WOOD AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY IN SWEDEN IN THE 17TH AND 18TH C. (Drewno jako zrodlo energii w nowozytnej Szwecji (XVII i XVIII w.))

• Authors: Majewska Gabriela
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The development of civilization in the modern period was largely conditioned by a country's forest resources. Wood was necessary to meet the basic needs of the people and was the most common source of energy. In Sweden in the 17th and 18th c. the principal branches of economy - mining, iron and copper metallurgy, the production of tar - were dependent on wood supply. Wood was the source of charcoal, which fuelled blast furnaces and forges. Sweden was exceptionally rich in forests. Over a half of the country's area (55%-60%) was covered in woods, of which only 20% was used in the 17th c. In the mid 17th c. coal-mining and metallurgy consumed 17% of wood, but the growing production of bar iron (which increased twofold in the 18th c) caused an increased demand for wood and charcoal. In order to maintain steady wood supply for the copper and iron industry and to prevent excessive wood cutting the production of bar iron and the export of wood were limited. Although Swedish forest resources were so rich, already in the mid 17th c. the inhabitants of mining regions were worried by the emergence of new foundries and complained about a shortage of wood (households consumed about 72% of wood production). The problem became more acute in the 18th c. Local shortages of wood recurred around large conglomerates of blast furnaces and forges, especially in Bergslagen. In the regions with highest demand for charcoal there were conflicts between peasants and foundry owners. The great advantages of using charcoal as a source of energy in the 18th c. was its high energetic effectiveness and the fact that it came from a renewable energy source.

Keywords

EN

ENERGY; FOREST RESOURCES; SWEDEN

Discipline

• HISTORY: HISTORY

• Publisher: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Kwartalnik Historii Kultury Materialnej
• Year: 2008
• Volume: 56
• Issue: 3-4
• Pages: 353-360
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Majewska Gabriela

• Gabriela Majewska, Instytut Historii Uniwersytetu Gdanskiego, ul. Wita Stwosza 55, 80-953 Gdansk, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

11PLAAAA092834