Denmark Essay Research Paper IntroductionDenmark also known

Denmark Essay, Research Paper

Introduction

Denmark, also known as “Kongeriget Danmark” meaning “Kingdom of Denmark”, is located in northern Europe. It is between the North Sea (on the west) and the Baltic Sea (on the Southeast). In the south, it shares a 68-km border with Germany. To be exact, Denmark’s geographic location is 56.N and 10.E. The total area of Denmark is 43,094 km., slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts. Denmark has a population of 5,305,048, about 118 per km..

There are 14 counties all together in Denmark; they include Arhus, Bornhoms, Frederiksborg, Fyns, Kobenhavns, Nordyjllands, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjyllands, Staden Kobenhavn, Sotstorms, Vejle, Vestsjaellands, and Viborg. Greenland also belongs to Denmark. Its national capital is Copenhagen.

Denmark has a temperate, humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers. The mean temperature in summer is about 61.F and it is about 32.F in the winters. They have a low and flat to gently rolling terrain. The lowest point in Denmark is Lammefjord, which is 7 m. The highest is Ejer Bavenhoj which is 173 m. Petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, sand, gravel, and stone are Denmark’s natural resources.

The Danish Flag is red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag. The vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side.

Government

Denmark is a Constitutional Monarchy with the legislative power together vested in the regent and the Parliament, according to the constitution. They were first organized as a unified state and then became a Constitutional Monarchy in the 10th Century. They are actually the oldest monarchy in the world.

The parliamentary system has been unicameral since 1953. There are 179 members who are elected in four-year terms. The Prime Minister can call an early election if needed. There have never been less than eight parties represented in the Folketing (Parliament) in the last 20 years. All Danes who are 18 years of age who are permanent residents are eligible to vote and also stand for election to the Folketing.

The largest party of Denmark is the Social Democratic party, which was founded in 1871; it has a membership of about 100,000. Other governing parties include Conservative People’s party, Socialist People’s party, and Liberal party.

Right now the ruler of Denmark is Queen Margaret II. The Prime Minister is Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (Social Democrat).

History

10,000 years ago, when the ice retreated from Scandinavia, Denmark was already settled. It is said that Danes inhabiting the southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula migrated to the Jutland Peninsula and the adjacent islands in the Baltic Sea in the 5th and 6th century.

The Danes invaded the British Isles in the 780s. They were actually masters of part of England that became known as the Danelaw. Sweyn I conquered all of England in 1013 and 1014. Sweyn’s son, Canute II, who ruled England and Denmark, completed the Christianization of Denmark. King Harold Bluetooth (Sweyn I’s dad) started the Christianization in the 10th Century.

The Danes extended to the east in the late 12th and 13th centuries. There they conquered the greater part of the southern coastal areas of the Baltic Sea. They established a powerful and wealthy realm twice the size of modern Denmark. Feudalism in Denmark attained its highest point in this era of expansion. The kingdom became even more prosperous and powerful then it ever was.

In 1282, disagreement grew between the Danish Crown and the nobility. This led to a struggle in which the nobility compelled King Eric V to sign a charter; this charter was sometimes referred as the Danish Magna Carta. The Danish Crown was made secondary to law, and the Danehof (the assembly of lords) was made a complete part of the administrative institutions, by the terms of this charter.

In 1332, Christopher II died because of a temporary decline in Danish power. The leading political power on the Baltic Sea was reestablished by Denmark, and was under the rule of Waldemar IV at that time. The Hanseatic League (a commercial federation of European Cities) however, controlled trade.

In 1380, Denmark and Norway were joined together in a union under one king, Olaf II. In 1389, Margaret I achieved the crown of Sweden and completed successfully to form the Union of Kalmar in 1397. Denmark was the dominant power until 1523 when the Swedish aristocrats strove repeatedly for Sweden’s independence within the union. Sweden won its independence in a revolt against Christian II.

Denmark started the colonization of Greenland in the 18th century. The Danish trade expanded in East Asia and also in the West Indies. There they acquired several small islands.

In 1953 a revised constitution was adopted, creating a unicameral parliament. This parliament permitted female accession to the throne. Greenland was also included as a complete part of Denmark, and was granted home rule in 1979.

Economy

Denmark is a thoroughly modern market in economy and features high-tech agriculture, up to date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is also a net exporter of food.

The center-left coalition governm

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