Maze: Stockholm

STOCKHOLM
THE LAND OF THE VISIGOTHS.  The Swedes have late Stone Age ancestors.  The Goths lived in Sweden about 300 B.C.  It united when the tribe was conquered by the Svear tribe.  The Viking periods followed from 700's to 900's.  They are Scandinavian warriors and seamen.  The German Hanseatic League founded many cities.  In 1388, Queen Margaret of Denmark became the regent of Sweden.

Sweden is also the land of smorgasbord.  Smorgasbord is served buffet style, each person helping himself to small portions (or big) of the many dishes provided: fish dishes, cold cuts, breads, cheeses and salads.

Sweden remained neutral in WWI and WWII.  Dag Hammarskjold was elected Secretary-General of the UN in 1953.  The city is ultra-modern, kind of sterile.  It's one of the electronic centers of Europe.  The Nobel Prize for achievement in sciences is awarded here.

A glimpse of Nobel

Alfred Nobel was a Swedish industrialist (synthetic rubber) and made his fortunes from businesses from all over the world.  He left a large fortune to provide prizes for outstanding achievements in the fields of science, literature and contribution to world peace.  Nobel Prize winners are announced each year in Stockholm.  What's nice in Sweden is you don't have to go to the library to use a computer.  They have free usage of computers in department stores, but you see long lines and you have to wait.

The Swedish capital owes its beauty to its unique setting of 14 islands between Lake Malar and the Baltic, and to the care with which city authorities control urban develpment and preserve historical treasures.

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SOS Sweden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f63qyqwNZss 00:45

Vasa Museum
Gustavus Vasa became administrator and led a successful revolt against Denmark.  He became King Gustavus I in 1523.  He was considered the founder of modern Sweden.  He died in 1560.



Sweden is a monarchy.  Written in 1809, Sweden has the oldest written constitution in force in Europe.   Gustaf VI Adolf became king in 1950.  The Swedish Parliament is called the Riksdag.  Most Swedes belong to the Lutheran religion.

Sweden has many famous scientists:

• Anders Celsius (1701-1744)  Invented the centigrade thermometer
• Carolus Linneus (1707-1778) Founder of modern botany
• Jons Berzelius (1779-1848) Originated the system of symbols of chemistry
• John Ericsson (1803-1889) Built the Monitor (one of the first armored ships)
• Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) Inventor of dynamite



Plaque of Peace Activist Sri Chinmoy



Internet Publication:

6/13/10  lib's labyrinth
2/1/03    ALT  MSN Group