6000 B.C.

first settlers came to Sweden

800's to 1000's A.D.

Swedish Vikings attacked other countries, traded and colonized.

1000

Christianity was introduced into Sweden .

1397

Sweden , Denmark , and Norway were united in the Union of Kamar.

1523

Gustavus Vasa was elected king and Sweden became independent.

1540

Lutheranism became Sweden 's official religion.

1630-1632

Gustavus Adolphus won victories for Sweden in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).

1709

Swedish power declined after the Battle Poltava.

1809

Sweden lost Finland to Russia . A new constitution was adopted.

1814

Sweden gained Norway from Denmark .

1867-1886

450,000 Swedes emigrated to the United States .

1905

Norway dissolved its union with Sweden .

1914-1918

Sweden was neutral in World War I.

1920

All persons at least 21 years old received the vote.

1939-1945

Sweden remained neutral in World War II.

1959

Sweden and six other nations formed the European Free Trade Association.

1963

Atomic power used to heat some Swedish homes.

1965

Voting age lowered to 20 years.

1975

Sweden adopted a new constitution that greatly reduced the power of the king and lowered the voting age to 18.

1986

Prime Minister Olaf Palme was assassinated on February 28, 1986 .