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Sweden and Norway: Denmark
HISTORY. The modern history of Sweden follows somewhat in the pathway of its neighboring kingdom, Norway. After the establishment of the "Union of Calmar" (1397) by Margaret of Denmark, the three countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark were kept together with great difficulty for 100 years. In 1520, Christian II. of Denmark became king, and so exasperated the people that they rose in revolt, with Gustavus Vasa at their head, and their resistance to the government of the Danish king was so successful that, in 1523, Gustavus was made King of Sweden. The country entered on an era of prosperity, and was governed in a manner more pleasing to the people, though the successors of Vasa attempted some radical changes which did not meet with general favor. The reigns of the sovereigns from 1600 were marked with almost constant warfare against adjoining kingdoms, and the acquisition of some valuable territory, which was lost, however, in 1720, by a peace in which Sweden gave up most of her trans-Baltic possessions, including Livonia, Esthonia, and Ingria, which Russia had occupied. In 1741 Sweden was defeated in a war with Russia, and in 1743 E. Finland was yielded to the conquerer. Following this, came a war with Prussia, which was disastrous in the extreme. Again in 1787 Sweden was involved in a war with Russia and Denmark. In 1809 a new constitution was decreed. During the Crimean War neither Norway nor Sweden took any part therein. Of late years Sweden has prospered and made great improvement in manufactures, arts, and sciences, while the moral and social condition of the people has been materially advanced.
NORWAY.
The kingdom of Norway occupies the W. portion of the Scandinavian peninsula between lat. 57° 57' and 71° II' N., and long. 4° 45' and 31° 15' E. On the N. is the Arctic Ocean; E. Russian Lapland and Sweden; S., the Skager Rack, the sea lying between Norway and Denmark; and W. the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The kingdom has a length of 1080 m., in some points a breadth of 275 m., and its area is computed at 122,803 sq. m. There are for political purposes 6 divisions of the country into what is known as stifts or dioceses, as follows:-Christiania or Aggerhuus, Hamar, Christiansand, Bergen, Trondhjem, and Thromsoe. These in turn are subdivided into amts or districts, 20 in number. The trend of the coast line, which is very rugged and indented with numerous arms of the sea, is N.-E. and S.-W. The northernmost point is North Cape, and the southernmost the Naze, at the entrance of the Skager Rack. Some of the most magnificent scenery in the world is found along the coast. There are many excellent natural harbors, but navigation is dangerous. The islands along the coast have an area of over 8500 sq. m., and about 1100 of them are inhabited. The entire population of the kingdom in 1888 was 1,925,000. The country is very mountainous, but there are no well-defined ridges such as are found in other countries where mountain ranges prevail. There are several rivers and lakes in all parts of the country, the largest lake, Miösen, being 55 m. long by from 1 to 12 broad. There are rich deposits of iron, copper, silver, nickel, and cobalt, but they are not worked as they might be, largely owing to government restrictions.
SOIL AND VEGETATION. - As a general thing the soil of Norway is poor. Of the entire area but 0.8 per cent. is cultivated, while 2.1 per cent. is meadow, and 97.1 is woodland, pasture land, and barren. The land being light and sandy, cannot yield heavy crops. Vegetation flourishes as far N. as lat. 70°. The principal crop of the country is barley, which thrives as far N. as lat. 70°. Rye, oats, wheat (in the S., and when the season favors), potatoes, flax, hemp, some tobacco, apples, pears, cherries , and other fruits are raised. The system of agriculture is very rude, and farmers have strong prejudices against the introduction of improved methods. The uncertainty of crops has led to the establishment of a peculiar plan for the husbanding of resources.
What are known as corn magazines are established in various portions of the country where, in such years as there may be a surplus, it is deposited, and interest paid on the same to the farmers at the rate of 12/2 per cent. per annum. When scarcity prevails, this grain may be borrowed by the farmer, at the interest of 25 per cent. per annum. Most of the land is the property of the cultivators, and fully 90 per cent . of the estates are cultivated by the owners.
Most of the agricultural labor in this country is done by women.
RELIGION AND EDUCATION. - The Lutheran is the established Church, but all creeds may be publicly professed. No one, however, can be legally married until confirmed in the Lutheran Church, and only members of the communion are admitted to public office. There is no privilege of birth, hereditary nobility having been abolished in 1821; but, notwithstanding this, the sons of the wealthy, and those looked upon as technically noble, have the preference in all matters. There are a large number of classical schools, a university at Christiania, schools of design, a military high school, and an agricultural college. Public libraries are maintained in many parts of the kingdom by what is known as the "Society of Public Good." COMMERCE, EXPORTS, ETC.-Norway, in proportion to its population, has the largest commercial navy in the world. It numbers about 7000 vessels, manned by about 50,000 men.