Forgotten history of small countries

[civilleader]

How about Luxemburg. I thought it was a German nation that never accepted Bismark. Am I right?

 

[stalin006]

more like a germanic city state that went more towards france during the franco-prussian war, the glue that united germany for first time.

 

[RagingBarbarian]

So, then Luxemburg stayed independent, after German Unification. The population is largly german then?

 

[HalfBadger]

Originally posted by Rolo Master
Does anyone knows Liechenstien history?

Yeah I'd be interesting in knowing more about them, like why do they use Swiss currency. Switzerland's history would be neat too to learn about more.

 

[RagingBarbarian]

do you know what is interesting about Luxemburg it has one of the highest average income of any country, even the United states. Luxemburgs' average icome is 47,000, while the United States is only 35-37,000 a year.

Switzerland also had one of the highest amounts of money spent on research and development in the world. It spends more money on R&D then both the United States and Japan. Something like, 50% of business jobs are in R&D departments.

Really strange information on these small nations.

 

[Achinz]

Originally posted by HalfBadger
Yeah I'd be interesting in knowing more about them (Liechtenstein), like why do they use Swiss currency. Switzerland's history would be neat too to learn about more.

Apparently until the end of WWI, it was closely tied to Austria, "but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced the country to conclude a customs and monetary union with Switzerland".

A compact but useful introduction to Liechtenstein is:

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Lichtenstein

BTW I stayed in the capital, Vaduz, many years ago as a cheaper alternative to accommodation in Switzerland. It only takes a short time by train to get to cities like Zurich.

 

[jack merchant]

Originally posted by RagingBarbarian
So, then Luxemburg stayed independent, after German Unification. The population is largly german then?

No . Luxemburg's history is really more linked to that of the Low Countries more than to Germany until 1815, when Luxemburg became a Grand Duchy as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (the Luxemburg Grand dukes are from the Nassau family, i.e. directly related to the Dutch royal family). After the Belgian revolt, the Grand Duchy was split into an independent part (which at the time still was ruled by the Nassaus) and a Belgian province. The Grand Duchy remained a part of the German confederation of which it had become a part in 1815. It later entered the German customs union.
Bismarck offered it to France in exchange for French support for German reunification but popular protests prevented that and the Prussians then fortified the place. Luxemburg neutrality and independence was then guaranteed by a treaty, however the Germans of course trampled it underfoot in 1914 and again in 1940. After the war, Luxemburg regained its independence, became a member of the Benelux customs union, then the EU and NATO.

Luxemburg's language is Letzeburgish, which is a slightly weird mixture of French, German and Dutch, though both French and German are official languages.

(note that my post is really a short summary of information found at here)

 

[Stefan Haertel]

Luxemburg isn't really a forgotten country to Europeans, same as Liechtenstein or any other small country (maybe except for San Marino, because hardly anybody knows anything about it).

 

[Ossric]

Originally posted by RagingBarbarian
do you know what is interesting about Luxemburg it has one of the highest average income of any country, even the United states. Luxemburgs' average icome is 47,000, while the United States is only 35-37,000 a year.

That's because Luxemburg is pretty similar to Switserland, it's economy trives on the banking sector. Luxemburg is the place where people from Belgium go to put their "black money". Taxes are really low over there.

Luxemburg is more french than german these days. There official language is luxemburgian or something like that but most of the people over there just talk french.

 

[Ossric]

Originally posted by philippe
Ok the history of Belgium
Got conquered by the romans
Got conquered by the Germans
Got conquered by the French
Got conquered by the Burgundian
Got conquered by the Spanish
Got conquered by the Austrians
Got conquered by the French
Got conquered by the British
Got conquered by the Dutch
Got conquered by the germans x2
lol

indeed, we had a lot of foreign rulers, but conquered is not the right word in many cases.

1*Burgundy, Austria & Spain got it thrue royal inheritance. The mighty cities where fine with it, otherwise they would have been kicked out.
2*The British never conquered the area, i don't know where you got that idea from.
3*The Dutch received the area after some peace treaty, they didn't conquer it. When it didn't work out (see 1) we revolted & kicked them out. We would have conquered more Dutch land if Prussia & England weren't opposed to our new nation.
4*The Romans conquered the area, but there where just native tribes living there at the time. It's a bit farfeched to associate it with the nation. (same for the German tribes)
5*The french conquered the area eventually during Napoleon's reign but they have been trying to get it for centuries but failed miserably (see "Guldensporenslag")

 

[RagingBarbarian]

I heard a story that there is a country in Europe, I think it was central europe, that is only a couple of streets big. It has its own flag, postage stamps, everything a country would. It said you can only get citizeship if you were born there, the population is only a few hundered.
The history behind the country is that it was founded by monks during the crusades to serve as a sort of hospital, for wounded knights. After the crusades it became an independent kingdom, and has supposedly survived into modern times.
Has anyone heard of this place or have any information on it.

 

[Ossric]

Originally posted by RagingBarbarian
I heard a story that there is a country in Europe, I think it was central europe, that is only a couple of streets big. It has its own flag, postage stamps, everything a country would. It said you can only get citizeship if you were born there, the population is only a few hundered.

the only countries that qualify your description (size wise) are San Marino or Liechtenstein.

 

[HalfBadger]

Originally posted by Ossric


the only countries that qualify your description (size wise) are San Marino or Liechtenstein.

Except Lichtenstein doesn't have it;s own Currency.

 

[Achinz]

Some former countries swallowed up by Indonesia like Aceh with rebels fighting for independence would be worth looking at. Fairly topical as well with the revelations of the atrocities by Indonesian troops on the locals.

 

[Yzarc]

I'd write about my home Country but every one probly knows All about ireland!

Gallic Tribes... High Kings...Cheiftens...Famaly Lands...simply calling a rule "THE" like Hugh o Neil was just called THE o Neil

Used to bue a bunch of Gallic Warrior people, Priests came, Made us an 'island os saints & scollars"

Vikings came & kiked our Saintly Buts ...( by the way a mod building" Round Tower, Would be nice")
[punch]

They finaly figured that we were to lovable to kill so alot of them stuck around!

Then the English came & they knocked us abbout for a bit & took over The whole Dublin area ("the Pale")

How did we get our own back?.....we went over lookin for work!
... that'll teach them! we'll se how smart they are when we build everything for them!

There was Civil War 'kinda' Mostly in Dublin... We Got Guns From Germany durin the war:soldier:

Even tho other irish people were joining the british army & fighting the germans?!

Eventualy We Got Dublin etc. Back but the messin up the north is still goen on


Thanks for listnen! & remember the Irish love you all


Time for that Pint

 

[combat101]

Can some body give a history of Tatarstan?