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Professor Stanley Scism MLA

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Photo by Zephyrance Lou

Scandinavian History

Series

Part 1

INTRODUCTION

Scandinavian nations have attracted particular attention in recent years due to their consistently rising to the top of various indices of civilization, examples being lifespan, education, and the social welfare net.

These nations share a common Viking heritage, homogenous ethnic composition and Lutheran religious heritage. They vary in the degree in which Russia, Germany, Britain, France and the Americas have influenced them, generally because of their respective

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.

Viking comes from vik (cove or small port) used by pirates, and came to mean Scandinavians in war, trade and settlement during 790-1100.

GEOGRAPHY

Factors influencing Scandinavian culture and history include, first, brutal Scandinavian winters. People could sail only five or six months of the year, and North Atlantic icebergs could destroy vessels. Scandinavians trapped and hunted during winter, and traded locally and