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INTRODUCTION
The term Scandinavia is often used as a synonym for the
Nordic countries which include
Denmark, Greenland, Sweden,
Norway, Finland and Iceland.
These nations are
located in and around the Scandinavian Peninsula of Northern
Europe.
HISTORY
After being Christianised around the year 1000, the process
of local unification established
Denmark,
Norway and Sweden as
separate kingdoms. Finland
became part of Sweden
in the mid 1200s, whereas the Vikings controlled
Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the Shetland
Islands, Orkney, Greenland and large parts of Scotland and Ireland.
In the 14th century, Denmark,
Norway (with Iceland) and Sweden
(with Finland)
were united under one regent, in the Kalmar Union.
Denmark
quickly gained the upper hand, but in the early 16th century Sweden
reestablished itself as a separate kingdom.
Denmark's domination over
Norway
lasted until 1814 when the king was forced to cede
Norway
to the king of
Sweden.
Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands remained Danish.
After establishing itself as one of the great powers in
Europe during the 17th century
Sweden
ultimately lost its foreign dominions one by one. This process
culminated in the loss of Finland
to Russia in 1809.
Then in the 19th century Sweden was united with Norway but in 1905, due to growing
dissatisfaction,
Norway
gained its independence.
The 19th century saw a personal union between
Sweden
and Norway
which was dissolved in 1905 due to growing dissatisfaction from
the Norwegian part. Also
early in the 20th century, during World War I and in
the midst of the Russian revolution of 1917, Finland
emerged for the first time as an independent nation.
Iceland
did not gain its independence from
Denmark
until World War II while Greenland
continues as a Danish territory to this day.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 Denmark
Iceland
Finland
Norway
Sweden
Vikings
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