The Invention of Scandinavia

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The Invention Of...

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Misha Glenny investigates the histories and the people that make nations what they are.

Misha Glenny investigates the borders, the histories and the people that make different nations what they are.

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The Invention Of...: Scandinavia: The Viking Inheritance

Scandinavia

The Viking Inheritance

BBC Radio 4 - The Invention Of..., Scandinavia, The Viking Inheritance

Why Sweden has not always been the peace-loving nation it is today, with Misha Glenny.

Misha Glenny looks back to a time when the Swedes terrified everyone, and ran their own empire too.

The Swedes are very proud that they have not fought in a war since 1814, but they have not always been the knitwear pacifists they are today. Following a traumatic moment in their history - the Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520 - they set off on a two century rampage fuelled by religion and military skill. This reached a crazy crescendo when - like Napoleon and Hitler - King Charles XII of Sweden took on the Russians in what some have described as a defensive war.
The Swedes don't talk much about this period today.

With brilliant contributions from Erika Sandstrom, Gunnar Wetterberg, Peter Wilson, Anna Toon, Michael Pye and Ulf Zander.

The producer in Bristol is Miles Warde

The Invention Of...: Scandinavia

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Misha Glenny picks up his series on what makes countries what they are in Scandinavia.

Denmark, Sweden, Norway ... what are these three countries, how similar are the people who live there and can history explain what is happening now? Misha Glenny investigates.

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The Viking Inheritance

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