History of Greenland

Greenland has been home to native cultures for centuries, and in the 10th century explorers from Iceland began to arrive on the Island. The early explorers relied upon natural resources, and soon came into conflict with the native Inuit populations which was driven by shifts in the climate which made those resources more scarce. Native populations were more adept at fishing, while the newly arrived explorers could not sufficiently manage large scale agriculture on the Island.

The modern population of the island is, therefore, a combination of native tribes with European colonists, who remained relatively isolated until Norway and Denmark claimed portions of the Island in 1931. Lacking a firm precedent in international law, the International Court f Justice ruled that the countries could not unilaterally claim the Island. With the outbreak of World War Two, the Island's future become further uncertain, and the issue remained unresolved until the close of the War.

After the Marshall Plan and European redevelopment was well under way, an international commission made the Island part of the Danish Empire in 1950. By 1953, Greenland was firmly part of the Danish Kingdom, although it remained relatively independent and has been increasingly asserting its autonomy in recent years.

The Danish Parliament granted the Island home rule in 1979, although the Queen remained the Island's Head of State. As a result, the Island has been relatively autonomous from the European Economic Community and the European Union. Additional proposals to extend the degree of home rule independence have been put forth by referendum and are to be considered in the next electoral cycle. Today, modern Greenland is shaped by its close trade and diplomatic ties to both Europe and North America, which drive the Island's economic and tourism industries.