Hungary - A Short Essay

[ConanKND]

This is an essay I've just finished, 250 words, on Hungary. All opinions and comments are welcome, and if I seem to leave any gaping hole or act like I don't know what I'm doing, consider the fact that I'm a Southeast Asian high school kid with NO prior experience on this country (except for the fact that I've misspelled its name quite a few times...)

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The Republic of Hungary is a medium sized country located in Central Europe. Its strategic situation in the crossroads between the Western and Eastern parts of Europe has played a large part in shaping both the nation and its inhabitants alike. The Magyars, as Hungarians call themselves, are not original natives to the area, but are believed to be a part of the Finno-Ugric languages. This sets Hungarians and their language apart from other European inhabitants of neighboring countries.
Throughout its history, Hungary was often invaded by its powerful neighbors, with control passing from the Ottoman Empire to the Austrian Empire, and finally falling under the Soviet Union’s Iron Curtain. With the end of Communist rule in 1989, the Republic was established, and a free Hungary was eager to begin a new era of rapprochement with the West and start the process of globalization.
More than half of Hungary’s landscape consists of rolling plains and lowlands in both the East and the West. The Danube splits the country in two, with the capital, Budapest, being straddled on both sides of the river. The plains have fertile soil that is greatly suitable for agriculture, and as Hungary lacks a large source of any mineral resource, except bauxite, means that it is a predominantly agricultural country.
Hungary’s economy has been rapidly transformed from a centralized economy to a free market economy in the recent years, and it is a part of the EU’s single market. It has shown strong growth and has received high foreign investment as well. However, this, in turn, led to the recent economic crisis heavily affecting the country. With its strong foundation, though, and its potential not yet fully exploited, Hungary can look forward to a future of continual development and rise in importance in international politics.
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Thanks in advance!

 

[RedRalph]

Couple of things: Really no country in Europe's present ones are it's original inhabitants, so this doesn't really set Hungary apart.

And Hungary was a Republic when it was socialist, so its isn't correct to say the Republic was established in 1989. Plus 'the Iron Curtain' is a pretty loaded term.

However, its a pretty damn good short essay! Well done!

 

[lumpthing]

Thanks for the brief overview of one of the many countries I know embarrassingly little about.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

Hungary has spent the last 500 years being invaded and cut apart by large, neighboring countries, but between 1000 and 1500 it was actually one of the most powerful countries in Europe and controlled a large empire that included modern day Slovakia and Croatia, as well as parts of modern day Romania and Serbia.

 

[vogtmurr]

Nice little easy. I think it is worthwhile to elaborate on the unique ethnology of the Hungarians, as the dominant culture today came from the eastern steppes after the Romanized and Germanic nations had been established in the 900s AD, with their linguistic roots u mentioned. And became a leading (I believe Catholic) buffer state between Europe and eastern empires, resisting the Turks until the remnant became amalgamated with the Hapsburg Austrian Empire.

 

[cool3a2]

Couple of things: Really no country in Europe's present ones are it's original inhabitants, so this doesn't really set Hungary apart.

This might be a question of the formulation. Still, I also think it is at least worth to say that Hungarians are really off in europe. As you don't want to write a book about Hungary, it might be okay to follow the official finnugric theory, although I could provide you a source saying very clearly that there is no genetic relationship between Hungarians and Finnugric - at least no closer one that between any other two peoples. Still, the language is off - even inside the finnugric language family (of course if you believe in this theory). I had a thread about hungarian early history. It even seems to be out there, but not displayed when showing the world history thread list. If you are interested, I could post there (even new stuff) which might reactivate it. But you would need to wait till weekend.

And Hungary was a Republic when it was socialist, so its isn't correct to say the Republic was established in 1989. Plus 'the Iron Curtain' is a pretty loaded term.

Well, actually I think it is correct. A peples republic is an alibi only (at least in that case we are speaking about), so no real republic. But that's politics and thus highly dependent on opinion. As it would be quite offtopic, I don't see a reason to go deeper in this.

 

[Dachs]

Hey, the Athenians are autochthonous! At least, that's what they'd like you to think!

 

[Hsinchu]

"I can tell that she was born Hungarian
Not only Hungarian, but of royal blood
She is a princess"