EASTERN EUROPE

-Is made up of states between Western Europe and Russia. They are POLAND, EAST GERMANY, HUNGARY, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA (CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA) -Eastern Europeans are mostly Slavic descent. The Hungarians are descended from the Magyars. The people of Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Poland speak the Slavic languages. Romanians speak language related to Latin.

HISTORY:
Mieszko I founder of Great Poland on 966 -belonged to the Piast dynasty Tribes of southern Poland- form the little Poland 1047-Great Poland and little Poland united under the rule of Casimer I the Restorer 1386- Poland merged with Lithuania by royal marriage During 14th and 16th centuries- Polish-Lithuanian state reached the peak of its power Lack of strong Monarchy- enabled the Russia, Prussia, and Austria to carry out a 1st partition of the country in 1772,a second in 1792 and a third in 1795. 19th century- the Polish people revolted against foreign dominance Nov.1918-Poland was formally reconstituted under Marshal Josef Pilsudsk as a chief of state Ignance Paderewski-the famous pianist and patriot, became the first Prime Minister 1in 1919 1926- Pilsudski seized complete power in a coup and ruled dictatorially until his death on May 12, 1935 Sept.1, 1926-hitler attacked Poland On Sept.17 and Sept.18-Soviet troops invaded from the East and a German-Soviet agreement divided Poland between USSR and Germany Wladyslaw Raczkiewicz-formed a government-in-exile in France, which move to London after Frances defeat in 1940.C June 1941- all of Poland was occupied by Germany after the Nazi attack on the USSR 1944-Polish government-in-exile was replaced w/ the Communist dominated Polish Committee of National Liberation by the Soviet Union Provisional Government of Poland- moving to Lublin after that city liberation, proclaimed itself Aug.2, 1945- some former members of the Polish Government joined the Leblin Government to the Polish Government of National Unity, w/ Britain and USA recognized. President Harry S. Truman, Joseph Stalin and Prime Minister Clement Attlee of Britain-established a new de facto western frontier for Poland along the Oder and Neisse River Aug.16, 1945-the USSR and Poland signed a treaty delimiting the Soviet-Polish borders under these aggrement are: - Poland was shifted westward -In the east it lost 69,860sq.mi. (180,934sq.km.) -Subject to final peace conference approval,in the west it gained 38,986sq.mi. (100,973sq.mi.) Dec.7, 1970-the border was finally agreed to by West Germany in an aggression pact was signed.

POLAND
The Largest country Eastern Europe Capital WARSAW Total landmass 120,727 sq .mi.(312,683 sq.km.) Physical Geography Most of the country is a plain with no natural boundaries except the Carpathian Mountain in the South and Oder Neisse River in the west. Other major rivers, w/c are important to commerce are the Vistula, Warta, and Bug. Land Use: Agriculture Agricultural Products Industrial Products -Grains -potatoes -steel/iron -chemicals -Sugar beets -food processing -transportation equip. -livestock -shipbuilding Population -38,429,000 -318 per sq.mi. Currency - Zloty Natural Resources -Coal -copper -Lead -natural gas -Silver - salt

POLITICS:
Government: Democratic Republic President: Bronislaw Komorowki Prime Minister: Donald Tusk

CULTURE:
The culture Poland reflects various customs and traditions of different tribes and races residing in the country. Western and Eastern impact can be seen in the Polish Culture still today. Music and arts are also two integral parts of the Polish tradition. Since various religions are there in this country, some customs are rituals of various religions have been accepted in the countrys tradition.

EAST GERMANY DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

Capital East Berlin Official Language German PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY Germany is made up of the North German Plain, the Central German Uplands (Mittelgebirge) and the Southern German Highlands. The Bavarian Plateau in the Southwest averages 1,600ft (488m) above the sea level, but it reaches 9,721ft (2,962m) in the Zugspitze Mountains, the highest peak in the country. Germans Major River is the DANUBE, ODER, WESER, and RHINE. ECONOMICS Land Use: AGRICULTURE Agricultural Products -Grains -Potatoes -Sugar beets -Meat and Dairy products Population -82,282,988 Linkages -rail roads -good roads -waterways

Treaty of Verdun (843) - Charlemagnes lands east of the Rhine were ceded to the German Prince Louis Treaty of Mersen- additional territory acquired by the treaty that gave Germany approximately the area it maintained throughout the middle ages During the 4th century-the Holy Roman Empire was little more than a loose federation of the German princes who elected the holy roman emperor 1438-Albert of Hapsburg became the emperor, and for the next several centuries the Hapsburg line ruled the Holy Roman Empire until its declined in 1806 Reformation-relations between state and church were change; w/c began with Luthers 95 theses and came to head in 1547. When Charles V scattered the forces of the Protestants league at Muhlberg. HUNGARY A landlocked country Capital BUDAPEST Total landmass 35,919 sq. mi. Physical Geography This central European country is the size of Indiana. Most of Hungary is a fertile, rolling plain lying east of the Danube River and drained by the Danube and Tisza rivers. In the extreme northwest is the Little Hungarian Plain. South of that area is Lake Balaton (250 sq mi; 648 sq km). ECONOMICS Land Use: Agriculture/Industrialization Agricultural Products Industrial Products -Corns -potatoes -precision and measuring equip. -Sugar beets -textiles -transportation equip. -fruits -vegetables Population -38,429,000 -318 per sq.mi. Currency -Forint Natural Resource -bauxite

Industrial Products -Steel -Chemicals -Machineries -Fishing Boats

POLITICS
Government: Federal Republic President: Christian Wulff Chancellor: Angela Merkel

CULTURE
Germany has contributed immensely towards art and culture. However , today German culture remains so merged with that of Europe that it becomes slightly difficult to draw the boundaries. German culture reflects various traces of medieval arts and architecture in the form of cathedrals, monasteries, and castles That dots the country. Germany is also known for its love for music and literature. The religious practices vary according to the different groups of people and the people are Protestants, Roman Catholic, or Muslims.

POLITICS:
Government: Parliamentary President: Lszl Slyom (2005) Prime Minister: Viktor Orban (2010)

HISTORY
Celts-are believed to have been the first inhabitants of Germany German tribe-followed to Celts at the end of the 2nd century B.C. Franks-one of the tribes who attained supremacy in the Western Europe under Charlemagne Charlemagne-was crowned Holy Roman Empire in 800

CULTURE:
A prosperous and varied culture especially in the twin cities of Hungary namely the Buda and Pest on the Danube, along with Great Plain contiguous to Ukraine. The province boasts of a rich cultural heritage with well-read literatures, poets and noble laureates. The native cuisine of the region is goulash, a beef soup that must one must

not miss out. Tokaji is a fabulous native drink famous in the region. The place is beaming with performances like opera, concerts, ballet, and festivals. Do participate in the Budapest Spring Festival, which is celebrated in the month of March. Grab a chance to visit the grand celebration of the summer open-air festival held annually in Szeged.

CULTURE:
Traditional Bulgarian music includes folk songs and plain chants in the Greek mode for church services. The chief native musical instruments consists of the gaida (bagpipe) and the kaval (a wooden shepherd's flute). The folk dances include hora, a round chain dance, and the ruchenitsa, a lively dance of two couples. Modern Bulgarian orchestral and operatic compositions have occasionally gained recognition in other countries. Among leading 20thcentury composers are Petko Stainov and Pancho Vladigerov.

HISTORY:
-14 B.C. , western Hungary was part of the Roman Empire's provinces of Pannonia and Dacia. The area east of the Danube was never part of the Roman Empire and was largely occupied by various Germanic and Asiatic peoples. - In 896 all of Hungary was invaded by the Magyars, who founded a kingdom. - Christianity was accepted during the reign of Stephen I (St. Stephen), 9771038. -1241, A devastating invasion by the Mongols killed half of Hungary's population. -Louis I the Great (1342-13820),The peak of Hungary's great period of medieval power came during the reign of), whose dominions touched the Baltic, Black, and Mediterranean seas. - 1389, War with the Turks broke out, and for more than 100 years the Turks advanced through the Balkans. -1526, When the Turks smashed a Hungarian army , western and northern Hungary accepted Hapsburg rule to escape Turkish occupation. Transylvania became independent under Hungarian princes. - Intermittent war with the Turks was waged until a peace treaty was signed in 1699.

ROMANIA
The Landlocked Country Capital Bucharest Total Landmass 88,934 sq mi (230,339 sq km) Physical Geography Romania is in southeast Europe and is slightly smaller than Oregon. The Carpathian Mountains divide Romania's upper half from north to south and connect near the center of the country with the Transylvanian Alps, running east and west. North and west of these ranges lies the Transylvanian plateau, and to the south and east are the plains of Moldavia and Walachia. In its last 190 mi (306 km), the Danube River flows through Romania only. It enters the Black Sea in northern Dobruja, just south of the border with Ukraine. ECONOMICS Land Use: Agriculture Agricultural Products -Oats wheat -Rye - Barley Population -22,181,287 Currency - Lei Natural Resources -Petroleum POLITICS: Government: Republic President: Traian Basescu (2007) Prime Minister: Calin Popescu-Tariceanu (2004) CULTURE: Since various tribes and races have gathered in the country, Romania has developed a diverse and ethnic cultural field. Caloianul is a festival and Dragaica is a harvesting custom of Romania. These are celebrated in the summer months. Music : Similar to the art of the Romania, the musical field is also touched by ethnic diversity. The primary sections of Music in this country are pop music, the hip hop, rock and roll, heavy metal music and many other forms of music. Some of the traditional folk music forms are also very famous.

BULGARIA
The Landlocked Country Capital Sofia Total Landmass 42,683 sq mi(110,549 sq km) Physical Geography Bulgaria shares borders with Serbia, Macedonia, Romania, Greece, and Turkey. Two mountain ranges and two great valleys mark the topography of Bulgaria, a country the size of Tennessee and situated on the Black Sea. The Maritsa is Bulgaria's principal river, the Danube also flows through the country. ECONOMICS Land Use: Agriculture Agricultural Products -Oats -Barley -Wheat -Rye Population -7,148,785 Currency - Lev POLITICS: Government: President: Prime Minister:

The tarafs, Gypsy musicians and the music bands mainly perform these music forms. Banat, Bucovina, Crisana, Dobrogea, Maramures and Oas, Maramures and Oas etc are some of the very popular forms of the traditional Romanian folk music.

CZECH REPUBLIC
The Landlocked Country Capital Prague Total Landmass 88,934 sq mi (230,339 sq km) Physical Geography The Czech Republic's central European landscape is dominated by the Bohemian Massif, which rises to heights of 3,000 ft (900 m) above sea level. This ring of mountains encircles a large elevated basin, the Bohemian Plateau. The principal rivers are the Elbe and the Vltava ECONOMICS Land Use: Steel Industry Industrial Products -Steel and Heavy machinery *Skoda Steelworks- largest among Europe Population -22,181,287 Currency - Koruna Natural Resources -Coal -iron ore POLITICS: Government: Parliamentary democracy. President: Vclav Klaus (2003) Prime Minister: Jan Fischer (2009)

-Jan Hus (1369?1415) founded Hussite movement linked the Slavs to the Reformation and revived Czech nationalism - Ferdinand I, ascended the throne in 1526. -Czechs rebelled in 1618, precipitating the Thirty Years' War (16181648). Defeated in 1620 -A union of the Czech lands and Slovakia was proclaimed in Prague on Nov. 14, 1918, and formed Czechoslovakian state. - In March 1939, German troops occupied Czechoslovakia - Communists became the dominant political party and gained control of the Czechoslovakian government in 1948. -Nearly 42 years of Communist rule ended with the nearly bloodless velvet revolution in 1989 - Vclav Havel, a leading playwright and dissident, was elected president of Czechoslovakia in 1989 -Havel, imprisoned twice by the Communist regime and his plays banned, became an international symbol for human rights, democracy, and peaceful dissent. - The return of democratic political reform saw a strong Slovak nationalist movement emerge by the end of 1991, which sought independence for Slovakia - When the general elections of June 1992 failed to resolve the continuing coexistence of the two republics within the federation, Czech and Slovak political leaders agreed to separate their states into two fully independent nations - On Jan. 1, 1993, the Czechoslovakian federation was dissolved and two separate independent countries were establishedthe Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in March 1999.

SLOVAKIA
The Landlocked Country Capital Bratislava Total Landmass 88,934 sq mi (230,339 sq km) Physical Geography Slovakia is located in central Europe. The land has rugged mountains, rich in mineral resources, with vast forests and pastures. The Carpathian Mountains dominate the topography of Slovakia, with lowland areas in the southern region. Slovakia is about twice the size of the state of Maryland. ECONOMICS Land Use: Steel Industry Industrial Products -Steel and Heavy machinery Population -5,470,306 Currency -kurona

CULTURE: The country has a rich cultural heritage and has given the world some excellent artists. When it comes to music, the three main names that automatically comes to one's mind are Bedrich Smetana, Antonin Dvorak, and Leos Janacek. Smetana wrote his major works in the late 19th century and based much of his music on Czech folk songs and dances. His famous opera The Bartered Bride (1866) provided a comic portrayal of Czech national life. Dvorak was also known for incorporating Czech folk music into his works. Janacek, whose career reached its height in the early 20th century, used the styles of Moravian folk music in the composition of his operas. HISTORY: -Probably about the 5th century A.D. , Slavic tribes from the Vistula basin settled in the region. - Czechs founded the kingdom of Bohemia and the Premyslide dynasty -Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, made Prague an imperial capital and a center of Latin scholarship.

POLITICS: Government: Parliamentary democracy. President: Ivan Gasparovic (2004) Prime Minister: Iveta Radicova (2010) CULTURE: Art: art in Slovakia comprises of both modern types as well as traditional varieties. So, in Slovakia, modern paintings and sculptures rub shoulders with the more traditional forms of wood carvings, fabric weavings and glass painting. Much of the Slovakian culture is also to be detected in the country's intricate and artistic buildings and other forms of architecture. Culture: the culture of the country of Slovakia is a quaint amalgam of European modernity and a deep-seated pastoral lifestyle. In general, though, Slovakia is a land that is moving progressively towards modernity while also keeping its essence intact. Slovakia also has its own personalized "Traditional Slovak Calendar" to record events. Music: traditional Slovakian music is essentially folk in nature; which survived despite the presence of several other genres, like Hungarian music. In fact, it is due to these folk songs that the language of Slovakis was preserved and propagated. The chief musical instruments used in the country are flutes called "Fujara" and "Koncovka"; and bagpipes called "Gajdy". HISTORY: -Present-day Slovakia was settled by Slavic Slovaks about the 6th century -In 907, the Germans and the Magyars conquered the Moravian state, and the Slovaks fell under Hungarian control from the 10th century up until 1918 - When the Hapsburg-ruled empire collapsed in 1918 following World War I, -the Slovaks joined the Czech lands of Bohemia, Moravia, and part of Silesia to form the new joint state of Czechoslovakia. - In March 1939, Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, established a German protectorate, and created a puppet state and Monsignor Josef Tiso as prime minister. -The country was liberated from the Germans by the Soviet army in the spring of 1945, and Slovakia was restored to its prewar status and rejoined to a new Czechoslovakian state. -After the Communist Party took power in Feb. 1948, Slovakia was again subjected to a centralized Czechdominated government, and antagonism between the two republics developed. - In Jan. 1969, the nation became the Slovak Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia. -Nearly 42 years of Communist rule for Slovakia ended when Vaclav Havel became president of Czechoslovakia in 1989

- However, with the demise of Communist power, a strong Slovak nationalist movement resurfaced, and the rival relationship between the two states increased. - By the end of 1991, discussions between Slovak and Czech political leaders turned to whether the Czech and Slovak republics should continue to coexist within the federal structure or be divided into two independent states.