| Denmark is situated on Northern Europe between he North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The country is bound on the north by the Skagerrak, a portion of the North Sea; on the east by the Kattegat (an extension of the Skagerrak) and a strait linking the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea; on the south by the Baltic Sea; and on the west by the North Sea.
The word ‘Denmark’ appears as early as the Viking age, carved on the great Jelling Stone from the 900s, but there’s a huge difference between what ‘Denmark’ comprised then and what it comprises today.
In some eras, for instance the 13th and 17th centuries, Denmark was a superpower whose influence was as massive as that of the largest European countries.
Very bluntly speaking, it can be claimed that the present configuration of Denmark is the result of 400 years of forced relinquishments of land, surrenders and lost battles.
Crucial events took place in the mid-1800s. In 1848, absolutism had been abolished, whereby Denmark got a constitution and a parliament, but in 1864 Denmark suffered a crushing defeat to Prussia in the second Schleswig war and had to relinquish 40% of its land. The Danish population dropped from 2.6 million to 1.6 million.
As a consequence of the defeat, Denmark became an almost completely ethnically homogenous society, in which the inhabitants – except the ones in Iceland (totally independent in 1944), the Faroe Islands and Greenland – shared language and culture.
Thus, the national boundaries of modern Denmark were more or less established by 1864, and the border between southern Jutland and Germany became fixed in 1920.
The neutral politics of Denmark ensured the country a smooth journey through World War I, but not through WW II, when Denmark was occupied by German forces 1940-45. In 1949 Denmark was one of the founding members of NATO. In 1972 Denmark voted for joining the European Communities, EC (changed in 1993 to the European Union, EU).
Today Denmark – especially considering its relatively small size – is an active player on the international political scene.
Denmark has a rich cultural heritage and has gained recognition across the world, be it in terms of literature, painting, music or artwork. Literature plays an important role in Danish culture and has produced many renowned writers. As far as music is concerned, the capital Copenhagen houses the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Royal Orchestra, and the Royal Danish Ballet and a known name in this field is that of composer Carl August Nielsen, who was the conductor of the Royal Society and the Music Society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Denmark is heavily into theaters and plays, which is often presented in The Royal Theater in Copenhagen. Besides this, the country is also famous for beautifully designed ceramics, silverware, porcelain, and home furnishings. Copenhagen has a permanent exhibition of arts and crafts where artisans from all over the country may display and sell their work.
Denmark are considered to be close relatives of the people of Norway and Sweden. Denmark is a highly urbanized nation, with over 85 per cent of the population inhabiting the urban areas. The main religion is Lutheranism, which is followed by over 90 percent of the people. Most of the people speak Danish, which is the official language but English, the secondary language is also widely spoken.
Denmark has a temperate maritime climate. The mean temperature in summer is about 16°C and in winter, it is about 0°C. The day-today temperatures vary greatly because of the changes in the direction of the wind. The average annual rainfall is about 610 mm.
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