The Area of Switzerland is quite small, even by European standards. However, this small country plays a very important role in the global processes. Political structure and foreign policy of the state, which has more than a hundred and fifty years provide unprecedented stability, can be considered unique. Let's briefly explore the history, learn the area and population of Switzerland, as well as some other nuances associated with that country.
Before considering the size of Switzerland and also some other issues, let's find out where is the state.
Switzerland is in the heart of Western Europe, in the mountain range called the Alps. In the East it is bordered by Austria and Liechtenstein, on the South-with Italy in the West-with France, and in the North in contact with Germany.
The nature of the greater part of Switzerland is a mountain. The West country is a rather large lake Geneva.
The Capital of Switzerland-Bern.
Now, a brief look at the history of Switzerland. The settlements in this area have been known since Paleolithic times. In the Neolithic period there existed a cultural community that built their houses on stilts.
In ancient times, the mountainous area of the country to the East was inhabited by tribes of pictures that were considered related to the Italian Etruscans. It was from the romanized people of this tribe took one of the modern ethnic groups of Swiss-Romansh.
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Also since the XIII century BC, there began to penetrate the Celtic peoples. Before the Roman conquest of the West is now Switzerland was inhabited by kalitesine the tribes of the helvetians and Allobroges, and the East – vindelicum.
In 58 BC, the helvetians and Allobroges were conquered by the great Roman commander Julius Caesar, and after his death under Octavian Augustus in 15–13 years BC conquered pictures and vindelici.
The Occupied territories, thus, incorporated into the Roman Empire. The territory of modern Switzerland was divided between the provinces – Recia and Upper Germany, and a small area around Geneva was part of Narbonskaya Gaul. Later, from Rhaetia in the North, was separated to another province – Vindelici. The region was gradually romaniots, there was built a significant Roman buildings, roads, cities, when the power of the Empire was falling into decay, here began to penetrate Christianity.
In 264 BC the territory of modern Western Switzerland was invaded by Germanic tribe Alamanni. In the beginning of V century they finally captured the East of the country. In the year 470 West Switzerland became part of the Kingdom of another Germanic tribe – of the Burgundians, which, however, were Christians. If the Alemanni in their territory completely destroyed the traces of romanization, destroying, expelling and assimilating the local population, the Burgundians, on the contrary, belonged to the local quite loyal, which contributed to the predominance of the Romanic population on the subject lands. This division was reflected even in modern times, the Western French-speaking population of Switzerland – mainly the descendants of the inhabitants of the country of the Roman period and the Eastern German population-the descendants of the Alemanni.
In addition, after the fall of the Roman Empire in the year 478, South of Switzerland came successively under the rule of the German kingdoms of the Ostrogoths and the Lombards, the center of which was in Italy. But the Ostrogoths too, did not produce the forcible Germanization of the population, therefore, in this part of the country are currently living Romansh and Italian.
It Should be noted that to prevent mixing of the above-mentioned ethnic groups and military incursions prevented the natural division of the Swiss Alps in a relatively isolated region.
In the eighth century the total area of Switzerland was again United under the Frankish state. But already in the IX century it collapsed. Switzerland was again divided between several States: Top-Burgundy, Italy and Germany. But in the eleventh century, the German king managed to create the Holy Roman Empire, which included the entire area of Switzerland. However, soon the Imperial power waned, and really these lands began to control the local feudal lords of the genera of Terenganu, Kiborgov, Habsburgs and others, exploited the local population. Especially the efforts of the Habsburgs after the end of XIII century, their arms crossed possession of the title of Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
The fight against the seniors, mainly Habsburg, and was the beginning of the consolidation of the Swiss disparate regions into a single independent state. In 1291 was signed a military Alliance “forever” between representatives of the three cantons (regions) of Switzerland-Schwyz, URI and Unterwalden. From this date, it is common to report the Swiss state. From this moment began the active struggle of the people against the Habsburgs, the Imperial administration and nobility. The initial phase of this struggle relates the famous legend of William tell.
In 1315 was the first major clash between the Swiss and the Habsburg army. It was called the battle of Morgarten. Then the Swiss managed to defeat numerically greater than their several times the enemy's army, besides consisting of knights. This event is the first mention of the name “Switzerland». This occurred due to the incorrect distribution of the name of the Canton of Schwyz on the territory of the entire Union. Immediately after the victory of the allied contract has been updated.
In the future, the Union continued to act against the Habsburgs. This attracted other regions to join it. To 1353 year, the Union had eight cantons, as to the original three added Zurich, Bern, Zug, Lucerne and Glarus.
In 1386 and 1388 the Swiss inflicted two significant defeats for the Habsburgs in the battle at Sempach and Näfels. This led to the fact that 1389 peace was concluded for 5 years. Then it was extended for 20 and 50 years. The Habsburgs actually refused the rights of seniors regarding the Union of eight cantons, although they continued to be part of the Holy Roman Empire. This situation lasted until 1481, nearly 100 years.
In the years 1474-1477 Switzerland was involved in the Burgundian war in Alliance with France and Austria. In 1477 in the decisive battle of Nancy, the Swiss defeated the troops of Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold, and he himself was killed in this battle. This victory has greatly increased the international prestige of Switzerland. Her soldiers began to be appreciated as excellent mercenaries that had a positive effect on the economy. In this capacity, they serve the French king, the Duke of Milan, the Pope and other sovereigns. The Vatican guard of the Holy see still comes from the Swiss. Becoming more and more lands wishing to join the Union, but the cantons are not too eager to push the limits.
In the end, in 1481 was signed a new contract. As members of the Union were adopted two cantons-Solothurn and Fribourg. The area of Switzerland has increased and the number of cantons was increased to ten. In 1499 the victory was won in the war with the Swabian Union, supported by the Emperor. After that the contract was made, which in fact marked the exit of Switzerland from the part of the Holy Roman Empire. But legally, the Emperor had not abandoned their claims. In 1501 as the cantons in the Union were adopted Basel and Schaffhausen, and in 1513 – Appenzell. The amount of land reached thirteen.
Meanwhile, in the XV century in Europe wide tread steps reformation – the group of Christian religious teachings, who denied the supremacy of the Pope in the spiritual world. In the city of Geneva has long lived and died the founder of one of the leading currents of the reformation-John Calvin. Another outstanding reformer Ulrich Zwingli was a native of St. Gallen. The reform was adopted by many European sovereigns and princes. But she resisted the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. For this reason, in 1618 broke out the Thirty years European war. In 1648 the TAC was signed the peace of Westphalia, in which the Emperor acknowledged his defeat and the right of princes to choose the religion for their land, and were legally enforceable release of Switzerland from the Holy Roman Empire. Now she became a totally independent state.
However, the Switzerland of the time only relatively can be considered as a single state. Each Canton had its own laws, territorial division, the right to conclude international agreements. It was more of a military-political Alliance, than a full-fledged state.
In 1795 in Switzerland, the revolution began, supported from the outside Napoleonic France. The French occupied the country, and in 1798 there was established a unitary state, the Helvetic Republic. After the victory of the allies over Napoleon in 1815 in Switzerland with minor changes and returned the former device, however, the number of cantons was increased to 22, and later – to 26. But the country had begun to rise, the movement for the centralization of power. In 1848 it adopted a new Constitution. According to her, Switzerland, although it continued to be called Confederation, was actually turned into a Federal state with a full-fledged government. Were fixed neutral status of the country. This was to ensure that data then, Switzerland has become one of the most peaceful and calm places of the world. Being in the heart of Europe, destroyed the First and Second world wars, this state is almost the only thing which was not damaged during the tragic events. Indeed, free from war in Europe was only Sweden and Switzerland. The area of the country has not suffered from enemy bombs or invasions of foreign armies.
In a country with rapidly developing industry and the banking sector. It is allowed to bring Switzerland a world leader in the provision of financial services, and the standard of living of citizens of the Alpine state has become one of the highest on the planet.
Now let's find out what area of Switzerland. This figure is the basic criterion for further analysis. At the moment the size of Switzerland is 41.3 thousand sq. km. Is the 133rd highest among all countries of the world.
For comparison, only one area of the Volgograd regionis 112,9 thousand sq. km.
In administrative-territorial terms, Switzerland is divided into 20 cantons and 6 half-cantons, which, in General, equal to the 26 constituent entities of the Confederation.
The Biggest area are the cantons of graubünden (7.1 thousand sq km), Bern (6,0 thousand sq. km) and shaft (5.2 thousand sq km).
Total population in the country is about 8 million people. This is the 95th highest in the world.
But what the population density is Switzerland? The country area and population, which we established above, it is easy to calculate and give the figure. It is equal to 188 persons/sq. km.
Throughout the country, 94% of the population consider themselves ethnic Swiss. This does not prevent them to speak in different languages. So, 65% of the population are hermanovski, 18% French and 10% Italian speaking.
In addition, about 1% of the population is Romansh.
During the middle Ages and modern times Switzerland has become a real arena of struggle between Protestants and Catholics. Now the dust has settled and there is no religious confrontation in the country. About 50% of the population are Protestant and 44% Catholic.
In addition, in Switzerland there are small Jewish and Muslim communities.
We learned the size of Switzerland in square km, population size and the history of this country. As you can see, it fell a long way from the fragmented Union of cantons to a unified state. The history of Switzerland can serve as an example of how culturally, religiously, ethnically and linguistically isolated community can be United into a single nation.
The Success of the Swiss model of development is confirmed by its economic performance and over 150 years of peace in the country.
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Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."
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