New Sweden

New Sweden was a colony in Eastern Woodlands (North America) that lasted from 1638 to 1655 CE, about 17 years. Its people spoke Germanic languages (Gothic, Frankish, English, German, Dutch, Norse).

Swedish colony on the Delaware River at modern Wilmington. Its settlers built the first log cabins in America. The Dutch took it over in 1655.

See New Sweden on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1638 to 1655 CE

Duration

17 years

Type

Colony

Region

Eastern Woodlands, North America

Language family

Germanic

Capital

Fort Christina

Became

• New Netherland 1614 to 1664 CE

Neighbours in North America

• New France 1534 to 1763 CE
• Thirteen Colonies 1607 to 1776 CE
• Spanish Florida 1565 to 1821 CE
• Santa Fe de Nuevo México 1598 to 1821 CE
• Acadia 1604 to 1713 CE
• New Netherland 1614 to 1664 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Mali Empire c. 1235 to 1670 CE, North and West Africa
• Ayutthaya Kingdom 1351 to 1767 CE, Southeast Asia

Questions