Scandinavia in the Early Modern World

Scandinavia in the Early Modern World introduces the early modern history of the region, covering the period from the early sixteenth century to the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. The volume places developments in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands in relation to wider European and global historical contexts.

Rather than focusing exclusively on political elites and national narratives, the contributions examine political, social, economic, and cultural change across different regions and social groups. The book highlights both similarities and differences within Scandinavia, as well as tensions and conflicts that shaped the region over time. It includes discussions of Sápmi and of Scandinavian colonial involvement overseas, including activities in Greenland, West Africa, the Americas, and India, and situates these within broader patterns of trade and empire in the early modern world. By adopting a broad regional perspective, the volume illustrates how early modern state formation and social change took different forms across Scandinavia.

This book is a valuable resource for students, scholars, and general readers interested in early modern Nordic history, political and socioeconomic history, imperial history, global history, and the history of trade.