Sweden's Timber Empire: The Sawmill Revolution

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Sweden's forests became the engine of its industrial transformation. From the medieval tar trade to the 19th-century sawmill boom, they trace the rise of the timber industry that turned Norrland into a global supplier. Along the way, they meet the so-called 'kings of the timber trade'—men like Olof Wijk and the Dickson family—who built fortunes on the banks of the Göta älv. They discuss the technology of water-powered saws, the impact of the 1858 sawmill ordinance that deregulated the industry, and the environmental and social costs, including the displacement of the Sámi people. The episode also touches on the export trade through Gothenburg and Sundsvall, the role of steam-powered sawmills, and the eventual regulation that saved Sweden's forests from overexploitation. A rich, specific look at a cornerstone of modern Swedish economic history.

#History #FexingoHistory #Sweden #TimberTrade #Norrland #Sawmill #19thCentury #IndustrialRevolution #OlofWijk #Dickson #Gothenburg #Sundsvall #Sami #Forestry #RiverDriving #SteamPower #Export #EconomicHistory

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo