History of Sweden:
Part Three: The Middle Ages:
The early Middle Ages was a very eventful time for the Swedish people. From the 12th to the15th century towns and societies emerged in Sweden. Laws were written, castles were built, mines grew, trade increased and Sweden's first society-classes were established.
The early Middle Ages, Sweden was a realm consisting of many provinces. Every province had its own laws and ways of ruling. Most of the people were farmers with very ancient traditions,
At this time, Sweden had a king but he had to be elected both by the Svea Governing Body and the provinces. At the beginning of the 13th century, Sweden grew into a class society. A meeting took place in Alsnö 1280, between the King and Lords(rich landowners) of the Provinces and it was decided that people who served as knights did not have to pay taxes and were given their own provinces. This decision led to Sweden not only becoming a class society, but also a feudal society.
The owning of bonded men (or thralls) continued (these were people who were owned by other men. They could be bought or sold just like goods or chattle). Their owner could do whatever they wanted with them. The Burghers (or Merchants) formed their own class after the Hanseatic trade developed and grew in northern Germany and the Hanseatic League encompassed much of Northern Europe, with Visby then being the capital (and richest) town of Sweden.
As the Middle Ages progressed and Christianity came to Sweden, the need for the King to grant provinces and make people knights lessened - and this together with the taxed paid to the King and the Church (which slowly gained more power in the country) led to the feudal society declining and disappearing.
For more information on Sweden in the Middle Ages (and earlier) please visit http://www.utb.boras.se/uk/se/projekt/history/ns4.htm
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