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While often covered briefly in national histories, it should be stressed that the medieval era is the longest period in the history of European countries, about a thousand years--basically an entire millennium. Swedish medieval history is different than that of the rest of he German community to the south. This was because they were outside the Roman cultural sphere, a people largely unknown to the Romans. This is important not only bcause there culture was little influenced by classical culture Greece and Rome). As a result, are no Roman accounts available. And of course the northern Germans had no written language of their own. As a result, very little is know about these people during the early-medieval era. We note many historians do not even mention Sweden until the Vikings emerged from the dark, ice-bound misty haunts of northern Europe. Scandinavians would have traded with medieval Europe as well as the Baltic peoples and Russians. The Western Scandinavians were more oriented toward Western Europe, while the eastern Scandinavians or Swedes were oriented toward Eastern Europe and beyond. The Viking Era marked Sweden's emergence as a major power in Northern Europe (circa 800-1050). This was less evident in Western Europe which had to contend with the Norwegian and Danish Vikings. The establishment of Christianity transformed the Swedish cultural and political landscape, bringing Sweden in to wider European culture (11th century). The Kalmar Union (1397-1523) united Sweden, Denmark, and Norway under a single monarchy. The Swedish nobility with the rise of Feudalism gained influence during the medieval period, impacting governance and land ownership. The economic expansion of the late-medieval period was destroyed by the Black Death (1350). The Hanseatic League played a role in Sweden's economic recovery. Gustav Vasa launched a rebellion ending the Kalmar Union and established an independent hereditary monarchy (1520).
Early medieval Sweden is a historical black hole and this is an exceeding long period--half a millennium. Sweden was a basically preliterate society this means that the most valuable historical evidence, written manuscripts, are unavailable to historians. Runes developed among Germanic tribes, but manuscripts are rare and have mostly been found in Germany. More than 2,500 rune stones have been found in Sweden, with messages (5th century to the mid-12th century). They then are the oldest preserved Swedish documents. Many are stones erected in memory of a dead family member. The historical value of the Swedish runes is very limited. As a result, before the 10th century, details of Swedish history are obscure or nonexistent. This is the Dark Ages n Europe, but even during the Dark Ages there are some historical records, primarily because of the Church. This source was unenviable in Sweden because it was still pagan. Virtually no written records exist and those that do are almost all from foreigners. Not until about 980, are historians even sure about the names of Swedish kings--often the earliest historical records of early civilizations. .
The Viking Age is characterized by a significant expansion of economic. political, and military activity-- in Sweden’s case largely toward oriented east. 'Viking' is a Western term, probably derived from the the Swedish word for bay--"vik". Early medieval Scandinavians were a farming people with a close connection with the sea in large measure for trade and fishing. Runestones and coins and other grave trinkets found in eastern Sweden as well as the Baltic island of Gotland prove that trade connections relations existed between the Vikings, especially the Swedish Vikings, Byzantium which meant connections with the Near East including the Caliphate. In the case of Byzantium there is actual historical documentation. Some of these trading expeditions descended into looting and Scandinavians gradually began to see the potential for raiding rather than trading. The 'Swedish' and 'Danish/Norwegian' Vikings were similar, but geography dictated that the Danes and Norwegians raided west, attacking Western Europe and the British Isles. The Swedes raided east, dominated much of the Baltic and then moved into into what is now Russia. Following the great rivers flowing south, they eventually reached Byzantium.
The foundation for a modern nation state was laid during the Viking period. Throughout Scandinavia in the early Viking era, power was in the hands of local chiefs ruling relatively small areas. At first these were village chiefs. Over times, the nore powerful chiefs extended their territiry. In eastern Scandinavia or modern Sweden, two tribes emerged as dominant--Götar and Svear (Swedes). (ther sources mention the Geats and Gutes (on Gotland). They formed early states headed by kings. Eventually they merged merged to form the Swedish nation. This took place as Sweden was beng Chritinized (11th century AD). The monarchy, however, began to gain real influence (late-13th century).
The Vikings were a pagan people. Christianity first reached Sweden with a mission led by Ansgar--the Apostle of the North (9th century). Ansgar and other Frankish missionaries began teaching Christianity which slowly became established. Olaf Skutkonug ruling from 993-1024 was the first Swedish monarch to become a Christian. One of Sweden's most powerful monarchs was Eric IX (r 1150-60). He became the patron saint of Sweden. Eric invaded Finland, forcing Christianity upon the conquered population. This was the beginning of Swedish control of Finland--a non Germanic people.
Eric was killed in an attack by Denmark, initiating an extended series of wars between the two countries. This would become important as the three Scandinavian monarchies vied for control of the region an then later as they competed for control over Baltic trade routes.
King Magnus Ladulås (r1275–90) proclaimed the establishment of a nobility and the organization of society on the feudal model to confirm with wider trends in Christian Europe (1280). The power of the nobility grew as Fedualism became the dominate force in the country as the power of the monarchy waned (14th and 15th centuries).
Trade and other economic activity expanded in Europe during the late medieval era. Sweden was part of this growth (14th century). The Bubonic Plague (Black Death) reached Sweden (1350), leading to an extended period of economic and population decline. German traders enplanted towns throughout the Baltic--helping to revive commercial activity. Many towns were founded as a result of lively commercial activity, primarily by Germans. Baltic towns and cites continued to be heavily influenced by Germans until World War II. These towns grouped under the leadership of Lübeck. This group organized as the Hanseatic League. They eventually came to dominated Swedish trade (16th century).
A historic painting shows the wife of King Magnus Ericson, Queen Blanka, with her son Crown Prince Eric. The nobility deposed King Albert (1388) and offered the crown to Margaret, Queen of Denmark and Norway. The Union of Kalmar united the crowns of the three Scandinavian kingdoms in 1397. The union endured for more than a century, but was characterized by constant tension between the Danes and Swedes. King Christian II invaded Sweden in 1520 to enforce his authority. His brutal methods, including the execution of Stockholm nobles, caused a rebellion.
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