Suomen historia

Question 1

What were the primary activities of Saami and Finns before the Christian era in Finland?

Answer 1

The Saami were mainly hunter-gatherers in the North, while the Finns were more southern, mingling with neighboring cultures and adopting practices, notably agriculture.

Question 2

How did Christianity come to Finland during the medieval period?

Answer 2

Sweden introduced Christianity to Finland during the medieval crusades, leading to Finland being brought under the Swedish crown.

Question 3

What was the significance of the Treaty of Nöteborg (Pähkinäsaaren rauha) in 1323?

Answer 3

It was a peace agreement between Sweden and Novgorod that determined their borders, stretching from near Vyborg to an uncertain northern point.

Question 4

Describe the societal structure in medieval Finland and the status of Finnish peasants.

Answer 4

Finland was a feudal society. However, Finnish peasants had relatively better conditions than many of their European counterparts. The nobility was predominantly Swedish and were not as dominant due to their limited numbers in Finland.

Question 5

What was the Kalmar Union, and why did it disintegrate in 1523?

Answer 5

The Kalmar Union, established in 1397, unified Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (including Finland) to counterbalance the Hanseatic League. It dissolved by 1523 due to Swedish revolts, anti-union sentiments, and events like the Stockholm Bloodbath. Under Gustav Vasa and Erik Fleming, the Danes were expelled from Sweden and Finland, respectively.

Question 6

Major reforms initiated by Gustav I Vasa.

Answer 6

He solidified the king’s position, transitioned from elective monarchy to hereditary, and divided Sweden into duchies each overseen by one of his sons. The duchy of Finland was led by Juhana.

Question 7

Impact of Martin Luther’s ideas on Gustav I Vasa.

Answer 7

Gustav initiated the Reformation in Sweden based on Luther’s teachings, diminishing the church’s authority. The church’s primary allegiance transitioned from the Pope to the Swedish crown, and it lost significant property.

Question 8

Contributions of Agricola in the 16th century.

Answer 8

Agricola was instrumental in creating the official Finnish written language. Notable works include Abckirja (1543) and Se Wsi Testamenti (1548).

Question 9

Gustav I Vasa’s intent behind founding Helsinki.

Answer 9

He aimed for Helsinki to rival Tallinn in Eastern trade, but the city couldn’t compete effectively due to its unfavorable location.

Question 10

Power dynamics post the death of Gustav I Vasa in 1560.

Answer 10

His eldest son Eerik took the throne, but Juhana struggled with this change. The late 1500s witnessed political instability, with the monarchy’s influence largely contingent on the high nobility.

Question 11

The contention between Sigismund and Kaarle.

Answer 11

After Juhana’s demise, his son Sigismund became king but also governed Latvia and Poland, spending little time in Sweden. Kaarle, acting in his stead, rose as Sweden’s de facto ruler.

Question 12

Circumstances in Finland during the Russian war.

Answer 12

Peasants bore the burden of provisioning and accommodating soldiers. While Kaarle intended to alleviate this post-war around 1594-1595, Sigismund’s marshal, Klaus Fleming, disregarded this directive, souring the peasants’ attitudes.

Question 13

The 1596-1597 rebellion in Finland.

Answer 13

Dubbed the “Nuijasota”, Finnish peasants, with Jaakko Ilkka at the helm, rose against Fleming, the southern Finnish region, and the aristocracy. They hoped Kaarle would intervene. In the end, Fleming’s forces triumphed.

Question 14

The resolution of confrontations between Kaarle’s and Sigismund’s factions in Sweden.

Answer 14

Kaarle’s battalions defeated Sigismund’s. Sigismund’s loyalists in Finland capitulated, leading to the execution of some nobles, tarnishing Finland’s image for some time.

Question 15

The aggressive expansionist policy of Sweden during the 1600s.

Answer 15

Under King Gustavus II Adolphus (Kustaa II Aadolf), Sweden aggressively expanded its territories, waging successful wars against Poland, Denmark-Norway, Russia, and Germany. This period includes the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), after which Sweden controlled nearly all of the Baltic coastline. However, legends of Finnish hakkapeliitta soldiers are considered exaggerated today.

Question 16

Major administrative reforms in Sweden during 1600 - 1700.

Answer 16

The Council of State became the primary decision-making body. The Chancellery facilitated communication between agencies, the Chamber dealt with taxes, and the Colleges functioned similarly to modern ministries, incorporating experts who voted on matters. Sweden was divided into 16 counties, with 4 in Finland. Each county was governed by a governor responsible for administration and taxation.

Question 17

Development of the Riksdag (Valtiopäivät) in Sweden.

Answer 17

By the 1660s, regular Riksdag meetings became institutionalized. Instead of parties, different estates had representatives, even peasants, which was rare in Europe at the time. While the king could decide in case of disputes, the general practice was to agree if 3 estates concurred. In 1693, King Charles XI declared autocracy, diminishing the Riksdag’s role for decades.

Question 18

Influence of Mercantilism in Sweden in 17th century.

Answer 18

The economy was actively directed, centralizing trade in cities. Only three Finnish cities (Turku, Helsinki, Viipuri) were allowed international trade, with tar being Finland’s primary export.

Question 19

The Great Famine of 1695-1697

Answer 19

During a period called the “Little Ice Age”, climatic changes led to crop failures. Combined with Sweden’s heavy focus on warfare and neglect of the populace in its mercantilist policies, it resulted in a devastating famine. Estimates suggest 25-30% of Finland’s population died due to starvation and diseases.

Question 20

Educational investments in Finland during 1600 - 1700.

Answer 20

Trivial schools (elementary schools) with Swedish as the medium of instruction were established. After this, students could attend a gymnasium (high school) with instruction in Latin and Swedish. In 1640, the University of Turku (Turun Akatemia) was founded, primarily as an institution for training clergy and officials.

Question 21

The beginning of the 18th century and the challenges faced by young King Kaarle XIII.

Answer 21

In 1700, old adversaries of Sweden – Denmark, Poland, and Russia – allied and attacked Sweden, challenging the abilities of the young King Kaarle XIII. Though initially defensive, Sweden faced defeats, notably in 1709, which saw Kaarle XII fleeing to the Ottoman Empire.

Question 22

Uudenkaupungin rauha in 1721.

Answer 22

Declared in 1721, the Treaty of Nystad ended the Great Northern War. This treaty was heavily influenced by Russia. Sweden lost its great power status, relinquishing the southern shores of the Gulf of Finland, many areas from the Russian border, and the Karelian Isthmus.

Question 23

The era known as Isonvihan aika (1710-1721).

Answer 23

Inspired by their successes in the Great Northern War battles of 1709, Russia invaded Finland, capturing Viipuri in 1710. By 1714, all of Finland was occupied. This period of intense hardship lasted until 1721. Russian forces were notably brutal, taking 20,000 - 30,000 Finnish prisoners and causing many others to flee.

Question 24

The shift towards parliamentary governance after the Great Northern War.

Answer 24

The king’s autocracy was viewed as a reason for Sweden’s decline post-war. Thus, royal powers were curtailed, and the Riksdag regained importance. The Council of State members were chosen via votes and had to gain the trust of the estates, marking the beginning of parliamentary governance in Sweden. Two significant parties emerged: the Myssyt, favoring diplomatic relations, and the Hatut, who dreamt of reclaiming the great power status.

Question 25

The Hattujen sota and its consequences.

Answer 25

In 1741, the Hatut party initiated an attack on Russia, hoping to reclaim lost territories. This move proved disastrous, resulting in another Russian occupation of Finland between 1742 and 1743, known as the “Pikkuvihaksi”. This ended with the Treaty of Åbo in 1743, leading to further territorial concessions to Russia.

Question 26

Anders Chydenius and the Enlightenment in Finland.

Answer 26

In the mid-18th century, Finnish priest Anders Chydenius championed Enlightenment thinking. He opposed mercantilism, which primarily benefited the elite. Chydenius supported economic liberalism, which began to gain traction. As a result, Finns gained rights to export tar throughout Europe and sometimes even to India. Chydenius also championed press freedom, leading to the establishment of Finland’s first newspaper in 1771.

Question 27

The reign of King Kustaa III and his autocratic rule.

Answer 27

Post the Hattujen sota, internal strife weakened the estates’ influence. King Kustaa III exploited this chaos, conducting a coup in 1772, proclaiming autocratic powers. This decision was met with dissatisfaction, especially among the nobility. In 1788, to distract from internal problems and gain popular support, Kustaa III waged war against Russia. However, the war ended in 1790 with no territorial gains. Kustaa III was assassinated in 1792.

Question 28

The context of the Finnish War and Napoleon’s influence.

Answer 28

The Finnish War was intertwined with the European conflict initiated by Napoleon’s aggressive stance against other world powers. While Napoleon excelled in land battles, he couldn’t invade Great Britain. To economically cripple Britain, he executed a trade blockade. Almost every major nation, except Sweden, complied. After defeating Russian forces in 1807, Napoleon coerced Russia into pressuring Sweden into the blockade. Consequently, Russia attacked Sweden in 1808.

Question 29

Outcome of the Finnish War and its significance.

Answer 29

In September 1809, the Treaty of Hamina was signed, where Sweden ceded Finland to Russia. Russia’s primary objective was merely to pressure Sweden into the blockade, yet they gained a large territory in the process.

Question 30

Measures taken by Tsar Alexander I to ensure stability in Finland.

Answer 30

Alexander I emphasized Finland’s stability and loyalty, preserving its old laws, religion, rights, and customs. In return, the Finnish estates pledged allegiance to the tsar. In summer 1809, at the Porvoo Diet, Alexander declared Finland a separate nation among nations.

Question 31

Establishment of Finnish central administration under Russian rule.

Answer 31

With its autonomy, Finland required its central administration. While the tsar held ultimate power and external policies were decided in Saint Petersburg, Helsinki was made the capital, moving it further from Sweden and closer to St. Petersburg. The Senate and other central agencies were established in Helsinki. The governor-general, the highest administrative official in Finland, chaired the Senate. The first was Finnish, but subsequent ones were Russian. Old Finnish territories were reincorporated, extending to the province of Vyborg.

Question 32

Russia’s rationale behind treating Finland well early 19th century.

Answer 32

For geopolitical reasons, Russia treated Finland favorably. If Sweden retaliated or Napoleon invaded, it was crucial that Finns remained loyal. Fears of Finnish revolts during potential invasions also played a role. Granting autonomy to conquered territories wasn’t new for Russia, similar treatments were given to Poland in the early 19th century.

Question 33

The summoning of the Finnish Diet and the Finnish stance on European uprisings.

Answer 33

The Finnish Diet wasn’t convened until 1863. The Finns, content with their status, observed European uprisings with alarm. During the Crimean War (1853-1855) against the British and French, an attack on Finland led to the Åland War. The Finns defended against the attackers, influencing Alexander II’s perceptions when he ascended the throne in 1855.

Question 34

Emergence of nationalism in Finland during the 19th century.

Answer 34

Nationalism flourished across Europe in the 1800s. Initially, in Finland, it manifested mainly in art, not politics. Elias Lönnrot’s “Kalevala” (1835) became a significant milestone for Finnish identity, profoundly influencing art and culture. Runeberg’s poetry also emphasized Finnish identity. When Snellman began promoting the Finnish language and advancing societal reforms, including industrial development, nationalism transitioned from art to politics. Snellman’s visions began materializing from the 1850s, especially after Alexander II’s ascension in 1855.