The Germanic Iron Age began with the decline of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Germanic kingdoms across Western Europe. Trade and interaction with neighboring regions, including the Frankish Empire and the British Isles, increased during this time, leading to cultural exchange and the accumulation of wealth. This wealth was often showcased in impressive grave goods, found in burial mounds, indicating a warrior elite's prominence in society. In Northern Europe and Scandinavia, this period preceded the Viking Age and saw the rise of various Germanic tribes, including the Jutes, Angles, Saxons, and Danes, in the region that would later become Denmark.
The Jutes inhabited the Jutland Peninsula, which comprises modern-day mainland Denmark and parts of northern Germany. They were significant participants in the Migration Period, and some migrated to Britain, where they settled alongside the Angles and Saxons. The Angles, originating from the Angeln region (likely in present-day Schleswig in Germany), were another central group that migrated to Britain and contributed their name to England. The Saxons, although more prominent in what is now northern Germany, also exerted influence over parts of Danish territories and took part in the migratory waves to Britain.
Between 500 and 800 CE, these tribes gradually began to form more organized and centralized entities. This era witnessed the consolidation of power among local chieftains, which led to the development of early kingdoms and set the stage for Denmark's eventual unification under a single monarch in the Viking Age. It was a time of transition, where different cultures blended and early medieval Scandinavian society took shape.
During this period, the Danes emerged as a distinct North Germanic tribe. By 500 to 800 CE, they were becoming more unified and began to establish themselves as a dominant force in the region. The Danes’ society was organized around tribal and clan structures led by chieftains, and they were renowned for their seafaring abilities, which would later define the Viking Age. As they consolidated power, the Danes gradually extended their influence, engaging in trade and occasional conflicts with neighboring tribes, which played a crucial role in shaping the early history of Scandinavia and set the foundation for the later formation of the Kingdom of Denmark.