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=Eastern Europe=

Why Eastern Europe?
Europe is a very large continent composed of many different countries with so much to learn about. We really wanted to focus on the eastern part because it is not as well known, yet filled with a rich history and great countries. Creating this website has given us all the ability to learn more about some of the countries within Eastern Europe and share that information with you. Enjoy!



Hungary
Hungary became a Christian Kingdom in A.D. 100 and served as a bulwark against the Ottoman Turkish expansion in Europe. Following World War II, the country fell under communist rule, and in 1956 they withdrew from the Warsaw Pact. In 1968 Hungary was being lead by Janos Kadar and they began to introduce something called "Goulash Communism." It wasn't until 1990 that they held elections and encouraged a free market economy. Starting in 2011, Hungary started a presidency rotation every six months.

Lithuania
Lithuania was the largest state in Europe by the end of the 14th century. Its territory included Ukraine and most of present-day Belarus. Lithuania joined together with Poland in 1569 to form one state known as the Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth. In 1795, parts of the state were divided by the surrounding countries. Following World War I, Lithuania regained its independence. In 1940, the USSR annexed Lithuania which was an action that the United States and many other countries did not recognize. Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet republics on March 11, 1990 but Moscow did not recognize this until September 1991. Russian troops remained in Lithuania until 1993. In the Spring of 2004, Lithuania joined the EU and NATO (Lithuania CIA Factbook, 2011).

Poland
Poland was established in the 10th century, located in Central and Eastern Europe. Following a series of arguments between the years of 1772 and 1795, Poland was partitioned by Austria, Russia, and Prussia. In 1918 Poland regained their independence but were eventually overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union during WWII. After the formation of the Independent Trade Union in the 1980's, Poland became a major political force that eventually lead them to convert Poland's economy to one of the most health in Central Europe. Poland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1999, and joined the European Union in 2004. They are now actively involved in several Euro-Atlantic Organizations ( [|Poland CIA Factbook], 2011).

Romania
Romania is a country that is located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories, most notably Transylvania. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. [|(Romania, CIA Factbook, 2011)]

Russia
Russia was founded in the 12th century, and gradually conquered surrounding areas. In the early 17th century, Russia continued expansion across Siberia to the Pacific, and during the 19th century gained more territory in Europe and Asia. Since the fall of the Soviet power, Russia has shifted from their democratic ambitions, and is now in favor of a centralized semi-authoritarian state. Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area, and is uniquely located mostly in Asia, but also falls between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean.


 * Did you know that Russia is located in Asia and Eastern Europe?*

(Russia, CIA factbook, 2011)