Slovakia

__Slovak__ __ia__   O fficial Name: Slovak Republic Population: 5,400,000 Area: 18,800 square miles Capital: Bratislava   Official Languages: Slovak, Hungarian Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant

The emblem in the middle of the flag is cross Lorraine on three hills inside a shield, the cross of Lorraine is a latin cross with a second, longer, horizontal bar. The three hills on the emblem represent the three ranges of the Carpathian basin; Small Tatras, High Tatras and Small Fatras. The cross was added when the St. Cyril and Methodius started campaigning Christianity to the people of Danube. It represents the spiritual and geographic history of Slovakia. Around the emblem are 3 equal horizontal lines of white, blue, and red.

The capitol of Slovakia is Bratislava. Bratislava is also the largest city with around 450,000 people living there. Some ot`er major towns and cities are Nitra, which is known for once being the seat of the rulers for the Great Moravian empire and for the Nitra castle. Kosice is another one being the second largest city with about 242,000 residents, also known for its historical building, the Cathedral of St. Elisabeth. Some other ones include Banska Bystrica, Kremnica, Banska Stiavnica, Bardejov, Levoca, and Kezmarok. Slovakia only covers 18,932 square miles of land, which is about the size of West Virginia. It borders Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Snowcapped mountains, winding rivers, and fertile plains are common features in Slovakias landscape. Part of the Carpathian mountains, mountains that stretch throughout central Europe, lie in Slovakia. Slovakia is very vulnerable to attack because of its location, since it is in the middle of Europe, many trading routes pass through it, and because it is in between Germany and Russia, if a fight broke out it would happen in Slovakia like it has many times before. It does provide a tourist economy because it is a beautiful country containing many high mountains, low valleys, castles, churches, and amazing scenery. Since the country is so small and doesn't have many people it made them very nationalistic. Slovakia had been taken over by all their neighbors and so many other countries it has picked up some traditions from them and ways of life throughout the years. Pronunciations: Hello: Ahoj (uh-hoy) Good: dobrý (dobe-ray) Thank You: ďakujem (d-yok-oo-em) Yes: áno (an-o) No: nie (ne-ea)

The population of Slovakia is 5,400,000. The official languages are Slovak and Hungarian. The major religions are Roman Catholic and Protestant. The type of government they have is a democracy.

The culture, religion, values, etc. are very much enforced throughout the nation. It is because it shows that throughout all the years with many different rulers and countrys taking over them they still kept it all alive and going so that the people and the heart of slovakia were still kept going for all generations. Other nations characterize the country because they have about all taken over Slovakia at one point in time, so I'm thinking that they might have picked up a few things from different cultures throughout the years. Their culture isn't really tied with other nations because they stayed true to their own culture throughout time. It is a homogeneous country because the are all pretty much white Europeans, there ar ealso gypsies but they make up 1 or less precent os the population.

__History Timeline:__ CA. 23,000 B.C- a stone age artist in Slovakia carves a sculpture of a women out of a mamoths tusk, now called the Moravian Venus. CA. 500 B.C- Celts spread from the west into Slovakia, creates the areas first metal coins. A.D. 172- Roman emporer Marcus Aurelius leads his troops against a Germanic tribe in Slovakia and won. CA. 500- Slavs arrive in Slovakia, are ancestors of modern Slovaks, Czechs, Poles, and others. 833- Slavic prince Mojmir founds the Great Moravian Empire. 906- the Magyars defeat the Great Moravian Empire and establish the Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian landowners hold most power while Slovaks serve as serfs. 1526- Ottoman Turks conquer the Hungarian capital, Buda, and kill the Hungarian King, the Austrian king, Ferdinand, part of the Habsburg dynasty, becomes king of the Hungarian land. 1740- Empress Maria Theresa inherits the throne of the Habsburg Empire and improves the lives of Slovaks. 1848- Slovak nationalists hold a Slavic congress in Prauge to demand self rule. 1867- Austria-Hungary empire forms, makes Hungarian the official language in Slovakia. 1918- Czechoslovakia is established. 1939- declares independence from Czechoslovakia but begins to take orders from Germany. 1948- communists take over the reunited Czechoslovakia. 1968- Soviet invasion of Prauge ends the period of Prauge Spring. 1989- the Velvet Revolution leads to the peaceful downfall of communist rule in Czechoslovakia, other Eastern bloc nations follow. 1993- on Janurary first Slovakia becomes a free independent country. 2004- Slovakia oficially joins the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Orginization (NATO)

The history of the country informs the decisions it makes in current times because they know what it is like to be under communism rule and disagree with it and thats why they have a democracy. They have learned from their history that they are too small to stand up to any other country and that if any country wanted to try to take them over they would probably have success in conquering them. From this they decide to join the side with the most likely probability to win whenever a war is breaking out so they can maintain their country. They are a few conflicts that consist over generations such the ones with communism happening, being under German control and wanting to be their own country separating from Czechoslovakia. The history of the country is important because it shows all that they have been through and they still managed to keep Slovakia's pride, language and culture alive till this day.

Slovakia's currency is the Euro. The exchange rate is 1.00 euro is equal to $1.38.

Tourist attractions:
 * ** Spiš Castle – The largest castle complex in Europe **
 * == St. Apostle Altar in Church of St. Jacob – The largest wooden altar in the world ==
 * == Janko Kráľ Orchard – One of the oldest public parks in Europe ==
 * == Ochtinská Aragonite Cave – The only aragonite cave in Europe ==
 * == Dobšinská Ice Cave – One of the biggest ice caves in Europe ==
 * **Bratislava Castle**
 * **Grassalkovich Palace**
 * **Michalska brana (St. Michael's Gate)**

Slovakia doesnt have a very good economy, it affects other countrys because ot has to depend on them for supplies and basic needs. Slovakia's economy is declining. Slovakia mostly imports from the other countries around it, it affects desicions because leaders feel that Slovakia has a very small voice in things and they cant really stand up to anyone, especially those who they import from.