Eastern Europe

What countries are part of Eastern Europe?

Countries of Eastern Europe Poland Czech Republic Slovakia Hungary Romania Slovenia Croatia Bosnia Yugoslavia Bulgaria Albania Macedonia

Cultural Crossroads Because this region is an important crossroads between Asia and Europe, many world powers have controlled it. Over the years, this area has been controlled by the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Austrian Empire.

Slavs The ethnic term for many of the people of Eastern Europe is the Slavs. They are called this because of the hundreds of years they were enslaved by various empires. They eventually just became known as Slavs, which means Slaves. When you hear the term Slavs, or Slavic countries, you know the history of these people is one of slavery.

Balkanization Responding to centuries of foreign rule, most ethnic groups in Eastern Europe fiercely guarded their identities. Many wanted their own nation-states, even though they had never had self-rule. Balkanization – process of a region breaking up into small, mutually hostile units.

Soviet Union (Russia) –During World War I &II, Germany invaded Russia, killing millions of Russians. –After the war, the Soviet Union decided to protect itself by setting up a buffer zone and set up Communist governments in Eastern Europe. –Eastern Europe became a region of satellite nations – nations dominated by another country. –For decades, the Soviet Union crushed political reform and free trade in Eastern Europe.

Recent Changes The Soviet Union controlled Eastern Europe for 40 years. When Mikhail Gorbachev became the new leader of the Soviet Union, he made many reforms. One reform was to give Eastern Europe more freedom. In 1989, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania ended Communist control of their governments. In 1990, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia followed suit. Mikhail Gorbachev

Civil War Instability followed. The old governments taught people to only be loyal to the Communist government. Afterwards, people returned to their ethnic loyalties. This was especially true in Yugoslavia, a nation consisting of six republics. These republics trying to break into independent nations caused civil war. Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Developing the Economy Under communism, the government owned all factories. This system was inefficient because industries had little desire to please customers or cut costs. Often there were shortages of goods. Eastern European nations only traded with each other and therefore didn’t keep up with the developing technology.

Market Economy After 1989, most of Eastern Europe moved towards a market economy, in which industries make the goods consumers want to buy. Factories became privately owned but had old equipment and shortage of educated workers. The changes caused problems – inflation, closing of factories and unemployment. Since then several countries, such as Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, have developed healthy economies. In general, it will take years for Eastern Europe to overcome the damage caused by decades of Communist control.

Sites of Eastern Europe

Poland –Marienburg castle Notice how different castles look in different parts of Europe?

Castles of Europe

Warsaw, Poland Today

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising On April 19, 1943, the Warsaw ghetto uprising began after German troops and police entered the ghetto to deport its surviving inhabitants. Seven hundred and fifty fighters fought the heavily armed and well-trained Germans. The ghetto fighters were able to hold out for nearly a month, but on May 16, 1943, the revolt ended. The Germans had slowly crushed the resistance. Of the more than 56,000 Jews captured, about 7,000 were shot, and the remainder were deported to concentration camps.

Prague, Czech Republic This is supposed to be one of the most beautiful cities of Europe- not destroyed by WWII

Bosnia - USA helped when they were having ethnic fighting.

Bosnia- Mostly Muslim

Bulgaria

Romania- Transylvania is here

Budapest, Hungary House of Parliament

Albania - “Hermits of E. Europe” A very poor country Mother Theresa was a famous Albanian