Professor Stanley Scism MLA
2
Photo by Zephyrance Lou
Scandinavian History
Series
Part 1
INTRODUCTION
geographic locations.
A study of Scandinavian background might help readers understand these nations’ approach to a civilized life, and thereby provide suggestions for improvement in other areas around the globe.
DEFINITIONS
Scandinavia comes from Skane, the southern tip of the Norway-Sweden peninsula. The meaning broadened to include the entire peninsula divided by the Kjolen (‘Keel’) mountains, orienting Norway to the North Sea and Atlantic, and Sweden toward the Baltic. The meaning further expanded to include Denmark, including the Jutland peninsula, the four large Danish islands—Sjaelland (‘Zealand’), Funen, Lolland and Falster—islands in the Baltic, and the islands of Oland and Gotland (‘land of the Goths’)—all of this obviously much closer to original Skane territory than most of modern Norway or Sweden). Aland Islands and Finland were culturally linked to Sweden and therefore to Scandinavia. Finally, Norwegians founded Iceland during the Viking era, culturally linking Iceland to Scandinavia.
GEOGRAPHY