Hej alle sammen; that means "hi everyone" in Danish. This blog will be written in Danish from now on to submerge ourselves in the culture. Get ready.
Just kidding, but here's some interesting info on my host country, which anyone could have found, but that requires an appreciable effort. And why go so far when I'm here? Enjoy.
Denmark is part of a region called Scandinavia. Sweden and Norway make up the rest. The three countries constitute a lot of northern Europe, with Denmark being the southernmost portion. Finland and Iceland have been claimed to be Scandinavian as well, though I prefer the differences between the Scandinavian and Nordic countries. Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian are related languages that are mutually intelligible. However, Danish has a running joke of being the funniest sounding and most difficult to comprehend out of the three. There'll be links to two skits about it at the end.
Denmark is within the Kingdom of Denmark. The kingdom also contains Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Greenland has its own language, Greenlandic, along with Danish and English. Natives of the Faroe Islands speak Faroese and/or Danish and English. I've chatted with someone from the islands and she talked about how she'd struggle in Denmark when going to university there because of the significant cultural differences, which was surprising to hear.
About two years ago, I had only heard stories about the Vikings of Scandinavia invading and pillaging other lands more than a thousand years ago, amassing a sizeable wealth and garnering infamy throughout much of Western Europe. Most people have the same rough idea about them and don't know much else about Denmark, Sweden, or Norway. Then I watched a historically inaccurate show called Vikings. The series was 80% fiction and 20% even more fiction, but it made me curious about how the polytheistic way of life in Scandinavia fared when Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe. Plus it was refreshing to learn about a European civilization that starkly contrasted what we studied in school (British and French histories). That eventually drove me to research the first traces of humanity in Scandinavia to what was there now.
Before the Viking Age, Danish history is scarce. Scandinavian history is too. There aren't substantial historical records until the Vikings began their conquests, and even then the sources, groups who traded with or were attacked by the Vikings, could only detail the interactions they had with them. The information can be vague or assumptious at times, looking at various sources, so don't take it too seriously. And to avoid writing anything that will make you bash your head on the keyboard for a nice little nap, the interesting stuff will receive more attention.
The ancestors of the Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians started as hunter-gatherers in small tribes, running around to get shit done. After the end of the last glacial period (~13,000 years ago), the ice that blanketed almost all of Scandinavia slowly receded, and humans pushed up north. Over the next few thousand years, the climate warmed, allowing more animals and plants to inhabit the area and also causing the sea levels to rise, which made fish a valuable commodity. Civilizations emerged and disappeared as millennia passed. Agriculture superseded the constant moving and hunting at approximately 3,000 BCE. Social classes and inequality were beginning to take their hold.
OK, screw the chronology. Let's just discuss what's really fascinating. It turns out that the Romans traded with the yet-to-be Danes, Roman coins having been discovered in their lands. Remnants of Celtic influence have also been documented in the current names of a few settlements. There's not much else to say. Onward to the Viking Age (late 8th to late 11th centuries).
The Vikings, or Norsemen, have been demonized throughout most of history as uncouth heathens. Their name's origins have been debated, but let's not get into that. They were Scandinavians who left their homes and invaded other countries, seeking treasures, lands, and slaves. That they weren't Christians differentiated them from other Europeans. Only in the past two centuries have they been given notable regard by historians. There have been descriptions of Finnish and Baltic Vikings as well in certain
records.
They didn't wear horned helmets, bathed regularly, and weren't unified, as the Scandinavian tribes preferred the "stab, stab, kill" method when there were problems among themselves. Old Norse was the common language, and runes were used to write before the introduction of Latin script (the letters in English, French, Spanish, etc.). Women were given the right to own property and divorce, though they were still expected to tend the house and family while the men were away. Slaves were a staple in all the tribes, either selling them to foreign markets or bringing them home after an incursion.
Cool fact: Bluetooth, a type of wireless communication, was named after Harald Bluetooth, a 10th century Danish king...he'd be proud.
The first raids happened in England during the very late 700s. Eventually they spread to modern day France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Russia, and more. The Norsemen had contact with traders from the Byzantine Empire all the way to Baghdad; a few travelled and offered their goods and services. They may have even met people from Sub-Saharan Africa. As the invasions progressed, the idea of settling became popular. Much of Scotland, England, and a northern region of France, Normandy, became homes for the invaders.
In the 10th century our buddy Harald established the Kingdom of Denmark (one of the oldest monarchies in history) and converted to Christianity. This is when they got all medieval, decapitating people while venerating the nobility and church. Big daddy Denmark later launched into conflicts with Sweden over who would control this sea or that sea, and it continued for the next few hundred years. In 1397, Denmark and Sweden finally got over it (though many more wars would later transpire) and formed the Kalmar Union, which also included Norway, because who doesn't like a Scandinavian threesome? *cough* Queen Margaret I of Denmark ruled over the union, and she was a guile woman who was close to having a stable empire with her country at the center.
Shit happened, and she died. Sweden divorced Denmark and Norway in 1523, and Norway abandoned the union in 1814, probably got bored with the relationship. Norway succeeded in gaining independence in 1905, after shacking up with Sweden for several decades. Luckily for Denny, during its time with Norway and after, it succeeded in controlling multiple colonies worldwide, which was the the cool thing to do in those days. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are what's left of that age. The Constitutional Act of Denmark in 1849 gave citizens their basic rights and duties, having some amendments added later.
A note on women: Women in Denmark were given the right to vote in 1915
Denmark was neutral during World War 1. Unfortunately when World War 2 was occurring, Nazi Germany occupied its northern pal in 1940. Interestingly, 90-95% of Danish Jews were saved from death when preparations to move them into concentration camps were made known. Many Danes voluntarily assisted Jewish people in fleeing to Sweden and sent supplies to those captured and sent to a camp in current day Czech Republic. Fortunately nothing in Denmark was destroyed, unlike many other European countries, as the Nazis wanted peaceful cooperation.
Moving to the present, Denmark is a member of the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union. It has a widespread welfare system for its citizens, providing free healthcare and higher education in exchange for exorbitant taxes. It has a strict immigration policy and naturalization process with about 89% of the population consisting of Danes, the remainder being immigrants. The average Dane loves to drink and eat rye bread while confusing foreigners with his or her native tongue twisters. A lot of important stuff has gone unmentioned. Though that would involve more work, so forget it and let us simply enjoy our lives.
Sources (at least most of them):
Denmark's constitution Viking history Viking history (2) Denmark's history Viking stuff
Denmark's Jews WW2 Denmark's Jews WW2 (2) Queen Margaret I Harald Bluetooth
The silliness of the Danish language (Youtube): Video 1 Video 2
Title Photo Credit: Thomas D Mørkeberg
 |
Denmark is within the Kingdom of Denmark. The kingdom also contains Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Greenland has its own language, Greenlandic, along with Danish and English. Natives of the Faroe Islands speak Faroese and/or Danish and English. I've chatted with someone from the islands and she talked about how she'd struggle in Denmark when going to university there because of the significant cultural differences, which was surprising to hear.
About two years ago, I had only heard stories about the Vikings of Scandinavia invading and pillaging other lands more than a thousand years ago, amassing a sizeable wealth and garnering infamy throughout much of Western Europe. Most people have the same rough idea about them and don't know much else about Denmark, Sweden, or Norway. Then I watched a historically inaccurate show called Vikings. The series was 80% fiction and 20% even more fiction, but it made me curious about how the polytheistic way of life in Scandinavia fared when Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe. Plus it was refreshing to learn about a European civilization that starkly contrasted what we studied in school (British and French histories). That eventually drove me to research the first traces of humanity in Scandinavia to what was there now.
Before the Viking Age, Danish history is scarce. Scandinavian history is too. There aren't substantial historical records until the Vikings began their conquests, and even then the sources, groups who traded with or were attacked by the Vikings, could only detail the interactions they had with them. The information can be vague or assumptious at times, looking at various sources, so don't take it too seriously. And to avoid writing anything that will make you bash your head on the keyboard for a nice little nap, the interesting stuff will receive more attention.
The ancestors of the Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians started as hunter-gatherers in small tribes, running around to get shit done. After the end of the last glacial period (~13,000 years ago), the ice that blanketed almost all of Scandinavia slowly receded, and humans pushed up north. Over the next few thousand years, the climate warmed, allowing more animals and plants to inhabit the area and also causing the sea levels to rise, which made fish a valuable commodity. Civilizations emerged and disappeared as millennia passed. Agriculture superseded the constant moving and hunting at approximately 3,000 BCE. Social classes and inequality were beginning to take their hold.
OK, screw the chronology. Let's just discuss what's really fascinating. It turns out that the Romans traded with the yet-to-be Danes, Roman coins having been discovered in their lands. Remnants of Celtic influence have also been documented in the current names of a few settlements. There's not much else to say. Onward to the Viking Age (late 8th to late 11th centuries).
The Vikings, or Norsemen, have been demonized throughout most of history as uncouth heathens. Their name's origins have been debated, but let's not get into that. They were Scandinavians who left their homes and invaded other countries, seeking treasures, lands, and slaves. That they weren't Christians differentiated them from other Europeans. Only in the past two centuries have they been given notable regard by historians. There have been descriptions of Finnish and Baltic Vikings as well in certain
records.
 |
| Here are some ducks if you're bored. They're fucking cute. |
Cool fact: Bluetooth, a type of wireless communication, was named after Harald Bluetooth, a 10th century Danish king...he'd be proud.
The first raids happened in England during the very late 700s. Eventually they spread to modern day France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, Russia, and more. The Norsemen had contact with traders from the Byzantine Empire all the way to Baghdad; a few travelled and offered their goods and services. They may have even met people from Sub-Saharan Africa. As the invasions progressed, the idea of settling became popular. Much of Scotland, England, and a northern region of France, Normandy, became homes for the invaders.
In the 10th century our buddy Harald established the Kingdom of Denmark (one of the oldest monarchies in history) and converted to Christianity. This is when they got all medieval, decapitating people while venerating the nobility and church. Big daddy Denmark later launched into conflicts with Sweden over who would control this sea or that sea, and it continued for the next few hundred years. In 1397, Denmark and Sweden finally got over it (though many more wars would later transpire) and formed the Kalmar Union, which also included Norway, because who doesn't like a Scandinavian threesome? *cough* Queen Margaret I of Denmark ruled over the union, and she was a guile woman who was close to having a stable empire with her country at the center.
Shit happened, and she died. Sweden divorced Denmark and Norway in 1523, and Norway abandoned the union in 1814, probably got bored with the relationship. Norway succeeded in gaining independence in 1905, after shacking up with Sweden for several decades. Luckily for Denny, during its time with Norway and after, it succeeded in controlling multiple colonies worldwide, which was the the cool thing to do in those days. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are what's left of that age. The Constitutional Act of Denmark in 1849 gave citizens their basic rights and duties, having some amendments added later.
A note on women: Women in Denmark were given the right to vote in 1915
Denmark was neutral during World War 1. Unfortunately when World War 2 was occurring, Nazi Germany occupied its northern pal in 1940. Interestingly, 90-95% of Danish Jews were saved from death when preparations to move them into concentration camps were made known. Many Danes voluntarily assisted Jewish people in fleeing to Sweden and sent supplies to those captured and sent to a camp in current day Czech Republic. Fortunately nothing in Denmark was destroyed, unlike many other European countries, as the Nazis wanted peaceful cooperation.
Moving to the present, Denmark is a member of the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union. It has a widespread welfare system for its citizens, providing free healthcare and higher education in exchange for exorbitant taxes. It has a strict immigration policy and naturalization process with about 89% of the population consisting of Danes, the remainder being immigrants. The average Dane loves to drink and eat rye bread while confusing foreigners with his or her native tongue twisters. A lot of important stuff has gone unmentioned. Though that would involve more work, so forget it and let us simply enjoy our lives.
Sources (at least most of them):
Denmark's constitution Viking history Viking history (2) Denmark's history Viking stuff
Denmark's Jews WW2 Denmark's Jews WW2 (2) Queen Margaret I Harald Bluetooth
The silliness of the Danish language (Youtube): Video 1 Video 2
Title Photo Credit: Thomas D Mørkeberg
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