Omari Gates
The history of Austria stretches back to the Stone Age, when the area was inhabited by Celts. The name Austria has been in use since 996 AD, when the region was called Ostarrîchi, a margravate of the Duchy of Bavaria. In 976, Leopold von Babenberg became the margrave of the Ostmark, marking the beginning of the Duchy of Austria as one of the extensive feudal possessions of the Babenberg family. The area south of the Danube became part of the Roman Empire in the late 1st century BC, and the entire region was dominated by the Romans by 15 BC.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Beginning | 996 AD |
| First Known as | Ostarrîchi |
| Current German Name | Österreich |
| Type of Government | Republic |
| Current Political System Based On | Constitution of 1920 and 1929 |
| Year of Current Political System | 1945 |
| Current Population | 9 million |
| Area | 83,879 sq km |
| Capital | Vienna |
| Other Major Cities | Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Klagenfurt |
| Foreign-Born Residents | 1.8 million |
| Percentage of Foreign-Born Residents | 22.3% |
| Largest Ethnic Group | Turks |
| Number of Turkish Residents | 350,000 |
| Other Major Ethnic Groups | Romanians, Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Macedonians, Slovenes, Romani |
| Percentage of Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Macedonian, and Slovene Residents | 5.1% |
| Number of Romani Residents | 25,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's beginnings: from the Stone Age to the Celts
The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period. The oldest traces of human habitation in Austria, dating back more than 250,000 years, were found in the Repolust Cave at Badl, near Peggau in the Graz-Umgebung district of Styria. These early inhabitants left behind stone tools, bone tools, and pottery fragments. Upper Paleolithic remains are particularly common in Lower Austria, especially in the Wachau region. Here, two of the oldest pieces of art in Austria were discovered: the Venus of Galgenberg, a figurative representation of a woman estimated to be 32,000 years old, and the nearby Venus of Willendorf, a 26,000-year-old figurine.
During the Neolithic era, Austria's agrarian and raw material-rich areas were settled. The Linear pottery culture, one of the first agrarian cultures in Europe, left remains in Lower Austria, including at Brunn am Gebirge in Mödling. The Lengyel culture, which followed, saw the construction of circular ditches. Traces of the Copper Age in Austria were also identified in the Carpathian Basin hoard at Stollhof, Hohe Wand, Lower Austria.
By the beginning of the Bronze Age, fortifications were being built to protect commercial centres of mining, processing, and trading of copper and tin. A flourishing culture is reflected in the grave artifacts at Pitten, in Nußdorf ob der Traisen, Lower Austria. In the late Bronze Age, the Urnfield culture emerged, and salt mining commenced in the northern salt mines at Hallstatt.
In the Iron Age, Austria was occupied by the people of the Hallstatt Celtic culture, also known as the Hallstatt culture, which succeeded the Urnfield culture. This culture, which flourished from around 800 BC to 400 BC, was first described by Johann Georg Ramsauer, who, in 1846, unearthed an ancient grave field in Hallstatt, Austria. The Hallstatt people organised themselves into a kingdom known to the Romans as Noricum.
The Celts were a large group of Caucasian tribes in Europe who spoke Celtic languages and shared cultural similarities. They were skilled in blacksmithing, farming, and diplomacy, and they lived by ethical and honour codes. The Celts were also fearsome warriors, wearing war paint and unique armour, and carrying strong swords and protective shields.
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Roman rule: the Roman Empire's influence in the region
The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period. Around 800 BC, it was occupied by the Hallstatt Celtic culture, which organised as a kingdom referred to by the Romans as Noricum. In the late 1st century BC, the lands south of the Danube became part of the Roman Empire. The Danube Limes, a crucial border for the Roman Empire, saw the establishment of numerous settlements along its length, including Vindobona, now modern-day Vienna.
The Roman influence in the region is evident from the discovery of a Roman mass grave from the end of the 1st century AD in the Simmering district of Vienna. The grave is believed to be linked to the Danube campaigns of Emperor Domitian, which took place between 86 and 96 AD. The skeletal remains in the mass grave showed signs of various battle wounds, indicating a catastrophic event in a military context. The discovery also provides early signs of the founding of a settlement that later became the Austrian capital.
During the Roman period, the region of Austria was inhabited by several Celtic and Germanic tribes. The Roman Empire's influence in the area led to the Christianisation of the region in the 4th and 5th centuries. However, in the Migration Period of the 6th century, the Bavarii, a Germanic people, occupied these lands until they fell to the Frankish Empire in the 9th century.
The name "Ostarrîchi", which would later become "Austria", has been in use since 996 AD. In 976, the region was established as a Bavarian Eastern March of the Holy Roman Empire, under the rule of Leopold, count of Babenberg. Thus, the Roman influence in the region laid the foundation for the subsequent development of Austria as a distinct political entity and contributed to the rich historical and cultural heritage of the country.
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Medieval Austria: Charlemagne, Christianity, and the Babenbergs
The area of present-day Austria has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period. Around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts and was later annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. The process of Christianization in the region began in the 4th and 5th centuries during the late Roman period, followed by the arrival of several Germanic tribes during the Migration Period.
During the Middle Ages, the Frankish kingdom, ruled by Charlemagne, encompassed a large part of Western Europe, including present-day Austria. Charlemagne's influence on the Middle Ages and the vast territory he ruled led to him being referred to as the "Father of Europe" by historians. He promoted education and intellectual pursuits, including the study of liberal arts and the establishment of publicly funded schools. Charlemagne also encouraged the production of literature, with Carolingian authors creating extensive works such as legal treatises, histories, poetry, and religious texts. The Carolingian minuscule script, developed during this time, influenced Renaissance and modern typefaces.
After Charlemagne, the Frankish kingdom was divided and eventually became West and East Francia, which later evolved into modern-day France and Germany, respectively. The specific boundaries and political entities within these territories continued to evolve over the centuries.
During the Middle Ages, the Babenberg family ruled over the area known as the Margraviate of Austria, which was a part of the Duchy of Bavaria within the Holy Roman Empire. The Babenbergs, also known as the House of Babenberg, were a powerful and influential family that played a significant role in the development of Austria during this period. They were instrumental in consolidating power and establishing the foundations of what would become the country of Austria. The specific dates of their rule and the exact boundaries of their territory varied over time, but their impact on the region was significant.
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The Austrian Empire: the Habsburgs and the Ottoman Wars
The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period. Around 800 BC, it was occupied by the Hallstatt Celtic culture, and by 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts. The land was 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. The name "Austria" has been in use since 996 AD when it was a margravate of the Duchy of Bavaria.
In 976, Austria was established as a Bavarian Eastern March, under Leopold, count of Babenberg. The Austrian Empire was dominated by the House of Habsburg from 1273 to 1918. The Ottoman-Habsburg wars were fought from the 16th to the 18th centuries between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg monarchy, which was supported by the Kingdom of Hungary, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Holy Roman Empire, and Habsburg Spain.
The Ottoman Empire posed a serious threat to European powers in the 16th century, with Ottoman ships sweeping away Venetian possessions in the Aegean and Ionian seas. The Ottoman conquests in Europe made significant gains, with a decisive victory at Mohács, reducing around one-third of central Hungary to the status of an Ottoman tributary. In 1526, following the Battle of Mohács, Bohemia and the part of Hungary not occupied by the Ottomans came under Austrian rule. Ottoman expansion into Hungary led to frequent conflicts between the two empires, particularly evident in the Long War of 1593-1606.
The Habsburgs and the Ottomans engaged in a series of military campaigns against one another in Hungary between 1526 and 1568. While the Ottomans had the upper hand, the war failed to produce any decisive result. The Habsburgs built up military communities that protected their borders and produced a steady flow of well-trained, motivated soldiers. The Ottoman-Habsburg wars ended after Austria's participation in the war of 1787-1791, which Austria fought alongside Russia. Intermittent tension between Austria and the Ottoman Empire continued throughout the nineteenth century, but they never fought each other in a war again.
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Modern Austria: World Wars, independence, and the EU
The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since 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.
At the end of World War I, the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire broke up, and the Habsburg monarchy was abolished. On November 13, 1918, an Austrian Republic was proclaimed. However, during World War II, Austria was incorporated into Nazi Germany following the Anschluss of 1938. Many Austrians actively participated in the Nazi regime, with 950,000 Austrians fighting for the Nazi German armed forces. After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union favoured the re-establishment of a free and independent Austria. On May 15, 1945, the Austrian State Treaty was signed in Vienna, officially ending the occupation and declaring Austria a free, independent, and neutral state.
Austria has been a member of the European Union since 1995. It ranks fifth in the EU in terms of GDP per capita, with €46,200, contributing 2.8% of the EU's total GDP. Austria has representatives in various EU institutions, including the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the European Committee of the Regions. EU funding helps support programmes and projects in Austria, such as infrastructure development, research funding, and environmental protection.
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Frequently asked questions
The area now known as Austria has been inhabited since at least the Paleolithic period.
The Celts first arrived in Austria around 400 BC.
The Romans arrived in Austria in 15 BC, and by 15 BC they dominated the entire area.
The name Ostarrîchi (Austria) has been in use since 996 AD.
Austria became an independent country in 1955, as the Second Austrian Republic.
