The countless events that dot the history of Austria can fill volumes. Austria enjoys a rich history that is clearly marked in different phases. The documents on the voluminous history of Austria are a treat for culture and social science enthusiasts.
The first instances of Austria history dates back to the prehistoric times. In the pre-Roman times, various Celtic tribes dwelled in the central European lands that are now known as Austria. The Roman Empire captured the Celtic kingdom of Noricum and made it a province. The fall of the Roman Empire saw this area facing attacks from Bavarians, Slavs and Avars. Colonization and the spread of Christianity started after the conquest of this place by Charlemagne in 788 AD. The core areas of Austria were passed on to the house of Babenberg. The line of Babenbergers ended with the death of Frederick I in 1246. After the conquest by Rudolf I, the province passed on to the ruling German dynasty of Habsburgs.
Much of the Austrian history is occupied by the Habsburgs. The expansion of successive Austrian rulers is marked by the Battle of Mohacs in 1526 and the Long War with Ottoman that ranged from 1593 to 1606.
Later Leopold I ended the conflict with the Turks. After Emperor Charles VI, there begins an Austria-Prussian dualism in the history of Austria and Germany. After wars with the Revolutionary France and defeats against Napoleon, the Holy Roman Empire was abolished just after the formation of the Empire of Austria. Austria became the leading state in the new German Confederation after the restoration after the Napoleonic wars. But Austria was forced to leave the confederation after a defeat to Prussia. It was later transformed into the dual monarchy Austria-Hungary.
After World War I, Austria-Hungary republic was broken up into the states of German Austria, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Parts of the republic were also incorporated into Italy, Poland, Romania and Serbia-Croatia-Slovenia. In 1919 the country was renamed to Republic of Austria. In the later 1930s, the history of Austria saw the country being annexed to Germany. It regained independence in 1945. In 1955 Austria regained full independence with the Austrian State Treaty.
Presently the country has 5 major parties – The SPO, OVP, Greens, and FPO or BZO. The country became a member of the European Union in 1995, and retained constitutional neutrality.
Travel.mapsofworld.com provides you detailed information on the history of Austria.
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