The history of Denmark

Aaah, we arrived in one of the most beautiful and romantic cities of Denmark: Copenhagen. It seems as the little mermaid is waiting for us at the lake so we grabbed our bags and left to discover the city. After a long day, we headed to our B&B. We had the pleasure to stay in a B&B of which the owner told us all about the history of this beautiful city and country.

The Danes, have always inhabited Denmark. It was since the prehistoric times that they occurred. The Danes have a small German-speaking minority who live in southern Jutland. Most Danes are very religious, they go to the Evangelical Lutheran Church which is supported by the state. However, there are people who prefer to go to protestant denominations.

During their Viking period (from the 9th-11th century), Denmark had a lot of power and the Danes were based on the Jutland Peninsula, the Island of Zealand and the southern part of what we now call Sweden. In the early 11th century, Denmark was united with England by King Canute. That explains why most Danes speak English fluently today. The unity lasted 30 years. In the late 1300s Queen Margrethe I united Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland under the Danish crown. This unity lasted until 1520 when Sweden and Finland left the union. Norway left in 1814.

In 1830 the Danish liberal movement gained momentum and in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy. After the Danes lost the war with Prussia and Austria in 1864, they were forced to cede Schleswig-Holstein to Prussia and adopt a policy of neutrality. From then on, Denmark’s economy started to flourish and by the end of the 19th century, they were laying the basis for the present welfare state.

During World War I Denmark remained neutral. However, in the Second World War, Denmark was invaded by the Germans and occupied until the war ended in May 1945. Therefore Denmark decided to become a charter member of the United Nations and was one of the original signers of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Sources:

http://www.ducksters.com/geography/country.php?country=Denmark

http://www.worldrover.com/history/denmark_history.html

http://www.mydanishroots.com/history-culture-heritage/a-brief-history-of-denmark-from-danish-prehistory-to-the-1800s.html

http://scholiast.org/history/denmark/danhist2.html