Country Histories
Provided Through Their Respective Embassies
in the United States
Sound foreign relations depend, in part, on understanding how other countries have developed over time. This webguide is intended to provide links to official government web resources pertaining to the history of each country listed. These linked webpages are found directly on, or linked to, the main website for each country's respective embassy in the United States. The selected countries listed here are European or at least heavily influenced by the events of European history. Individual histories extend from prehistoric times to the modern era.
Introduces the country from its earliest settlement in the kingdom of Urarty in the 6th century B.C.E. to the time beyond its declaration of independence from the former Soviet Union on September 23, 1991.
Begins by describing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and extends to the re-election of John Howard in 2001. Subheadings include European contact and settlement, A nation is born, The impact of war, Post-war peace and prosperity, and A changing society.
Covers settlement of the Danube area in the Paleolithic Age between 80,000 and 10,000 B.C.E. to the formation of the republic in the 20th century. Subheadings include From the Dawn of History to a Border Province, Rule of the Babenbergs, 600 Years of Habsburg Rule, Republic of Austria, National Flag, and National Anthem. There are many terms and phrases within the text that link to further information in an online encyclopedia.
Consists of many annotated links to information on the history of Belarus that is posted on other websites. Subheadings include General Information, XIII-XVII cc. The Grand Duchy of Litva - medieval Belarusian state. Belarusian Renaissance, XVIII c. "Rzhech Pospolita Polsko-Litewska" - Commonwealth of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duche of Lithuania, XIX c. Belarusian revival. Belarusian Uprising of 1863-64, Early XX c. WWI, the end of Russian Empire and Belarusan Democratic Republic, 1919-1939. Belarus divided: BSSR and Western Belarus in Poland, 1939-1945. World War II, 1946-1992. Post WWII Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR), 1992-Present. The newly proclaimed independent state - Republic of Belarus, and Other Related Historical Topics. There are also sections for Belarusian Heritage, Historical maps of Belarus, Heraldry, Religion, Periodical and Other documents.
Presents a brief history of the country from Roman rule to its development as a federal state.
HistoryContains a series of links to information on a more extensive treatment of Belgium's history. It begins with Belgium before 1830 (starting with prehistory and antiquity) and extends to Belgium from 1830 (ending with modern times). Some sections of this website are not available in English.
Begins with the founding of the Bulgarian state by khan Asparouh in 681 C.E. and extends to the adoption of a new Constitution by the National Assembly in the 20th century. It is divided into four parts: First Bulgarian Kingdom (681 – 1018 AD), Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185 – 1396 AD), Third Bulgarian Kingdom (1878 – 1945), and Newest Bulgarian history.
The link will first take you to a page dealing with geography. You must then click on the history link to the left. Highlights important political and cultural events from the arrival of the early Croats in the 7th century C.E., in what is now Croatia, to Croatia's admission to the United Nations on May 22, 1992 and the country's involvement in international affairs. Subheadings include Emergence of Croatian Statehood, Croatia as part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, Croatia in Yugoslavia, and Croatia as a sovereign and independent state.
Begins with the habitation, in what is now the Czech Republic, by Slavs in the 6th century and extends to the end of Czechoslovakia and the beginning of the Czech Republic on January 1, 1993.
Begins with the earliest evidence of hunters' settlements c. 12,500 B.C.E. and extends to a discussion on the character of the modern Danes. Subheadings include Prehistory, Viking Age, Christianity, The Kalmar Union, From Aristocratic Government to Absolutism, Agricultural Reforms and Wars with England, Democracy and the Schleswig Issue, The Hope of Regeneration, Neutrality and Occupation, Alliance and Welfare, Political Upheaval, Denmark and Europe, and The Historical Inheritance. A brief chronology appears at the bottom of the page.
Begins with the arrival of the earliest estonians c. 3000 B.C.E and extends to a discussion of its economy as part of the former Soviet Union. A chronology from 1030 to 2001 follows.
HistoryA more extensive history can be found here that also includes images of important historical documents. Subheadings include Estonian middle ages: ca 1200–1558, Estonian history 1558–1710. Estonia under the Swedish rule, Estonian history 1710–1850. The Baltic Landesstaat, Estonian history 1850–1918. National awakening, Estonian history 1918–1940. Republic of Estonia, and Estonian history 1940–1992. Soviet era and the restoration of independence.
Contains many links to internet sources of Finnish history from human settlements over 100,000 years ago to Finland's dropping of the markka in favor of the euro on January 1, 2002. Some links include multimedia features.
A chronology of France from the conquest of Gaul by the Romans and the rise of the Gallo-Roman people (58 B.C.E to 481 C.E) to the re-election of Jacques Chirac as President and his appointment of Jean-Pierre Raffarin as Prime Minister on May 5, 2002.
Begins with evidence of indigenous cave dwellers along the coast of the Black Sea c. 100,000 - 50,000 B.C.E. and extends to the installment of Eduard Shevardnadze as President of the country on November 26, 1995.
"An overview and features on some of the most important events in German history." This is an extensive German history containing many links. Subheadings include Milestones in History, History Overview, History Features, and German Unification.
Begins with the development of an early civilization known as the Pelasgians in the third and second millennia B.C.E. and extends to the liberation of all Greek lands, even after World War II. Subheadings include The Aegean Civilization, Liberation and Civil wars, World Wars, Balkan Wars (1912-13), The Revolution of 1821, Byzantine Civilization, Hellenistic Period (336-30 B.C.), Classical Period - “The Golden Age”, Archaic Period, Greek Colonization (1000-800 B.C.), Invasion of the Dorians, The Mycenaean Civilization, and The Cretan Civilization.
A brief and early history that begins with the founding of the country by the Magyar chief, Árpád and extends to a short description of modern Hungary.
Brief History of HungaryBegins with the arrival of the Magyars and extends to Hungary becoming a member of NATO in 1999.
An illustrated history beginning with a statement about the possibility of the country first being inhabited by Irish monks in the 8th century, but more likely being settled by Norsemen c. 870-930 C.E. The history extends to the country's role in being a founding member of the European Economic Area, which began in 1994. Subheadings include The Settlers, Sources, Establishment of Althingi, The Conversion, Discovery of Greenland and America, The Saga Era, The Civil War, The English Century, The Reformation, The Trade Monopoly and Natural Disasters, and Modern Times.
Begins with a discussion of the various inhabitants of the island starting with Mesolithic hunters from Britain and extends to a statement about the economic, social, and cultural changes that have taken place in the country since it became a member, in 1973, of what is now the European Union.
Begins with the country's settlement by the ancient Balts and extends to the legislature's declaration of independence in 1991. Subheadings include Independent Latvia, The Latvians, German rule, Poland-Lithuania, Sweden, and the encroachment of Russia, Russian domination, Independence, The Soviet occupation and incorporation, and Restoration of independence.
An illustrated history that begins with the early settlers c.10,000 B.C.E. and extends to the beginning of the Republic's 9th Government Cabinet on June 10, 1999. Subheadings and their links include Prehistory, XI Century, XII Century, XIII Century, XIV Century, XVCentury, XVI Century, XVII Century, XVIII Century, XIX Century, XX Century until 1918, 1918-1940, 1940-1953, 1954-1987, and 1988-1999.
A two-page PDF document that describes a brief history of the country from the first appearance of its name in 963 to a description of the modern country. Subheadings include The Foundation of Luxembourg, From the dukes of Burgundy to the Netherlands, Luxembourg as an Independent Country, The progress of the Grand Duchy up to World War II, The Interwar Years, and World War II and reconstruction within the European Union.
Begins with a statement of the early and numerous invasions and subsequent changes that the country underwent and extends to a discussion of its international activities with the Council of Europe, NATO, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
You must first click on the link to A concise history of the Netherlands, in English if you prefer. Click on the dates under the theme subheadings on the left for information. This illustrated history begins in 50 B.C.E., when part of the land of the present day Netherlands was part of the Roman Empire, and extends to a discussion of the Netherlands in 2000 as a multicultural society. Subheadings include Formation of the Netherlands: 50 BC - 1588, The Dutch Republic at war: 1568 - 1813, The Golden Age 1600 - 1700, The Kingdom of the Netherlands: 1813 - 1914, World wars and post-war reconstruction: 1914 - 1966, The Dutch struggle against the waters: 1953, and The last decades of the twentieth century: 1967 - 2000.
To access the history pages just click on the links to the right under History. Covers the arrival of Pacific islanders about one-thousand years ago to a discussion of economic reforms since 1984. Subheadings include Arrival of Maori, European Settlement, Treaty of Waitangi, Growth of a Nation, and Settling Treaty Grievances.
Begins with reindeer hunters and Scandinavian ice sheets about 10,000 years ago and extends to a discussion on the country's involvement in the European Union. Subheadings include (ca. 800 - 1050 A.D.), A United Kingdom, The advent of Christianity, The Middle Ages, Union with Denmark, Secession from Denmark, 1814 - 1905, Norway after 1905, The Second World War, Liberation, and Norway and the EU.
Begins by noting the changes that the country has gone through beginning with the rule of the Piast dynasty (966-1370) and extending to the country's continuing development of its democracy and economy.
An illustrated history from the presence of its earliest people in the Lower Paleolithic to the Romanian Revolution in 1989 and the subsequent "re-establishment of democracy, of the pluralist political system, for the return to a market economy and the re-integration of the country in the European economic, political and cultural space".
Begins with a statement about the evidence of human habitation as far back as the Middle Paleolithic Era (200,000-35,000 B.C.E.) and extends to a discussion of the country as an important part of Europe. Subheadings include PRE-HISTORY, THE GREAT MORAVIAN EMPIRE, IN THE MEDIEVAL HUNGARY, PART OF THE HABSBURG MONARCHY, NATIONAL REVIVAL AND THE REVOLUTION OF 1848/49, PERIOD OF NATIONAL OPPRESSION, IN THE CZECHO-SLOVAKIA BETWEEN THE WARS, SLOVAKIA DURING THE WAR, RESTORED CZECHO-SLOVAKIA, STALINIST TOTALITARIANISM, UNFULFILLED FEDERATION AND NORMALISATION, NOVEMBER 1989, and SLOVAK REPUBLIC.
Begins with the melting of the ice cap and the discovery of the earliest known dwelling after the arrival of the earliest people in the south and extends to a discussion on how the country will strengthen its economy and boost employment while at the same time maintaining itself as a welfare state. Subheadings include The Viking age and early Christianity, The founding of the kingdom, The Hansa period, The Kalmar Union, The Vasa period, From great power policy to neutrality, and Constitutional, economic and political development.
Begins with the arrival of the first people in the Stone Age and extends to a discussion of the country's post-Soviet struggle with economic reform. The individual history sections are not all shown on the same page, so it is best to click on the links at the top of the page to view them. Subheadings include The Oldest Period of Ukrainian History, Slavs, Kyiv Rus, Halytsian-Volynian Principality, Ukrainian Lands as Part of Great Lithuanian Principality and Rich Pospolyta, Cossacks, Liberating War of Ukrainian People in the mid-17th Century, The Ukrainian State During the Late 17th Century, Right-Bank Western Ukrainian Lands During the 18th Century, The Left-Bank Hetmanate Between Independence and Incorporation, Ukraine of the 19th Century, The Ukrainian National Revolution, Strengthening of the Soviet System, Ukraine in the Second World War, Post-War Years, and The Way to Freedom and Independence.