People in Sweden begin a farming culture

The Bronze Age begins in Sweden

The Iron Age begins

The Viking Age begins. Swedish warriors raid northern Europe and Russia

Christianity is introduced to the Swedes by Saint Ansgar

Eric the Victorious becomes the first King of Sweden

King Olof converts to Christianity and makes it the official religion of Sweden

King Erik IX is assassinated by the prince of Denmark

Finland becomes part of Sweden after the Second Swedish Crusade led by Birger Jarl

The city of Stockholm is established

Sweden and Norway are united under the rule of Magnus IV

The Black Death plague arrives in Sweden. It will eventually kill around 30% of the population

The Kalmar Union is established by Margaret I of Denmark. It united Sweden, Denmark, and Norway under a single leader

Danish forces invade Sweden and execute rebellious nobility in the 'Stockholm Bloodbath.'

Sweden declares independence from the Kalmar Union when Gustav Vasa is hailed as the new King of Sweden

The Swedish Reformation begins. Sweden will become a Protestant country breaking ties with the Catholic Church

The Northern Seven Years' War with Denmark begins

Treaty of Stettin ends the Northern Seven Years' War. Sweden gives up claims on Norway

The Swedish warship, the Vasa, sinks shortly after leaving port on her first voyage. The ship was recovered in 1961

Sweden enters the Thirty Years' War on the side of France and England

The Thirty Years' War comes to an end. Sweden gains territory and this starts the rise of the Swedish Empire

The Great Northern War begins. It is fought against Russia led by Tsar Peter the Great. The Swedes defeat the Russians at the Battle of Narva

Sweden invades Russia, but bad weather weakens the army as they march

The Russians defeat the Swedes at the Battle of Poltava

The Great Northern War ends with Sweden's defeat. The Swedish Empire is significantly reduced

Finland is lost to Russia

Sweden fights against the French and Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig. They gain control of Norway from Denmark after the victory

Scientist Alfred Nobel obtains a patent for dynamite

Sweden, Norway, and Denmark establish a single currency called the kroner

The first Nobel Prizes are awarded for peace, chemistry, physics, medicine, and literature

Norway gains its independence from Sweden

World War I begins. Sweden remains neutral

The first Volvo car, nicknamed 'Jakob', is produced

World War II begins. Sweden remains neutral, but is forced by Germany to allow troops to pass through

Furniture company IKEA is founded

Swedish author Astrid Lindgren publishes her first Pippi Longstocking book

Sweden joins the United Nations

Famous pop music band ABBA is formed

The last remaining governmental powers of the Swedish king and queen are removed by a new constitution

The Prime Minister of Sweden, Olof Palme, is assassinated. The crime is surrounded with mystery and remains unsolved

Sweden joins the European Union

The Oresund Bridge opens between Malmo, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark