ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of Finland

Finland is a country located in Northern Europe. It wasn't always a country because different groups of people lived there. The first people who lived in that area were called the Sami people. They were hunters and fishers who also raised animals like reindeer.

Then, around the 12th century, people from Sweden started coming to Finland, and eventually, Finland became a part of Sweden. During this time, Finland was mainly forest, and the Swedish people who came to Finland were interested in cutting trees to use for building and making ships.

In the early 19th century, Finland was conquered by Russia. Russia was interested in Finland because it was useful for trade with other countries. During this time, the people of Finland worked hard to keep their own language and traditions alive, even though the government was under the control of the Russian Tsar.

In 1917, Finland declared its independence and became its own country. After that, there were some difficult times, including a civil war where different groups of people fought each other for control of the country. During World War II, Finland was invaded by the Soviet Union, and there was a long and difficult war between the two countries.

After World War II, Finland rebuilt and became a prosperous country with a high quality of life. Today, Finland is known for its natural beauty, friendly people, and unique culture. Some things that make Finland special are their love of saunas, Finnish Lapland where visitors can see the northern lights, and their tradition of Sisu, which means never giving up even in difficult times.