Britannica AI Icon

Svear

people
Also known as: Suiones

Quick Summary

The Svear, or Suiones, were a people who gave Sweden its name. They were centered in Uppland, around Uppsala, and were described by the Roman historian Tacitus as being powerful in men, weapons, and fleets. Archaeological evidence indicates settlement in the region as early as the Stone Age. Early inhabitants were hunters and fishers, later adopting agriculture and cattle raising around 2500 BCE. By 1500 BCE, settlers were familiar with copper and bronze, and by the Roman Iron Age (around 1 CE), Sweden had developed its own distinct culture, influenced by external trade. The Svear's region, Svealand, became the nucleus from which Sweden politically and culturally developed.12345

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.