Finnish culture is centuries old, yet Finland itself has only been an independent nation for just over one hundred years. Finland's history is an interesting subject filled with misconceptions. Would you be surprised to learn that the Finns, for the most part, were not Vikings? Or that Finland is not part of Scandinavia? The Finns are not even related to their closest neighbors: Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. This book pulls back the curtain so you can get a better look at Finland's history. Its history is exciting, even without the Vikings, and its proximity to Russia is something that is still talked about in the news today. In 2022, moves were made for the nation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finland has entered a new phase of its history. But wouldn't you like to learn about its past? In this book, you'll learn the following: The ancient Finnish did not worship the famous Norse gods like Thor and Odin. The national poem of Finland, the Kalevala, explores the ancient Finnish creation myth and the gods and heroes of Finland's distant past. The history of Finland and Sweden are intertwined; Finland was part of Sweden for five hundred years! Finland was also part of the Russian Empire from 1809 to 1917. The Finns fought a heroic struggle against the Russians in 1939/40, which inspired the world and inspires Finns today. The Finn who commanded Finland's armies during that struggle, Marshal Mannerheim, was of Swedish/German descent and did not speak Finnish particularly well. Yet, in 2004, he was voted the "greatest Finn of all time." Finnish is one of the most unique languages in the world. And much, much more!