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Denmark–Norway Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: The Dano-Norwegian Realm: History and Governance

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The Dano-Norwegian Realm: History and Governance Study Guide

Formation and Structure of the Union

The Dano-Norwegian Realm, also known as Denmark-Norway, officially began in 1397 with the formation of the Kalmar Union.

Answer: False

Explanation: While the Kalmar Union was formed in 1397, the Dano-Norwegian Realm as a distinct political entity, comprising the Kingdom of Denmark and the Kingdom of Norway under a single monarch, is generally considered to have begun in 1537 following Norway's annexation.

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Norway was formally annexed by Denmark in 1537, ending its status as an independent kingdom.

Answer: True

Explanation: In 1537, following the Count's Feud, Denmark formally annexed Norway, effectively ending its status as a separate kingdom and integrating it more closely into the Danish administration.

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The term 'Dano-Norwegian Realm' is synonymous with the personal union established between Denmark and Norway.

Answer: True

Explanation: The term 'Dano-Norwegian Realm' accurately describes the political union that existed between Denmark and Norway, often referred to as a personal union, from the 16th to the 19th century.

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What political entity existed from the 16th to the 19th century, comprising the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Norway, and associated duchies?

Answer: The Dano-Norwegian Realm

Explanation: The Dano-Norwegian Realm, also known as Denmark-Norway, was a union that spanned from the 16th to the 19th century, incorporating the Kingdoms of Denmark and Norway, along with territories such as Schleswig and Holstein.

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In what year did the union of Denmark and Norway officially begin, following Denmark's annexation of Norway?

Answer: 1537

Explanation: The union between Denmark and Norway was formally established in 1537, marking Norway's annexation by Denmark and its reduction in status within the realm.

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The term 'Twin Realms' was used to refer specifically to which parts of the unified state?

Answer: Denmark and Norway

Explanation: The term 'Twin Realms' specifically denoted the two primary kingdoms within the unified state: Denmark and Norway, highlighting their shared monarchy and administrative structure.

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What historical event preceded the formal establishment of the personal union between Denmark and Norway in 1536/1537?

Answer: The Count's Feud

Explanation: The Count's Feud (1534-1536), a civil war in Denmark, concluded shortly before Norway's formal annexation and the establishment of the Dano-Norwegian union in 1537.

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Governance and Administration

Denmark-Norway was a unified kingdom where only Danish was used as the official language.

Answer: False

Explanation: The official languages within the administrative structure of Denmark-Norway included both Danish and German, reflecting the diverse linguistic influences and administrative divisions within the realm.

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Before 1660, Denmark-Norway was an absolute monarchy, but it transitioned to a constitutional monarchy afterward.

Answer: False

Explanation: Prior to 1660, Denmark-Norway operated under a constitutional and elective monarchy. The transition after 1660 was towards a stringent absolute monarchy, formalized by the King's Law.

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The King's Law of 1665 established the principle that the monarch was accountable only to God, solidifying absolute rule.

Answer: True

Explanation: The King's Law (Leges Regiae) of 1665 codified the absolute monarchy in Denmark-Norway, asserting that the monarch's authority derived directly from God and was not subject to any earthly power.

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Which two languages served as the primary official languages within the administrative structure of Denmark-Norway?

Answer: Danish and German

Explanation: The administrative structure of Denmark-Norway utilized Danish and German as its primary official languages, reflecting the historical and political complexities of the union.

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What title did the kings of Denmark-Norway adopt to reflect their extensive rule?

Answer: King of Denmark and Norway, the Wends and the Goths

Explanation: The monarchs of Denmark-Norway adopted the formal title 'King of Denmark and Norway, the Wends and the Goths' to signify the historical scope and diverse territories under their rule.

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The transition to absolute monarchy in Denmark-Norway, formalized by the King's Law, occurred after which significant year?

Answer: 1660

Explanation: The establishment of absolute monarchy in Denmark-Norway, solidified by the King's Law of 1665, followed the pivotal year of 1660, which marked a significant shift in royal power.

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What administrative bodies reflected the dual linguistic structure of Denmark-Norway?

Answer: The Danish Chancellery and the German Chancellery

Explanation: The existence of the Danish Chancellery (Danske Kancelli) and the German Chancellery (Tyske Kancelli) served as key administrative structures reflecting the union's dual linguistic and governance framework.

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Territorial Extent and Overseas Possessions

Denmark-Norway possessed overseas colonies, including territories in West Africa, India, and the Caribbean.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Dano-Norwegian Realm maintained overseas possessions, including the Danish Gold Coast in West Africa, trading posts and colonies in India (such as Serampore), and the Danish West Indies in the Caribbean.

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Copenhagen was the sole major city within the Denmark-Norway union.

Answer: False

Explanation: While Copenhagen was the capital and largest city, other significant urban centers existed within the union, including Christiania (modern Oslo) and Bergen in Norway.

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The area of Denmark-Norway around 1800 was roughly 1 million square miles.

Answer: True

Explanation: Around the year 1800, the total area of Denmark-Norway spanned approximately 2,655,567 square kilometers, which is equivalent to roughly 1,025,320 square miles.

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The Danish West Indies remained a Danish possession until sold to the United States in 1917.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Danish West Indies, comprising the Virgin Islands, were indeed a possession of Denmark-Norway and were later sold to the United States in 1917.

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Which of the following was NOT officially part of the Denmark-Norway union?

Answer: The Kingdom of Sweden

Explanation: While Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands were integral parts of the Dano-Norwegian Realm, the Kingdom of Sweden was a separate entity and often a rival, never officially part of the union.

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Which of the following was a key overseas possession of Denmark-Norway located in West Africa?

Answer: Danish Gold Coast

Explanation: The Danish Gold Coast, located in present-day Ghana, was a significant overseas possession of Denmark-Norway in West Africa, involved in trade, particularly in gold and later enslaved people.

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What was the approximate total area of Denmark-Norway around the year 1800?

Answer: 2,655,567 square kilometers

Explanation: Around the year 1800, the total area of Denmark-Norway spanned approximately 2,655,567 square kilometers (equivalent to about 1,025,320 square miles).

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Which of the following cities was a major urban center within the Denmark-Norway union?

Answer: Bergen

Explanation: Bergen, along with Christiania (modern Oslo), was one of the principal cities and major urban centers within the Kingdom of Norway, a key component of the Dano-Norwegian Realm.

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Foreign Relations and Conflicts

The Treaty of Brömsebro in 1645 resulted in Denmark-Norway gaining control over the island of Bornholm.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Treaty of Brömsebro (1645) resulted in Denmark-Norway ceding territories, including the islands of Gotland and Ösel, not gaining Bornholm.

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The Torstenson War led to territorial gains for Denmark-Norway, strengthening its position against Sweden.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Torstenson War (1643-1645) concluded with a Swedish victory and resulted in territorial losses for Denmark-Norway, marking a shift in regional power dynamics.

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In 1658, Denmark-Norway ceded a small portion of its territory to Sweden via the Treaty of Roskilde.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Treaty of Roskilde in 1658 resulted in Denmark-Norway ceding a substantial portion of its territory to Sweden, including provinces like Scania, Halland, Blekinge, and Bohuslän, as well as the island of Bornholm.

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The Scanian War was fought between Denmark-Norway and Russia.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Scanian War (1675-1679) was primarily fought between Denmark-Norway and Sweden, not Russia.

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The Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 was a Danish-Norwegian victory against the British.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 resulted in a significant British victory, damaging the Danish fleet and occurring after Denmark-Norway joined the League of Armed Neutrality.

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Denmark-Norway allied with France during the Napoleonic Wars due to British attacks on Copenhagen.

Answer: True

Explanation: Following the British bombardment and occupation of Copenhagen in 1807, Denmark-Norway was compelled to seek an alliance with Napoleon's France.

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The Northern Seven Years' War concluded with significant territorial gains for Denmark-Norway at Sweden's expense.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Northern Seven Years' War (1563-1570) concluded with the Treaty of Stettin, which largely restored the pre-war territorial status quo, resulting in no significant gains for either Denmark-Norway or Sweden.

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The Treaty of Copenhagen in 1660 returned the island of Bornholm to Danish-Norwegian control.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Treaty of Copenhagen in 1660 was crucial as it returned the island of Bornholm, along with the province of Trøndelag, to Denmark-Norway, territories previously ceded to Sweden under the Treaty of Roskilde.

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Which treaty forced Denmark-Norway to cede Trøndelag, Bohuslän, and Bornholm to Sweden?

Answer: Treaty of Roskilde (1658)

Explanation: The Treaty of Roskilde in 1658 compelled Denmark-Norway to cede significant territories to Sweden, including the Norwegian province of Trøndelag, Bohuslän, and the Danish island of Bornholm.

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What was the outcome of the Torstenson War for Denmark-Norway?

Answer: A Swedish victory and territorial losses.

Explanation: The Torstenson War resulted in a Swedish victory, leading to territorial concessions by Denmark-Norway and contributing to Sweden's ascendancy as a major power in the region.

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What was the main objective of Denmark-Norway in initiating the Scanian War?

Answer: To reclaim territories lost to Sweden in Scania.

Explanation: The Scanian War was initiated by Denmark-Norway with the primary objective of reconquering the territories in Scania (Skåne) that had been ceded to Sweden in previous conflicts.

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The British victory at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 occurred in the context of Denmark-Norway joining which alliance?

Answer: The League of Armed Neutrality

Explanation: The Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 took place after Denmark-Norway joined the Second League of Armed Neutrality, an alliance formed to protect neutral shipping rights against British naval actions.

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What event directly prompted Denmark-Norway to ally with France during the Napoleonic Wars?

Answer: The British siege and occupation of Copenhagen in 1807.

Explanation: The British attack on Copenhagen in 1807, which resulted in the seizure of the Danish fleet, was the direct catalyst for Denmark-Norway's alliance with Napoleonic France.

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Economic and Social Landscape

Control over the Oresund strait was economically insignificant for Denmark-Norway.

Answer: False

Explanation: Control over the Oresund strait was economically vital, as it allowed Denmark-Norway to levy the Sound Tolls, a significant source of revenue for the state.

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Before 1660, Norwegian farmers were bound to their birth estates, similar to the Danish Stavnsbånd.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Stavnsbånd, which restricted peasants to their birth estates, was a Danish institution. Norwegian farmers generally enjoyed greater freedom of movement and settlement during this period.

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King Christian IV's reign was characterized by significant economic activity, including the founding of the Danish East India Company.

Answer: True

Explanation: King Christian IV's reign saw considerable economic initiatives, including the establishment of the Danish East India Company, which facilitated overseas trade and colonial ventures.

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The population of Denmark-Norway in 1801 was approximately 1.3 million.

Answer: False

Explanation: The estimated population of Denmark-Norway in 1801 was approximately 1.86 million individuals, not 1.3 million.

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Sweden sought to avoid the Sound Tolls because they negatively impacted Swedish trade.

Answer: True

Explanation: Sweden consistently sought to minimize or avoid the Sound Tolls, as this tax imposed by Denmark-Norway on ships passing through the Oresund strait represented a significant economic burden on Swedish commerce.

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The concept of 'dominium maris baltici' referred to Denmark-Norway's desire to control trade routes in the North Sea.

Answer: False

Explanation: 'Dominium maris baltici' referred to Denmark-Norway's ambition to exert control and influence over the Baltic Sea, not the North Sea.

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The 'Norwegian paradox' describes Norway's economic stagnation during the union compared to Denmark.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 'Norwegian paradox' refers to Norway's significant economic development and industrialization during the union, achieving economic parity with Denmark despite Denmark's political dominance, not economic stagnation.

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How did Denmark-Norway generate substantial revenue related to the Oresund strait?

Answer: By levying the Sound Tolls on passing ships.

Explanation: Denmark-Norway generated substantial revenue by imposing the Sound Tolls, a tax levied on all merchant ships passing through the strategically important Oresund strait.

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How did the social structure for farmers in Norway differ from that in Denmark under the union?

Answer: Norwegian farmers were free to settle anywhere, unlike Danish peasants bound by the Stavnsbånd.

Explanation: Unlike Danish peasants who were subject to the Stavnsbånd, restricting them to their birth estates, Norwegian farmers generally possessed greater freedom of movement and settlement, contributing to a more egalitarian social structure in Norway.

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Which factor contributed to Norway's economic development and industrialization during the union?

Answer: Development as an export-driven economy.

Explanation: Norway experienced significant economic growth and industrialization during the union, largely driven by its development as an export-oriented economy, particularly in sectors like timber and shipping.

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King Christian IV significantly boosted Denmark-Norway's economic reach by establishing which company?

Answer: The Danish East India Company

Explanation: King Christian IV founded the Danish East India Company, a key initiative aimed at expanding Denmark-Norway's overseas trade and establishing colonial presence, particularly in India.

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The concept of 'dominium maris baltici' relates to Denmark-Norway's ambition to control which body of water?

Answer: The Baltic Sea

Explanation: 'Dominium maris baltici' signifies Denmark-Norway's strategic ambition to exert dominance and control over the Baltic Sea, influencing its trade and political dynamics.

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The 'Norwegian paradox' highlights which apparent contradiction within the union?

Answer: Norway's political subservience despite its economic equality.

Explanation: The 'Norwegian paradox' points to the contradiction wherein Norway achieved substantial economic development and parity with Denmark, yet remained politically subordinate within the union.

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Cultural and Religious Aspects

The '400-year night' is a historically accurate term used by modern historians to describe the union period.

Answer: False

Explanation: The '400-year night' is a narrative primarily used by 19th-century Norwegian writers to critique Danish rule. Modern historical scholarship views it as a rhetorical device rather than a neutral historical descriptor.

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Ludvig Holberg, a notable author, moved from Denmark to Norway during the union.

Answer: False

Explanation: Ludvig Holberg, a prominent figure in Danish-Norwegian literature, migrated from Norway to Denmark, contributing significantly to the cultural landscape of the union.

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Lutheranism was the dominant religion throughout the Denmark-Norway union.

Answer: True

Explanation: Following the Protestant Reformation, Lutheranism was established as the official state religion and became the dominant religious practice across the Dano-Norwegian Realm.

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State Pietism, a religious movement influencing state laws, occurred during the reign of King Christian VI.

Answer: True

Explanation: The period known as State Pietism, characterized by religious reform influencing state policies, took place during the reign of King Christian VI, from 1735 to 1746.

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The Law of Jante promotes individual ambition and standing out within Scandinavian cultures.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Law of Jante is a concept that discourages individual ambition and emphasizes conformity and collective mediocrity, running counter to the idea of standing out.

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What does the '400-year night' narrative, used by some 19th-century writers, criticize?

Answer: The period of Danish rule and its impact on Norway.

Explanation: The '400-year night' narrative, employed by 19th-century Norwegian nationalists, served as a critique of the prolonged period of Danish political and cultural dominance over Norway.

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How did the Reformation strengthen the monarchy in Denmark-Norway?

Answer: By allowing the king to seize church properties and finances.

Explanation: The Reformation significantly strengthened the monarchy by enabling the king to confiscate church lands and revenues, thereby increasing royal wealth and consolidating political power.

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The period of 'State Pietism' (1735-1746) primarily influenced which aspect of life across Denmark, Norway, and Iceland?

Answer: Religious and state laws

Explanation: State Pietism, particularly influential during King Christian VI's reign, significantly impacted religious practices and was integrated into state laws and regulations across the Dano-Norwegian Realm.

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Ludvig Holberg's migration from Norway to Denmark exemplifies which aspect of the union?

Answer: Cultural exchange and movement of individuals

Explanation: Ludvig Holberg's relocation from Norway to Denmark represents the significant cultural exchange and the movement of individuals between the two kingdoms that characterized the Dano-Norwegian union.

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Dissolution and Legacy

The Treaty of Kiel in 1814 resulted in Norway being ceded to Denmark.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Treaty of Kiel in 1814 mandated the cession of Norway not to Denmark, but to the King of Sweden, marking the formal end of the Dano-Norwegian union.

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The dissolution of the union in 1814 was primarily driven by internal political disagreements between Denmark and Norway.

Answer: False

Explanation: The dissolution of the union in 1814 was primarily precipitated by the geopolitical consequences of the Napoleonic Wars, culminating in the Treaty of Kiel, rather than solely internal disagreements.

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Following the 1814 dissolution, Norway lost its constitution and was fully integrated into the Swedish administration.

Answer: False

Explanation: Although Norway entered into a personal union with Sweden in 1814, it retained its constitution and a significant degree of internal autonomy, rather than being fully integrated into the Swedish administration.

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What treaty marked the end of the Denmark-Norway union in 1814, leading to Norway's cession to Sweden?

Answer: Treaty of Kiel

Explanation: The Treaty of Kiel, signed in January 1814, formally concluded the Dano-Norwegian union by ceding Norway to the King of Sweden, following Denmark's alignment with Napoleon.

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After the union's dissolution in 1814, Norway entered into a personal union with which country?

Answer: Sweden

Explanation: Following the dissolution of the Dano-Norwegian union in 1814, Norway entered into a personal union with Sweden, a state that lasted until 1905.

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