Finland’s HistoryFour Major Periods

• 1. Prehistoric Period: 10 500 years ago• 2. Part of the Kingdom of Sweden 1155-

1809• 3. The Age of Autonomy or Imperial Era 1809-1917• 4. The Age of Independence

1155The first crusade to Finland by the Swedes

Finland becomes part of the Swedish realm.•Influence from the West: catholic faith, Swedish customs and language•Influence from the East: Orthodox faith, eastern/Russian customs

First border to define the eastern border of Finland, year 1323

The Swedish reign

• Peace treaty of 1323: only eastern Finland to Novgorod (Russia), western and southern parts of Finland to Sweden

• Swedish legal and social systems • Finland's most important centre was the town of

Turku • Finland was merely a

group of provinces –

not a national entity

Languages: Finnish and Swedish

• The Reformation set in motion a great rise in Finnish-language culture

• The New Testament was translated into Finnish in 1548

• Swedes were often appointed

to high offices in Finland, which

strengthened the position of the

Swedish language

Finland as a Grand Duchy of Russia (1809-1917)

• Russia conquered Finland in the war with Sweden

• Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy, Russian Emperor as the Grand Duke.

• Finland's highest governing body was the Senate, whose members were Finns.

Extensive autonomy created the Finnish state

• Alexander II gave Finland extensive autonomy thereby creating the Finnish state.

• The Lutheran Church retained its position in Finland

• Swedish as the official

language • Helsinki was made

the capital of Finland

Aleksander II

The Finnish national movement

• Kalevala 1835• Finnish became an official administrative

language • National romantism

in arts

Akseli Gallén-Kallela: Sammon ryöstö

The independent republic

• On December 6th 1917, Parliament approved the declaration of independence

• At the same time, the breach between the parties of the left and the right had become irreconcilable

• Civil War 1918

• Finland became a republic in 1919

The Civil War: reds and whites

Annu Kapulainen: Taistelevat Enkelit

Finland in war

• In 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non aggression pact: Finland to the Soviet sphere of interest

• Finland refused to allow the Soviet Union to build military bases on its territory: attack to Finland in 1939

• The Winter war > southeastern Finland to the Soviet Union

• When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in the summer of 1941, Finland entered the war as a cobelligerent with Germany.

• The 'Continuation War' > Petsamo to Soviet Union

Helge Dahlman: Sota (1946 – 1948)

Unto Pusa: Kaatunut sotilas (1948)

Lennart Segerstråle: Pakolaisia (1940)

The lost areas

From ”finnlandisierung” to EU

• The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and

Mutual Assistance with Soviet Union

• Finnlandisierung?

• The end of the division of Europe, the collapse of the communist system and the dissolution of the Soviet Union: liberalized atmosphere also in Finland

• Finland became a member of EU in 1995

Ilkka Halso: Vuoristorata (2004)