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Which ethnic communities contributed to Budapest’s cultural diversity in the past?
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Budapest
Central Budapest, looking north along the Danube River, with the Parliament Building on the east bank.
Budapest’s cultural diversity in the past was shaped by several ethnic communities that contributed to the city's development, particularly before the mid-20th century.
- Germans: German burghers played a significant role in the governance of Buda and Pest, and German-speaking industrial workers were brought into the city from the west to support its growth.1
- Jews: A large Jewish community moved to the city from the east, becoming a major influence in the city's professional, financial, and industrial life. By 1900, nearly one-fourth of Budapest's inhabitants were Jewish, though this community was largely destroyed during World War II.12
- Serbs and Balkan peoples: In the early 19th century, shipping in Pest was controlled by Serbs, while merchants were largely composed of Greeks and other Balkan peoples.1
- Other groups: The city's cosmopolitan character was further enriched by various other ethnic groups, including Slovaks and Ruthenes, many of whom were eventually Magyarized through the processes of urbanization and industrialization.12
While Budapest was once remarkably diverse, it became culturally homogeneous following the events of World War II.1