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A Flatpack History of Sweden

A fun history podcast chronologically charting Swedish history in a light-hearted and conversational way. Each week we introduce a new step along our journey through the history of Sweden, from the Stone Age to the modern day. Vikings included!

Welcome to A Flatpack History of Sweden! In this perhaps too long introductory episode, we say hello to our new podcast, explain the format and give a brief lowdown on what we are going to be talking about on our journey through Swedish history!

 

Update: We have just re-released the first 8 episodes of the podcast, so people can enjoy the first episodes with an improved sound quality! We give a longer explanation at the start of the episode.

1. Welcome!

We kick off our podcast with a look at how Sweden physically formed after the last ice age. We meet the first people to move in after this change and see how they lived during the Paleolithic and Mesolithic Ages. Expect Mammoths, hunter-gatherers and a very special lady - Bäckaskogskvinnan! 

 

Please do follow us on Twitter on too! @FlatpackSweden

2. Stone Age Swedes - After The Ice

We continue investigating the Stone Age in Sweden, this time focusing on the Neolithic period. We find out how farming was developed, why so much fire was involved and touch on the amazing graves and burial chambers we will focus on more next time around.

Please do follow us on Twitter on @FlatpackSweden and give us a like and a follow on Facebook too!

3. Stones, Farming and Goats

In this episode we delve much deeper into the three major cultures of the Swedish Neolithic Period: The Funnel Cups, The Pitted Ware Culture and the Battle Axe Culture. Listen as we learn more about these three different cultures and lifestyles, explore their differing burial methods and learn about what was happening around the world too!

Please do follow us on Facebook and Twitter and give us a review or follow.

4. Swedish Neolithic Cultures

This time we welcome you to the Swedish Bronze Age, a time of trading and adventure. Packed full of new discoveries, contacts across Europe and even potentially a bit of murder, Sweden begins its journey into the world of metals. See how Sweden developed into a real export powerhouse, funding some of the more impressive developments back home.

5. Boats, Bronze and Bartering

It's time for part two of our Bronze Age journey. This time we focus on graves, rock art and a little bit of a phallic obsession. From 1800 BCE to 500 BCE, there's a lot of physical evidence to talk about!

6. Graves and Stones May Hide My Bones

In this episode we introduce the Iron Age to our story of Swedish history. This week we cover the first two major periods of the Iron Age; The Pre-Roman Iron and the Roman Iron Age, as we look at nearly 1,000 years of history. Bonus: There are Romans included...

7. The Not So Missing Iron Age

Welcome to Part 2 of our investigation of the Iron Age in Sweden and south Scandinavia. This time we take a look at the Germanic Iron Age, with its Migration Period and Vendel Period. See how society gradually shifts as we head towards the Viking Age. We also visit one of our favourite Swedish historical sites, Ales Stenar!

8. Even More Ironing

In this episode we're taking a break from the chronological narrative, as we stop to reflect on the crossover between fact and fiction, and the problems this may cause going forward. We discuss the Nordic Sagas, crazy kings and the many peoples who may or may not have existed in Sweden in the gap between the Iron Age and the Viking Age. We will meet colourful characters like King Weatherhat and a travelling Icelandic storyteller, plus many more.

9. Mind the Gap!

Surprise! This is our first special episode, breaking the chronological order to talk about an interesting historical object we found in our flat recently. Sweden issued civilian dog tags to all new born citizens for 50 years between 1960 and 2010. But why? We look into it and also have a brief chat about the history of dog tags in general.

S1. Swedish Civilian Dog Tags

It is time for another special episode! This time, as we see Swedes win medals in Beijing in 2022, we thought we would look at some of their predecessors and the Swedish athletes who competed in the first modern Olympic Games. Meet Sweden's first Olympians, first medallists and a great old man who would become an Olympic legend!

Listen to find out about all this and more, including the mystery of a disappearing Japanese marathon runner...

S5. Swedes in the Early Olympics

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