This is a second edition of the successful study of Finland in the English language. A Short History of Finland traces the historical development of the country from its settlement by the Finns in the first millennium AD to the present time, exploring Finland's earlier connection with Sweden, the complex relationship with Russia that has dominated Finnish history in the past two centuries, and the postwar achievements of the second republic. This second edition has been revised and updated by Emeritus Professor A. F. Upton, a leading scholar of Scandinavian history. It covers the impact of the break-up of the Soviet Union and brings events up to Finland's admission to the European Union in 1995.