Leslie Massey
Austria, officially called the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in south-central Europe. The country is a semi-presidential representative democracy with a popularly elected president as head of state and a chancellor as head of government. Austria has a complex history, with various tribes and empires ruling the region throughout the centuries. The country has also experienced social and economic turbulence, including the rise of antisemitism and Nazi rule, which led to its annexation into Nazi Germany before World War II. Since regaining its sovereignty in 1955, Austria has developed into a stable and progressive nation with a high standard of living.
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What You'll Learn
- Austria's name is derived from the Old High German Ostarrîchi, meaning eastern realm
- Austria is a semi-presidential representative democracy with a popularly elected president and chancellor
- The country is a member of the European Union and has the euro as its currency
- Austria is a mountainous landlocked country in south-central Europe
- Vienna, the capital of Austria, was the former seat of the Holy Roman Empire
Austria's name is derived from the Old High German Ostarrîchi, meaning eastern realm
The name Austria is derived from the German word, Österreich, which comes from the Old High German word, Ostarrîchi, meaning "eastern realm". The name was first used in the Ostarrîchi Document of 996, which referred to the Margraviate of Austria, a borderland of the Duchy of Bavaria created in 976. The Old High German name has parallels with the Middle Latin name, Marchia Orientalis, or "eastern borderland". The Latin name was also referred to as the Bavarian Eastern March (Ostmark) and the March of Austria (Marchiam Austriae).
The word "Austria" is a Latinisation of the German name, Österreich, and was first recorded in the 12th century. The Latinised name has caused some confusion, as the German word "ost" means "east", while the Latin word "auster" means "south". This is why the name is similar to Australia, which is derived from the Latin "Terra Australis", meaning "southern land".
The name Austria likely originated as a translation of the Medieval Latin name, Marchia orientalis, into a local Bavarian dialect. The ostar- in Ostarrîchi is related to the Old High German ōstan, meaning "eastern", while rihhi meant "realm" or "domain".
An alternative theory, proposed by Austrian Slavistics professor Otto Kronsteiner, suggests that the term Ostarrîchi comes from a Slavic toponym, Ostravica, meaning "pointed hill". This theory was rejected by Austrian linguist Heinz-Dieter Pohl. Another possibility is that the name derives from the Ostrogoths, who had a kingdom in what is now Austria and northern Italy.
Friedrich Heer, a 20th-century Austrian historian, proposed another theory, stating that the Germanic form, Ostarrîchi, and the Latin word, Marchia Orientalis, both resulted from an even older term originating in the Celtic languages of ancient Austria. According to Heer, more than 2,500 years ago, the major part of the actual country was called Norig by the Celtic Hallstatt culture. In this context, "no-" or "nor-" meant "east" or "eastern", while "-rig" is related to the modern German word "Reich", meaning "realm". Thus, Norig would essentially mean the same as Ostarrîchi and Österreich, and, by extension, Austria.
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Austria is a semi-presidential representative democracy with a popularly elected president and chancellor
The Republic of Austria is a semi-presidential representative democracy, with a popularly elected president and a chancellor. The country's head of state is the Federal President, who is elected by popular vote for a term of six years and is limited to two consecutive terms in office. The president's role is largely ceremonial, although they do have the power to dismiss the cabinet, dissolve the National Council and call new elections. The chancellor of Austria is the head of the government and is selected by the president. The chancellor is tasked with forming a government based on the partisan composition of the lower house of parliament.
Austria's political system, known as the Second Republic, is based on the constitution of 1920, which was amended in 1929 and re-enacted on 1 May 1945. The constitution defines the country as a federal republic governed according to the principles of representative democracy and the rule of law. The country consists of nine federal states, which are further subdivided into districts and statutory cities. The capital, Vienna, is unique in that it is both a city and a federal state.
The role and power of the Austrian presidency have varied significantly over time. The office of the president was established in 1920 following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Habsburg monarchy. In the early years of the first republic, the president was a powerless figurehead. However, in 1929, the Constitution was amended to grant the president sweeping executive and legislative powers. These powers were short-lived, as they were taken away in 1934 following the establishment of a corporatist dictatorship. With the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, the presidency was completely abolished.
After World War II, Austria regained its independence and re-established its republican government. The office of the president was restored, and while the president regained their previous powers, they voluntarily chose to serve as a ceremonial and symbolic figurehead, allowing the chancellor to become the chief executive. Since the institution of the popular vote in 1951, only nominees of the Social Democratic Party and the People's Party have been elected to the presidency, except for the Green-endorsed incumbent Alexander Van der Bellen.
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The country is a member of the European Union and has the euro as its currency
Austria is a member of the European Union, having joined in 1995. It was one of the first countries to adopt the euro as its official currency on 1 January 1999, when it was introduced to world financial markets as an accounting currency. The euro replaced the former European Currency Unit (ECU) at a ratio of 1:1. Physical euro coins and banknotes entered circulation on 1 January 2002, and by March of the same year, it had completely replaced the former currencies. The euro is the sole currency of 20 EU member states, including Austria, and is used by 350 million people in Europe.
The euro is divided into 100 cents and has the currency code EUR. The symbol for the euro is €. In Austria, you can find euro banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500, although the 200 and 500 notes are not often used. There are also 1 and 2 euro coins. Cents come in coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50. The design for the euro banknotes was created by the Austrian designer Robert Kalina and features artistic periods of European architecture.
The euro is the second-largest reserve currency and the second-most traded currency in the world after the US dollar. As of December 2019, there was over €1.3 trillion in circulation. The euro is also used officially by the institutions of the European Union and by four European microstates that are not EU members. Outside Europe, a number of special territories of EU members also use the euro as their currency.
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Austria is a mountainous landlocked country in south-central Europe
Austria is a landlocked country in south-central Europe, sharing its borders with eight other European countries: Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The country is predominantly mountainous, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country and occupying 62% of its landmass. The Alps, which include the Northern Calcareous Alps, Central Alps, and Southern Calcareous Alps, offer a complex geologic and topographical landscape, with the highest elevation being Grossglockner, at 12,460 feet (3,798 meters).
The altitude of the mountains drops north and south of the central ranges, with just over 28% of Austria being moderately hilly or flat. The northern Alpine Foreland, the lowlands and hilly regions in the northeast and east, and the southeastern Alpine Foreland are examples of less mountainous regions in Austria. The parts of the country that are most suitable for settlement run north of the Alps through the provinces of Upper Austria and Lower Austria in the Danube Valley, then curve east and south of the Alps through Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, and Styria.
Austria's geographic position has contributed significantly to its prominence. It serves as a central transportation hub in Europe, with connections to the east and west along the Danubian trade route and between the north and south through the Alpine passes. This strategic location embeds Austria within various political and economic systems. The country is a member of the European Union but maintains a self-declared status of permanent neutrality, engaging actively in UN-led peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.
Austria has a rich history, having been a major imperial power in Central Europe for centuries under various state guises until the fall of the Habsburg dynasty after World War I. Vienna, the capital of Austria, was once the seat of the Holy Roman Empire and is renowned for its architecture. The country has experienced a continuous decline in Christianity since the 1970s, coinciding with the proliferation of other religions, particularly in cities like Vienna with diverse immigrant populations.
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Vienna, the capital of Austria, was the former seat of the Holy Roman Empire
Vienna, the capital of Austria, has a long and complex history. The city's roots can be traced back to the Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age), with evidence of human occupation in the area dating back to that time. In the 1st century, the Romans established a military camp in what is now Vienna's city centre, and the settlement was known as Vindobona, which means "white field" in Celtic. Vindobona was a strategic garrison town for the Romans, and it grew to a population of about 15,000 inhabitants, becoming an important part of a widespread trade network.
In the centuries that followed, Vienna continued to grow and prosper. By the 11th century, it had become an important trading site, and in 1221, it received the rights of a city and a staple port. This meant that all traders passing through Vienna had to offer their goods in the city, allowing the Viennese to act as middlemen and establish far-reaching trade relations. Vienna's strategic location along the Danubian trade route and the Alpine passes contributed to its prominence.
Vienna's role as a cultural and political centre was further elevated when it became the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. This occurred after the election of Duke Albert V as German King Albert II. During this period, Vienna became a leader in science and the fine arts, and the university founded in 1365 became a centre of humanism. However, the city also faced challenges, such as the expulsion of its Jewish population in 1421/22 and the upheaval caused by the Hussite Wars.
The Habsburgs, a dynasty that ruled over a changing set of lands centred on Vienna, played a significant role in the history of the city and the Holy Roman Empire. While the Holy Roman Empire was made up of numerous independent states, the Habsburg rulers often held the position of Holy Roman Emperor, which was democratically elected by a small group of people. The Habsburgs' control over Vienna and their acquisition of new territories by marriage further solidified Vienna's status as a political and cultural hub.
In the 16th century, Vienna faced threats from Turkish forces, who besieged the city in 1529 but were successfully repelled. The city was expanded into a fortress in 1548, with bastions, a moat, and a glacis to strengthen its defences. These fortifications proved crucial during the Second Turkish Siege of 1683, when the Turkish army was defeated by Polish forces, marking a turning point in the Turkish Wars.
The end of the Holy Roman Empire came in 1806, with the dissolution of the empire and the resignation of Emperor Francis II. However, Vienna continued to hold a significant position in Europe, playing a central role in the continent's restoration under the leadership of Prince Metternich. The city's population grew, and it became known for its cultural and artistic achievements.
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Frequently asked questions
Österreich, which derives from the Old High German Ostarrîchi, meaning "eastern realm".
The name Austria was first recorded in 996, written as Ostarrîchi, referring to the territory of the Babenberg March.
Österreich translates to "eastern realm" in English.
The capital of Austria is Vienna (Wien), which is renowned for its architecture.
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state.
