Slovakia
Quick Summary
Slovakia is a historical region in Central Europe that, along with Bohemia and Moravia, formed the basis of Czechoslovakia in 1918. For nearly 1,000 years before 1918, Slovakia was ruled by Hungary and was often referred to as Upper Hungary.12
The area was settled by various tribes, including Celts, Germanic peoples, and finally Slavs, who are believed to have entered Slovakia around the 6th or 7th century. Christianity was adopted in the 9th century as part of Great Moravia, but the region was later overrun by the Magyars and incorporated into the Hungarian crown. While the ruling class and urban populations were often Magyar or German, Slovak peasants migrated into the plains. The distinct historical paths of Bohemia, Moravia, and Slovakia contributed to their separate national identities, ultimately leading to the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.132
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