alternatehistory.com

Exactly what it says on the tin: All kinds of alternate timelines or ideas focusing on colonial empires. Maps are very welcome. PoD can be as far back as you want, but try to concentrate on the colonialism itself.

I'll start:
Gustav II does not die in Thirty Years' War, and leads Sweden, with most of Northern Germany and parts of Poland as vassals, into wanked stormakstid. To better control German parts, and to create a true naval power, his successors take Denmark and later Norway. This Sweden controls larger population than in OTL and open access to ocean. IOTL Sweden had small colonies in New York area and West Africa. North American colonies are still lost, but the dream of New Sweden does not die. Swedish West Africa is developed, and this time there are no Danes to take it away. By the time of Scramble of Africa, Sweden has tried to not to get into a war with any great power, and mostly successfully, only losing German territories in Napoleonic Wars and Polish territories in 18th century, and gaining Kola, more area in Baltics and the rest of Karelia in this timeline's version of Great Northern War (basically Sweden vs Russia, maybe Poland and some rebels in Sweden), so its colonial empire is mostly safe. Throughout 18th and 19th centuries, Swedish West Africa was expanded to span from Sierra Leone to Benin, and Sweden also owns a considerable amount of land in Lesser Antilles, and some Pacific islands, etc. In Asia, Nicobar Islands and a number of Indian coastal towns would be Swedish (though something would be surely sold to other powers), but nothing too big so no conflict with Britain. Instead of mass immigration to United States, Scandinavians moved to Swedish colonies in large numbers.

This of course influences other colonial empires. Dutch and French influence in Antilles are somewhat weaker, and Sweden owns Virgin Islands, but otherwise Americas are mostly the same. Sweden maybe had some more adventures in early colonialization of America, but nothing that would last. Swedish Asian and Pacific colonies are very irrelevant on world stage likewise. However, a strong Swedish West Africa changes things. Germany goes looking for colonies further south, leading to conflicts with Portuguese and Belgians. British and French will go look for colonies somewhere else, with British maybe managing in Rhodes Colossus and taking East Africa before Germans can. France and Sweden might have some clashes, but this Sweden is not a minor power (actually Sweden has been stronger than one would think in OTL too, they had 4th best Air Force as late as Cold War), and holds its colonies. Britain didn't care for West Africa that much, IIRC.

TL;DR:

Wanked Sweden has all of Scandinavia and a little extra, and decides to go colonial

Svenska Västafrika

Some kind of a Mittelafrika

Complete Rhodes Colossus

Very minor screw of French colonies

Other than that, basically OTL
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