The history of modern Denmark is essentially the story of how a once extensive and diverse empire slowly fragmented under the changing circumstances of the times. In this introductory guide, Knud J. V. Jespersen traces the process of disintegration and reduction which helped to form the modern Danish state, and the historical roots of Denmark's international position. Beginning with the Reformation in the sixteenth century, Jespersen explains how the Denmark of today was shaped by wars, territorial losses, domestic upheavals, new methods of production, and changes in thought. Thoroughly revised and updated in light of the most recent research, this second edition includes new discussions of the Danish Enlightenment, Denmark's role in World War II, the Cartoon Crisis of 2006 and current NATO debates, bringing the diverse and turbulent history of the country right up to the present day.