While travel Switzerland
and exploring its arts
and architecture,
one can find many monuments that commemorate the important milestones
in Swiss history. Switzerland, situated in the heart of Western Europe,
shares much of its history with neighboring countries. The country was
forming during many centuries, little by little its regions were
merging into one confederation until Switzerland became a centralized
federal state in 1848.
Due to its geographical position Switzerland has always been a good
lure for conquerors. Thus 500 BC it was colonized by Celtic tribes, one
of which - the Helvetians - settled in midlands, between Lake Geneva
and Zurich.
Nowadays the term
"Helvetia" can be found on postal stamps and coins, reminding the Latin
name of "Swiss confederation" - "Confoederatio Helvetica", as far as
Latin was
brought to Switzerland by the Romans in 58 BC. These were the Romans
who found the main Swiss cities - Zurich, Basel, Geneva, Chur and
Lausanne.
About 400 AD the Romans, urged by the Germanic tribes, had to withdraw
their troops from their territories north of the Alps. The Burgundians
settled in western Switzerland, and the Alamannen conquered the
northern part of the country. Here are the origins of French and German
in Switzerland. As for Celtic culture, there is no signature of its
influence except several geographical names.
One of the sorrowful pages of Swiss history is the Reformation. The
spread of Protestantism by Zwingli and Calvin unleashed the war, and
the country was split in two fractions - the big cities turned to the
new confession while the rural dwellers remained catholic.
In 1798 Switzerland was occupied by Napoleon Bonaparte and returned to
its federal structure only in 1815, after the defeat of Napoleon's army
in Russia and at Waterloo.
The 19th-20th centuries were marked by industrial and agricultural
development. The political system gained stability and Switzerland
became a member of some international organizations as the United
Nations with the centre in Geneva. Switzerland also takes part in
different scientific program of the European Union.
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