The largest country on the Balkan Peninsula of Eastern Europe is Romania. Its name reflects its ancient history as part of the Roman Empire. In the 20th century, decades of Communist rule left Romania one of the poorest countries in Eastern Europe. The capital is Bucharest. GeographyRomania covers an area of 91,699 square miles (237,500 square kilometers) on the Balkan Peninsula. Its neighbors are Bulgaria to the south, Serbia and Montenegro and Hungary to the west, Ukraine to the north and southeast, and Moldova to the east. Southeastern Romania also has a coastline on the Black Sea. The dominant geographical feature of Romania is the Carpathian Mountains. They enter northern Romania from Ukraine and curve southeastward and then westward across the central part of the country. The highest peaks are in the southern Carpathians, which are also known as the Transylvanian Alps. They reach elevations of more than 8,000 feet (2,400 meters). In the west is a smaller part of the Carpathians made up of clusters of mountains with gaps between them. The region in the center of Romania that is surrounded by the Carpathians is called the Transylvanian Basin, or just Transylvania. The southern and eastern parts of the country consist of fertile plains. These plains are drained by the Danube, the longest river in Romania. The Danube forms Romania's southern boundary with Bulgaria and flows to the Black Sea. Romania has hot summers and cold winters. Winters in the mountains are especially severe. Rainfall and snowfall amounts are highest in the mountains. Plants and animalsForests cover about a quarter of Romania's land area. Many of the forests are in the Carpathians. Oak trees grow on the low mountain slopes. Beech, fir, and spruce are found at higher elevations. The plains are covered with grass and scattered trees. Romania's wildilfe includes such rare animals as the goatlike chamois, which lives high in the mountains. The animals of the forest include the brown bear, red deer, wolf, fox, wild pig, and lynx. Eagles, vultures, and hawks are among the country's birds. People and cultureMost of the people of Romania are ethnic Romanians. Their language, also called Romanian, reflects the impact of ancient Roman culture on the country. It has its roots in Latin, the language of the Roman Empire. Hungarians are the largest ethnic minority in Romania. Smaller groups include Roma (Gypsies), Germans, and Ukrainians. Romanian is the official language, but Hungarian and German are also spoken. Most Romanians are Christians who belong to the Romanian Orthodox church. The Hungarians and Germans in Romania are mostly Roman Catholic or Protestant. More than half of the population lives in cities or towns. The capital, Bucharest, is the largest city. It lies on the country's southern plain. Other large cities include Ia?i, Constan?a, Timio?ara, Cluj-Napoca, and Gala?i. EconomyThe Communists who led Romania from 1948 to 1989 transformed the country's mostly agricultural economy into a largely industrial one. Machine building and metal processing are leading industries. Romania's main manufactured products include steel, aluminum, chemicals, motor vehicles, and cement. A large textile industry produces clothing for export. The country's forests are a source of wood for producing furniture, paper, and other goods. Despite the importance of industry in Romania, more than one third of the people still live by farming. The climate of the Romanian plains is especially favorable for growing cereal crops such as wheat and corn (maize). Vegetables grown in Romania include potatoes, sugar beets, cabbages, peas, and beans. Romania is known for its orchards and vineyards, and high-quality wines are produced and exported. The main livestock are sheep and pigs. Romania's rivers, lakes, and Black Sea coastal region support a well-developed fishing industry. HistoryThe first people to settle in what is now Romania were the Thracians. Their descendants, known as the Getae, mixed with the Dacians, a related people living nearby. By the 4th century BC the Geto-Dacians had established a distinct society. The region came to be known as Dacia. Soon the Romans began to believe that the Geto-Dacian state was a threat to their empire. After two invasions, the Romans conquered Dacia in AD 106. The Romans abandoned the region in the late 3rd century because of constant raids by a people known as the Goths. A series of invasions by other groups followed over the next eight centuries. In the 11th century the Hungarians made Transylvania part of their kingdom. Formation and expansion of RomaniaThe first Romanian state, Walachia, was established south of the Carpathian Mountains in the early 14th century. In 1349 a second Romanian state, Moldavia, was founded east of the Carpathians. In the 14th and 15th centuries both Walachia and Moldavia came under Turkish rule as part of the Ottoman Empire. The states remained under Turkish control for nearly four centuries. Russia became the more powerful force in the region, however, after defeating the Turks in a war in 1828–29. In the mid-19th century Romanians began to demand independence. They revolted against Russian and Ottoman rule, but their efforts were unsuccessful. A turning point came when Russia was defeated in the Crimean War (1853–56). The war ended Russia's control over Walachia and Moldavia. In 1859 the states elected a single prince to rule them, creating the united state of Romania with its capital at Bucharest. Romania's independence became official in 1878. Transylvania remained under Hungarian control, however. Romania entered World War I in 1916 on the side of the Allies—Britain, France, and Russia. The Allied defeat of Austria-Hungary allowed Romania to occupy Transylvania in 1918. The addition of Transylvania and other territories to Romania after the war doubled the country's size. Communist ruleRomania was weakened in the 1930s by economic problems and political unrest. In 1940, during World War II, Hungary, the Soviet Union, and Bulgaria seized parts of the country. The next year Romania entered into an alliance with Nazi Germany and joined in the German invasion of the Soviet Union. By 1944, however, Soviet troops had overrun Romania. A Communist government supported by the Soviets came to power in 1948. The Romanian Communists modeled their country's economy after that of the Soviet Union. This meant that the government kept strict control over industry and agriculture. During the 1960s, however, the Romanian government became increasingly independent of the Soviet Union in its relations with other countries. Romania developed ties to the United States and the countries of Western Europe, which caused tension with the Soviet Union. The Romanian people supported the government's independent foreign policy. Within Romania, however, Communist rule became increasingly harsh during the 1970s and 1980s under leader Nicolae Ceau?escu. All criticism of the Communist leadership was fiercely punished. The resources of the country were wasted on unproductive industries. The people grew poorer. In 1989 Communist governments began to collapse in neighboring countries, but Ceau?escu vowed never to give up power. In December of that year Romanians protested against the government in several cities. The protests quickly gained the support of the military. Ceau?escu was arrested, tried, and executed. Post-Communist RomaniaFree elections were held in Romania in 1990. The new leaders began the difficult process of reducing the government's role in the economy. Romania's progress was slower than that of other formerly Communist countries of Eastern Europe. Many Romanians continue to live in poverty. Population (2001 estimate), 22,413,000. |