Part 6/10:
Historically, significant border changes occurred during alliances and wars. The Calmar Union unified Norway, Denmark, and Sweden in 1397. However, by 1523, Sweden’s breakaway and its subsequent territorial disputes with Denmark led to a focus on southern access points over the Arctic.
The Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s further reshaped political boundaries. After Sweden lost Finland to Russia in 1809, Norway remained a worthy prize due to its geographic advantages. The Treaty of Kiel in 1814 handed Norway to Sweden, though the Norwegians resisted and eventually achieved independence in 1905, leading to their current territorial status.
Finland’s Brief Arctic Control and Significant Loss
The Impact of World War II on Territorial Claims