ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Finland under Swedish rule

Finland is a country located in Europe, way up north. A long, long time ago, a group of people called the Swedes went and decided they wanted to rule over Finland. That means they wanted to be in charge of Finland and tell everyone what to do.

Finland was under Swedish rule for over 600 years, which is really, really long! During this time, the Swedish people introduced their language, culture, and religion to Finland. They also built towns and cities and made important laws to help the country run smoothly.

However, not everyone was happy about being ruled by the Swedes. Some people in Finland wanted to be able to make their own decisions and do things their own way instead of following everything the Swedish people said.

After many years, the people of Finland finally gained their independence and became their own country! Now they can make their own laws and decisions, speak their own language, and have their own customs and traditions. But they still remember their history and the long time they spent under Swedish rule.