Did you know that one of Europe’s greatest queens, the incredible Margaret I, united Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in the Kalmar Union in the mid-1300s?

For centuries, Denmark “punched above its weight” and was a major player on the European stage. Many know about the Danish Vikings and their voyages of conquest and discovery, but Denmark is more than just those medieval raiders and traders, even though interest in their adventures is at an all-time high today.

Denmark became the first Scandinavian country to convert to Christianity, though this was likely as much to protect themselves from Christian kingdoms to the south and to increase their trade with Christian nations than any love for Christian beliefs.

Denmark has been at peace since WWII, but its position between the North and Baltic Seas makes it an important part of NATO, allowing it to once more “punch above its weight.” But despite its location, Denmark has managed to not only remain at peace but is today ranked as one of the happiest nations on Earth.

Discover the answer to fascinating questions like the following:

• Does Denmark really appear in the top three of the world’s “happiest” countries?
• Were the Danish Vikings only interested in conquest? And what were their relations like with Europe before the Viking Age?
• Who was Cnut the Great, and why was he so important in the history of countries like England, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden?
• Who the current Danish royal family is descended from? (Hint: it is not a Dane!)
• How and when did Denmark establish the wide-ranging social safety net it is so well-known for today?
• What role did Germany play in Denmark losing its status as an offensive military power?
• What was life like for Danish Jews during WWII?

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