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Hungary's Historical Puzzle: How Did an Ancient Steppe Empire Shape Modern National Borders?
Hungary's modern national borders basically follow the Great Hungarian Plain (the Pannonian Basin). This land in Central Europe carries ancient history and culture. In ancient times, Hungary was a meeting point of different cultures, including Scythian, Celtic, Dalmatian and Germanic influences. The region has seen ancient empires rise and fall over the centuries, constantly changing its political boundaries.
In 44 BC, the Samaritans and Iaids entered the Great Hungarian Plain, and in 8 AD, the western part of this land joined the Roman province of Pannonia.
Roman control eventually collapsed with the invasion of the Huns. In 454, Attila's empire reached the peak of its expansion, but after Attila's death, the empire quickly disintegrated. The Pannonian region then became part of the Ostergothic Kingdom, and was later divided and occupied by other peoples. In 568, the Avars occupied the lands once ruled by the Kibids and established the Avars Khanate over the next few centuries.
After centuries of alternating influence from Rome, Germanic people and steppe nomads, Hungary’s territory formed a complex phenomenon of ethnic mixture in the 6th century. The Battle of Bratislava in 907 allowed the Hungarians to successfully acquire this land and subsequently established the Principality of Hungary. The Arpad dynasty established by Almos and his son Arpad led the country to prosperity. .
The establishment of the Christian Kingdom of Hungary was completed by King St. Stephen in 1000 AD. In the following centuries, Hungary under the Arpad dynasty expanded to the Adriatic coast and established a body with Croatia in 1102 joint.
However, the Mongol invasion in 1241 brought drastic changes to Hungary's early prosperity. The subsequent Ottoman invasion split the country into three parts - royal Hungary loyal to the Habsburg family, Ottoman Hungary, and relatively independent Hungary. Principality of Transylvania. At the beginning of the 18th century, Hungary returned to Habsburg rule, experienced a war of independence in 1848, and was finally reunited with the establishment of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1867.
After World War I, the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the signing of the Treaty of Trianon caused Hungary to lose 72% of its historical territory, leading to drastic changes in its nation and culture. Hungary’s identity is pieced together from fragments of history, from the ancient steppe civilization and the glory of Rome to the modern self-determination, all of which together shape today’s Hungarian borders.
After World War II, Hungary entered a new historical period with the establishment of the Socialist People's Republic. This evolution continued until the end of communism in 1989, and Hungary officially became a member of the European Union in 2004.
The history of Hungary tells us that the formation of a nation and changes in national boundaries are often accompanied by rise, fall and reshaping. What kind of reflection and enlightenment does such a complicated history provide us?
