In this study, Knud J.V. Jespersen traces the historical roots of the modern Danish state and Denmark's international position at the beginning of the 21st century. Taking the Reformation as the point at which modern Danish society began to emerge, Jespersen explains how modern Denmark was shaped by 500 years of wars, territorial losses, domestic upheavals, new methods of production and changes in thought. He goes on to explore the development of a specific sense of Danish identity, and discusses whether the Danes can be most aptly described as a tribe or as a nation.