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An updated edition of the definitive history of Scandinavia over the past five centuries Despite certain distinctions and differences, the lands of Scandinavia, or Norden—Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, and the Faroe Islands—are united by bonds of culture, language, and geography, and by a shared history that comes richly to life in this landmark work. Now in an expanded, updated edition, this authoritative chronicle of five centuries of Scandinavian history incorporates the geopolitical developments and momentous events that have marked the Nordic world in recent decades. Scandinavia since 1500 situates the region’s political history within the traditional European chronolo...
A history of Sweden, showing how a monarchical state transformed itself into an egalitarian, democratic system.
This work is an in-depth look at many aspects of contemporary Swedish customs and culture that ties today's nation to an understanding of its history. Culture and Customs of Sweden is an ideal introduction to this fascinating nation. The book opens with a broad overview of the country and then examines specific themes such as religion, marriage, family, gender issues, education, holidays, popular customs, sports and leisure, media, literature, performing arts, art, and architecture. Throughout, the author seeks to strike a balance between the history of these many aspects of contemporary Sweden and what is happening there today—at a time when Sweden is undergoing many profound changes. For example, the chapter on literature looks at both the development of Swedish literature since the Middle Ages and at current interests, themes, and writers. Each of the themes covered is central to introducing both Sweden's past and its present, facilitating the kind of understanding that is so important in this ever-shrinking world.
This work is an in-depth look at many aspects of contemporary Swedish customs and culture that ties today's nation to an understanding of its history. Culture and Customs of Sweden is an ideal introduction to this fascinating nation. The book opens with a broad overview of the country and then examines specific themes such as religion, marriage, family, gender issues, education, holidays, popular customs, sports and leisure, media, literature, performing arts, art, and architecture. Throughout, the author seeks to strike a balance between the history of these many aspects of contemporary Sweden and what is happening there today—at a time when Sweden is undergoing many profound changes. For example, the chapter on literature looks at both the development of Swedish literature since the Middle Ages and at current interests, themes, and writers. Each of the themes covered is central to introducing both Sweden's past and its present, facilitating the kind of understanding that is so important in this ever-shrinking world.
The study of Scandinavia has been, and still is, deeply influenced by the interpretation of its earliest history that was developed in the 19th century by political, legal, and literary historians, archaeologists, and anthropologists. Scandinavia figured prominently in discussions of early medieval Europe, not only as the homeland of the Vikings, but also as the region in which Germanic society remained uncontaminated by Christianity and other influences longer than anywhere else. In "Medieval Scandinavia", Birgit and Peter Sawyer question assumptions about early Scandinavian history, including the supposed leading role of free and equal peasants and their position in founding churches. They...
Eighteen essays explore interactions among Swedish and Norwegian immigrants to America, focusing on themes of friendship and competition through the lenses of identity, language, religion, and politics.
"In this collection are seventeen essays and seven editorials by Barton and published in leading journals between 1974 and 2005. The subjects include post-World War II Swedish immigration and remigration to Sweden. A full bibliography of Barton's publications on Swedish-American history and culture is included"--Provided by publisher
Deposing Monarchs analyses depositions in Northern Europe between 1500 and 1700 as a type of frequent political conflict which allows to present new ideas on early modern state formation, monarchy, and the conventions of royal rulership. The book revises earlier conceptualizations of depositions as isolated, unique events that emerged in the context of national historiographies. An examination of the official legitimations of depositions reveals that in times of crisis, concepts of tradition, rule of law, and political consensus are much more influential than the divine right of kings. Tracing the similarities and differences of depositions in Northern Europe transnationally and diachronical...
Poor America describes the sharp contrast in the extent of poverty between the United States and six Western European countries. While 36 million Americans live below the poverty line, a much smaller percent of Western Europeans struggle with the same problem. Samuel J. Eldersveld seeks to discover why this variance exists by exploring various theories. To explain the larger percentage of American poor, he tackles the history of poverty in each of the featured countries along with examining the "system theory" approach, the role of values, the political elite character in the United States compared to Europe, and the differential robes of the business elites in these countries. Poor America follows the issue of poverty through the present day, discussing proposals and prospects for reform in poverty relief in the United States.
An Open Access edition of this book is available on the Liverpool University Press website and the OAPEN library. The world-historical significance of the Haitian Revolution is now firmly established in mainstream history. Yet Haiti’s nineteenth-century has yet to receive its due, this despite independent Haiti’s vital importance as the first nation to permanently ban slavery and its ongoing struggle for sovereignty in the Atlantic World. Louis-Joseph Janvier (1855–1911) is one of the foremost Haitian intellectuals and diplomats of the late-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His prolific oeuvre offered enduring challenges to racist slanders of Haiti and critiques of the global i...