Forest and settlement fires in Fennoscandia, 1600–1800

The aim of this project is to increase our understanding of how forest fires and settlement fires affected and were managed by rural populations in Fennoscandia (Sweden, Norway, Finland) during the early modern period (1600–1800).

The research will be interdisciplinary and based on sources such as court records, legislation, climatological data, and taxation lists.

These will be analysed from theoretical perspectives based on resilience and vulnerability, disaster studies, institutions, and common and private ownership.

Qualitative and quantitative methods will be used which will make it possible to establish with what frequency fires occurred, the reasons for their outbreak, what ecological devastation they left behind, as well as what socio-economic consequences followed.

The results will explain how the use and management of fire and the consequences of fires have been the subject of recurring discussion, conflict, and legislative measures during the study period, and how this played a central role in peasant society, industry, legislation, and institutional organisations.