Denmark’s History

We visited Denmark because we wanted to know more about its history. We took a guided tour through Denmark Denmark's history and we wrote down.

It is one of the oldest states in Europe and the oldest kingdom in the world. Queen Margrethe II, is very popular among Danes and visitors. During major royal festivals thou sands of people gather in the square in front of Amalienborg Castle to wave flags and cheer for the Queen and her family.

The word 'Denmark' dates back to the Viking age and is carved on the famous Jelling Stone from around 900 AD. Today Denmark is very different from its historical fit. Between the 13th and 17th centuries, it was a super power Whose influence was as powerful as That of the largest European countries. The current size and influence of Denmark is the result of 400 years of lost battles, surrenders, people were even forced to land given up there. For a small country though, Denmark still punches above its weight in many different areas Including design, architecture, farming, green technology and pharmaceuticals.

The Jelling mounds, runic stones and church were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1994. 
The runic text describes how Harald brought Denmark and Norway together and Christianised the Danes.

The series of wars with Sweden resulted in territorial losses, but the Great Northern War (1700-21) brought some restoration of Danish power in the Baltic. The 18th century was otherwise a period of internal reform, Which included the abolition of serfdom and land reforms.

Denmark's relations with its southern neighbors, Particularly Prussia, have played a decisive role in constitutional developments. In 1866 a new Constitution was ADOPTED Dramatically reduced for the area of Denmark after its defeat at the hands of Prussia in 1864. The 1866 Constitution included strict limits on the almost universal male suffrage That had leg Recognised by the 1849 Constitution.

I'll hope this can be useful when you visit Denmark.

http://denmark.dk/en/society/history/

http://ukraine.um.dk/en/about-denmark/danish-history-and-culture/

Economy of Denmark

After Germany, it’s time to visit Denmark. Almost our final destination during our global journey. We have seen a lot of culture and tourism during the last three days but we have also learned some remarkable things about the Danish economy. Let’s inform you.

First of all, Denmark is part of the top ten of the richest countries in the world. Next to this, it’s a fact that the economy of Denmark is booming. There is an economic growth since 2004. Thanks to the reduction of the income tax and the new possibility to take up a cheaper credit. Also the necessary reforms which were implemented some years ago were a good idea. For instance a flexible retirement age, high employment, severe and rigid control of the use of social services, etc.

One of their principal goals in the past was fighting the unemployment figure. Fortunately, this target was successfully reached i.e.in 2001, it was reduced to a mere 5,1 %! The lowest level in more than 25 years. This is worth our congratulations!

The economy of this country is rather modern and industrial. They export a lot to the European countries. They are also specialised in the services sector. Have a look at the advanced telecommunication infrastructures for instance. Besides they invest in the transport possibilities because Denmark is the gateway to the other Nordic countries and the Baltic states.

As said before, they export a lot to the European Union. The principal products are potatoes, sugar beets, turnip seed, livestock products (think of meat, leather, milk and cheese) and corn crop. They use the last one to produce beer, e.g. Carlsberg. This country is also the largest exporter of Christmas trees and is the largest fish country of Europe.

Although they are a great exporter, they have to import almost all their resources.

Finally, we have one final convenient tip for you if you would decide upon visiting Denmark. Be aware that they aren’t a member of the European Monetary Union (EMU),which means you cannot pay with Euro in Denmark, only with Danish Crown. One euro stands for 7,46 DKK. Even though the country is fully prepared to enter the EMU the population puts up resistance.

We look forward to blog about our final country Norway next week!

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Denmark
http://www.heritage.org/index/country/denmark
http://www.indexmundi.com/denmark/economy_profile.html
http://www.denmark.net/denmark-guide/invest/economy-denmark.html

Politics in Denmark

Denmark is one of the oldest kingdoms in the world. The queen, Margrethe II is much loved among the Danes. Her family’s lineage is one of the oldest in Europe, and dates back to 900 AD.

As like in Belgium, the voting age is 18 and the election period is four years. Ever since 1909, no party has had an absolute majority so the Danish politics are also called “collaborative democracy”. The leading parties lead the country by making compromises and seeking the center way. The current Prime Minister is Lars Lokke Rasmussen. He is the head of a coalition of the two leading parties: the Liberal Party and the Conservative People's Party.

Fun fact: the previous and the current Prime Minister share the same surname “Rasmussen”, but are not related.

So the previous Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, played a very important role in the change of the political situation in Denmark. He won the elections in 2001 and during his rule; he pushed over the Social Democrate party, which has been the biggest party since 1920.

 

 

The main focus of Danish politics is the well-being of their society, and much less economic prosperity. For decades they have mainly concentrated on social cohesion. It is interesting to see how they prefer calm maintenance over aggressive self-improvement. And for whatever reason, it works.

Sources:

http://www.danishnet.com/info.php/government/political-structure-31.html

http://ukraine.um.dk/en/about-denmark/danish-history-and-culture/

http://www.danishnet.com/info.php/denmark-facts/current-32.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8166000/8166798.stm

The culture of Denmark

Denmark, already our penultimate country! In this blog I want to give you some info about the specialties of Denmark.

But first some quick facts and statistics

Location:  Northern Europe bordering Germany 68 km 

Capital:   Copenhagen 

Climate:   temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers 

Population:  5,413,392 (July 2004 est.) 

Ethnic Make-up: Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali 

Religions:  Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2% 

Government: constitutional monarchy

 Food and drinks

The most typically Danish meal is the traditional lunch, also called smørrebrød. It consists of open sandwiches on thinly sliced rye bread. Furthermore, the meal contains fish such as marinated herring, smoked eel, crab, or breaded plaice filets with remoulade. Slices of roast pork or beef, hams and liver pâté are also parts of the delicious meal. The sandwiches are richly decorated with different vegetables, such as onion rings, radish slices, cucumbers, tomato slices, parsley. There is also a little bit of mayonnaise added to the recipe so it is not dry.

When you like desserts, you definitely have to try the æbleskiver, these are just like small pancake doughnuts which are fried in butter. It is served hot with jam and sugar.

Danish people like to drink alcohol, buying it in shops is already legal at the age of 16, when you visit a bar you have to be 18 to buy alcohol.

Now you know what to eat in Denmark, it is also good to know what kind of table manners Danish people have…

• When you are invited to a Danish home:
• Arrive on time because Danish people are very punctual
• Remove your shoes before you enter the house
• Never discuss business cases while eating 
• Wait to be told where to sit, most of the time, there is a seating plan 
• Taste everything, it is a way to show your respect for the host(ess)
• Men are always seated to the left of the hostess
• When the host says ‘skol’, you can start eating

Sports

The national sport of Denmark, is football. Other sports you can practice in Denmark because of its popular locations, are fishing, canoeing, kayaking and a broad-range of other water-themed sports.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Denmark

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/denmark-country-profile.html

http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/scandinavianculture/ss/denmarkculture.htm

Tourism of Germany

The tourist router are any deal opportunity to Germany by car, by motorbike or bicycle. You can choose from over 150 different routes presenting a different theme each time undergraduate German regions.

We had chosen the holiday: Bergstraβe route. We chose this route Because it Seemed to us very nice and cozy. I have searched on the internet for some more information about this trip, of course Their other routes to choose from. You will find the link below for the other routes.

http://www.germany.travel/nl/ontspanning-recreatie/toeristische-routes/toeristische-routes.html

The Berg Strasse, Which extends for Approximately 80km, is an attractive destination between the Rhine, Main and Neckar rivers on the western edge of the legendary Odenwald forest - it is usefull small but delightful wine-growing area.

Known by the Romans as strata montana, the Bergstrasse lies between Darmstadt and Wiesloch in the north in the south. Life feels good: exquisite wines are produced and in springtime the almond and cherry blossom puts on a dazzling show of pink and white. These magnificent 80 kilometers on an ancient trade and military route at the foot of the Odenwald forest are part of a UNESCO World.

This hill silhouette is at the same time in a secretive way dismissive and inviting. A distant fairy tale world with Numerous ruins of fortresses, zoals even a castle Frankenstein. And the legend of the bloody end of the radiant Nibelungen hero Siegfried, who drink from the Source or Osenwald and underhanded was killed.

You can smell in the scent of almond, peach, apricot, apple and cherry blossom, admire some truly magnificent magnolias and forsythias or go walking in the lush, green hills nearby - paradise could not be more beautiful, the great poet Goethe once said. The Bergstrasse region combines the best of both worlds: high-tech and a landscape shaped by over 2,000 years of history. We would certainly recommend this route or Germany in gene rally, it is always worth a visit and is surprisingly. 

http://www.germany.travel/en/leisure-and-recreation/scenic-routes/bergstrasse-route.html

Politics of Germany

Politics of Germany aren’t very difficult, if you are a genius in this aspect. I’ve seen the most important things in my secondary school, of course at the German lessons. I had a great teacher, who gives her lessons very well. I have still some things I remember from the secondary school, that I will tell you soon and what you don’t have to forget. I’m not that person who is interested in politics, but the politic in Germany isn’t difficult to understand.

Angela Merkel

During our visit, we arranged a meeting with Angela Merkel, party CDU/CSU. She told us a brief summary of the politics in Germany. I found it very interesting to hear this information from a member of the politics. She told the following information:

“The country is divided.. How? The Federal Republic of Germany is divided into sixteen states. Most frequently, the former area of East Germany is referred to as the new states and the western part as the old states. The Federal Chancellor is the head of government in Germany, which is equivalent to Prime Minister in parliamentary government systems. I (Angela Merkel) was the first female German Chancellor who was elected in 2005.

The different political parties are:

-          the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)

-          Christian Social Union(CSU)

-          the Free Democratic Party, the Liberals(FDP)

-          the Party of Democratic Socialism(PDS)

-          the Social Democratic Party(SDP)

Germany is a federal parliamentary republic. As you already know, there are three judicial powers in politics. The first one is the legislative power, which is vested in the parliament of Germany ( Bundestag) and the representative body of the Länder(Bundesrat).There is a multi-party system that has been dominated by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). The judiciary of Germany is independent of the executive and the legislature.

A German federal election will be held on 22 September 2013 to determine the 598 members of the 18th parliament of Germany, the main federal legislative house of Germany.

So if you want to be there, take your car and join the election! 

Sources: 

http://www.mygermancity.com/german-politics

http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/austpol/int/germany.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Germany

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_federal_election,_2013

The history of Germany

Germany is known for its turbulent history. In this blog post I will explain to you the many events that took place.

The first people who are known to have lived in ancient Germany are Germans and Celts. But from the 2^nd Century BC the Roman Empire put a lot of pressure on the Germanic tribes. They pushed them up north towards the Rhine, where three Roman legions were defeated by Arminius, a great German military chief.

In the 8^th and 9^th century the Saxons are the main tribe ruling Germany. They fought the Frankish territories and Charles the Great. After thirty years of brutal war, the Saxons settled as Christians within the empire of Charles the Great. In AD 805 pope Leo III visits Aachen together with Charles the Great for a religious ceremony. He consecrated the spectacular new church, Aix-la-Chapelle, which is small, but richly decorated.

Germany in medieval times is defined by division and complicated political situations. Local rulers declared war to each other and the only religious unity collapsed when the Protestant Reformation started. This divided the German people in Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Calvinist. These controversies added to the Thirty Year’s War, which took place from 1618 till 1648.

The first ever political figure who succeeded in uniting Germany was Otto von Bismarck. As the minister president he reined from 1862 to 1890. Bismarck knew the power of nationalism, and used it for his own aims. He wanted to get rid of Austria, which he did, and preserve the triumph of his country Prussia. In this time, Germany was united for several years, until the First World War

The aim of the First World War was to enlarge Germany with countries like Poland and our precious Belgium. But German’s military strategy failed and the German empire fell apart. In 1919, France, Great Britain and the United States set up the Treaty of Versailles as a punishment for Germany. But the conditions of this treaty were the cause for World War II.

The defeat of World War I lead to an economic depression in Germany, called the Great Depression.  But along came Adolf Hitler, who promised a drastic economic improvement, which made him win the elections in 1933. Sadly, these elections lead to disastrous consequences like the Second World War and the Holocaust.

After World War II, Germany was divided again, this time in an eastern and western part. West Germany flourished economically, whereas East Germany fell further behind. In order to prevent people to immigrate from East to West, the infamous Berlin Wall was build. In 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall lead to the unification of Berlin, but economic integration still hasn’t been successful.

 

Sources:

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/plaintexthistories.asp?historyid=ac62

http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Germany-history.htm

http://www.ohio.edu/chastain/ac/bism.htm

http://www.coutausse.com/contents/%E2%80%A2photojournalism/the%20fall%20of%20the%20Berlin%20wall,%201989/image-berlin09/

http://www.murphsplace.com/owen/arthur/wars.html