short history

Romania's history has not been as idyllically peaceful as its geography. Over the centuries, various migrating people invaded Romania. Romania's historical provinces Wallachia and Moldova offered furious resistance to the invading Ottoman Turks. Transylvania was successively under Hapsburg, Ottoman or Wallachian rule, while remaining an autonomous province. Romania's post WWII history as a communist-block nation is more widely known, primarily due to the excesses of the former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. In December 1989 a national uprising led to his overthrow. The 1991 Constitution established Romania as a republic with a multiparty system, market economy and individual rights of free speech, religion and private ownership.
Some of the history that has shaped Romania

What is now Romania has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Age as evidenced by carved stone tools unearthed there.10,000 B.C. — approximate date of the first known art in present day Romania: cave paintings in northwest Transylvania.4,000 B.C. — approximate date of pottery (dated to the Neolithic Age) that is found in all regions of Romania.3,000 B.C. — Thracian tribes of Indo-European origin, who migrated from Asia, occupied the actual territory of Romania.2,000 B.C. — a distinctive Thracian sub-group emerged in what is now Romania. The Greeks called these people Getae, but to the Romans they were Dacians. Herodotus called them "the fairest and most courageous of men" because they believed in the immortality of the soul and were not afraid to die.700 B.C. — Greeks arrived and settled near the Black Sea. The cities of Histria, Tomis (now Constanta) and Callatis (now Mangalia) were established. Western-style civilization developed significantly.70-44 B.C. — Dacian king Burebista controlled the territory of modern-day Romania. Burebista created a powerful Dacian kingdom.100 A.D. — Dacian civilization reaches its peak.101-106 A.D. — Romans conquer and colonize Dacia (today's Romania). Dacia becomes a Roman province and Dacians adopt the conquerors' language.106-274 A.D. — Dacia is a province of the Roman Empire.271 A.D. — after fighting off the barbarian Goths, Roman troops abandon Dacia.4th Century — Christianity is adopted by the Daco-Roman, Latin-speaking people.4th-10th Centuries — nomadic tribes from Asia and Europe (Goths, Visigoths, Huns, Slavs, Magyars) invade Dacia.11th Century — Romanians were the only Latin people in the eastern part of the former Roman Empire and the only Latin people to belong to the Orthodox faith.Hungarian (Magyar) forces invade northeastern and central Romania (Transylvania).12th Century — Saxon (German) settlers begin to establish several towns in Transylvania. (Germans were invited to settle in Transylvania the the king of Hungary who wanted to consolidate his position in the newly occupied territory).13th Century — The first formal division of the formerly unified Romanian population. The principalities of Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania are established. Transylvania becomes an autonomous principality under Magyar rule, until 1526. Magyar forces tried unsuccessfully to capture Wallachia and Moldavia.14th-15th Centuries — Wallachia and Moldavia offered strong resistance to the Ottoman Empire expansion.16th Century — Threatened by the Turks who conquered Hungary, the three Romanian provinces of Wallachia, Moldova and Transylvania are able to retain their autonomy by paying tribute to the Turks.17th Century — Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania are briefly united under Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Brave), prince of Wallachia. Unity lasted only one year after which, Michael the Brave was defeated by the Turks and Hapsburg forces. Transylvania came under Hapsburg rule while Turkish suzerainty continued in Wallachia and Moldavia.18th Century — Transylvania and the northern part of Moldavia (called Bucovina) are incorporated in the Hapsburg Empire.1821 — Moldavia looses its eastern territory, Bessarabia, to Russia.1848 — Transylvania falls under the direct rule of Hungary and a strong push for Magyarisation (of names and official language), from Budapest, follows. 1859 — Alexandru Ioan Cuza is elected to the thrones of Moldavia and Wallachia.1862 — Wallachia and Moldavia unite to form a national state: Romania.1866 — Carol I (German born) succeeds Alexandru Ioan Cuza, as prince of Romania.1881 — Romania becomes a Kingdom.1914 — King Carol I dies. He is succeeded by his nephew King Ferdinand I (1914-1927). Romania enters WWI on the side of the Triple Entente aiming to regain its lost territories (part of Transylvania, Bessarabia and Bukovina).1918 — During large public assemblies representatives of most towns, villages and local communities in Transylvania, Bessarabia and Bucovina declare union with Romania.1930 — Carol II, Ferdinand's I son becomes king of Romania.1939 — Germany demands a monopoly on Romanian exports (mainly oil, lumber and agricultural products) in exchange for the guarantee of its borders.1940 — The Soviet Union annexes Bessarabia and Northern Bucovina. Germany and Italy force Romania to cede Northern Transylvania to Hungary and Southern Dobrogea to Bulgaria. Widespread demonstrations against King Carol II. Marshall Ion Antonescu forces him to abdicate in favor of his 19-year-old son Michael. Carol II flees Romania.1941 — Marshall Ion Antonescu imposes a military dictatorship. In order to regain Bessarabia, Romania joins Germany against the Soviet Union.1944 — King Michael engineers a royal coup and arrests Marshall Ion Antonescu. Romania changes sides and joins Soviet forces against Fascist Germany.1945 — The Yalta Agreement makes Romania part of the Soviet system.1947 — With Soviet troops on its territory, Romania enters the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union. The communists, who gradually took power, force King Michael to abdicate and proclaim Romania a People's Republic.1950s — After Stalin's death, Romania begins to distance itself from Moscow.1968 — The condemnation of Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia by Romania's communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu, earns him praise and economic aid from the West.1980s — Obsessed with repaying the national debt and megalomaniac building projects Ceausescu orders a ban on importation of any consumer products and commands exportation of all goods produced in Romania except minimum food supplies. Severe restrictions of civil rights are imposed.1989 — Romanians unite in protests against the communist leadership and local demonstrations sparked a national uprising that finally ousted communist ruler Nicolae Ceausescu and his cabinet.1991 — Romanians vote for a new Constitution.2004 — Romania joins NATO (The North Atlantic Treaty Organization).2007 — Romania becomes a member of the European Union (EU).

About Romania

Fast Facts
Official Name: Romania

Location: (Southeastern) Central Europe

Time Zone: Seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time (GMT + 2)Area: 91,725 sq. miles (237,502 sq. km)

Flag of Romania: Three vertical stripes: red, yellow and blue.

Population: 21,200,000 (2008)

Ethnic Groups: Romanian 89%, Hungarian 7.5%, Gipsy 1.9%, German, Other 1.6%

Religions: Christian Orthodox 87%, Roman Catholic 5%, Protestant 5%, Jewish

Official Language: Romanian

Currency: Romanian Leu (RON)

Climate: Temperate, four distinct seasons, similar to northeastern USA

Capital: Bucharest (Bucuresti)

Form of State: Parliamentary Republic with two legislative bodies: Senate (Senat) and Chamber of Representatives (Camera Deputatilor)

Legal system: Based on European models and Constitution of 1991.

Electoral System: Universal direct suffrage over the age of 18.Parties must win at least five percent of the national vote to gain representation in the Parliament.

Head of State: President of the Republic. Romania's president is allowed to serve two consecutive five-year terms.

Head of the Government: the Prime Minister.

National Government: The government is led by the Prime Minister, confirmed by the Parliament on the nomination of the President of Romania.

Main political parties: Social Democratic Party (PSD), Democratic-Liberal Party (PD-L), National Liberal Party (PNL), Democratic Union of the Hungarian Minority (UDMR) and Greater Romania Party (PRM).

Local Government: Forty-one county governors (Prefect) and assemblies.

Location
Romania is situated in the southeastern part of Central Europe and shares borders with Hungary to the northwest, Yugoslavia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, the Black Sea and Ukraine to the southeast and to the north and the Republic of Moldova to the east. Roughly the size of Oregon, Romania is the second largest country in the area, after Poland.Geographical location of Romania: between latitudes 43°37'07" and 48°15'06" North and longitudes 20°15'44" and 29°41'24" East.
Romania extends approximately 300 miles North to South and 400 miles East to West.
Bucharest — the capital city of Romania — is aligned approximately with the cities of Portland, Oregon; Montreal, Canada; Venice, Italy; and Bordeaux, France.
Romania's territory features splendid mountains, beautiful rolling hills, fertile plains and numerous rivers and lakes. The Carpathian Mountains traverse the centre of the country bordered on both sides by foothills and finally the great plains of the outer rim. Forests cover over one quarter of the country and the fauna is one of the richest in Europe including bears, deer, lynx, chamois and wolves. The legendary Danube River ends its eight-country journey through eight European countries at the Black Sea by forming one of the biggest and most interesting wetlands in the world, the Danube Delta.
About a third of the country consists of the Carpathian Mountains (also known as the Transylvanian Alps). Another third is hills and plateaus, rich with orchards and vineyards. The final third is a fertile plain, largely devoted to agriculture. The Danube River runs through the country, from northwest to southeast, culminating in the Danube Delta and the Black Sea. Physical features• Mountains: 31% of Romania's territory• Hills and orchards: 36%• Plains: 33%• Areas covered by rivers and lakes: 3.7 %• Total number of lakes: 3,500• Lakes greater than 250 acres: 300• Highest mountain peak: Moldoveanu Mt. — 8,349 ft. (2544 m.)

Climate
Romania has a temperate climate, similar to the northeastern United States, with four distinct seasons.Spring is pleasant with cool mornings and nights and warm days.Summer is quite warm, with extended sunny days. The hottest areas in summer are the lowlands in southern and eastern Romania where 100 F is often reached in July and August. Temperatures are always cooler in the mountains.Autumn is dry and cool, with fields and trees producing colorful foliage, much like New England.Winters can be cold, especially in the mountains. While not the rule, abundant snowfalls may occur throughout the country, from December to mid-March.There are significant regional differences of the climate between different regions of Romania.

Facts about Romania's climate:Warmest month: JulyColdest month: JanuaryRecord High Temperature:44.5°C (112°F) - August 10, 1951 South-Eastern Romania Record Low Temperature:-38.5°C (-37.3°F) - January 24, 1942 (Central Romania)Average annual Rainfall: 26 inches.

People
Foreign visitors consider Romanians among the friendliest and most hospitable people on earth. Romanians are by nature fun loving, warm, hospitable, playful, with an innate sense of humor.Romania is associated with big names in arts and sports:Constantin Brancusi — one of the most acclaimed modern sculptors.Angela Gheorghiu, one of the world's greatest opera soprano - www.angelagheorghiu.comAlexandra Nechita — a young Romanian painter living in California, known for her distinct style. For more info about Alexandra and her art please visit: www.iapart.comIlie Nastase — U.S. Open and Roland Garos winner, is still one of crowd's favorites at the U.S. Open.Nadia Comaneci — the Olympic champion gymnast, saluted by people everywhere.Other world renowned Romanian artists include the writer Eugen Ionesco, pan flute virtuoso Gheorghe Zamfir, piano player Radu Lupu and musician George Enescu.About 21,700,000 people live in Romania.Ethnic breakdown is 89% Romanian 7.5% Hungarian, 1.9% Gypsy, German, Ukrainian, Armenian, Croatian, Serbian and Turkish. More than 55% of Romania's population lives in towns and cities.There are 263 towns in Romania out of which 25 have a population of more than 100,000 while 8 cities count more than 300,000 inhabitants.45 % of Romanians live in rural areas: 2,868 communes and 13,285 villages.The administrative divisions are called "judet" (county).There are 41 counties in Romania.The capital city, Bucharest, has the status of a county.Bucharest — the capital of Romania has a population of more than 2,200,000.Main religions in RomaniaEastern Orthodox 87%,Roman Catholic 5%Protestant 5%.LanguageRomanian, a Latin based language which is a continuation of the Latin spoken in ancient times in Dacia and Moesia — the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire.A 31-letter Latin alphabet is in use.Ethnic minorities (Hungarian and German) use their own languages in school and civil administration.Literacy rate in Romania is 98%.Most Romanians living in towns and cities are able to communicate in English, French or German. In smaller villages only younger people and children speak one or more foreign languages.

HolidaysJanuary 1 and 2: New YearMonday following Orthodox Easter:March, April or early May (date varies)May 1: Labor DayRusaliile: (Christian Orthodox Religious Holiday - celebrated 50 days after Easter - May 31 and June 1 in 2009)August 15: Saint Mary's DayDecember 1: National DayDecember 25-26: ChristmasDates of the Orthodox Easter (public holiday):2009 - April 19, 202010 - April 4, 5Several religious holidays including feasts of St. John (January 7), St. George (April 23), Sts. Peter & Paul (June 29), St. Mary (August 15), St. Michael (November 8) and St. Nicholas (December 6) are observed throughout the year in rural areas.It is customary for Romanians all over the country to celebrate their Saint's Name Day (Ziua Onomastica).Ethnic minorities celebrate their own holidays.

What travel guides say about Romania

"… why should you go to Romania? The straight answer is because it is one of the most beautiful countries of Southeast Europe." (The Blue Guide)

"Few regions offer a more dazzling display of cultural and artistic treasures than Romania." (Smithsonian Journeys)

"Considered by many the most beautiful country in Eastern-Europe, Romania still claims regions that seem bastions of a medieval past long since lost elsewhere."(Fodor's Eastern and Central Europe)

"Romania has majestic castles, medieval towns, great hiking and wildlife…"(The Lonely Planet)

"No journey to Eastern Europe would be complete without paying a visit to Romania… Outstanding landscapes, a huge diversity of wildlife…" (The Rough Guide)

Romania offers a rich tapestry of tourist attractions and vacation experiences unique in Central-Eastern Europe: medieval towns in Transylvania, the world-famous Painted Monasteries in Bucovina, traditional villages in Maramures, the magnificent architecture of Bucharest, the romantic Danube Delta, fairy-tale castles, the Black Sea resorts, the majestic Carpathian Mountains, spas and much more.