Kraks vejviser 1927 Handelsregister

T he Kingdom of Denmark though one of the smallest countries in Europe plays a large and important part in world economy by virtue of the significance of its geographical situation as a factor in international commerce and by reason of its highly developed trade. Historically Denmark is closely connected with the northern neighbouring countries Norway and Sweden, and the languages of the three peoples are very similar. On the other hånd the geological and physical conditions of Denmark differ widely from those of its neighbours, and may be said to possess a character peculiar to Denmark being in a measure deter- minative of the trade of the country. The total area of Denmark is abt. 43.000 sq. kilom. of which the Jutland peninsula represents over two thirds, the balance being made up of 525 large and small islands. There are however only 252 of these islands inhabited the remainder being small and practically uninhabitable. The largest of the islands are Zealand (7043 sq. km., with the Capital Copenhagen), Funen (2990 sq. km.), Lolland (1244 sq. km.) Bornholm (587 sq. km.) and Falster (514 sq. km.). As moreover the coast including that of Jutland is deeply incised by fiords and creeks the coast line of the country is unusually long in proportion to the area and the population, and there is only a short distance from any point in the country to the sea-board and the many good harbours afforded by the fiords and the belts between the numerous islands. It is no wonder that the Danes belong to the oldest seafaring and sea- trading nations in the world. , The distinctly insular climate of Denmark is likewise due to the elose proximity of the sea in all parts of the country. The average temperature during the year is about 7 degrees higher than the mean temperature of the latitude, which faet is of no small importance for Danish agriculture. The finds from the various periods of antiquity as well as the earliest historical re- cords show that sea-girt Denmark has been easy of access to civilizing influence from without. The Danes have quickly acquired the technique and arts of foreign cultures and in certain fields have developed and perfeeted what had been learned as is seen from preserved speci- mens of artisan craft from the stone and bronze ages. As early as in the bronze age trading has taken place between Denmark and the Mediterranean countries by way of the Elbe and the Danube, the Danes bartering amber and furs for metal, and the trade connexion was still furtlier developed in the time of the Romans (the iron age). The immense expansive power of the Danish community towards the close of the period of antiquity and in the early middle ages (the raids of the Vikings, the conquest of England, and the Baltic hegemony of the Waldemars) can only be explained by Denmark having undergone a long period of pro­ gressive development. After the middle ages followed a long period of stagnation in the eco- nomic history of Denmark during which its trade declined as a result of competition on the part of the Hanseatic towns and later the western maritime powers. It was only in the latter part of the 18th century that Danish trade and shipping again experienced periods of pro- sperity during the great European wars in which Denmark took no part. This was the era of government trade and the large monopoly concerns, but about the year 1797 Danish trade policy took the direction of free trade and in this respect it was in advance of any other country. It was just prior to this period that the old vassalage system which for ages weighed heavily on agriculture had been abolished. The Napoleonic wars of last century spelt disaster for Denmark and all progress was again arrested for a long time. Norway was lost, the country was ruined financially and its commerce had been secured by Hamburg. Gradually the country recovered, but only from the seventies and eighties was Denmark able to participate in the subsequent rapid develop-