Scandinavian History - Kingdom of Denmark - Essay Example

The earliest records of Scandinavian history date back to the Nordic Stone Age, from 10,000 B.C.E. to around 1700 B.C.E. As history advanced, this area gave birth to the more modern Viking era, 600-700 C.E. that we tend to associate with much of the civilization advances from that region of the world. They were pagan people who began to experience Christianity in 829 but were not released from pagan practices until around the 12th century. There were many internal struggles as well as territorial conquests that kept the Nordic region unstable until around 1300 C.E. with the emergence of three distinct kingdoms; Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. ((New World Encyclopedia 2008)

Scandinavians today are peaceful people who generally hold to their traditions and values while being accepting of new ideas and people. They have a high regard for privacy, tolerance, and discretion, while at the same time holding their natures with respect. They often occupy peace-keeping roles in NATO and the UN. ((New World Encyclopedia 2008)

The official name of Denmark is the Kingdom of Denmark. It is a Constitutional Monarchy with the current Constitution established on June 5, 1953. It has Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government which oversee 5 regions and 98 municipalities. The capital of Denmark is Copenhagen. It has a temperate climate with slightly rolling hills and is situated between Sweden and Norway, above Germany in the Baltic Sea. (U.S. Department of State 2011)

The people of Denmark are known as Danes and Danish; their population is 5,557,709. There are several languages spoken there; Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic, and German, although English is the second most widely spoken language. There are multiple ethnic groups including Inuit, Faroese, Scandinavian, Turkish, Polish, German, Lebanese, Iraqi, Bosnian, Yugoslav, Pakistani, Iranian, Somali, Vietnamese, British, and Afghan. Various religions are acknowledged by the regions including” Danish National Evangelical Lutheran, which comprises approximately 81% of the population, Muslims, 4%, and others such as Protestants, Roman Catholics, Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu communities make up the remaining 15 % of religious faiths in Denmark. (U.S. Department of State 2011)

Danes have compulsory education through 9 years, with 100% attendance and a literacy rate of 99%. They have contributed greatly to the arts, literature, music, and ballet. Denmark established a Ministry of Cultural Affairs in 1961 to oversee the development of the arts and leisure activities including museums, libraries, theatres, and drama groups. (U.S. Department of State 2011)

The official name of Sweden is the Kingdom of Sweden. It is a Constitutional Monarchy with the current Constitution coming into effect on January 1, 1975. It has Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches that oversee 21 counties, 18 county councils, 290 municipalities, and 2 regions. The capital of Sweden is Stockholm. It has a wide variety of climates from temperate in the south, maritime along the coast, and subarctic in the north; with mountains, lakes, and lowland areas near the coast. It is located between Norway and Finland. (U.S. Department of State 11/8, 2010)

The people of Sweden are Swedes or Swedish; the population is 9,373,379. Swedish is the official language, although English is widely spoken. There are three main ethnic groups: the Swedes, ethnic Finns, and ethnic Sami. There is also about 14% of the population that is immigrants: Finns, Turks, Poles, Somalis, Iraqis, Iranians, Yugoslavs, Danes, and Norwegians. Although the official religion of Sweden is Lutheranism at 75%, Protestant Groups at 5%, Muslims at 5%, and Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Pentecostal, Jewish, and Buddhist are represented among the immigrant population. Swedes have compulsory education for 9 years, with literacy at 99%. Sweden is known for a particularly strong economy and liberal social systems. (U.S. Department of State 11/8, 2010)

The official name of Norway is the Kingdom of Norway. It is a Hereditary Constitutional Monarchy. The Constitution was established on May 17, 1814; it won its independence from Sweden in 1905. It has Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government which oversee 19 fylker (counties), 430 municipalities, and Svalbard. It is colder inland but temperate along the coast. There are steep fjords, mountains, high plateaus, and fertile valleys. (U.S. Department of State 12/7, 2010)

The people of Norway are Norwegians; the population is 4,888,000. The official languages are Bokmal Norwegian, Nynorsk Norwegian, and Sami. There are small Finnish and Sami-speaking minorities, although English is widely used. The people are primarily Norwegian–Alpine, Baltic, and Nordic, although Sami, racial-cultural minorities, and other Nordic foreign nationals live there too. The official religion is the Lutheran Church of Norway at 81%, Roman Catholic, at 1.2%, Pentecostal Christian, at 0.8%, other Christian at 2.9%, Muslim at 1.9%, and various others and unknowns at 12.5%. Norway had compulsory education for 10 years with literacy at 100%. (U.S. Department of State 12/7, 2010)

Scandinavians are a culturally rich and diverse group whose history gives an account for most of the Nordic area of the world. Their heritage speaks of art, music, and the constant development of economic adventures that provide a healthy financial base for the inhabitants regarding social programs and health care. Scandinavia is the peacekeeping region of Europe today. Read More