Scania is the southernmost province of Sweden. It was settled in the wake of the last Ice Age, appr. 14 000 BC. For most of its history, it was part of the South Scandinavian cultural sphere, which also comprised Jutland, the Danish Isles and the neighbouring provinces of present-day Sweden. In the Middle Ages, Scania was part of the Danish realm and became the centre of the Scandinavian churches. During the early modern period, Scania became a battleground in the recurring wars between Denmark/Norway and Sweden/Finland. In the treaty of Roskilde 1658, Denmark ceded Scania to Sweden. Today, it is one of the most populous provinces of Sweden. The link with Denmark was physically restored in 2001 through the construction of the Öresund Bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö.
The aim of the project is to follow the development of the region through the ages. The author is a historian by training and an economist by profession, but the project aims at a synthesis that will also draw upon archaeology, social anthropology, and other neighbouring disciplines. The aim is to present the region as a gateway for economic, social, and cultural influences that have shaped Scandinavia. The result will be presented in three volumes: the first covering pre-history and the early Middle Ages; the second volume will cover the conflicts between Denmark and Sweden, 1350-1750; and the last volume intends to follow the making of the modern society.
