The country, which extends on 1 574 km length and a maximum width from approximately 500 km, occupies the slope turned towards the Baltic of the Scandinavian peninsula. Only the south-western part is tributary of the North Sea.
Linked with Finland during seven centuries, then with Norway to the XIX E century, Sweden remained neutral and free of any alliance since 1815. The kingdom of Sweden wanted to carry out the ideal of a company of wellbeing while being based on progressive reforms, acquired without violent jolts, and on the spirit of compromise of the various classes.