Lexi Webster
Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is a federation of nine states, with a population of around 9 million people. The country's capital, Vienna, is its most populous city and state. Austria's history is long and complex, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Paleolithic period. The area was settled by various Celtic tribes in pre-Roman times and was later annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. For centuries, Austria was a major imperial power in Central Europe, until the fall of the Habsburg dynasty after World War I. In the post-war period, Austria maintained its neutrality and became a hub for international organisations, including the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Today, Austria is a member of the European Union and continues to play a significant role in international relations and diplomacy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Area | 83,878 square kilometres |
| Population | 8.95 million |
| Nominal per capita GDP | $46,972 (2018 est.) |
| Human Development Index ranking | 18th in the world (2019) |
| United Nations membership | Since 1955 |
| European Union membership | Since 1995 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Type of government | Federal republic; parliamentary representative democracy |
| Number of independent federal states | 9 |
| Official language | German |
| Other local official languages | Croatian, Hungarian, Slovene |
| Capital and largest city | Vienna |
| Vienna's population | Exceeding 1.9 million |
| History | Conquered by Germanic Rugii after the fall of the Roman Empire; most of modern Austria was conquered by Odoacer, a barbarian soldier and statesman from the Middle Danube, in 487; conquered by Charlemagne, King of the Franks, in 788; became a unified state at the end of the first millennium; was a frontier march of the Holy Roman Empire; became a Duchy in 1156; was made an Archduchy in 1453; was a major imperial power in Central Europe for centuries; became the Austrian Empire in 1806; was part of the German Confederation until the Austro-Prussian War of 1866; formed a dual monarchy with Hungary (known as Austria-Hungary or the Austro-Hungarian Empire) in 1867; became the First Austrian Republic in 1919; was occupied and annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938; became a sovereign state again in 1955 |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's history
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of approximately 8.95 million people. The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period, and around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts. In the late Iron Age, Austria was occupied by people of the Hallstatt Celtic culture, who first organised as a Celtic kingdom referred to by the Romans as Noricum, dating from around 800 to 400 BC. At the end of the 1st century BC, the lands south of the Danube became part of the Roman Empire, and the region was Christianised in the 4th and 5th centuries. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the area was invaded by various Germanic tribes, including the Ostrogoths, who created their own kingdom, the Ostrogothic Kingdom.
In 788 AD, the Frankish king Charlemagne conquered the area and encouraged colonisation, introducing Christianity. As part of Eastern Francia, the core areas that now encompass Austria were bequeathed to the house of Babenberg. Austria, as a unified state, emerged from the remnants of the Eastern and Hungarian March at the end of the first millennium, first as a frontier march of the Holy Roman Empire. It then developed into a Duchy in 1156 and was made an Archduchy in 1453. Being the heartland of the Habsburg monarchy since the late 13th century, Austria was a major imperial power in Central Europe for centuries. From the 16th century, Vienna also served as the Holy Roman Empire's administrative capital.
In 1806, when Emperor Francis II of Austria dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, Austria became the Austrian Empire and was part of the German Confederation until the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. In 1867, Austria formed a dual monarchy with Hungary, becoming the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This empire collapsed after World War I in 1918, and Austria was reduced to its main, mostly German-speaking areas, adopting the name the Republic of German-Austria. However, union with Germany and the chosen country name were forbidden by the Allies at the Treaty of Versailles. This led to the creation of the First Austrian Republic in 1919, which lasted until 1933.
In 1938, Austrian Nazis took over the government, and Austrian-born Adolf Hitler announced the "reunification" of his home country with the "rest of the German Reich". This annexation lasted until the end of World War II in 1945, after which Austria was occupied by the Allies and its former democratic constitution was restored. In 1955, the Austrian State Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state, and the country declared its permanent neutrality. Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and adopted the European currency, the euro, in 1999. Today, Austria is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with a high standard of living and a strong economy.
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Austria's geography
Austria is situated in Central Europe and covers an area of 83,870.95 square kilometres (580 kilometres from east to west). It shares borders with eight countries: Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The Bohemian Massif, including the Granite and Gneiss Plateau (the geologically oldest part of Austria), can be found in Upper and Lower Austria, north of the Danube River. The Danube, at 2,848 kilometres long, is Austria's longest river, with 350 kilometres flowing through the country. Lake Constance is Austria's biggest lake, with 11% of its shoreline located within the country.
Mountains and forests characterise the Austrian landscape, with approximately 60% of the country being mountainous. The Eastern Alps dominate the Austrian terrain, including ranges such as the Tyrol Central Alps, Hohe Tauern, and Niedere Tauern. The Alps provide magnificent passes that have facilitated trade and travel between northern and southern Europe.
The climate in Austria varies across the country. Overall, it lies in a transition zone with a predominantly Central European, maritime climate. The west and north experience damp westerly winds, while the northeast and east have a drier, continental climate with hotter summers and colder winters.
The most densely populated areas of Austria are the large plains, particularly the Alpine Foreland and the Vienna Basin in the east along the Danube, as well as the Graz Basin in southern Styria. Vienna, the capital, is renowned for its architecture and was once the seat of the Holy Roman Empire.
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Austria's economy
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of approximately 8.95 million people. It is a parliamentary representative democracy and has a high standard of living, with a nominal per capita GDP of $46,972 in 2018. The country is one of the wealthiest in the world and was ranked 18th in the world on the Human Development Index in 2019.
Austria's history is closely tied to the Holy Roman Empire, which it joined as a duchy in 1156 and became an archduchy of in 1453. The country was dominated by the House of Habsburg from 1273 to 1918, and Vienna served as the administrative capital of the Empire from the 16th century onwards. In 1804, two years before the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, Austria established its own empire, which became a great power. In 1806, when Emperor Francis II of Austria dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, Austria officially became the Austrian Empire and was part of the German Confederation until the Austro-Prussian War of 1866.
In 1867, Austria formed a dual monarchy with Hungary, known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire or Austria-Hungary. This empire was a multi-national constitutional monarchy and one of Europe's major powers. It was geographically the second-largest country in Europe and the third most populous. The union with Hungary ended in 1918 after World War I, and Austria was reduced to its main, mostly German-speaking areas. The country adopted the name the Republic of German-Austria, but union with Germany was forbidden by the Allies at the Treaty of Versailles. This led to the creation of the First Austrian Republic in 1919.
After World War I, Austria experienced economic difficulties and was granted an international loan supervised by the League of Nations in 1922 to stabilise its currency and improve its economic condition. The Austrian schilling was introduced in 1925, replacing the Krone at a rate of 10,000:1. The economy enjoyed a short high from 1925 to 1929 before nearly crashing after Black Tuesday. The First Austrian Republic lasted until 1933, when Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss established an autocratic regime. In 1938, Austrian Nazis took over the government, and the country was annexed by Nazi Germany.
After World War II, Austria was occupied by the Allies and its democratic constitution was restored. In 1955, the Austrian State Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state, and the country declared its permanent neutrality. Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and adopted the European currency, the euro, in 1999.
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Austria's government
Austria has existed in various forms over the centuries, from the Celtic kingdom of Noricum, conquered by the Romans in 15 BC, to the modern-day federal republic.
In the late 1st century BC, the lands south of the Danube became part of the Roman Empire. In the 4th and 5th centuries, the region was Christianised, and in the Migration Period of the 6th century, the Bavarii, a Germanic people, occupied these lands. In 788 AD, the Frankish king Charlemagne conquered the area and encouraged colonisation. As part of Eastern Francia, the core areas that now make up Austria were bequeathed to the House of Babenberg.
In 1156, Austria became a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, and in 1453 it was made an archduchy. From the late 13th century, Austria was the heartland of the Habsburg monarchy, and from the 16th century, Vienna served as the Holy Roman Empire's administrative capital. In 1804, two years before the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, Austria established its own empire, becoming a great power.
In 1867, Austria formed a dual monarchy with Hungary, known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire or Austria-Hungary. This was a multinational constitutional monarchy consisting of two sovereign states with a single monarch, who was both Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary. The two countries conducted unified diplomatic and defence policies, with "common" ministries of foreign affairs, defence, and finance.
In 1918, following World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed. The Kingdom of Hungary and the First Austrian Republic were its successors de jure, and Austria was reduced to its current frontiers, adopting the name the Republic of German-Austria. However, union with Germany was forbidden by the Allies at the Treaty of Versailles. This led to the creation of the First Austrian Republic (1919-1933).
In 1938, Austrian Nazis took over the government, and Austrian-born Adolf Hitler announced the "reunification" of Austria with the "German Reich". Parliamentary elections were held in Germany, including recently annexed Austria, in April 1938, confirming the union. This lasted until the end of World War II in 1945, after which Austria was occupied by the Allies and its former democratic constitution was restored.
In 1955, the Austrian State Treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state, and the Austrian Parliament created the Declaration of Neutrality, declaring the country permanently neutral. Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and adopted the European currency, the euro, in 1999.
Today, Austria is a parliamentary representative democracy and a federal republic, comprised of nine independent federal states, also referred to as provinces: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Vienna.
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Austria's culture
Austria has a rich and diverse culture, with a long history as a bridge-builder and a meeting place for cultural exchange at the heart of Europe.
History
Austria has a long and complex history, dating back to at least the Paleolithic period. Around 800 BC, it was occupied by the Hallstatt Celtic culture and was referred to by the Romans as Noricum. The area was annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC and became part of the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the region was invaded by various Germanic tribes and later became part of the Frankish Empire in the 9th century.
Religion
According to a population census in 2001, the majority of Austrians (around three-quarters) identify as Roman Catholic.
Art and Music
Austria is known for its artistic and musical heritage. Vienna, in particular, has been a cultural centre since the early 16th century and is considered the European capital of classical music. Composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn are associated with the city. The country also has a strong folk music tradition, influenced by Czech and Hungarian folk forms during the Baroque period.
Austria is also famous for its architecture, including castles, palaces, and historic buildings. Many of these structures were built during the Habsburg reign, such as the Belvedere and Schönbrunn palaces.
Literature
Austrian literature can be broadly divided into two periods: the period up until the mid-20th century and the period after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian and German empires. During the latter period, Austria's literature began to reflect its transition from a major European power to a small country. Interestingly, there is also a body of literature considered Austrian that is not written in German.
Film and Media
Austria has also made significant contributions to the world of film and media. During the silent movie era, Austria was one of the leading producers of films, and many Austrian filmmakers went on to work in Berlin. The famous director Fritz Lang, known for "Metropolis", is one such example. Additionally, the musical "The Sound of Music" and its film adaptation have played a role in shaping how the world, particularly English-speaking countries, views Austrian music and culture.
Lifestyle and Values
Austrians are known for their characteristic way of enjoying life ("Gemutlichkeit"), strong coffee, healthy lifestyles, and a love for sports and the outdoors. They value punctuality, orderliness, and thoroughness, while also appreciating a social, warm-hearted, and lively atmosphere. Austrians tend to be direct and honest in their communication and value eye contact during conversations as a sign of respect. They take pride in their appearance and enjoy rich food and drinks. Mealtimes are considered a family affair, providing an opportunity for family members to connect and share their experiences.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is a parliamentary representative democracy with a high standard of living and a population of approximately 8.95 million people.
The Austria-Hungary Empire, also known as the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed by a constitutional compromise between Emperor Franz Joseph and Hungary, which was then part of the empire. The empire collapsed in 1918 at the end of World War I.
The Anschluss, literally meaning 'joining' or 'connection', refers to the occupation and annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938. Austrian-born Adolf Hitler announced the "reunification" of his home country with the "rest of the German Reich" and established a referendum which confirmed the union.
