Bessarabia
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What is Bessarabia?
Bessarabia is a region in eastern Europe between the Prut and Dniester rivers. Throughout history, control of Bessarabia has shifted between Moldavia, the Ottoman Empire, Russia, Romania, the Soviet Union, Ukraine and Moldova from the 15th to the 20th century.
The area was part of Scythia, then Dacia under the Roman Empire. Slavs arrived in the 6th century, but invasions disrupted their settlement until the Mongol invasion in the 13th century. In the 14th and 15th centuries, it was part of Walachia and then the principality of Moldavia. The Ottoman Empire later captured the southern portion of Bessarabia.
Russia gained control in 1812 and held it until World War I, except for a period when southern Bessarabia was in Moldavia's possession from 1856 to 1878.
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Where is Bessarabia located in Eastern Europe?
Bessarabia is a region in eastern Europe located between the Prut River to the west and the Dniester River to the north and east. To the southeast of Bessarabia is the Black Sea, and to the south is the Chilia arm of the Danube River delta.
Throughout history, control of Bessarabia has shifted between Moldavia, the Ottoman Empire, Russia, Romania, the Soviet Union, Ukraine, and Moldova. The region is known for its agriculture, especially the production of cereals, fruit, and wine, and also contains many sites of archeological interest.
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Which countries borders or include Bessarabia today?
Today, the region of Bessarabia is divided between Moldova and Ukraine. Bessarabia is a region in eastern Europe bounded by the Prut River on the west, the Dniester River on the north and east, the Black Sea on the southeast, and the Chilia arm of the Danube River delta on the south.
The bulk of Moldova lies between the Prut and Dniester rivers, with Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The northern region of Bessarabia (Khotin) and the coastal plain from the Danube to the Dniester were incorporated into Ukraine.
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What major rivers are important to Bessarabia's geography?
Bessarabia is a region in eastern Europe between the Prut and Dniester rivers. The Prut River forms Bessarabia's western border with Romania, acting as a tributary to the Danube. The Dniester River flows along Bessarabia's northern and eastern edges toward the Black Sea and is the main water source for Moldova. In the south, the Chilia arm of the Danube River delta marks Bessarabia's boundary.
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What is the historical significance of Bessarabia?
Bessarabia, a region in Eastern Europe between the Prut and Dniester rivers, has a long, turbulent history. Anciently part of Scythia, it fell marginally under the Roman Empire as part of Dacia. As a principal land route into Europe, Bessarabia was invaded by migrating peoples. The Vlach (Romanian) nationality gradually developed under these influences.
In the 15th century, Bessarabia was incorporated into the principality of Moldavia, but the Turks soon invaded, capturing the southern portion and dividing it into districts of the Ottoman Empire. Russia gained control in the 19th century, holding it until World War I, except for a period when southern Bessarabia was held by Moldavia.
After the Russian Revolution of 1905, a nationalist movement emerged, declaring independence in 1918 and uniting with Romania. The Soviet Union never recognized this union, and in 1940, Romania ceded Bessarabia to the Soviet Union. Today, Bessarabia remains divided between Ukraine and Moldova.
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How has Bessarabia's control changed between different countries over time?
Bessarabia's control shifted many times between the 15th and 20th centuries. Initially part of Moldavia, it fell under Ottoman Empire control in the 15th century. In 1812, Russia gained control, calling it Bessarabia.
After World War I, a nationalist movement emerged, and Bessarabia declared independence, uniting with Romania in 1918. However, the Soviet Union never recognized this union. In 1940, the Soviet Union demanded Romania cede Bessarabia, leading to Soviet troops entering the region.
During World War II, Romania occupied Bessarabia, but the Soviet Union regained control in 1944, reestablishing the territorial arrangements of 1940. After Ukraine and Moldavia declared independence in 1991, Bessarabia remained divided.
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Bessarabia, region in eastern Europe that passed successively, from the 15th to 20th century, to Moldavia, the Ottoman Empire, Russia, Romania, the Soviet Union, and Ukraine and Moldova. It is bounded by the Prut River on the west, the Dniester River on the north and east, the Black Sea on the southeast, and the Chilia arm of the Danube River delta on the south.
Although the early history of Bessarabia is obscure, it is known that Greek colonies were founded along its Black Sea coast (7th century bc) and that it was probably included in the kingdom of Dacia (2nd century ad). The Slavs began to enter the area in the 6th century, but their settlement was interrupted by invasions of other peoples from the east (ending with the Mongol invasion in the 13th century).
At the end of the 14th century the southern portion of the region became part of Walachia (the name Bessarabia probably is derived from the Walachian dynasty Basarab); and in the 15th century the entire province was incorporated into the principality of Moldavia. Shortly thereafter the Turks invaded and captured Akkerman and Chilia (1484) and annexed the southern portion of Bessarabia, dividing it into two sancaks (districts) of the Ottoman Empire. The remainder of Bessarabia fell under Turkish domination when Moldavia submitted to the Turks in the 16th century. The region remained under Turkish control until the 19th century.
Then Russia, whose interest in the area had developed during the 18th century (it had occupied the region five times between 1711 and 1812), acquired Bessarabia and half of Moldavia (Treaty of Bucharest, 1812). The name Bessarabia was applied to the entire region. Russia retained control of the region until World War I (with the exception of a strip of southern Bessarabia, which was in Moldavia’s possession from 1856 to 1878). During the beginning of the 19th century, Russia granted Bessarabia autonomy (1818–28) and allowed it a Moldavian governor and archbishop. But by the end of the century, Russification in both the civil and ecclesiastical administrations was the dominant policy.
A nationalist movement developed in Bessarabia after the Russian Revolution of 1905; and, in November 1917 (after the Russian revolutions of 1917), a council (sfatul țărei) was established. It declared Bessarabia’s independence on Jan. 24, 1918, and voted to unite with Romania in December. The Treaty of Paris (Oct. 28, 1920) confirmed this union, but the Soviet Union never recognized Romania’s right to the province. After the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact was signed (Aug. 23, 1939), the Soviet Union demanded (June 26, 1940) that Romania cede Bessarabia and the northern portion of Bukovina. The Romanian government complied; Soviet troops entered the region on June 28. In August 1940 Moldavia, or the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, was created out of the central districts of Bessarabia and a strip of Ukrainian territory on the other side of the Dniester River. Kishinyov (now Chişinău) became Moldavia’s capital. The northern region of Bessarabia (Khotin) and the coastal plain from the Danube to the Dniester were incorporated into Ukraine, or the Ukrainian S.S.R. During World War II, Romanians occupied Bessarabia and temporarily reorganized it as part of Romania. The Soviet Union seized it in 1944, and the territorial arrangements of 1940 were reestablished. Bessarabia remained divided after Ukraine and Moldavia (now Moldova) declared independence in 1991.
Bessarabia contains much of archaeological interest, including mounds and barrows of early epochs, remains of a wall built by the Roman emperor Trajan, some traces of Greek and Roman towns, and some forts along the Dniester built by the Genoese in the 14th century. Bessarabia is a favoured area for agriculture, chiefly for cereals, fruit, and wine. See also Moldova.