Conclusion	p. 264
Appendices
Chronology	p. 270
Monarchs and regents of Sweden	p. 281
Prime ministers	p. 284
Selected further reading	p. 286
Index	p. 288
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