Archeological evidence has indicated that southern Denmark was populated 60,000 to 100,000 years ago, before the final Ice Age. When the last glaciers receded about 15,000 years ago, a hunting people moved into Denmark. By about 3000 B.C., the inhabitants were probably farmers. Their descendants later became sea-roving Vikings.

Important dates in Denmark
mid-900's King Harald Bluetooth united Denmark. He converted to Christianity and encouraged its spread throughout the country.
1016-1042 Denmark ruled England.
1380 Denmark and Norway were united under Queen Margaret.
1388 Queen Margaret was elected ruler of Sweden as well.
1397 Denmark, Norway, and Sweden were united in the Union of Kalmar.
1536 Lutheranism became the official Danish religion.
1657-1660 Denmark lost much territory to Sweden in the Danish-Swedish War.
1788 The government began freeing the Danish serfs.
1814 Denmark lost Norway to Sweden in the Napoleonic Wars.
1849 Denmark adopted its first democratic constitution.
1864 Denmark lost Schleswig and Holstein to Prussia and Austria.
1918 Denmark granted independence to Iceland, which remained under the Danish king until 1944.
1920 North Schleswig was returned to Denmark.
1940-1945 Germany occupied Denmark during World War II.
1944 Iceland ended its union with Denmark.
1949 Denmark and 11 other nations formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
1953 Denmark adopted a new constitution that ended the upper house of parliament.
1960 Denmark and other European countries formed the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
1973 Denmark became a member of the European Community, an economic organization that later formed the basis of the European Union (EU).
1982 A Conservative-led coalition government replaced the government of the Social Democrats.
1993 The Social Democrats regained control.

Important dates in Denmark