What you may or may not know about Stockholm and Sweden:
Swedish history comprises more than 10,000 years and
starts after the last glacial period. After the melting of the
inland ice, the climate became warmer, and settlers seem
to have arrived to the northern parts of the country from
the east as well as from the south. They lived from
hunting, fishing and collecting.
To make a long story short, agriculture was introduced
during the Stone Age, and there was a subsequent
Bronze Age followed by an Iron Age. The long process
of creating political unity started about 1100 A.D.
Stockholm was built largely because of the waterways. In those days,
land was high making it impossible to travel by boat or ship
between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. So, everything on the
vessels that was brought for the purpose of trade, had to be reloaded in
Stockholm. The goods traded was mainly iron, copper, tar and fur.
Located in a strategic spot trade was an important factor in the
creation of Stockholm and thus it became vital to fortify the islands
of the inner city with a wall.
The old Stockholm was located on Helgeandsholmen which grew
up during the 13th century. It was not long, however, until
the city moved in between the bridges, and we know this part of the
city as the Old Town.
The name Stockholm is first heard of in the chronicle of Eric (Eriks
krönikan), probably written between 1322 and 1332. According to
this chronicle Stockholm was founded by Birger Jarl in 1252. It was
named Stockholm, as referring to the town in between the bridges.