Slovakia

Here is an overview of the key periods in the history of Slovakia:

Prehistory: The territory that is now Slovakia has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era. The Neolithic Linear Pottery Culture was prevalent in the region around 5000 BC, and several Bronze Age cultures, including the Lusatian culture, emerged in the area.

Great Moravia: In the 9th century, the kingdom of Great Moravia was established in what is now Slovakia and parts of the Czech Republic and Hungary. Great Moravia was a powerful state, and during its peak, it controlled much of Central Europe. The Cyrillic script was invented in Great Moravia, and the kingdom played a significant role in the spread of Christianity in the region.

Kingdom of Hungary: In the 11th century, the Kingdom of Hungary was established, and Slovakia became part of it. Over the next several centuries, Slovakia was ruled by Hungarian kings and nobles, and many of its cities and towns flourished under Hungarian rule.

Habsburg Empire: In the 16th century, Slovakia came under the control of the Habsburg Empire, which ruled much of Central Europe. Slovakia was part of the Kingdom of Hungary within the Habsburg Empire, and its people were subject to the policies of the empire, including the imposition of German as the official language.

Czechoslovakia: After World War I, Czechoslovakia was established as an independent state, with Slovakia as one of its regions. In 1938, Slovakia gained limited autonomy, but in 1939, it became a puppet state of Nazi Germany. After World War II, Czechoslovakia was re-established, and Slovakia became a republic within it.

Nazi occupation and Soviet influence: Slovakia was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II, after the country had declared its independence from Czechoslovakia in 1939. The leader of the newly established Slovak state, Jozef Tiso, was a Catholic priest who collaborated with the Nazis and implemented anti-Jewish laws and policies that led to the deportation and murder of tens of thousands of Slovak Jews. The Slovak state also sent its own troops to fight alongside the Germans on the Eastern front. After the war, Czechoslovakia was re-established, and Slovakia became a republic within it. The country became a communist state under Soviet influence in 1948, following a coup d’état in which the communists seized power. The Slovak communist party was initially subordinate to the Czech communist party, but in 1969, Czechoslovakia was transformed into a federal state, with Slovakia and the Czech lands as separate republics within it. Under communist rule, Slovakia experienced political repression, economic stagnation, and a decline in human rights. The Soviet Union had significant influence over the country, and the Slovak communist party followed the Soviet model of government, including a planned economy and a centralized political system. The Soviet Union’s influence over Slovakia began to decline in the late 1980s, as the country experienced growing social and political tensions. In 1989, a peaceful revolution led to the downfall of the communist government.

Velvet Divorce: In 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two separate countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Since then, Slovakia has undergone significant economic and political transformation, becoming a member of the European Union in 2004.

Today, Slovakia is a democratic country with a rich cultural heritage, including medieval castles, Gothic churches, and traditional folk music and dance.