What I'm really not looking for is a history of the geography, unless it played an important part. What I am looking for, though, is the general history of Sweden as an entire country and the ups and downs it had faced, and a specific history of the politics and economics that strongly influenced Sweden.

Also, I'd like to know how Sweden took part in the Thirty Years War. Did they go in late to the party and did they become the talk of the town the next day, or did they come in sober and collapse on the steps outside on their way out?

Thanks, and if you can provide any links to sites that pertain that information, that would be very helpful!