In the beginning...
Denmark is one of the oldest states in Europe and the oldest kingdom in the world. Their place in European history really begins around 800 AD with the Viking Age.
After the end of the last Ice Age, which was around 10,000 BC the first people arrived in Denmark.In the beginning, most of the people living in Denmark had to be hunters and fisherman, and farming was not introduced until around 4,000 BC. Just as with Jared Diamond's theory, early Danes had to make the move from nomadic hunter-gatherer to rooted agrarian society. Though the climate in Denmark is not always mellow, it was enough to allow for vegetation and for animals docile enough for domestication. As part of Eurasia, the first domesticated animals around Denmark were cows, pigs, and sheep. However, the fiercest Danes were not the farmers and fisherman. They were the Vikings.
From around A.D. 800 to the 11th century, many Scandinavians left their homelands seeking land, power, and most importantly, riches. These adventurous fortune-seekers, known as Vikings, raided coastal sites and monasteries surrounding Denmark. Vikings were Scandinavian pillagers and pirates, but they were also traders and explorers. Vikings settled in many parts of northwestern Europe. They were known to discover new countries and name them deceivingly, such as Greenland despite it's icy climate. People would immigrate to these countries in hopes of a warm, welcoming climate, but they would find something else.
Large detailed old map of Denmark with all roads and cities 1801. (n.d.) retrieved September 8th, 2016 from http://www.vidiani.com/large-detailed-old-map-of-denmark-with-all-roads-and-cities-1801/
The village settlement pattern in the prehistory of Denmark involved settlements organized under the rules of an open-field system, which consists of three elements: individual peasant holdings in the form of strips scattered among the different fields; crop rotation; and common grazing. There were many tenant farmers (fæstebønder), whose farm buildings and land belonged to the local manor house (herregård).
Today the majority of the Danish population lives in urban areas. The population remained stable during the late 20th century, but in the early 21st century it began to grow. The age distribution shifted as a consequence of the low level of fertility, and more Danes are over age 60 than under age 15. The median age in Denmark is 42.
Today the majority of the Danish population lives in urban areas. The population remained stable during the late 20th century, but in the early 21st century it began to grow. The age distribution shifted as a consequence of the low level of fertility, and more Danes are over age 60 than under age 15. The median age in Denmark is 42.
These Population Pyramids show how the population density by age and gender has changed over time. The fact that the the majority of the population was under 4 years old in 1950 is sad, because it means that many children did not make it past that age. I think it is interesting how Denmark's population is gradually growing to be mostly older people. When you look at other countries, the majority of the population is younger and middle class, while a large portion of Denmark's population is over 45. Furthermore, people in Denmark are living to be older than other countries. While it is a small number, very few other countries have 0.1% of the population between the ages 95-99. These two pyramids tell a story of people living longer and living independently, not necessarily feeling the need to "fulfill their lives" with children. Today, those under 4 years old only make up 2.4-2.6% of the population.
Danish history in 25 bullets points (from The Official Website of Denmark)
- c. 12500 BC Immigration of the first hunters
- 3900 BC Agriculture and animal husbandry
- 400-700 Incipient urbanisation
- 866-867 Viking conquest of York
- c.965 Introduction of Christianty
- 1015-1034 England under Danish rule
- 1397-1523 The Kalmar Union with Norway and Sweden
- 1479 Founding of Copenhagen University
- 1536 The Reformation. Incorporation of Norway in Denmark
- 1660-1661 Introduction of absolutism
- 1666 1917 Danish colonies in Caribbean
- 1807 Bombing of Copenhagen by the English navy
- 1814 Norway’s departure from the Union
- 1848 Abolition of absolutism
- 1849 First liberal constitution, the June Constitution
- 1864 Loss of the German duchies
- 1901 Introduction of cabinet responsibility
- 1914-1918 Danish neutrality during the First World War
- 1915 Constitutional reform, enfranchisement of women
- 1920 North-Schleswig vote in favor of re-union with Denmark
- 1940-1945 German occupation
- 1945 Founding membership of the UN
- 1949 Membership of NATO
- 1973 Membership of the EEC
- 1993 Membership of the EU
Additional Information & Works Cited
Danish History and Culture. (n.d.). Retrieved September 09, 2016, from http://ukraine.um.dk/en/about-denmark/danish-history-and-culture
Denmark - Settlement patterns. (n.d.). Retrieved September 08, 2016, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Denmark/Settlement-patterns
HISTORY. (n.d.). Retrieved September 08, 2016, from http://denmark.dk/en/society/history/
History.com Staff. (2009). Vikings. Retrieved September 09, 2016, from http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/vikings-history
Lambert, T. (n.d.). A SHORT HISTORY OF DENMARK. Retrieved September 08, 2016, from http://www.localhistories.org/denmark.html
The World Factbook: DENMARK. (n.d.). Retrieved September 09, 2016, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/da.html
Denmark - Settlement patterns. (n.d.). Retrieved September 08, 2016, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Denmark/Settlement-patterns
HISTORY. (n.d.). Retrieved September 08, 2016, from http://denmark.dk/en/society/history/
History.com Staff. (2009). Vikings. Retrieved September 09, 2016, from http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/vikings-history
Lambert, T. (n.d.). A SHORT HISTORY OF DENMARK. Retrieved September 08, 2016, from http://www.localhistories.org/denmark.html
The World Factbook: DENMARK. (n.d.). Retrieved September 09, 2016, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/da.html