
Birka, also known as Sweden's first town, a Viking society that was built during the 700's and then was inhabited for about 200 years. Birka on the island Björkö in Mälaren served as an important trade center in the kingdom of the Swedes in the Viking Age. Today Birka busy on. UNISCOS World Heritage List. They know even nothing about the king who allowed the construction of Birka. On the neighboring island Adelse is today the remains of a royal estate, from where the King of customers övbervaka Birka and its trading. Probable Some Birka somewhere between 700- 1000 inhabitants, during the city's heyday. The city traded with precious goods, both from Europe and Arab countries. It was mainly about byteskandel where Birka residents swapped goods such as iron, fur, horns toward silver and silk, coins are then melted down and made into jewelry.
It has been over 3000 graves on Björkö. The various finds from excavations at Birka testifies to a society with a strong hierarchy and great class and gender differences.
In 829 the monk Ansgar was sent to Birka, as a Christian missionary requested by the Swedish king Björn. Ansgar founded a Christian congregation at Birka.
Birka the Viking Town is a museum in Stockholm, which is well worth a visit. Birka can be reached best by boat from the dock at City hall.