Lyla Lindsey
Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The area of modern-day Austria has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period, with traces of the Copper Age identified in the Carpathian Basin. Around 400 BC, it was settled by the Celts, followed by annexation by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. The name Austria is derived from the Latinisation of the Old High German Ostarrîchi, meaning eastern realm, which first appeared in the 10th century. Over the centuries, Austria has undergone various territorial changes and has been influenced by different cultures and empires, including the Celts, Romans, Germanic tribes, and the Habsburg dynasty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Central Europe |
| Geography | Landlocked, Eastern Alps |
| Borders | Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein |
| Area | 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi) |
| Population | 9 million |
| Capital | Vienna |
| Language | German |
| Origin of the name | Medieval Latin (Marchia) Austriaca meaning 'eastern borderland'; Latinised form of the Old High German name Ostarreich, meaning 'eastern kingdom' |
| Historic territory | Drastic changes over time; only two of the nine provinces (Lower and Upper Austria) are strictly 'Austria' |
| Historic events | Austrian-Hungarian War (1477–1488); World War I; annexed into Nazi Germany before World War II; liberation in 1945 |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's name origin
The name "Austria" is Germanic in origin. It comes from the Medieval Latin "Marchia" or "Marca" ("marca" in Latin means "borderland") "Austriaca", meaning "eastern borderland". "Austriaca" is the Latinised form of the Old High German name for the country, "Ostarreich" or "Ostarrîchi", which means "eastern kingdom" or "eastern realm"; ostar or "ostarr" meaning "eastern" and reich meaning "kingdom" in Old High German. In Modern German, this has become "Österreich". The Old High German "ostar" derives from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic root "*aus-to-", meaning "east" or "towards the sunrise". The same Germanic root also produced the English "east", Dutch "oost", and Old Norse "austr".
The name "Austria" is also related to the Latin word "australis", meaning "southern land", which is where the name "Australia" comes from. The Latin "australis" is a derivative of "auster", meaning "south wind". The Latin "aus" and the Germanic root "aus-to" are both descended from the Indo-European root "*aus-" which meant "dawn" or "to shine".
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Austrian history
The name "Austria" is Germanic in origin, coming from the Medieval Latin "Marchia" or "Marcia Austriaca", which means "eastern borderland". This is the Latinised form of the Old High German name for the country, "Ostarreich", which means "eastern kingdom", with "ost" meaning "east" and "reich" meaning "kingdom". In Modern German, this has become "Österreich". The Old High German "ost" derives from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic root "*aus-to-", meaning "east" or "towards the sunrise".
The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since at least the Paleolithic period. Around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts and then annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. Christianization in the region began in the 4th and 5th centuries, during the late Roman period, followed by the arrival of numerous Germanic tribes during the Migration Period. During the interregnum, Austria was the scene of intense persecution of heretics by the Inquisition. The first instances appear in 1260 in over forty parishes in the southern Danube region between the Salzkammergut and the Vienna Woods, and were mainly directed against the Waldensians.
In the 11th century, the dukes of Bavaria were chosen by the emperor until the house of Babenberg became the dukes. In the 12th century, Emperor Barbarossa wanted to make peace with the house of the Welfs, so he gave them Bavaria. In exchange, the Babenbergs were given the freshly formed "Duchy of Austria" (formerly "Marcha Orientalis"). The Babenbergs ruled until they died out in the 13th century, after which everything fell to the Habsburgs, who ruled until the First World War.
In the late 15th century, Austria was involved in the long Italian Wars against France (1494-1559) and the wars for Swiss independence. Following defeat at the Battle of Dornach in 1499, Austria was forced to recognise Swiss independence at the Treaty of Basel in 1499, a process that was finally formalised by the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.
In the 20th century, after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, Emperor Franz Joseph declared war on Serbia, which rapidly escalated into World War I. The empire's defeat and subsequent collapse led to the proclamation of the Republic of German-Austria in 1918 and the First Austrian Republic in 1919. During the interwar period, anti-parliamentarian sentiments culminated in the formation of an Austrofascist dictatorship under Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934. A year before the outbreak of World War II, Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany by Adolf Hitler. After its liberation in 1945 and a decade of Allied occupation, the country regained its sovereignty and declared its perpetual neutrality in 1955.
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Austrian geography
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, sharing borders with eight other countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Italy. It is a predominantly mountainous country, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. The Alps may be subdivided into a northern and southern limestone range, composed of rugged mountains, separated by a softer central range of crystalline rocks. The highest elevation in Austria is the Grossglockner, at 12,460 feet (3,798 meters).
Austria's landscape is diverse, with mountains, forests, lakes, and plains. The country has access to some of the highest mountain ranges of the Alps and the largest lake in Europe, Lake Constance (or Bodensee). The western Austrian states of Vorarlberg, Tirol, and Salzburg are particularly known for their majestic mountains and Alpine scenery. The westernmost third of the country is a narrow corridor between Germany and Italy, while the rest of the country lies to the east. The country is approximately 600 kilometers (370 miles) long and has a maximum north-south width of 280 kilometers (170 miles).
The Alps serve as a watershed for Europe's three major weather systems, which influence Austrian weather. Atlantic maritime weather systems bring snow, while continental weather systems help to maintain it, making December a highly anticipated month for the Austrian ski industry. The Brenner Pass, located on the Austrian-Italian border in Tyrol, is an important pass in the Austrian Alps, providing a convenient route of north-south transit between Germany and Italy.
Three major ranges of the Alps run west to east through Austria: the Northern Calcareous Alps, Central Alps, and Southern Calcareous Alps. The major rivers north of the watershed of the Austrian Alps, such as the Inn in Tyrol, the Salzach in Salzburg, and the Enns in Styria and Upper Austria, are direct tributaries of the Danube and flow north into the Danube valley. The Danube River winds between the eastern edge of the Alps and the hills of Bohemia and Moravia in its journey toward the Hungarian Plain. Vienna lies in the area where the Danube emerges from the mountains into the drier plains.
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Austrian culture
Austria has a rich historical and cultural heritage, having been a multinational state for centuries under the Habsburg monarchy, the Austrian Empire, and later Austria-Hungary. This diverse linguistic landscape has influenced Austrian German, with the Viennese dialect borrowing words from Hungarian, Czech, Yiddish, and South Slavic languages.
The country's landscape is diverse, from the historic city of Vienna to the stunning Alps. Austria is ethnically homogeneous, with over 90% identifying as Austrian, but it also has notable minority groups, including Slovenians, Croats, Czechs, Slovaks, and Hungarians. Austrian law protects the language and culture of these minority groups.
Austria has a vibrant cinematic history, playing a leading role in the silent movie era and producing renowned directors like Fritz Lang. The country's literary tradition is divided into pre- and post-mid-20th century periods, reflecting the loss of its major power status.
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Austrian politics
Following World War II, Austria was re-established as a sovereign state, and its politics were dominated by two parties: the conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the centre-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ). This two-party system remained in place for decades, with only one additional party, the right-wing populist Freedom Party (FPÖ), playing a significant role at the national level. During this period, Austria declared permanent neutrality, which formed the basis of its foreign policy. However, this stance shifted when the country joined the European Union in 1995 and began participating in UN peacekeeping missions.
The ÖVP and SPÖ often ruled through coalition governments, with brief periods of sole rule by either party. From 1971 to 1999, the SPÖ held power, sometimes ruling alone and sometimes in coalition with the ÖVP or the Freedom Party. In 2000, despite coming in third in the 1999 elections, the ÖVP formed a controversial coalition with the FPÖ, leading to symbolic sanctions from the EU and reduced contact from several countries.
In more recent years, the two-party dominance of the ÖVP and SPÖ has been challenged by the rise of newer parties, such as the Greens and the NEOS. This has resulted in a more diverse political landscape, with coalition governments becoming increasingly common.
Austria's political system is a parliamentary democracy, with the Federal President and Parliament limiting each other's powers and rights. The Federal President, while mostly associated with ceremonial duties, possesses considerable, if limited, powers. The government is composed of the Federal Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, and Ministers, who, together with the Federal President, form the head of the federal administration. The country's legislative body was first elected by "quasi-universal (male) suffrage" in 1897, marking a shift towards democratic representation.
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Frequently asked questions
The native name for Austria, Österreich, derives from the Old High German Ostarrîchi, which meant "eastern realm". This word is probably a translation of Medieval Latin Marchia orientalis into a local (Bavarian) dialect. The Latin version of the name, Austria, was first recorded in the 12th century.
The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since at least the Paleolithic period. Around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts and then annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC.
The Austrian Republic was proclaimed on 13 November 1918, following the defeat of the Central Powers in World War I.
The Austrian flag is made up of three horizontal bands of red, white and red. The flag originates from the time of the Napoleonic Wars when, in 1804, Emperor Francis II/I ordered that the colours of the coat of arms of the Babenberg dynasty (the original rulers of Austria) be used as the national colours.
The Austrian Empire was formed in 1867 when Austria under Emperor Franz Joseph lost power over the German Confederation to Prussia. This led to the creation of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy.
