Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
8
INTRODUCTION.
Västergötland; but the union of these peoples under one ruler nevertheless
payed the way for the establishment of a national government in the proper
sense, after which the various state laws — landskapslagar — gave way to a
national law — landslag. The first law of this kind — Magnus Ericksons
landslag — was promulgated about 1350 a. d.
The inhabitants of these two main divisions of the country were the Svear
and the Gautar.
The Svear dwelt in the states of Upland, Västmanland, Södermanland,
Nerike and Hälsingland, which together was called Svealand: The land of the
Swedes. They seem to have been the leading race, and tradition accords to
them the honor of having established and most faithfully maintained the Asa
worship in Sweden, and finally they gave their name to the whole country
and its people. Their center of government and religion was Upsala, the most
famous of early Scandinavian cities, and renowned especially for its elaborate
heathen worship and its magnificent temple, the most glorious in the North.
The Qautar inhabited Västergötland, Östergötland and Småland, together
called Götaland: the land of the Goths (which now embraces all of southern
Sweden.) The Gautar, no doubt, settled in Västergötland originally, and from
there spread over the neighboring country. While they were somewhat inferior
to the Svear in number and political influence, they were perhaps ahead of
them in perfecting their local governments and establishing law and order
within their territory. And while the Svear had the honor of standing closest
to the heathen worship, the Gautar must be given credit for having accepted
Christianity more readily and doing more for its establisment in the country.
The early Swedes were a strong, hardy race with powerful minds and
vigorous bodies, masters over their environment in life and heroic in death.
The men were well built, light complexioned as a rule, and wore long
beards. They were stern and daring, faithful as friends but terrible as enemies.
They were hospitable and generous, quick to appreciate and return a favor,
and equally quick to avenge a wrong or resent an insult. Blood avengement
played an important part in their life and history. Their occupation was
farming, herding, hunting and fishing. A great number spent their life on the
sea, either as vikings, ravaging foreign shores, or as merchants and traders.
The women were of slender build, well formed and usually light
complexioned. They were brave, proud, and of a cool temperament, but also
sensitive, loving, and faithful. Like the men, they were brave and fearless, and
though their sphere of usefulness lay principally within the home, quite a
number of them shared with the men the hardships of warfare and battle.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
