 The History of SödermanlandWell-preserved ancient remains give us a clear indication of the place of birth of the original province of Södermanland. The first people, who were hunters , came during the Bronze Age. Since the climate was warm and dry, they settled along waterfronts where the soil was most fertile. The remains from this period consist mostly of monumental graves and runic inscriptions either carved directly in the rock or on erected stones beside ancient roads. During the Iron Age, the climate was more humid and people were forced onto drier grounds. Remains from the Iron Age are less prominent; the graves covered bigger areas but with fewer grave stones. Several runic stones are relics of monuments from Christian missions which began in the 11th century. Södermanland is criss-crossed by water between the lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea. These where important routes for transportation and had to be protected. Castles and strongholds were built on the slopes to defend the towns. Towns were built by the rivers. The aristocracy wished to reside in the vicinity of Stockholm and therefore built their estates and manors in Södermanland. Therefore there are many manors and estates in Södermanland. During the 17th century the main industry of the area was the manufacture of canons produced from the rich supplies of ore, a natural resource of the area. Canons were in great demand since Sweden was at war for most of this period. Ore was a great source of riches for many decades in Södermanland. The railroad between Stockholm and Göteborg, finished in 1862, meant great changes for Södermanland. The different companies established in Södermanland could now expand which meant the industry in the area grew. The large expansion of Stockholm has had a strong effect on the landscape of Södermanland, changing its rural dominance to a more urbanised structure.  Useful information Quiz game Contents About... E-mail |