Editing Imperialism (section)

===Denmark===
{{Main|Danish overseas colonies}}
[[Denmark–Norway]] ([[Denmark]] after 1814) possessed overseas colonies from 1536 until 1953. At its apex there were colonies on four continents: Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. In the 17th century, following territorial losses on the [[Scandinavian Peninsula]], Denmark-Norway began to develop colonies, forts, and trading posts in West Africa, the [[Caribbean]], and the [[Indian subcontinent]]. [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]] first initiated the policy of expanding Denmark-Norway's overseas trade, as part of the [[mercantilist]] wave that was sweeping Europe. Denmark-Norway's first colony was established at [[Tranquebar]] on India's southern coast in 1620. Admiral [[Ove Gjedde]] led the expedition that established the colony. After 1814, when Norway was ceded to Sweden, Denmark retained what remained of Norway's [[Greater Norway|great medieval colonial holdings]]. One by one the smaller colonies were lost or sold. Tranquebar was sold to the British in 1845. The United States purchased the [[Danish West Indies]] in 1917. Iceland became independent in 1944. Today, the only remaining vestiges are two originally Norwegian colonies that are currently within the [[Danish Realm]], the [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Greenland]]; the Faroes were a Danish county until 1948, while Greenland's colonial status ceased in 1953. They are now autonomous territories.<ref>Prem Poddar and Lars Jensen, eds., ''A historical companion to postcolonial literatures'' (Edinburgh UP, 2008), "Denmark and its colonies" pp 58–105.
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