Denmark: History, Geography, and Culture

Denmark

Country occupying the peninsula of Jutland and an archipelago of more than 400 islands.

Copenhagen

Capital city of Denmark with a population of 1.174 million (2009).

Population

The population of Denmark is 5,771,876.

Vikings

Scandinavian seafarers who raided and explored areas around Denmark during the 9th century.

Queen Margrethe I

United Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland in the late 1300s.

King Christian IV

Famous Danish king who ruled for 59 years and brought many reforms to the country.

WWI

Denmark remained neutral during World War I.

WWII

Germany invaded and took control of Denmark in 1940 during World War II.

Resistance groups

Groups formed within Denmark to help fight the Germans during WWII.

Constitutional monarchy

Denmark is run by a constitutional monarchy where the Queen is largely a figurehead.

Geography

Denmark has a total size of 43,094 square km and is low and flat with gently rolling plains.

Geographical Coordinates

Denmark is located at 56 00 N, 10 00 E.

Climate

Denmark has a temperate climate with mild, windy winters and cool summers.

COPENHAGEN

The major city and capital of Denmark with a population of 1.174 million (2009).

Aarhus

One of the major cities in Denmark.

Odense

One of the major cities in Denmark.

Type of Government

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy.

Languages Spoken

The languages spoken in Denmark are Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic, and German.

Independence

Denmark first organized as a unified state in the 10th century and became a constitutional monarchy in 1849.

National Holiday

Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed as the National Day in Denmark.

Nationality

The nationality of Denmark is Dane(s).

Religions

The majority of the population in Denmark is Evangelical Lutheran, with other Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Muslim minorities.

National Symbol

The national symbol of Denmark is the lion and the mute swan.

National Anthem

The national anthem of Denmark is 'Der er et yndigt land' (There is a Lovely Land) and 'Kong Christian' (King Christian).

Major Industries

The major industries in Denmark include iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment.

Agricultural Products

The agricultural products in Denmark include barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, pork, dairy products, and fish.

Natural Resources

Denmark's natural resources include petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel, and sand.

Major Exports

Denmark's major exports include machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, and windmills.

Major Imports

Denmark's major imports include machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, and consumer goods.

Currency

The currency of Denmark is the Danish krone (DKK).

National GDP

The national GDP of Denmark is $206,000,000,000.

Pleistocene Epoch

The Pleistocene Epoch shaped the basic contours of the Danish landscape.

Weichsel glaciation

The Weichsel glaciation covered Denmark and formed low, hilly, and generally fertile moraines.

Lim Fjord

The Lim Fjord separates the northern tip of Jutland from the rest of the peninsula.

Skagerrak, Kattegat, The Sound

The Skagerrak, Kattegat, and The Sound are the passages connecting the North Sea to the Baltic Sea.

Bornholm

The Danish island of Bornholm is located in the Baltic Sea.

Yding Skovhoej

The highest point in Denmark, reaching 173 meters.

Temperate Climate

Denmark has a temperate climate with mild, windy winters and cool summers.

Gudenå

The longest river in Denmark, flowing 98 miles from its source to the east coast.

Soils

Denmark's soils are primarily gravel, sand, and clay, with ancient chalk and limestone underneath.

Unicameral Legislature

Denmark has a unicameral legislature called the Folketing with not more than 179 members.

Prime Minister

The prime minister heads the government in Denmark.

Monarchy

Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with the monarch as the ceremonial head of state.

Local Government

Denmark has a system of municipalities governed by elected councils.

District Courts

Most criminal charges and civil disputes in Denmark fall within the jurisdiction of district courts.

Political Process

Denmark has universal adult suffrage and elections are held on the basis of proportional representation.

Healthcare

Denmark has a comprehensive social welfare system that offers healthcare benefits at virtually no charge to all Danes.

Education

Education in Denmark is free, and nine years of school attendance is compulsory.

Valdemar I

King of Denmark who was acknowledged as the sole king in 1157 and emphasized Denmark's independence.

Valdemar II

Son of Valdemar I who conquered north German lands around the Baltic and established a code of law and land register.

Church in Denmark

The Danish church aided royal power consolidation and border determination.

Lund

The seat of a new Nordic archbishop, freeing Denmark's church from German prelates.

Late Middle Ages

Period of history characterized by power struggles and political changes.

Nobles

Powerful individuals who held significant influence in medieval society.

Kings

Monarchs who ruled over a kingdom or territory.

King Erik V

Monarch who was murdered in 1286, leading to a power struggle.

Guardians

Individuals who protected and governed the young heir to the throne.

Erik VI

Child king who had power consolidated around him after his father's death.

Absolute regime

A government system where the ruler has complete and unrestricted power.

Military campaigns

Military operations or expeditions conducted by a nation.

Debt

Owed money or financial obligations.

Christopher II

Successor of Erik VI who faced restrictions and battles with nobles.

Coronation charter

Document signed by a king during their coronation, outlining their powers and limitations.

Hof

Permanent institution accepted by Christopher II as part of his rule.

Exile

Forced removal from one's home country or territory.

Count of Holstein

Noble who battled Christopher II and had significant influence.

Creditors

Individuals or entities to whom money is owed.

Duke of South Jutland Valdemar

Ruler who governed under the regency of the Count of Holstein.

Regency

Period of time when a ruler is unable to govern and a regent takes their place.

Peasant uprisings

Rebellions or revolts by the lower class against the ruling class.

Church discord

Conflict or disagreement within the church or religious institutions.

Gerhard of Holstein

Noble who brought his army into Jutland and was killed.

Valdemar IV

Son of Christopher II who took the throne and focused on reuniting Denmark.

Reuniting Denmark

Efforts made by Valdemar IV to bring the country back together.

Estonia

Territory that Valdemar IV sold to help recover pawned territories.

Skåne

Territory conquered by Valdemar IV from Sweden in 1360.

Gotland

Territory conquered by Valdemar IV from Sweden the following year.

Who was Valdemar IV?

King of Denmark in the 14th century.

What did Valdemar IV do to suppress revolts?

Led nobles and suppressed revolts.

What replaced the hof in 1360?

Rigsråd (Council of the Realm).

What became the supreme court under Valdemar IV?

Retterting.

What economic problems did Valdemar IV address?

Confiscated abandoned estates and regained lost royal lands.

What did Valdemar IV do to reorganize the army?

Reorganized the army.

What conflict did Valdemar IV's conquest of Gotland bring?

Conflict with Sweden and the Hanseatic League.

When did the Hanseatic League attack Valdemar IV?

1367.

Where did Valdemar IV make peace with the Hanseatic League?

Stralsund.

What did Valdemar IV give the Hanseatic League in the peace treaty?

Danish trading rights and part of Skåne.

What did Valdemar IV do to stabilize the monarchy?

Continued stabilizing the monarchy until his death.

Who was Margaret I?

Daughter of Valdemar IV and queen of Denmark.

Who did Margaret I marry?

The king of Norway.

Who became king of Denmark and Norway after Margaret I?

Olaf, their son.

What territories did Olaf bring under Denmark?

Norway, Iceland, the Faroes, and Greenland.

What claim did Margaret I push for Olaf?

Claim to the Swedish throne.

When did Margaret I take Stockholm?

1398.

Who was coronated as king of all three Scandinavian states in 1397?

Erik of Pomerania.

Who retained power until her death in 1412?

Margaret I.

Who was deposed by the Danish and Swedish councils in 1439?

Erik of Pomerania.

Who took the Danish and Norwegian thrones after the union dissolved?

Christian I.

Was bringing Sweden back into the union successful?

Only intermittently successful.

Who was the king during the period of independence?

Christian II.