A Brief History of Finland, 7000 BC to the Present

A Brief History of Finland, 7000 BC to the Present

Table of Contents
Introduction
Geography and Population
Origins
Language
Swedish Rule
Russian Rule
Emigration
Finnish Independence
World War II
Sports and Recreation
Culture
Email Me
Website Index

Introduction
This overview of Finland's development provides the casual reader with an introduction to this unique country. It touches on the geography, language, history, emigration and culture of today's society.

Geography
The Republic of Finland is situated in Northern Europe, bounded by Sweden on the Northwest, Norway on the North, shares a long border with the Republic of Karelia, Russia on the East and the Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia on the South and Southwest. The Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia open into the Baltic Sea. Roughly ¼ of Finland lies North of the Arctic Circle. Sixty percent of the land is covered by forests. Finland is divided into eight provinces.

The country is slightly smaller than Montana, has an estimated population of 5.19 million people in July 2003. It is estimated the population will be 5.2 million in 2015, showing a very small increase. Thirty-nine percent of the people live in rural areas; the remaining 61% are urban dwellers. Their capital city of Helsinki hosts the largest urban population of slightly more than 1 million people (1995).

Finland is a land of thousands of lakes. Of the total 130,000 square miles, 31,500 acres are water (more than 10% of the land). The temperature could be sub arctic in Southern Finland because of the country's Northern position, but it is comparatively mild due to the moderating influences of the North Atlantic current, the Baltic Sea and the more than 180,000 lakes. The terrain is mostly flat to rolling plains, interspersed with lakes and low hills. Some of the Northern areas within the Arctic Circle experience truly arctic conditions with 50 days in which the sun does not rise in the winter, and 70 days when it does not set in the summer.

Origins
Finland began to be populated as the last Ice Age receded in 7,000 B.C. The archaeological remains suggest these people were similar to the Mesolithic (mid stone age) settlers in Denmark. They lived by fishing and hunting, especially elk. About 3,000 BC, tribes of the Neolithic (later stone age) culture flourished in the Karelia area of Eastern Finland. The ceramics they produced are similar to those people from the Ural Mountains, the Ukraine, and the Baltic lands to the South. Hunting seals and fishing provided most of their food. These Karelians occupy the Russian - Finnish border today.

In 2,000 BC maritime peoples settled along the southern and southwestern shores. These people traded via the sea with tribes from the West and South. The Karelians bartered with people from what is now Russia, and were influenced by their Eastern culture.

Language
The official languages are Finnish and Swedish. Finns make up 93% of the population; Swedes are 6%, the Sami (Laplanders), Gypsies and Tatar together are less than 1%.

The Finnish language belongs to the Finno - Ugric group of languages. This is part of the Uralian family which includes the languages of Estonia, Lapland, Karelia and several languages spoken among small groups of Russians. It is distantly related to Hungarian. It is totally unlike the Scandinavian languages and those common in the Western world.

The first Finnish writings were by Bishop Mikael Agricola in the 16th century. Bishop Agricola translated the New Testament into Finn for use in the Churches in 1548. The translation required 8,500 words; some words were made up by the Bishop. The complete Bible was translated in 1642.

Swedish Rule
In 800 A.D. Swedish Vikings began traveling through Finland on their way to conquer the rivers of Russia. By 882 A.D. they had extended their influence through Finland all the way to Kiev, capital of the Ukraine. The Swedes spread Roman Christianity to Western Finland; the Orthodox Church from Russia claimed the Finns in the East.

Sweden ruled Finland from the 12th to the 19th centuries, organizing society along the traditional European medieval system of nobles, clergy, burghers and peasants (cottagers). Swedish was the language of the governing, Finnish the language of the governed. Some burghers could speak both languages. Official documents were in Swedish. Roughly 15% of the population spoke Swedish, leaving 85% speaking Finn.

For 900 hundred years, 800 to 1700 A.D., the Swedes fought to spread their influence further East, the Danes and Germans stretched their armies to the North, and Russians battled to control the lands to their West. Being a flat land with no natural barriers, except the sea which was of little hindrance to the sea faring nations, all these invading armies swarmed through Finland on their way East, West, North or South. Boundaries were shifted, people expelled, resettled and expelled again. The wars brought famine, revolution, taxes, relative periods of calm, and then another round of battles to the people of Finland.

Russian Rule
Swedish influence declined in the late 1700's. By 1808, after a successful war with Sweden, Russia formally annexed Finland, granting Finns the right to practice their religion and preserve their traditional rights and privileges. In return, the Finns took an oath of allegiance to the Czar as Grand Duke of Finland. Finland was officially a Duchy of Russia, allowed to manage its own affairs on a day-to-day basis.

Finnish has been spoken for a millennia, but a sophisticated written form of the language wasn't developed until the 19th century. (The earlier writings were primarily the Biblical translations mentioned above.) In the relative calm following the annexation of Finland to Russia, a movement began to establish Finnish as the official language. By 1840 a written grammar structure was agreed upon. The publishing of the Kalevala, a study of the folk traditions of the Eastern Finns, in 1849, greatly helped establish Finnish as both a spoken and written language, and identify the people of Finland as separate from those countries around them. The Kalevala is now known as the 'national epic' of Finland.

Emigration
The first Finns arrived in the New World with the Swedes who settled in the Delaware Valley in 1638. While Sweden controlled Finland, the emigrants were counted as Swedes. In 1809, when Finland was transferred to Russia, Finns moved into Alaska, then owned by Russia. Most stayed on when the United States purchased Alaska in 1867.

In the 1830's to 1850's most Finnish immigrants to the United States were sailors. Seeing an opportunity to improve their lot, they left their ships to farm the open lands in the Midwest. Some tried their luck in the gold country of California. In the 1860's record number of Finns arrived in Minnesota. Their encouraging letters home brought over even more immigrants.

In the 1870's and 1880's emigration continued to be a logical solution to the economic problems at home. Fear of conscription into the Russian Army, and the decline of commerce and boat building encouraged men from the coastal areas of Finland to emigrate. By the 1890's the concept was sweeping inland as Russia was demanding more control of Finnish internal affairs. In the 1900 US census, 63,000 people were identified as Finnish immigrants. Most were settled in Michigan and Minnesota, others were in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and California. They were farmers, fisherman, loggers or miners. The last large group of Finns arrived in 1923, numbering about 12,000.

Finnish Independence
The Russian revolution of 1917 was the opportunity for the Finns to declare their own independence. Their economy had suffered during the Great War, and there was vast unemployment. Russia was focused on its internal affairs, including the Bolshevik Revolution, leaving the needs of Finland to the Finns. When the Finnish governing party notified Lenin, on December 6, 1917, that they were declaring their independence, Lenin agreed to let them go. He hoped Finland would maintain some formal association with Russia, but did not require it.

A Finnish civil war between the Reds (Finns who were Russian Revolution sympathizers) and the Whites (Finnish nationalists) broke out when independence was won. During the 1920's and 30's numerous battles between the Labor Party, the outlawed Communist Party, the Social Democrats and Small Holders Election Organization were waged. Some battles were at the ballot box, other violent clashes. But democracy reigned, as the elected officials respected the constitution.

World War II
When the war clouds of World War II began to gather, Finland declared its neutrality, hoping to stay out of the coming battle. But Russia invaded on November 30, 1939, not because they felt tiny Finland was a threat to them, but to prevent the Germans from attacking via the Gulf of Finland. Through the League of Nations, peace was negotiated on March 12, 1940. The Winter War of 100 days was over.

Within the peace terms, Finland lost 10% of their lands to Russia. Over 400,000 Finns were allowed to immigrate to Western Finland and were resettled there. The Winter War cost Finland the lives of 25,000 soldiers, and almost 45,000 more were wounded. But Finland remained independent. Russia was expelled from the League of Nations for their assault on Finland.

An excellent, Emmy-award-winning documentary, Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia, was created by award-winning independent writer/producer Ben Strout in 2005. Quoting from the official web site, the DVD was "filmed on the old battlefields in Finland and Russia, [and] dramatically depicts the intensity of the warfront and the homefront. Outnumbered and outgunned, Finns knew the war was not about territory; it was a total war for their very existence as a people. The Winter War was an epic life and death struggle that changed the course of World War II, and saved a democracy." The film is periodically shown on PBS stations in the US, and is available for purchase from Mr. Strout's production company, MastersWork Media.

In January, 1941, Finland agreed to help Germany in its war against Russia. This 'Continuation War' allowed German troops passage through Finland to establish supply stations in Lapland. From there the Germans launched an offensive against Russia. In return Finland was promised armament for its military. The Germans attacked Russia from the Arctic Circle, the Finns from the Gulf of Finland. The Finns advanced East and retook the land they had lost in 1940. The battles reached a stalemate at that point.

Finland, in 1943, concluded they were on the wrong side of the battle. Britain had declared war on them, though they did not invade. The US did not take a stand for or against Finland. However, it was evident to Finland that Germany would lose the war. Finland sued Russia for peace. It was granted in 1944, providing Finland would withdraw to the 1940 borders, and pay $300 million in goods to Russia over a six year period. All Germans were to be expelled from the land. The people who had returned to their homes in Eastern Finland were forced to again immigrate to the West. It is a point of pride that Finland repaid all its war loans and assessments in full, on time.

The 'Lapland War' began after the armistice with Soviet Union was signed. Finland declared war on Germany September 27, 1944. It lasted until April 27, 1945, the day the last Germans left Finland.

Sports and Recreation
The Finns are very active sport enthusiasts. Cross country skiing was the primary national sport in the 1800's. As the country developed its own identity, participation in and watching sporting events were strongly encouraged. Finland participates vigorously in the Olympic winter sports, as well as the track and field events of the Summer games. They successfully hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics.

The Finns traditionally love the outdoors; most urban Finns have their summer cottage at the sea or in the forest. They tolerate their small urban apartments or condominiums for eleven months of the year and revel in their large summer cottage for one month.

Finland's unique adventures include the Finnish saunas, reindeer sleigh rides and races, visits to Santa Claus village near Rovaniema above the Arctic Circle, and enjoyment of the colorful Aurora Borealis during winter.

Culture
Finland allowed women the vote in 1906, the first European nation to do so. They have an active social services system to ensure the health of children, the elderly, those afflicted with serious disease, and those unemployed. TB has been virtually eliminated. Their quality of life is ranked among the top ten countries of the world.

The unique Finnish language is a hindrance to participation in the literary fields. Few people speak Finn outside of Finland, and the literature has not translated easily into better known languages. However, English is becoming much more universally accepted. It is the official language of the communication company Nokia.

Finland is highly industrialized with a per capita output similar to France and Germany. Their main industries are wood products, metal manufacturing, telecommunications and electronics. Nokia is their largest manufacturer. Their agriculture output keeps them self sufficient, but leaves little to export.

Finland is well respected for its contributions to the arts. Sibelius' symphonies are played around the world. Their musicians perform with major orchestras. Furniture design, architecture, glass, pottery and fabrics are exported. The 630 feet high Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, was designed by Eero Saarinen.

The Finns support the United Nations Peace Keeping efforts. Helsinki is frequently the site of peace conferences. They are members of the European Union. This international participation places them squarely within the Western world.

This effort is an on-going project, subject to the errors and omissions of all human activities. I gladly receive inquiries, corrections, additions and comments.
Email Jane at poyskyfamily@aol.com

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A Brief History of Finland, 7000 BC to the Present

Table of Contents

Introduction

Geography and Population

Origins

Language

Swedish Rule

Russian Rule

Emigration

Finnish Independence

World War II

Sports and Recreation

Culture

Email Me

Website Index

Introduction

Geography

Origins

Language

Swedish Rule

Russian Rule

Emigration

Finnish Independence

World War II

Sports and Recreation

Culture

Website Index

Introduction

History

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