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During the late 16th century, and even more so in the 17th century, when Sweden was a great power, the extent of Swedish town-planning activity was unparalleled in Europe. Most of the older towns in Sweden and Finland can be said to take their character from this period. The thesis covers all Swedish town-planning in the areas under Swedish rule 1521–1721, and areas of Swedish interest outside this, including today's Estonia and parts of Russia, Latvia, Poland, Germany, and USA. 175 sites are studied and in total 338 projects and just above 600 town plans. Part I consists of thematic studies, part II a synthesis, and part III studies of the individual towns. The study aims at the broader picture of Swedish town-planning of this period, based on a re-assessment of existing knowledge of individual towns, but adding new material and asking new questions. It seeks to assist the conservation and the future planning and design of the urban environment. Major questions raised concern different kinds of planning measures, the design of plans and how they were devised, functional demands and aesthetic considerations, the impact of great fires and the significant figures of the time. The town-planning illustrates the political and economical development of the kingdom and played a fundamental role in the radical change of society that took place in this era. Intensive town-planning activity starts in the mid-1500s but the major rise begins in the early 17th century and reaches its peak in the 1640s and '50s. Three main categories of town-planning measures can be distinguished: new construction, which includes relocation of older towns and new foundations (100 all told), town plan changes in existing towns, including redevelopment, extension and separate suburbs (about 170), and measures relating to fortifications (some 65 fortifications only and another 90 included in combined measures). The right-angular gridiron plans dominate completely. They can be divided into three main groups: 'simple, regular', 'pragmatic', and 'elaborate'.