By Tim Lambert
7,000 BC The first humans arrive in Finland
2,500 BC People in Finland begin farming
1,500 BC People in Finland learn to use bronze
500 BC People in Finland learn to use iron
c. 1120 Christian missionaries arrive in Finland
1157 The Swedes launch a crusade against the Finns most of whom are still pagan
1249 The Swedes finally establish control of Finland
1323 Finland becomes a province of Sweden
1550 Helsinki is founded
1554-1557 Mikael Agricola is the leading figure in the Finnish Reformation
1581 Finland becomes a Grand Duchy
1596-97 The peasants in Finland rise in rebellion
1696-97 A severe famine grips Finland
1710 Plague strikes Helsinki
1713-1721 The Russians occupy Finland
1809 Finland becomes a Grand Duchy of Russia
1812 The capital of Finland is moved from Turku to Helsinki
1856 The Saimaa Canal is built
1858 The first Finnish speaking grammar school opens
1889 By now half the grammar schools in Finland speak only Finnish
1902 Finnish is made an official language
1907 All men in Finland are allowed to vote
1917 Finland becomes independent from the Russian Empire
1918 Civil War between Red and White Finns. The Communists are crushed.
1919 Finland gains a new constitution
1939 Russia invades Finland
1940 Finland surrenders and is forced to cede territory to Russia
1941 Finland joins the German invasion of Russia
1944 Finland surrenders
1947 A final peace treaty is made with Russia
1992 Finland makes a new treaty with Russia
1995 Finland joins the EU
1999 Finland joins the Euro