In 1389, the crowns of Denmark, Norway and Sweden were united under the rule of the Danish Queen Margareta. However, the Black Death, which reached Sweden in 1350, led to a long period of economic and population decline. By the mid-16th century, this group, known as the Hanseatic League, dominated Swedish trade, and many towns were founded as a result of lively commercial activity. Trade grew during the 14th century, especially with the German towns grouped under the leadership of Lübeck. In 1280 King Magnus Ladulås (1275–90) issued a statute authorising the establishment of a nobility and the organisation of society on the feudal model. The various provinces of Sweden were absorbed around 1000 AD into a single unit, but the crown began to gain significant influence only during the late 13th century. Relatives often had stones erected in memory of a dead family member. There are more than 2,500 rune stones in Sweden, with messages dating from the 5th century to the mid-12th century, making them the oldest preserved Swedish documents. Christianity first reached Sweden with a mission led by Ansgar, who visited in the 9th century, but the country was not converted to Christianity until the 11th century. The Vikings traveled as far as the Black and Caspian Seas, where they developed trading links with the Byzantine Empire and the Arab kingdoms. Many Viking expeditions set off from Sweden to both plunder and trade along the Baltic coast and the rivers that stretched deep into present-day Russia. ![]() ![]() The Viking Age (800–1050 AD) was characterised by a significant expansion of activity, in Sweden’s case largely toward the east. Inland parts of upper Norrland are known to have been inhabited even longer, however – for close to 10,000 years. The first document to mention the Sami in Sweden was written almost 2,000 years ago. The Sami are one of the indigenous people of the world.
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