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a short history of Finland

Brief History of Finland

The archeological remnants prove that the area which is now occupied by Finland was first settled mainly by hunters during 8500 era before Christ, during the Stone Age. Later, around 3200 BC in the area was introduced the agriculture, though fishing and hunting still remained important for the locals.

During the Bronze and Iron Age, were formed many contacts with the other regions in the Baltic and Fennoscandian zone. However, the first written documents about the area appeared during the twelfth century. Some hundred years later, Sweden established its rule over Finland, a process which lasted until year 1809. During that long period, the dominant language was Swedish which was used in the administration and education.

It was in the 16th century that the first written books in Finish were published, while the first university was opened in year 1640. Less than a century after that, Finland was occupied twice as a result of a war between Sweden and Russia, first in the period 1714-1721 and for a second time in the period 1742 1743. With the end of the Finnish War, at the beginning of year 1809 Finland found itself conquered by the armies of Alexander I of Russia. The country thus became an autonomous Grand Duchy in the Russian Empire and this lasted till 1917. This period is characterized with strong national movement and recognition of the Finnish language. The relationship with Russia became quite difficult when it tried to restrict the Finnish autonomy, which led to radical movements.

At the end of 1917, right after the Bolshevik Revolution which shook Russia, Finland declared its independence. The Finns voted for non-socialists parties but in 1918 a violent wing of social democratic party was formed, that lead to a brief but severe Cold War. Finland became a presidential republic and elected its first president in 1919.

The Second World War found Finland fighting twice with the Soviet Union in the period 1939-1940 when it was attached and in the period 1941-1944, after Operation Barbarossa where Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union. As a result of the German loses on the Eastern front and the Soviet advance, the country was in a way forced to make peace with the Soviet Union. During the Lapland War that followed in 1944-1945, Finland pushed the Germans out of northern Finland. The treaties which Finland signed with the Soviet Union in 1947 and 1948 put many restraints to the country, which had to cede great parts of Karelia, Salla and Pechenga regions.

Though claiming to be neutral Finland was in the middle between the Soviet Union and the Western countries. The country suffered from president monopoly, widespread politicization, self-censorship and direct censorship on some books and movies. Despite that, Finland managed to preserve its democratic government and market economy and stayed solid against the nationalization movements.

In year 1973, Finland entered a free trade agreement with the European Community. Soon many young people went to study abroad and later to bring some skills to the country. At the beginning of the 1990s, Finland suffered from a Great Depression, which was caused by the economic problems and reached its peak in 1993. Today Finland has a free market. It joined the European Union in 1995 and adopted the Euro currency seven years later, in 2002.