Sweden

Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At 450,295 square kilometres (173,860 sq mi), Sweden is the largest Nordic country and the fifth-largest country in Europe. The capital and largest city is Stockholm. Sweden has a population of 10.5 million, and a low population density of 25.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (66/sq mi); around 87% of Swedes reside in urban areas in the central and southern half of the country. Sweden’s urban areas together cover 1.5% of its land area. Because the country is so long, ranging from 55°N to 69°N, the climate of Sweden is diverse.
sweden

Some of the key events about Sweden

  • 1520
    The Stockholm Bloodbath resulted in the execution of around 80-90 people
  • 1523
    Sweden gained independence from the Kalmar Union, establishing itself as a sovereign state
  • 1648
    The Thirty Years' War ended, leaving Sweden's economy strained despite territorial gains
  • 1709
    The Battle of Poltava marked the end of Sweden as a major European power
  • 1766
    Sweden became the first country to introduce freedom of the press into its constitution
  • 1792
    King Gustav III was assassinated at a masked ball in Stockholm
  • 1809
    Sweden lost Finland to Russia, ending nearly 600 years of Swedish rule
  • 1842
    Sweden introduced compulsory elementary education for all children
  • 1901
    The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in Stockholm, establishing a prestigious international award tradition
  • 1917
    The Hunger March protests occurred due to food shortages during World War I
  • 1921
    Sweden became one of the first countries to grant women the right to vote
  • 1944
    Sweden introduced a comprehensive social welfare system, laying the foundation for its modern welfare state
  • 1955
    Sweden joined the United Nations, affirming its commitment to international cooperation
  • 1974
    A new constitution was adopted, formally ending the monarch's political power and strengthening parliamentary democracy
  • 1986
    Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated in Stockholm, a crime that remains unsolved
  • 1994
    The MS Estonia ferry disaster claimed 852 lives, many of them Swedish
  • 1995
    Sweden joined the European Union, further integrating with the European community
  • 2003
    Foreign Minister Anna Lindh was fatally stabbed while shopping in Stockholm
  • 2009
    Sweden legalized same-sex marriage, becoming one of the first countries in the world to do so
  • 2017
    A terrorist attack in Stockholm killed 5 people and injured 14 others

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.

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