Facts Geography History History Walachia History Moldavia History Transylvania (Siebenbürgen) History Dobruja History Romania Ceausescu Political Parties Political Personalities Economy Culture
Romania is a very hospitable country. Everywhere the people wave, whether from the fields, from the roadside or from the train. Also the enginedriver insists on operate the horn or to wave. One is surprised with a cordial smile often, if one was the first who waves. Ist man derjenige welcher zuerst winkt, so wird man oft mit einem herzlichen Lächeln überrascht.
The people are curiously and very much open-minded. They speak to you on the street and want to know where you come from. Often they explain that in or others. Others try to interpret the car-registration. And it can absolutely happen, that you find a personal travel-companion for the duration of a travel by train.
History
Under Slavic influence with Dako-Roman roots
That Romania must have Roman roots, one already suspects at the word 'Romania'. This becomes truly conscious one however, if the conductor of the sleeping car says 'welcome' with 'bună seara' kindly.
At start of the 2. century, the Dakers were conquered under the king Decebal (87-106) of the Romans. Dakien became under the 165 years ongoing Roman reign romanced. The Dakers learned Latin, Roman structures of administration were introduced and the economy grew.
The Romans had to retreat on reason of unrests and the incipient migration in the year 271. In the 7. century the Slav ousted the Byzantine from the Balkan.
History Walachia
The principality Walachia became formed in the middle of the 14. century. A half century later, it already fell under Turkish reign, which continued until in the middle of the 19. century.
From the year 1739, in consequence of the Austrian-Russian-Turkish wars, the 'Little Walachia' (Oltenien) succeeded under Habsburger reign.
90 years later, big parts of the Walachia turned into the Russian protectorate.
Consequently, the region stood under Russian, under Turkish and under Austrian influence in the 19. century.
In consequence of the Austrian-French-British Guarantee Contract, the principalities Walachia and Moldavia became unified 1859.
History Moldavia
The principality Moldavia arose 1359 under Bogdan. The principality became politically and terretorially stabilized in the 40 years following on it. Under Alexandru cel Bun (Alexander the Good) 30 years of the upswing followed.
In the year 1456, the area of Moldavia felt under Turkish sovereignty. The fight against the Turks continued however. Also in this time, the Moldaviacloisters originated as signs of the gratitude for won slaughters against the Ottomans.
Just middle of the 16. century, was the fight finally lost.
Since the year 1775 the North Moldavia is named Bukowina. At that time, this area became Austrian crown-land.
In consequence of the Austrian-French-British Guarantee Contract, the principalities Walachia and Moldavia became unified 1859.
After the World War II lost Romania the north of the Bucovina to the Soviet Union. Since then, exists the 'Moldavian Socialistic Soviet Republic', the present-day Moldavia.
History Transylvania (Siebenbürgen)
In the year 1004 the Hungarian king Stefan The Saint conquered the area 'behind the woods' which was populated by Dakers. Hungary promoted not only the settlement of Szeklern but also from German, the Seven-Citizen Saxony.
They were granted free country, were directly subordinate to the Hungarian King. In the state parliament of the Seven-Citizen, Germans, Szekler and Hungaries were represented, but no Daker. Transylvania was one of the first democracies in Europe!
In the 12. and 13. century the farmercastles occurred. They offered protection opposite the Turks and were equipped with grainchambers. Further the villagechurches became widen to defensechurches with defensecorridors, defensetowers, embrasures and storerooms.
In the 16. and 17. century Transylvania stood under Turkish sovereignty and thanks to its relative autonomy experienced upswing of economy and culture.
In the year 1699, Transylvania became affiliated to the Habsburger empire and somewhat later, 1718 the Banat. From then on came the Banater Swabia, Sathmar Swabia, German-Bohemian, Zipser Saxony and Landlers as well as other German people-groups to Transylvania.
For the reason of a decision of the Romanian ethnic group in the year 1918, Transylvania subscribed to the Romanian state.
History Dobruja
In the 7. and 6. century B.C. Greek settlers established the colony Histria. The Greeks delivered goods like wine, oil, ceramics and jewelry to the Geto-Dakers. On the other side the Dakers had grain, animals, honey and wax for trade.
Between the first century and start of the 7. century, the Dobruja was under Roman reign.
Later the Awaren and Slav populated the country.
From 1389 to 1878, it was under Ottoman sovereignty. Since then, the North-Dobruja is part of Romania. The South-Dobruja only was part of Romania between the Balkan War II (1913) and the end of the World War II (1945) and then became Bulgarian.
History Romania
Kingdom Romania
Just 1862, therefore 3 years after the union of the principalities Walachia and Moldavia, originated the principality Romania. After Russia won the war against the Turks, 1878 Romania acquired its independence.
In the year 1881, Romania became to the kingdom and under Carol I., the country experienced an economic and social prime.
After the World War I became Transylvania (until now Hungary), the Bukowina (until now Austrian crownland) and Bessarabien (until now Russia) affiliated to Romania.
At the September 6., 1940 became Romania to the fascist state after decrees were enacted against Jews and Gypsies and the kingdictatorship was introduced 1938.
People's Republic Romania
In the year 1947 became Romania to the People's Republic which was already occupied since 1944 of the Red Army. In the following years, the industry and the trade were nationalized, agricultural cooperative were erected and the political opposition got prohibited.Ceausescu
Ceausescu - The Romanian Neo-Stalinism
Nicolae Ceausescu, 1981 Source: Corbis Gheorghe Gheoghiu-Dej became first Communist party-boss 1952. He, even Stalinist, promoted the career of Nicolae Ceausescu. During his time, a gigantic concentration-camp was originated in the Baragan-Steppe, in which the people were abandoned in free nature. Without roof over the head, the people had to live like animals. At start of the 60's, Romania began to raise the claim to realize the socialism in its own way. 1964, a party-resolution was published, which each interference in inner issues of Romania explicit repulsed. 1967, Bucharest established diplomatic relationships to the Federal Republic of Germany. 1968 protested Ceausescu against the military put down of the 'Prague's Spring' through the Soviet troops! Ceausescu became president in 1974. It began a time of the terror and the spying. The Securitate was always and everywhere.
A cult originated about the Ceausescus. Their name was pronounced only in relation with superlatives. Elena, his wife, had also big influence on her husband and consequently also on politics and economy. She had completed even no study, nevertheless she was first 'scientist of the people'.
She was multiple doctor and member of the academy of the sciences. She collected awards and titles like other stamps.
Although there was already enormous industrialization- and residential-construction-programs in the 70's, in the 80's the plans Ceausescus, Romania to promote to an 'example-state', became more and more extremely.
A codification-program was planned, approximately half of all villages should be demolished. The farmers would have to work in agricultural-industrial complexes.
The country should also become prolific. Therefore, contraceptives were strictly prohibited. Abortions were only women allowed older than 45 or with at least 5 children.
Gynecological compulsory-examinations in the businesses should pregnancies as early as possibly to discover.
After wandering for days through the country, the dictator married couple was arrested at the December 24, 1989. Their execution took place on the following day.
The history and the circumstances of the revolution, including the arrest and condemnation, are not entire clarified until today. As well the massacres at the demonstrators, which demanded more than 1000 lives.
The persons around the new president Ion Illiescu that the power took on in 1990, were the same as before. Today the democracy is slowly in construction.
Political Parties
The Most Important Parties
| Party | Political Line | Foundation |
|---|---|---|
| National Liberal Party | national-liberal | 1869 |
| Social Democratic Party | social-democratic | 1893 |
| Conservativ Democratic Party | conservatively | 1908 |
| National Democratic Party (PND) | national-liberal | 1910 |
| Farmer Party | agrarian-socialistic | 1918 |
| Romanian Communist Party (PCR) | communist | 1921 |
| Iron Guard | fascist | 1930 |
| Romanian Labour Party | communist | 1948 |
| Democratic Convention Of Romania (CDR) | liberal | 1992 |
| Social Democratic Union (USD) | social-democratic | 1992 |
| Party Of Social Democracy (PSDR) | national-conservatively | 1993 |
Political Personalities
Heads of State And Government Heads in the 20th Century
| Administration | Name (Dynasty) | Administration | Name (Dynasty) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1881 - 1914 | Carol I. (Hohenzollern) | 1952 - 58 | Petru Groza |
| 1914 - 27 | Ferdinand I. (Hohenzollern) | 1958 - 61 | Ion Gheorghe Maurer |
| 1927 - 30 | Mihai I. (Hohenzollern) | 1961 - 65 | Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej |
| 1930 - 40 | Carol II. (Hohenzollern) | 1965 - 67 | Chivu Stoica |
| 1940 - 47 | Mihai I. (Hohenzollern) | 1967 - 89 | Nicolae Ceausescu |
| 1947 - 48 | Mihai Sadoveanu | 1990 - 96 | Ion Illiescu |
| 1948 - 52 | Constantin Ian Parhon | since 1996 | Emil Constantinescu |
Facts
 |
Area | 237.500 qkm |
| Population | ~23.000.000 | |
| Capital | Bucharest | |
| Offical Language | Romanian | |
| Further Languages | Hungarian, German, Serbian | |
| Currency | 1 Leu (plural Lei) = 100 Bani | |
| Density Of Population |
97 / qkm | |
| Composition Of Population |
Romanians 89%, Hungaries 7%, Gypsies ~2%, Germans 0,5%, others (Turks, Ukrainians, Russians, Tartar, Lippowaner, Serb, Slovaks, Croatians, Bulgarians, Greeks, Armenians ..) 2% | |
| Religions | Romanian-Orthodox 86,8%, Catholics 5%, other 8,2% |
Geography
In the northwest lies the Transilvanien plateau which is framed in the west of the Romanian westmountains and in the south and in the east of the Karpatens.
The Romanian west-mountains are often called also Westkarpatens. The Karpatens themselves cover in approximately one third of the country.
On the other hand to this annular mountain, that connects in the west Westromanian lowland, a part of the Panonian lowland. In the south, the Subkarpatens follow and in the east the highland of the Moldavia.
The Romanian west-mountains are often called also Westkarpatens. The Karpatens themselves cover in approximately one third of the country.
On the other hand to this annular mountain, that connects in the west Westromanian lowland, a part of the Panonian lowland. In the south, the Subkarpatens follow and in the east the highland of the Moldavia.
At both joins in the south the Romanian lowland, which stretches in the east up to the Danubevalley. The southern border forms the Danube until then before she flows direction north in order to form the Danubedelta at the border to the Ukraine.
Romania borders in the north and in the southeast on the Ukraine, in the northwest at Hungaries, in southwest at Yugoslavia, in the south at Bulgaria and in the east at Moldavia.
Economy
Agricultural products like grain, oil-plants, sugar-beets, fruit and wine dominate. Moreover there are forestry, cattle-breeding, mining, petroleum and natural gas-extraction.
Today for many businesses of the heavy and chemistry industry are foreign investors searched. Many of them are only originated in the mania of Ceausescu to promote the country to an nation of industry.
Culture
Cuisine
The meal is generally very palatable. I think, Romania's cuisine is therefore interestingly, because the ingredients of many national dishes seem usually, from the making as well as the combination of the ingredients however often originally and new.Composer
| Paul CONSTANTINESCU | (13.7.1909 - 20.12.1963) | Grigoras DINICU | (3.4.1889 - 28.3.1949) |
| Emanuel ELENESCU | (1911) | Georges ENESCU | (19.8.1881 - 4.5.1955) |
| Iosif IVANOVICI | (1845 - 29.9.1902) |