The Danish Colonial Empire was a collection of territories controlled by Denmark from the 17th to the 20th centuries. It included regions in the Americas, Africa, and Asia, with notable colonies such as Greenland, Iceland, and the Danish West Indies, which included islands like Saint Thomas and Saint John. The empire was primarily focused on trade, agriculture, and the exploitation of resources. Denmark's colonial activities began in the early 1600s and expanded over the following centuries. The empire's decline started in the 19th century, leading to the sale of the Danish West Indies to the United States in 1917. Today, remnants of the empire's influence can still be seen in the cultural and historical ties between Denmark and its former colonies.