Denmark History

After a glacial age, after rein-deers on territory of modern Denmark wandering hunters have come. They began to be engaged in  agriculture and cattle breeding. Crafts and art began to develop in the Bronze age then the first trading ways were laid. Deceased tribes buried vertically valuable things and other sacrifices. Approximately by 500 year BC these tribes have learned to process iron that has led to development of communal agriculture. Cultural and linguistic roots of the today’s population of Denmark conduct to a tribe Danov, migrating with the south of modern Sweden approximately in 500 г AD.

In the end of IX century the Norwegian Vikings under leadership Hardegon have grasped peninsula Jutland. The Danish monarchy which applies for a rank of the oldest in the world, conducts the history from son Hardegon’а, Gorma of the Oldest (Gorm the Old) which corrected in the beginning of  X century. His son, Herald Bluetooth (yes, his name names the report of a wireless communication applied in mobile phones and the computer technics) has finished conquest of the Danish tribes and has accelerated Christianity acceptance in Denmark. Successors of Herald Bluetooth, Forkbeard and his sons, have expanded the possession uo to the coast of England and became the English-Danish monarchs. It proceeded almost half-centuries but when the power of Vikings starts to decline, borders of the Danish kingdom have returned back, practically to today’s position.

The medieval period is noted by race for power, plots, attempts and murders. To the beginning of XIV century by set of dynasties of the Scandinavian countries has been formed the Kalmar under leadership of Queen Magrit (Magrethe). But Denmark, Norway and Sweden couldn’t be long in one state and Unija has broken up in 1523 with ascent to Gustav Vazy’s Swedish throne (Gustav Vasa). Norway remained under the power of the Danish monarchy even three centuries.

In XVI century Reformatsija has lifted a civil distemper, churches burned and as a result struggle the Catholic church has lost the power. In 1536 struggle has ended with declaration of the Danish Lutheran church headed by the monarch. But the epoch of blossoming of trade and riches growth has come to the end in first half of XVII-th century after the beginning with king Christian IV (Christian IV) Thirty-year war with Sweden. As a result of war Denmark has lost the earths and money, and the king. In some decades Christian’s successor, king Frederik III (Frederick III), has led Denmark to even more destructive defeat from Sweden. Denmark slowly left consequences of these wars, the basic attention giving to society reforms.

During Napoleonic wars the British fleet attacked Copenhagen twice – in 1801 the Danish fleet has been crushed, and to 1807 Copenhagen has been burned. Having used weakness of Denmark, Sweden has compelled Denmark to concede it Norway.

To the beginning 1830х years the Danish society is woken by revolutionary changes in culture, philosophy, the literature and art. Democratic movement has led to acceptance on June, 5th, 1849 to the constitution which has proclaimed Denmark a constitutional monarchy. The population of a province of Shlezvig in the south of Jutland has risen against the new constitution and the province has passed under the conduct of Germany.

Denmark was the neutral country during the First World War and has confirmed the neutrality after the Second World War beginning. But it hasn’t stopped Germany and on April, 9th, 1940 Denmark has been occupied. At first some autonomy has been given Danes, but in three years Germany has established complete control over the country. During the Second World War Denmark practically hasn’t suffered from operations, except island Bornholm military facilities which were intensively bombed by the Soviet aircraft.

During the post-war period under the direction of Social democrats in Denmark the social society was under construction. As a result now each citizen of Denmark from a birth to death is surrounded by the valid care of the state and has all social guarantees. As a result – they have the guarded relation of Danes to incorporated Europe. Denmark has entered EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY in 1973, however in 1992 Danes on a referendum have rejected (51 % against) ratification of the Maastricht contract. Only after an exception of obligatory positions about the general defensive policy and uniform currency Danes have accepted the contract on a repeated referendum in May 1993. In September, 2000 Denmark has refused to pass to Euro, motivating it with the fact that delegation of power in carrying out  the monetary policy to all-European structures can damage the system of social guarantees for Danish citizens.

Today, Denmark is an active player on the international political scene.