Why didn’t the Scandinavian countries get into colonizing the “New World?”

[raccoon]

In the 1500’s, 1600’s, 1700’s even, some of the European countries were busily ripping off resources from the “New World,”as well as killing, enslaving, and raping the natives colonizing the New World. Wonder why the Scandinavian countries didn’t get in on the act? They were very accomplished in shipbuilding and sailing, we know that because of their explorations a few centuries earlier than the other European countries.

:shrug:

[saltpoint]

1. My theory is they were too busy screwing.

And to that, I say, more power to 'em.

[Zynx]

2. It's not because they were holy and righteous.

It has more to do with the fact that Britain, France, and Spain were a good deal more powerful.

[Captain Hilts]

13. Bigger populations and more willing to take the risk. nt

[havocmom]

14. And the Vikings had already been there, done them

The Scandinavians pretty much 'colonized' Europe before Europe 'found' the new world.

[AngryAmish]

3. THe supposed sexual prowess of these folks notwithstanding, they did not have large populations

Even now they are thinly populated (comparatively).

[Zynx]

4. Additionally, they had other interests that were closer to home.

For example Sweden was always dicking around in the Baltic and northern Europe.

[izquierdista]

5. Look east

They were too busy trying to subjugate Poland, Russia, the Finns, the Latvians, the Lithuanians, etc. How do you think those peoples of the east got to be known as 'Slavs'? For a long time they were slaves to the Scandinavians, helping them portage their boats from river to river so the Scandinavians could get rich on trade with the Ottomans.

[Donnachaidh]

6. uhh, try a little research

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_slave_trade

The Swedish slave trade occurred in the early history of Sweden, and again during the 17th century, around the time Swedish overseas colonies were established in North America (1638) and in Africa (1650). It remained legal until 1813.

Sweden had treaties with England<1><2> and France<3> concerning slave trade, with Swedish vessels involved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Between 1784 and 1878, the country held minor colonies in the Caribbean. The Swedish island Saint-Barthélemy functioned as a duty free port and became a major center for the Caribbean slave trade. Slaves were brought in tax free by both Swedish and foreign vessels and the Swedish authorities made a profit by collecting an export tax when slaves were shipped out. Sweden was also a major supplier of iron chains used in the slave trade.<4>

Slavery was initially outlawed in 1335 by Magnus IV of Sweden for thralls "born by Christian parents" in Västergötland and Värend.<5> In 1847, slavery was abolished in all parts of Sweden, including the colonies, on the basis of a decision taken in 1846.<6> Slavery was ruled in Saint-Barthélemy under the Ordinance concerning the Police of Slaves and free Coloured People<7> dated 30th july 1787, original<8> in french dated 30th june 1787. The last legally owned slaves in the Swedish colony of Saint-Barthélemy were bought free by the state on October 9, 1847.<9>

slavery was not abolished in Sweden until 1847. They DID profit from the slave trade.

:eyes:

[hobbit709]

7. There were settlements in Greenland and Labrador.

The Little Ice Age starved them out.

[Parmenion]

8. Too busy raping central Europeans

Sweden became a major European power in the 17th century under Gustavus Adolphus, and conquered large swathes of Poland-Lithuania and Russia, as well as campaigning all the way to Prague. The Swedes raped, plundered and committed all sorts of atrocities in the Swedish Deluge (as it is known in Poland) and their army made it all the way to Prague (!), which seems odd for us to think about in the current day. They also participated in the apocalyptic 30 years war.

[KharmaTrain]

9. Sweden Colonized Deleware...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Sweden

A lot of the rise in colonialism was their place in world trade...the Netherlands and Britian did the most and thus were the most active and influential during those times. Also, IRC they were too busy fighting the Russians and the Poles...

[tanyev]

10. "their explorations a few centuries earlier"

You mean, like, the Vikings? They did plenty of killing, enslaving and raping. Not to mention pillaging and looting.

[NWHarkness]

11. The Swedes did colonize in America

I am surprised that so few people seem to know that the Swedes colonized the Delaware Valley.

[Captain Hilts]

12. A couple of reasons. First, they didn't feel compelled to export their puritans and criminals. Also

they didn't have the large numbers of lower class folks willing to risk all to make the trip. It was a HUGE gamble folks with something worth living for didn't usually make.

[AngryAmish]

15. They had a big colony. It is called Russia.

[JoDog]

16. Combine the points made by the above posters

And you'll have a great answer to your question.

During the Medieval Warming Period, the Scandinavian kingdoms (specifically Norway) were the original colonizers of North America. While they did not hold Vinland for long, they did hold Greenland until well into the Little Ice Age. Once the LIA started, the economic and population pressures that led to the colonization slacked. It also became harder and more expensive to mount expeditions west from the Scandinavian kingdoms. Using trade routes already established in Eastern Europe was more profitable and easier.

While using those routes, the Scandinavians became heavily involved in the politics and economics of Poland, Romania, Muscovy, Latvia and other states. This involvement resulted in a de facto colonization of these areas. It did indeed sometimes involve the kind of cruelty we associate with the slaughter of the First Nations in North America.

Scandinavian power in the area continued until the rise of Russia, France and the German states as global players in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Like all nations, the influence of the modern states of Norway, Sweden and Finland have waxed and waned over the years. Once upon a time, a Viking king sat on the English throne. The very threat of a Viking army was enough for the king of France to offer to pay them off. In a time when few people traveled 10 miles from the place they were born over their entire lives, Norse traders traveled as far has Constaninople and India. And yes, they did keep slaves--one of their 3 social classes was a bound servant class. When most of European civilization allowed men to beat and abandon their wives, the Norse not only granted women the right to divorce, but also the right to own property.

Hope that helps.

JoDog--who plays a 11th century Swede on the weekends.

[customerserviceguy]

17. Most of the rest of Europe

was enveloped in the cruelties that arose with the Protestant Reformation, and efforts on all sides to torture "heretics". I would imagine that Scandinavia was more religiously homogenous, and the pressure to leave was less pronounced than it was in England, France, Germany, etc.

[Javaman]

18. Because they knew it was a trainwreck waiting to happen.

:rofl:

[noel711]

19. Let's be nice when we talk about my ancestors.....

This is my theory.... (snark alert!)

They had their fling with testosterone based destruction during the dark ages,
when the Vikings invaded every conceivable nation through looting, pillaging,
forced labor/slavery of captives, (and violently conceiving through rape
a DNA line of blondes and redheads throughout Europe)
while they sent explorers to Canada and Iceland, and invented American football..
It was far too cold in Canada and Iceland, might as well stay in Europe...

But then Santa Lucia, fleeing her pissed-off Italian suitor who
wanted her bridal dowery (which she gave to the poor),
came to the north country, and led them all sweet christianity, so
they saw the evil of their ways, and settled into the suitable
top-down domination system of the Roman empire: king/emperor at the top,
peons/serfs at the bottom. But after centuries of groveling and starving,
the peons/serfs thought that maybe that odd country overseas
had something goin' on- so...

During the late 1800's, during massive famines in Scandinavia,
thousands of blondes and redheads fled the domination systems,
and 're-colonated' many states. The Americans don't realize it,
but these Scandinavians undermined what had been put in place by
the Brits.. and ushered in liberal politics, blonde models,
and winter olympics.

Oh, and don't forget the huge bestselling snack item:
The ever popular Lutefisk!!

[FarCenter]

20. The Viking period was during a warm climate, colonization of America during little ice age

As the climate grew colder, the population of Scandinavia fell and did not have the resources to undertake colonization.