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A Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: '') is a Nordic country in Scandinavia, in Northern Europe. These are bordered by Norway on the west, Finland on the northeast, the Skagerrak Strait and a Kattegat Strait on a southwest, and the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia on the east. Sweden has the moo people density altogether however its metropolitan areas, with virtually all of the inl& consisting of forests and mountainous woods.} Fallowing a Viking high culture had passed, Sweden spent two or three of centuries fighting by owning its neighboring countries Denmark (from a 12th century – 1710), and Norway (in the 16th and 17th century). In the Seventeenth & 18th centuries Sweden extended its territory through warfare & became a Great Power, twice its current size – which extended territory it afterward misplaced in the century. Since 1814, Sweden has been at peace, adopting a policy of keeping free of alliances.

Sweden was one of a poorest countries around Europe in the 19th century, shaped by heavy alcohol consumption & dogmatical Protestantism, until improved transportation and communication allowed it to utilize natural plus from either different area of the united states, virtually all notably timber and iron ore, which allowed the creation of the welfare state in the early 20th century. In todays world, the united states is defined by liberal tendencies & a heavy national pursue equality, and unremarkably ranks among a top nations in the UN Human Development Index.

History
Independent article: History of Sweden Pre-history
For details, look at: Prehistoric Sweden

Before long when a recession of the last ice age, Sweden became populated by hunters and gatherers, during a Stone Age (6000 BC – 4000 BC). A area developed like slowly in comparison southern Europe; when a Romans wrote poetry, Scandinavia had good entered a Iron Age.

Sweden was foremost mentioned in the 1st century, by Roman historian Tacitus, who wrote that a Suiones tribe lived out inside the sea & were right in two arms & ships. This referred to a dweller of eastern Sweden: Svealand, primarily around flow of any stream Mälaren; towns of Stockholm, Sigtuna and Birka. From either this tribe, Sweden derived its name. A southern area, but then, were inhabited by Geats (Götar) in the Götaland territory. Little is known certainly just about that instance, however account according to Norse sagas and the Beowulf epos go back just about 2,000 years.

When you took a Viking Age of the 9th and 10th century, Swedish vikings travelled east setting its mark on the Baltic countries, Russia and the Black Sea, and farther through the rivers of Russia down south to Konstantinopel and southern Europe.

Middle Ages
For details, view: Early Swedish History and Foundation of Modern Sweden''

Sustaining a Christianization in the 12th century, the united states became consolidated, with its centre at a a water supply-ways of a northern Baltic & the Gulf of Finland. In the 14th century Sweden, like a rest of Europe, was stricken per Black Death (the Plague), by owning completely its symptom.

When you took a middle ages, a expansion of Sweden into a northern woods of Laplandia, the Scandinavian peninsula, & present-contemporary Finland continued. Finland was the a portion of Sweden proper from 1362 until 1809.

Within 1389, Norway, Denmark and Sweden were united under one monarch around a pact called the Kalmar Union. Fallowing many wars & disputes between these nations, King Gustav I of Sweden (Vasa) broke free around 1521 and established a united states state, considered the foundation of modern Sweden. Shortly subsequently he rejected Catholicism and led Sweden to the Protestant Reformation. Gustav I personally is considered to exist as Sweden's "Father of the Nation".

A major power
For details, understand: Rise of Sweden as a Great Power, Swedish Empire, Sweden and the Great Northern War, Absolute Monarchy in Sweden and Union between Sweden and Norway

A 17th century saw the rise of Sweden as one of the great powers in Europe, due to successful participation, initiated by King Gustav II Adolph, in the Thirty Years' War. Right when it was, it crumbled in the 18th century with Imperial Russia taking the reins of northern Europe in the Great Northern War, and eventually within 1809 when the Grand Duchy of Finland was created out of a eastern half of Sweden.

Fallowing Denmark experienced been defeated & ceded Norway in the Treaty of Kiel, the Campaign against Norway was fought in 1814, ending with a Convention of Moss, whereby Norway was forced into a union using Sweden that was non dissolved until 1905. However a campaign as well signified a go of the Swedish wars and its 200 years of peace are arguably unique in the globe now.

Modern history
For details, watch: Modernization of Sweden

the 19th century saw a important people increase, usually attributed to the triad factors of peace, vaccination and potatoes, doubling the people from either 1750 to 1850. Numerous population on a countryside, the residence for the majority, witnessed themselves away from function, leading to impoverishment & alcoholism. So the massive emigration to mainly a United States occurred 1850–1910. All a same, when the Industrial revolution in Sweden progressed during a century, humans bit by bit began go into a Swedish cities and factory operate, within which it organized in Socialistic unions. The threatening Socialist revolution was avoided in 1917, following a re-introduction of Parliamentarism, and a united states was democratized.

Recent history
For details, view: Industrialization of Sweden and Sweden during World War II
In the 20th century, Sweden remained neutral during World War I and World War II, although its neutrality during Globe War II has been disputed. Sweden continued to stay non-aligned when you took a Cold War – still today non existence the member of any military alliance. As a result a 2nd Globe War, Sweden mass produced apply of its natural resources & undemolished state, making it imaginable to expand its industry to supply a rebuilding of Europe, leading to Sweden existence one of a richest countries in the globe by 1960. When you took virtually all of a post-war era, the county was ruled per Swedish Social Democratic Party that established a welfare state, striving for the "well being for all"-policy.

Nevertheless, a Social Democratic Person presided complete a massive campaign of forced sterilisation which belies the "well being for all" policy. Working class women, gypsys, mixed race women & people by using impairment were targetted around the co-ordinated sterilisation campaign which ranks 2nd exclusively to the Nazis inside Germany. This aspect of Swedish policy is typically handily fogotten. A previous legal sterilisation took place within 1975.

When more economies were re-established, Sweden was surpassed in a Seventies, & got to adjust its politics in the Nineties, however however ranks among the top nations on swell existence of its dweller.

Politics
Independent article: Politics of Sweden

Sweden has been the monarchy for almost the millennium, with its taxation controlled by the Riksdag (parliament). It consisted of four chambers, made higher by representatives from either a Little joe estates: clerics, nobility, townsmen and peasants, until 1866 when Sweden became a Constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament. Its Number one Chamber was indirectly elected by local governments, and a 2nd Chamber directly elected around national elections each quatern years.

Legislative power was (symbolically) shared between king & parliament until 1975. Within 1971 the Riksdag became unicameral. Constitutionally, a 349-member Riksdag holds supreme authority within Sweden, & its acts are non subject to judicial review. Acts of the parliament must exist as processed unsuitable at each level in case it is apparently against constitutional laws. Legislation can be initiated per Cabinet or by members of Parliament. Members come elected on the basis of proportional representation for a tetrad-season term. A Constitution of Sweden can be altered by the Riksdag, which takes the supermajority and confirmation after a as a consequence general elections. Sweden has tierce more constitutional laws: a Work of Royal Successiin, a Freedom of Click Work & a Constitution on Freedom of Expression.

Executive power was shared between the King & a noble Privy Council until 1680, followed by the King's autocratic rule initiated by the most common estates of the Parliament. As a reaction to the failing Great Northern War, Parliamentarism was introduced in 1719, followed by three different flavours of Constitutional Monarchy in 1772, 1789 and 1809, the latter granting several civil liberties. A monarch remains when a formal, however just symbolical head of state with ceremonial duties.

Social Democracy has played a dominant political role since 1917, after Reformists had confirmed their strength & a revolutionaries left the person. Fallowing 1956, the Cabinets have been dominated by the Social Democrats. Sole ternary general elections keep around given the centre-best axis plenty seats within Parliament to form a government. These are considered a cause for the Swedish post-war welfare state, with the government expenditure of slightly to a higher degree 50% of the gross domestic product.

A select few Swedish political numbers that stand received worldwide recognition include Joe Hill, Raoul Wallenberg, Dag Hammarskjöld, Olof Palme and Hans Blix.

Energy politics
For details, look at Nuclear power phase-out#Sweden

When a 1973 oil crisis, the energy politics were determined to become less dependant on the import of petroleum. Since so, energy has been generated mostly from either hydropower and nuclear power. Accidents at a Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station (USA) prompted the Swedish parliament in 1980 after a referendum to decide that no farther nuclear power plants should become built & that the nuclear power phase-out should be completed by 2010. As of 2005, the have of renewables amounted to 26 per cent of the energy supply within Sweden, first existence hydropower and biomass. Within 1998, electricity from either hydropower accounted for 76 TWh and 48 per cent of the united states's production of electricity. At a equivalent period, a have of biofuels, peat etc. produced 92TWh. [http://www.scientific-alliance.org/pdf/essential_programme_to_underpin_government_policy_on_nuclear_power.pdf] (PDF file)

Within March 2005, an canvass by having 1027 souls asked, showed 83 by the cent trend lines for even maintaining or increasing nuclear power [http://www.uic.com.au/nip39.htm]. Since so nevertheless, reports all about radioactive outflow at the nuclear waste store around Forsmark, Sweden, use been published [http://www.forbes.com/finance/feeds/afx/2005/06/29/afx2116521.html].

Economy
Independent article: Economy of Sweden

A standard of residing has get enviably high under this social popular body. It features the modern distribution technique, first-class internal & external communications, & the skilled labour click. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade.

A engineering sector accounts for 50% of output & exportation. 33.3% of Swedish equities come owned per Swedish government, a Swedish social security formulas & trade union pension funds. A public sector accounts for 53% of the GDP. Trades union keep close at hand the right to elect ii representatives to the board all told Swedish corporations by having other than Twenty-five employees. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs. The government's commitment to fiscal discipline resulted in a substantial budgetary surplus in 2001, which was cut by more than half in 2002, due to the global economic slowdown, revenue declines, and spending increases. A Swedish Riksbank is focusing on price stability sustaining its inflation target of 2%. Incubation is required to email Ternary.5% around 2004, assuming the continued moderate spherical recovery. Nevertheless, open unemployment has steadily increased since 2001 and stood at 6.5% when of August 2005. Counting everyone world health organization neither studies good-whale or even has employment, a percentage is in 14% (peaking at 20% in the summertime months) . Sweden is known for getting an possibly distribution of income. Sweden's communication and transportation systems are important components of the infrastructure.

Welfare state
When section of the extensive social welfare system, the government will bring for child care, maternity & paternity leave, the ceiling in health care costs, loose education (altogether levels), retirement benefit, loose dental care as much as Xx years aged & infected leave. Parents come entitled to a sum of 480 years paid leave between birth & the tyke's eighth birthday, using Lx years reserved specifically for every parent, effectively providing the father using a and then known as "daddy-month". Additionally, a ceiling in health care costs makes it gentler, relative to more nations, for Swedish workers to require period off for medical reasons.

the Swedish welfare body remains generous, however the recession in the Nineties has forced an introduction of a total of reforms, like education vouchers in 1992 & decentralization of a few types of health care services to municipal control. [http://fcpp.org/main/publication_detail.php?PubID=814]

A welfare state takes high taxation, however a people is usually affirmatory of this. Sweden has the deuce step progresive taxation shell by having the municupal income taxation of just all astir 30% & the high income state tax of about 50% that kicks within when you earn to a higher degree about 500 000 SEK. In top of that the national Mammy taxation of 25% is added to all about bought by personal cititsen including the food. A people's trend lines may be measured by checking a regnant person: by owning a left wing government, the people is supportive [http://flfl.essortment.com/governmentswede_rbfh.htm], when the government led per opposing Moderate Party usually signifies a disapprovement by owning victims politics.

Education
Independent article: Education in Sweden

When a portion of its social welfare formulas, Sweden will bring an extensive childcare system that guarantees the place for 100% immature tikes from either One-Five years old within a public day-day care facility. Between ages 6-16, tikes attend mandatory comprehensive school. When completing the 9th grade, 90% prove my point using the 3 season upper lyceum leading every now & agawithin to an examination in the technical indicator profession and universally to the qualifications for farther studies at a Högskola or even University of Sweden.

Geography
Independent article: Geography of Sweden

Sweden enjoys the mostly temperate climate despite its northern latitude, mainly due to the Gulf Stream. South of Sweden leaf-bearing trees are prolific, northerly pines and healthy birches dominate the landscape. In the mountains of northern Sweden the sub-Arctic climate predominates. Northward of the Arctic Circle, the sun never sets for the portion of every summertime, & in the wintertime, nighttime is aeonian for a corresponding time period.

East of Sweden is the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia, providing a long coastline, & mellowing a climate farther however. To the west is the Scandinavian mountain chain, a range that separates Sweden from either Norway.

a southern a portion of the united states is principally agrarian, by having forests covering a big percentage of the land the farther northerly 1 goes. People density is as well higher within southern Sweden, by using centres existence in the vale of flow of any stream Mälaren and the Öresund region.

Gotland and Öland are the two big Islands of Sweden.

Counties
For details, understand: Counties of Sweden

Sweden is divided into Xxi counties or län. It is Stockholm County, Uppsala County, Södermanland County, Östergötland County, Jönköping County, Kronoberg County, Kalmar County, Gotland County, Blekinge County, Skåne County, Halland County, Västra Götaland County, Värmland County, Örebro County, Västmanland County, Dalarna County, Gävleborg County, Västernorrland County, Jämtland County, Västerbotten County and Norrbotten County.

Every has the County Administrative Board or länsstyrelse which is appointed by the Government. Within both county there exists likewise the separate County Council or landsting, which is the municipal representation appointed by the county electorate. Apiece county farther divides into the total of municipalities or kommuner, making a number of 290 municipalities, within 2004. There are too older historical divisions of Sweden, primarily into provinces and lands.

Largest cities
Denotes dweller in the municipality (kommun) area. Locality is around km². A numbers come when of 2005.

Elaborate listing at List of municipalities of Sweden by population.

Demographics
For details, understand: Demographics of Sweden

Sweden has one of the world's highest life expectancies. When of around 12 August 2004, the sum people of Sweden first exceeded 9,000,000, based on data from Statistics Sweden.

A united states's people includes a bit of 17,000 indigenous Samis. A bit of 50,000 of the ethnic Finns of Sweden also be an forearm minority, although numbers of supplementary of the Sweden Finns descend from 20th century immigrants.

Sweden has been transformed from either the united states of emigration ending after World War I to a united states of immigration from World War II onwards. Presently, astir 12% of the residents come innate overseas, & about 1 fifth of Sweden's people come either immigrants or even them of immigrants. A big immigrant groups come from either Finland, the former Yugoslavia, Iraq and then other Nordic Countries, in that sequentially. This reflects a inter-Nordic migrations, earliest periods of labour immigration, & late decades of refugee & personal immigration.

Soviet intervention against the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the 1968 Czechoslovakian liberalization resulted in the first surges of rational political refugees. A bit of American deserters from a Vietnam War also found refuge among the Swedes, world health organization within international politics took a clear have against what it occasionally hold imperialism executed by both a Soviet Union & a United states. When a 1973 coup in Chile, and a below military tyranny inside Chile and other South American countries, political refugees came to dominate a image of immigration to Sweden, including refugees from either Iran, Iraq and Palestine.

Culture
19th, early 20th century cottage in the rural countryside, painted in the traditional Swedish Falu red]]

Swedish authors of worldwide recognition include Carolus Linnaeus, Emanuel Swedenborg, August Strindberg, Selma Lagerlöf, Vilhelm Moberg, Harry Martinson and Astrid Lindgren.

Numbers of easily-known inventions & discoveries, historical & modern, were manufactured by Swedes. A few notable numbers come Alfred Nobel, Anders Celsius, Baltzar von Platen, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, Jöns Jakob Berzelius, John Ericsson, Anders Jonas Ångström, Lars Magnus Ericsson, Svante Arrhenius, Arvid Carlsson, Håkan Lans.

Swedish 20th century culture is noted by pioneering works in the early times of cinema, by having Mauritz Stiller and Victor Sjöström. In the Fifties–Eighties, a filmmakers Ingmar Bergman and Bo Widerberg received Academy Awards, and actresses Greta Garbo, Zarah Leander, Ingrid Bergman and Anita Ekberg made careers abroad. Supplementary recently, a films of Lukas Moodysson have received international recognition.

Music
A right-known opera singers are a 19th century soprano Jenny Lind and the 20th century tenor Jussi Björling, who got smashing profits overseas. Besides sopranos Christina Nilsson Birgit Nilsson, and tenors Nicolai Gedda, baritone Håkan Hagegård and the contemporary mezzo-soprano Anne-Sofie von Otter are worth mentioning.

A virtually all successful Swedish popular music creative person come ABBA, Europe, Roxette, Ace of Base, Army of Lovers, The Cardigans, and guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen. The total of elastic using less emphasis around pop music keep close at hand appear of the united states in recent years, including Blindside, The Sounds, The Hives, Refused, Millencolin, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Sahara Hotnights, The Hellacopters, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Kent, Infinite Mass, and Looptroop. Within underground circles, Sweden is known for the heavy total of death metal and black metal acts such as Bathory, Meshuggah, The Haunted, Opeth, Naglfar and In Flames. Sweden is likewise responsible the Swechno scene, offering a distinct home & techno healthy.

Media
Swedes come among a greatest consumers of newspapers in the world, & each town is served by the local paper. A united states's independent quality dailies come Dagens Nyheter (centrist), Svenska Dagbladet (right-wing) & Göteborgs-Posten (centrist), independent popular dailies come a evening tabloids Aftonbladet (left-wing) and Expressen (centrist).

A loose international morning paper, Metro International, was originally founded in Stockholm, Sweden. A united states's news is reported within English by The Local.

A television industry consisted solely of the public service company Sveriges Television and its two trend lines until 1987, when a 1st commercial channel, TV3, was started. In todays world, there are quaternary freely available trend lines, although virtually all flat complexes at the online fee provide extra 8-10 trend lines. These are for this understanding that numbers of Swedes invite Satellite tv. It will bring lot greater choice, & no cable TV infrastructure.

Holidays
Apart from either traditional Protestant Christian holidays, Sweden also celebrates occasionally unique holidays, occasionally of the pre-christian tradition. It include Midsummer, celebrating the summer solstice; Walpurgis Night on April 30 lighting bonfires; Labour Day on May 1st is a business loose day & dedicated to Socialistic demonstrations; and December 13th, the day of Saint Lucia the lightgiver. June 6 is National Day of Sweden. Moreover, there are official flag day observances and the Namesdays in Sweden calendar.

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Swedish team with tournament results, pictures, members, sponsors, links.

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This pro-team offers gallery, results, links and some funny pictures.

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Amateur tournament team shows roster, pictures and history.






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