User:Gardar Rurak/Sandbox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The written History of Aarhus began with its founding as a military fort during the Viking Age in the latter part of the 8th century. It was embroiled in the power struggles of the time and early Danish kings Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth held ownership at different times. Its development was shaped by the location by the mouth of Aarhus River in the Danish Straits which allowed it to grow into a trade center and market town. In the Middle Age it benefited from the powerful Catholic Church as the seat of a bishopric but the reformation was followed by a period of stagnation spurred by wars, plague and fires. In the 19th century industry and trade dominated the economy but in the 20th century services came to play a larger role. Today it is the second-largest city in Denmark and a center for healthcare, education and services.