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Officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas), is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. Taiwan lies north across the Luzon Strait. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest separates it from the island of Borneo and to the south the Celebes Sea from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The capital city is Manila.
With an estimated population of about 92 million people, the Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country. It is estimated that there are an additional 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide. Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. Its tropical climate sustains one of the richest areas in terms of biodiversity in the world.
In prehistoric times, Negritos became some of the archipelago's earliest inhabitants. They were followed by successive waves of Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Malay, Hindu, and Islamic cultures. Trade introduced Chinese cultural influences. The arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 marked the beginning of an era of Spanish interest and eventually dominance. The Philippines became the Asian hub of the Manila-Acapulco galleon treasure fleet. Christianity became widespread. As the 19th century gave way to the 20th, there followed in quick succession the short-lived Philippine Revolution, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War. In the aftermath, the United States replaced Spain as the dominant power. Aside from the period of Japanese occupation, the United States retained sovereignty over the islands until the end of World War II when the Philippines gained independence. The United States bequeathed to the Philippines the English language and an affinity for Western culture. Since independence the Philippines has had an often tumultuous experience with democracy, with popular "People Power" movements overthrowing a dictatorship in one instance but also underlining the institutional weaknesses of its constitutional republic in others.
Etymology
The name Philippines is derived from that of King Philip II of Spain. Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos during his expedition in 1542 named the islands of Leyte and Samar Felipinas after the then Prince of Asturias (Spain). Eventually the name Las Islas Filipinas would be used to cover all the islands of the archipelago. before it became commonplace, however, other names such as Islas del Poniente (Islands of the West) and Magellan's name for the islands San Lázaro were also used by the Spanish to refer to the islands.
The official name of the Philippines has changed several times in the course of the country's history. During the Philippine Revolution, the country was officially called República Filipina or the Philippine Republic. From the period of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War until the Commonwealth period, American colonial authorities referred to the country as the Philippine Islands, a translation of the Spanish name. It was during the American period that the name Philippines began to appear and has since become the country's common name. The official name of the country is now Republic of the Philippines.
History
The earliest known human remains found in the Philippines are those of the pre-Mongoloid Tabon Man of Palawan, carbon dated to around 24,000 years ago. Negritos were another group of early inhabitants but their appearance in the Philippines has not been reliably dated. They were followed by speakers of Malayo-Polynesian languages who began to arrive beginning around 4000 BCE, displacing the earlier arrivals. By 1000 BCE the inhabitants of the archipelago had developed into four kinds of social groups: hunter-gathering tribes, warrior societies, petty plutocracies, and maritime centered harbor principalities.
The maritime oriented peoples traded with other Asian countries during the subsequent period bringing influences from Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. There was no unifying political state encompassing the entire Philippine Archipelago. Instead, the islands were divided among competing thalassocracies ruled by various datus, rajahs, or sultans. Among these were the kingdoms of Maynila, Namayan, and Tondo, the rajahnates of Butuan and Cebu, and the sultanates of Maguindanao and Sulu. Some of these societies were part of the Malayan empires of Srivijaya, Majapahit, and Brunei. Islam was brought to the Philippines by traders and proselytizers from Malaysia and Indonesia. By the 15th century, Islam was established in the Sulu Archipelago and by 1565 had reached Mindanao, the Visayas, and Luzon.
In 1521, Portuguese explorer Fernão de Magalhães arrived in the Philippines and claimed the islands for Spain. Colonization began when Spanish explorer Miguel López de Legazpi arrived from Mexico in 1565 and formed the first European settlements in Cebu. In 1571, after dealing with the local royal families in the wake of the Tondo Conspiracy and defeating the Chinese pirate warlord Limahong, the Spanish established Manila as the capital of the Spanish East Indies.
Spanish rule contributed significantly to bringing political unity to the archipelago. From 1565 to 1821, the Philippines was governed as a territory of the Viceroyalty of New Spain and then was administered directly from Madrid after the Mexican War of Independence. The Manila galleons linking Manila to Acapulco traveled once or twice a year between the 16th and 19th century. Trade introduced foods such as corn, tomatoes, potatoes, chili peppers, and pineapples from the Americas. Roman Catholic missionaries converted most of the lowland inhabitants to Christianity and founded schools, a university, and hospitals. While a Spanish decree introduced free public schooling in 1863, efforts in mass public education mainly came to fruition during the American period.
During its rule, the Spanish fought off various indigenous revolts and several external colonial challenges from Chinese pirates, the Dutch, and the Portuguese. In an extension of the fighting of the Seven Years' War, British forces under the command of Brigadier General William Draper and Rear-Admiral Samuel Cornish briefly occupied the Philippines. They found local allies like Diego and Gabriela Silang who took the opportunity to lead a revolt against the Mexican-born acting Governor-General and Archbishop of Manila Manuel Rojo del Rio y Vieyra, but Spanish rule was eventually restored following the 1763 Treaty of Paris.
In the 1800s, Philippine ports were opened to world trade. Many criollos and mestizos became wealthy. The influx of Spanish and Latino settlers secularized churches and government positions traditionally held by the peninsulares. The ideals of the French Revolution also began to spread through the islands. Criollo dissatisfaction resulted in the revolt in Cavite El Viejo in 1872 that was a precursor to the Philippine Revolution.
Revolutionary sentiments were stoked after colonial authorities executed the three priests, Mariano Gómez, José Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (collectively known as Gomburza), who were accused of sedition, in 1872. This would inspire a propaganda movement in Spain, organized by Marcelo H. del Pilar, José Rizal, and Mariano Ponce, lobbying for political reforms in the Philippines. Rizal was eventually executed on December 30, 1896 on charges of rebellion. As attempts at reform were meeting with resistance, Andrés Bonifacio in 1892 established the secret society called the Katipunan, a society along the lines of the freemasons, which sought independence from Spain through armed revolt. Bonifacio and the Katipunan started the Philippine Revolution in 1896. A faction of the Katipunan, the Magdalo of Cavite province, eventually came to challenge Bonifacio's position as the leader of the revolution and Emilio Aguinaldo took over. In 1898, the Spanish-American War began in Cuba and reached the Philippines. Aguinaldo declared Philippine independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898 and the First Philippine Republic was established the following year. Meanwhile, the islands were ceded by Spain to the United States for $20 million dollars in the 1898 Treaty of Paris. As it became increasingly clear the United States would not recognize the First Philippine Republic, the Philippine-American War broke out. It ended with American control over the islands.
In 1935, the Philippines was granted Commonwealth status. Plans for independence over the next decade were interrupted by World War II when the Japanese Empire invaded and established a puppet government. Many atrocities and war crimes were committed during the war such as the Bataan Death March and the Manila massacre that culminated during the Battle of Manila. Allied troops defeated the Japanese in 1945. By the end of the war it is estimated over a million Filipinos had died. On July 4, 1946, the Philippines attained its independence.
Immediately after World War II, the Philippines faced a number of challenges. The country had to be rebuilt from the ravages of war. It also had to come to terms with Japanese collaborators. Meanwhile, disgruntled remnants of the Hukbalahap communist rebel army that had previously fought against and resisted the Japanese continued to roam the rural regions. Eventually this threat was dealt with by Secretary of National Defense and later President Ramon Magsaysay but sporadic cases of communist insurgency continued to flare up long afterward.
In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was elected president, his wife Imelda Marcos at his side. Nearing the end of his second term and constitutionally barred from seeking a third, he declared martial law on September 21, 1972. By using political divisions, the tension of the Cold War, and the specter of communist rebellion and Islamic insurgency as justifications, he was able to govern by decree. On August 21, 1983, Marcos' chief rival opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. ignored warnings and returned from exile in the United States. He was assassinated as he was taken off the plane at the Manila International Airport (now called the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in his memory). With political pressure building Marcos eventually called for snap presidential elections in 1986. Corazon Aquino, Benigno's widow, was convinced into becoming the presidential candidate and standard bearer of the opposition. The elections were widely thought of as rigged when Marcos was proclaimed the winner. This led to the People Power Revolution, instigated when two long-time Marcos allies—Armed Forces of the Philippines Vice Chief-of-Staff Fidel V. Ramos and Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile—resigned and barricaded themselves in Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame. Exhorted on by the Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin, people gathered in support of the rebel leaders and protested on EDSA. In the face of mass protests and military defections, Marcos and his allies fled to Hawaii and into exile. Corazon Aquino was recognized as president.
The return of democracy and government reforms after the events of 1986 were hampered by national debt, government corruption, coup attempts, a persistent communist insurgency, and Islamic separatists. The economy improved during the administration of Fidel V. Ramos, who was elected in 1992. However, the economic improvements were negated with the onset of the East Asian financial crisis in 1997. In 2001, amid charges of corruption and a stalled impeachment process, Ramos' successor Joseph Ejercito Estrada was ousted from the presidency by the 2001 EDSA Revolution and replaced by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Geography
The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands with a total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers (116,000 square miles). Its 36,289 kilometers of coastline makes it the country with the 5th longest coastline in the world. It is located between 116° 40', and 126° 34' E. longitude and 4° 40' and 21° 10' N. latitude and borders the Philippine Sea on the east, the South China Sea on the west, and the Celebes Sea on the south. The island of Borneo is located a few hundred kilometres southwest and Taiwan is located directly to the north. The Moluccas and Sulawesi are located to the south-southwest and Palau is located to the east of the islands.
Most of the mountainous islands are covered in tropical rainforest and volcanic in origin. The highest mountain is Mount Apo. It measures up to 2,954 metres (9,692 ft) above sea level and is located on the island of Mindanao. The longest river is the Cagayan River in northern Luzon. Manila Bay, upon the shore of which the capital city of Manila lies, is connected to Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines, by the Pasig River. Subic Bay, the Davao Gulf, and the Moro Gulf are other important bays. The San Juanico Strait separates the islands of Samar and Leyte but it is traversed by the San Juanico Bridge.
Situated on the northwestern fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The Benham Plateau to the east in the Philippine Sea is an undersea region active in tectonic subduction. Around 20 earthquakes are registered daily, though most are too weak to be felt. The last major earthquake was the 1990 Luzon earthquake.There are many active volcanoes such as the Mayon Volcano, Mount Pinatubo, and Taal Volcano. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991 produced the second largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century. Not all notable geographic features are so violent or destructive. A more serene legacy of the geological disturbances is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River.
Due to the volcanic nature of the islands, mineral deposits are abundant. The country is estimated to have the second-largest gold deposits after South Africa and one of the largest copper deposits in the world. It is also rich in nickel, chromite, and zinc. Despite this, poor management, high population density, and environmental consciousness have resulted in these mineral resources remaining largely untapped. Geothermal energy, however, is another product of volcanic activity that the country has harnessed more successfully. The Philippines is the world's second-biggest geothermal producer behind the United States, with 18% of the country's electricity needs being met by geothermal power.
Other info
Oficial Name:
Republika Ng Pilipinas
Independence:
Declared June 12, 1898
- Self-government March 24, 1934
- Recognized July 4, 1946
- Current constitution February 2, 1987
Area:
300.076km2
Inhabitants:
81.411.000
Language:
Agta, Agutaynen Aklanon Alangan Alta Arta Ata Ati Atta Ayta Balangao Balangingi Bantoanon Batak Bicolano Binukid Blaan Bolinao Bontoc Buhid Butuanon Caluyanun Capiznon Cebuano Chavacano Chinese Cuyonon Davawenyo English Filipino Finallig Ga'dang Gaddang Giangan Hanunoo Higaonon Hiligaynon Ibaloi Ibanag Ibatan Ifugao Ilocano Ilongot Inabaknon Inonhan Iraya Isinai Isnag Itawit Itneg Ivatan I-Wak Kagayanen Kalagan Kalagan Kalinga Kallahan Kamayo Kankanaey Karao Karolanos Kasiguranin Kinaray-A Magahat Maguindanao Malaynon Mamanwa Mandaya Manobo Mansaka Mapun Maranao Masbatenyo Molbog Palawano Pampangan Pangasinan Paranan Philippine Sign Language Porohanon Ratagnon Romblomanon Sama Sambal Sangil Sangir Sorsogon Spanish Subanen Sulod Surigaonon Tadyawan Tagabawa Tagalog Tagbanwa Tagbanwa Tausug Tawbuid Tboli Tiruray Waray-Waray Yakan Yogad
Capital city:
Manila
Meaning country name:
Lands of King Philip" (Philip II of Spain, reigned 1556 - 1598) - the "-ines" part at the end of the name functions adjectivally. A recent and very romantic descriptive name, "Pearl of the Orient Seas" derives from the poem, "Mi Ultimo Adios" written by Philippine nationalist hero José Rizal. Other names include Katagalugan (used by the Katipunan when referring to the Philippines and means "land of/by the river", though this name is more used to refer to the Tagalog areas) and Maharlika (from the name of the upper class in pre-Hispanic Philippines, meaning "noble").
Description Flag:
The national flag of the Philippines is a horizontal bicolor with equal bands of blue and red, and with a white equilateral triangle based at the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a golden yellow sun with eight primary rays, each containing three individual rays; and at each corner of the triangle is a five-pointed golden yellow star. The flag is displayed with the blue field on top in times of peace, and with the red field on top in times of war.
The flag was first conceptualized by Emilio Aguinaldo. The first flag was sewn in Hong Kong by Marcela de Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza, and Doña Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, a niece of José Rizal, the Philippines' national hero.
According to official sources, the white triangle stands for equality and fraternity; the blue field for peace, truth and justice; and the red field for patriotism and valor. The eight primary rays of the sun represent the first eight provinces (Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac) that sought independence from Spain and were placed under martial law by the Spaniards at the start of the Philippine Revolution in 1896. The three stars represent the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
However, the symbolism given in the 1898 Proclamation of Philippine Independence differs from the current official explanation. It says that the white triangle signifies the emblem of the Katipunan, the secret society that opposed Spanish rule. It says the flag's colors commemorate the flag of the United States as a manifestation of gratitude for American protection against the Spanish during the Philippine Revolution. It also says that one of the three stars represents the island of Panay, rather than the entire Visayas.
Coat of arms:
The Coat of Arms of the Philippines features the eight-rayed sun of the Philippines with each ray representing the eight provinces (Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Manila, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac) which were placed under martial law by Governor-General Ramón Blanco during the Philippine Revolution, and the three five-pointed stars representing the three primary geographic regions of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. In the blue field on the left side is the Eagle of the United States, and in the red field on the right is the Lion-Rampant of Spain, both representing colonial history. The design is very similar to the design briefly adopted by the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1940.
The heraldic description from Republic Act No. 8491 of 1998 is as follows: Paleways of two pieces, azure and gules; a chief argent studded with three mullets equidistant from each other; and, in point of honor, ovoid argent over all the sun rayonnant with eight minor and lesser rays. Beneath shall be the scroll with the words "REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS," inscribed thereon.
The words on the scroll have undergone many changes since Philippine independence. From independence in 1946 until 1972, when President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, the scroll contained the words "REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES." From 1979 until the overthrow of Marcos in 1986, the scroll had the words "ISANG BANSA ISANG DIWA" ("One Nation, One Spirit") inscribed. After the overthrow of Marcos, the scroll changed to the current "REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINAS". In 1998, with the approval of Republic Act No. 8491, the eagle and lion on the lower half of the shield have been removed. However, the modified arms are not in wide use, pending the ratification of the law by a national referendum called for that purpose, as mandated by the Philippine Constitution.
Motto:
" Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, at Makabayan "
National Anthem: Lupang Hinirang
Phillipins
Bayang Magiliw
Perlas ng Silanganan,
Alab ng puso
Sa dibdib mo'y buhay.
Lupang hinirang,
Duyan ka ng magiting,
Sa manlulupig,
'Di ka pasisiil.
Sa dagat at bundok,
Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw,
May dilag ang tula at awit
Sa paglayang minamahal.
Ang kislap ng watawat mo'y
Tagumpay na nagniningning,
Ang bituin at araw niya
Kailan pa ma'y 'di magdidilim.
Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhati't pagsinta,
Buhay ay langit sa piling mo;
Aming ligaya, na 'pag may mang-aapi
Ang mamatay nang dahil sa 'yo.
Spanish
Tierra adorada
Hija del sol de Oriente,
Su fuego ardiente
en ti latiendo está.
¡Tierra de amores!
Del heroísmo cuna,
Los invasores
No te hollarán jamás.
En tu azul cielo, en tus auras,
En tus montes y en tu mar
Esplende y late el poema
De tu amada libertad.
Tu pabellón, que en las lides
La victoria iluminó,
No verá nunca apagados
Sus estrellas y su sol.
Tierra de dichas, del sol y de amores,
En tu regazo dulce es vivir.
Es una gloria para tus hijos,
Cuando te ofenden, por ti morir.
English
Beloved Country,
Pearl of the Orient,
The heart's fervor
In your heart is ever alive.
Chosen land,
You are the cradle of the brave.
To the conquerors
You shall never surrender.
Through the seas and mountains,
Through the air and your azure skies,
There is splendor in the poem
And song for dear freedom.
The sparkle of your flag
Is shining victory.
Its stars and sun
Forever will never dim.
Land of the morning, of glory, of our affection,
Life is heaven in your arms;
When someone oppresses you, it is our pleasure
To die for you.
Internet Page: www.gov.ph
Philippines in diferent languages
eng | fra | hau: Philippines
arg | glg | lin | oci | por | spa | srd | tet: Filipinas
ast | cat | lld: Filipines
bam | hrv | slv: Filipini
deu | ltz | nds: Philippinen / Philippinen
kin | run | swa: Filipino
ces | slk: Filipíny
dsb | hsb: Philippiny
hat | zza: Filipin
jav | mlg: Filipina
mlt | scn: Filippini
pol | szl: Filipiny
afr: Filippyne; Filippynse Eilande
aze: Filippin / Филиппин
bos: Filipini / Филипини
bre: Filipinez
cor: Filipinys
crh: Filippinler / Филиппинлер
csb: Filipinë
cym: Ynysoedd y Philapin
dan: Filippinerne
epo: Filipinoj
est: Filipiinid
eus: Filipinak
fao: Filipsoyggjar
fin: Filippiinit
frp: Felipines
fry: Filipinen
fur: Filipinis
gla: Na h-Eileanan Filipineach; Na Filipìonan
gle: Na hOileáin Fhilipíneacha / Na hOileáin Ḟilipíneaċa
glv: Ny h-Ellanyn Phillippeenagh
haw: ʻĀina Pilipino
hun: Fülöp-szigetek
ibo: Agwe-etiti Filipin
ina: Philippinas
ind: Pilipina / ڤيليڤينا; Filipina / فيليڤينا
isl: Filippseyjar; Filipseyjar
ita: Filippine
jnf: Ph’lippinnes
kaa: Filippinı / Филиппины
kmr: Fîlîpînêd / Филипинед / فیلیپینێد
kur: Filîpîn / فلیپین; Fîlîpîn / فیلیپین
lat: Philippinae
lav: Filipīnas
lim: Filipiene
lit: Filipinai
mol: Filipine / Филипине
msa: Filipina / فيليڤينا
nld: Filipijnen
nno: Filippinane
nob: Filippinene
nrm: Phelippènes
pap: Filipina
que: Philipinakuna
rmy: Filipine / क़िलिपिने
roh: Filippinas
ron: Filipine
rup: Filipinji
slo: Filipinia / Филипиниа
sme: Filippiinnat
smg: Fėlėpinā
smo: Filipaina
som: Filibiin
sqi: Filipinet
swe: Filippinerna
tgl: Pilipinas
ton: Filipaine
tuk: Filippinler / Филиппинлер
tur: Filipinler; Filipin Adaları
uzb: Filippin orollari / Филиппин ороллари
vie: Phi Luật Tân; Phi-líp-pin
vol: Filipuäns
vor: Filipiiniq
wln: Filipenes
wol: Filipiin
alt | chm | kom | kum | rus: Филиппины (Filippiny)
bul | mkd: Филипини (Filipini)
kjh | tyv: Филиппиннер (Filippinner)
mon | udm: Филиппин (Filippin)
abq: Филиппинска дзыгӀвбжяква (Fiłippinska dzəʿʷbžjakʷa)
bak: Филиппин / Filippin
bel: Філіпіны / Filipiny
che: Филиппинаш (Filippinaš)
chv: Филиппин утравӗсем (Filippin utravĕsem)
kaz: Филиппин аралдары / Fïlïppïn araldarı / فيليپپين ارالدارى
kbd: Филиппинскэ островхэр (Filippinskă ostrovĥăr)
kir: Филиппиндер (Filippinder); Филиппин аралдары (Filippin araldary)
krc: Филиппинле (Filippinle)
oss: Филиппинтӕ (Filippintä)
srp: Филипини / Filipini
tat: Филиппин утраулары / Filippin utrawları
tgk: Ҷазираҳои Филиппин / جزیرههای فیلیپین / Çazirahoi Filippin
ukr: Філиппіни (Filyppiny)
ara: الفيليبين (al-Fīlībbīn); الفلبين (al-Filibbīn); الفيلبين (al-Fīlibbīn)
fas: فیلیپین / Filipin
prs: فلپین (Felepīn)
pus: فلپين (Filipīn); فلپاين (Filipāyn)
snd: فلپائن (Filipāʾin)
uig: فىلىپپىن / Filippin / Филиппин
urd: فلپائن (Filipāʾin)
div: ޕިލިޕީންސް (Pilipīns); ފިލިޕީންސް (Filipīns)
heb: פיליפינים (Fîlîpînîm)
lad: פ'יליפינאס / Filipinas
yid: פֿיליפּינען (Filipinen)
amh: ፊሊፒን (Filipin)
ell-dhi: Φιλιππίνες (Filippínes)
ell-kat: Φιλιππῖναι (Filippĩnai)
hye: Ֆիլիպիններ (Filipinner)
kat: ფილიპინები (Ṗilipinebi)
hin: फ़िलीपींस (Filīpīṁs); फ़िलीपिंस (Filīpiṁs); फ़िलिपाइन (Filipāin); फ़िलिपीन (Filipīn); फ़िलिपाइंस (Filipāiṁs); फ़िलिपींस (Filipīṁs)
mar: फिलिपाईन्स (Pʰilipāīns)
ben: ফিলিপিন্স (Pʰilipins); ফিলিপাইন (Pʰilipāin)
pan: ਫਿਲਿਪੀਨੀਜ਼ (Pʰilipīnīz)
kan: ಫಿಲಿಪ್ಪೀನ್ಸ್ (Pʰilippīns)
mal: ഫിലിപ്പൈന്സ് (Pʰilippains); ഫിലിപ്പീന്സ് (Pʰilippīns)
tam: பிலிப்பைன்ஸ் (Pilippaiṉs); பிலிப்பின் தீவுகள் (Pilippiṉ Tīvukaḷ)
tel: ఫిలిప్పీన్స్ (Pʰilippīns)
zho: 菲律賓/菲律宾 (Fēilùbīn)
yue: 菲律賓/菲律宾 (Fèileuhtbān)
jpn: フィリピン (Firipin)
kor: 필리핀 (Pillipin)
bod: ཧྥི་ལེའི་པིན་ (Hpʰi.le'i.pin.); ཧྥེ་ལི་པིང་ (Hpʰe.li.piṅ.)
mya: ဖိလစ္ပုိင္ (Pʰíliʿpaĩ)
tha: ฟิลิปปินส์ (Filippin[s])
lao: ຟີລິບປິນ (Fīlippin)
khm: ហ្វីលីពីន (Hvīlīpīn); ហ្វ៉ីលិពីន (Hvīlipīn)
Is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are occupied by two countries. Both by area and population, the Dominican Republic is the second largest Caribbean nation (after Cuba), with 48,442 square kilometres (18,704 sq mi) and an estimated 10 million people.
Inhabited by Taínos since the seventh century, the territory of the Dominican Republic was reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, namely Santo Domingo, the country's capital and Spain's first capital in the New World. In Santo Domingo stand, among other firsts in the Americas, the first university, cathedral, and castle, the latter two in the Ciudad Colonial area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After three centuries of Spanish rule, with French and Haitian interludes, the country became independent in 1821 but was quickly taken over by Haiti. Victorious in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844, Dominicans experienced mostly political turmoil and a brief return to Spanish rule over the next 72 years. The United States occupation of 1916–1924, and a subsequent, calm and prosperous six-year period under Horacio Vásquez Lajara, were followed by the military dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina until 1961. The last civil war was ended by the 1965 United States occupation of the Dominican Republic, and was followed by the authoritarian rule of Joaquin Balaguer, 1966 – 1978. Since then, the Dominican Republic has moved toward representative democracy, and has been led by Leonel Fernández for most of the time after 1996.
The Dominican Republic has adopted economic liberalism, and has the second largest economy in the Caribbean. Though long known for sugar production, the economy is now dominated by services. The country's economic progress is exemplified by its advanced telecommunication system. Nevertheless, unemployment, government corruption, and inconsistent electric service remain major Dominican problems. The country also has "marked income inequality".
International migration greatly affects the country, as it receives and sends large flows of migrants. Haitian immigration and the integration of Dominicans of Haitian descent are major issues; the total population of Haitian origin is estimated to be 800,000. A large Dominican diaspora exists, most of it in the United States, where it comprises 1.3 million. They aid national development as they send billions of dollars to their families, accounting for one-tenth of the Dominican GDP.
The Dominican Republic has become the Caribbean's largest tourist destination; the country's year-round golf courses are among the top attractions. In this mountainous land is located the Caribbean's highest mountain, Pico Duarte, as is Lake Enriquillo, the Caribbean's largest lake and lowest elevation. Quisqueya, as Dominicans often call their country, has an average temperature of 26 °C (79°F) and great biological diversity.
Music and sport are of the highest importance in Dominican culture, with merengue as the national dance and song and baseball the favorite sport.
History
The Taínos
The Arawakan-speaking Taínos moved into Hispaniola, displacing earlier inhabitants, circa A.D. 650. The Taínos called the island Kiskeya or Quisqueya ("mother of the earth"). They engaged in farming and fishing, and hunting and gathering. The fierce Caribs drove the Taínos to the northeastern Caribbean during much of the 15th century. The estimates of Hispaniola's population in 1492 vary widely, including one hundred thousand, three hundred thousand, and four hundred thousand to two million. By 1492 the island was divided into five Taíno chiefdoms.
The Spanish arrived in 1492. After initially friendly relations, the Taínos resisted the conquest, led by the female Chief Anacaona of Xaragua and her husband Chief Caonabo of Maguana, as well as Chiefs Guacanagarix, Guamá, Hatuey, and Enriquillo. The latter's successes gained his people an autonomous enclave for a time on the island. Nevertheless, within a few years after 1492 the population of Taínos had declined drastically, due to smallpox and other diseases that arrived with the Europeans, and from other causes discussed below. The decline continued, and by 1711 the Taíno numbered just 21,000. The last record of pure Taínos in the country was from 1864. Due to intermarriage over the centuries, many Dominicans have Taíno ancestry. Remnants of the Taino culture include their cave paintings, as well as pottery designs which are still used in the small artisan village of Higüerito, Moca.
Spanish rule
Christopher Columbus arrived on Hispaniola on December 5, 1492, during the first of his four voyages to America. He claimed the island for Spain and named it La Española. In 1496 Bartholomew Columbus, Christopher's brother, built the city of Santo Domingo, Europe's first permanent settlement in the "New World". The Spaniards created a plantation economy on the island. The colony was the springboard for the further Spanish conquest of America and for decades the headquarters of Spanish power in the hemisphere. Christopher was buried in Santo Domingo upon his death in 1506.
The Taínos nearly disappeared, above all, from European infectious diseases to which they had no immunity. Other causes were abuse, suicide, the breakup of family, starvation, enslavement, forced labor, torture, war with the Spaniards, changes in lifestyle, and even miscegenation. Laws passed for the Indians's protection (beginning with the Laws of Burgos, 1512–1513) were never truly enforced. Yet as stated above, the Taínos did survive. Some scholars believe that las Casas exaggerated the Indian population decline in an effort to persuade King Carlos to intervene, and that encomenderos also exaggerated it, in order to receive permission to import more African slaves. Moreover, censuses of the time omitted the Indians who fled into remote communities, where they often joined with runaway Africans (cimarrones), producing Zambos. Also, Mestizos who were culturally Spanish were counted as Spaniards, some Zambos as black, and some Indians as Mulattos.
After her conquest of the Aztecs and Incas, Spain neglected her Caribbean holdings. French buccaneers settled in western Hispaniola, and by the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick, Spain ceded the area to France. France created the wealthy colony Saint-Domingue there, with a population 90% slave, and overall four times as populous (500,000 to 125,000) as the Spanish area at the end of the 18th century.
French rule
France came to own the whole island in 1795, when by the Peace of Basel Spain ceded Santo Domingo as a consequence of the French Revolutionary Wars. At the time, Saint–Domingue's slaves, led by Toussaint Louverture, were in revolt against France. In 1801 they captured Santo Domingo, thus controlling the entire island; but in 1802 an army sent by Napoleon captured Toussaint Louverture and sent him to France as prisoner. However, Toussaint Louverture's lieutenants, and yellow fever, succeeded in expelling the French again from Saint-Domingue, which in 1804 the rebels made independent as the Republic of Haiti. Eastwards, France continued to rule Spanish Santo Domingo.
In 1808, following Napoleon's invasion of Spain, the criollos of Santo Domingo revolted against French rule and, with the aid of Great Britain (Spain's ally) and Haiti, returned Santo Domingo to Spanish control.
Independence
In 1838 Juan Pablo Duarte founded a secret society called La Trinitaria, which sought the complete independence of Santo Domingo without any foreign intervention.Ramón Matías Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, despite not being among the founding members of La Trinitaria, were decisive in the fight for independence. Duarte and they are the three Founding Fathers of the Dominican Republic. On February 27, 1844, the Trinitarios (Trinitarians), declared the independence from Haiti. They were backed by Pedro Santana, a wealthy cattle rancher from El Seibo, who became general of the army of the nascent Republic. The Dominican Republic's first Constitution was adopted on November 6, 1844, and was modeled after the United States Constitution.
The decades that followed were filled with tyranny, factionalism, economic difficulties, rapid changes of government, and exile for political opponents. Threatening the nation's independence were renewed Haitian invasions occurring in 1844, 1845–49, 1849–55, and 1855–56.:page number needed
Meanwhile, archrivals Santana and Buenaventura Báez held power most of the time, both ruling arbitrarily. They promoted competing plans to annex the new nation to another power: Santana favored Spain, and Báez the United States.
Geography
The Dominican Republic (Spanish: República Dominicana) is a country in the West Indies that occupies the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola. It has an area of 48,442 km², including offshore islands. The land border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which occupies the western one-third of the island, is 388 km long. The maximum length, east to west, is 390 km from Punta de Agua to Las Lajas, on the border with Haiti. The maximum width, north to south, is 265 km from Cape Isabela to Cape Beata. The capital, Santo Domingo, is located on the south coast.
The Dominican Republic's shores are washed by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. The Mona Passage, a channel about 130 km wide, separates the country (and Hispaniola) from Puerto Rico.
Other info
Oficial Name:
Republica Dominicana
Independence:
27 February 1844
Area:
48.511km2
Inhabitants:
9.450.000
Languages:
Dominican Sign Language [doq] Dialects: Lexical similarity 85% to 90% with ASL, and uses most of the features of ASL, such as absent referent and reduplication. Classification: Deaf sign language
More information.
English [eng] 8,000 in Dominican Republic (1989 J. Holm). Samaná Peninsula, northeastern Dominican Republic. Dialects: Samaná English. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
More information.
Haitian Creole French [hat] 159,000 in Dominican Republic (1987). Alternate names: Kreyol, Aiysyen. Classification: Creole, French based
More information.
Spanish [spa] 6,886,000 in Dominican Republic (1995). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Capital city:
Santo Domingo
Meaning country name :
Derived from Santo Domingo, the capital city, which bears the name of the Spanish Saint Domingo de Guzmán, the founder of the Dominican Order.
Description Flag:
The flag of the Dominican Republic, as described by Article 96 of the Dominican Constitution, features a centered white cross that extends to the edges and divides the flag into four rectangles —the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue. A small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a bay laurel branch (left) and a palm frond (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield, a blue ribbon displays the national motto: Dios, Patria, Libertad (God, Fatherland, Liberty). Below the shield, the words República Dominicana appear on a red ribbon (this red ribbon is depicted in more recent versions as having its tips pointing upward -see image below-). In the center of the shield, flanked by three spears (two of them holding Dominican banners) on each side, is a Bible with a small cross above it, which is opened (according to popular belief) to the Gospel of John, 8:32, which reads Y la verdad nos hará libre (And the truth shall set you free).
Coat of arms:
The coat of arms of the Dominican Republic features a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and a palm branch (right); above the shield, a blue ribbon displays the national motto: Dios, Patria, Libertad (God, Fatherland, Liberty). Below the shield, the words Republica Dominicana appear on a red ribbon (this red ribbon is sometimes depicted having its tips pointing upward). In the center of the shield is a Bible opened to the Gospel of John, 8:32, which reads Y la verdad nos hará libres (And the truth shall set you free), with a small cross above it, and on each side flanked by three spears, two of them holding Dominican banners.
Motto:
"God, Homeland, Liberty"
National Anthem: Quisqueyanos valientes
I
Quisqueyanos valientes, alcemos
Nuestro canto con viva emoción,
Y del mundo a la faz ostentemos
Nuestro invicto glorioso pendón.
II
Salve el pueblo que intrépido y fuerte,
A la guerra a morir se lanzó
Cuando en bélico reto de muerte
Sus cadenas de esclavo rompió.
III
Ningún pueblo ser libre merece
Si es esclavo indolente y servil;
Si en su pecho la llama no crece
Que templó el heroismo viril.
IV
Más Quisqueya la indómita y brava
Siempre altiva la frente alzará:
Que si fuere mil veces esclava
Otras tantas ser libre sabrá.
V
Que si dolo y ardid la expusieron
de un intruso señor al desdén,
¡Las Carreras! ¡Beller!... campos fueron
que cubiertos de gloria se ven.
VI
Que en la cima de heroíco baluarte,
de los libres el verbo encarnó,
donde el genio de Sánchez y Duarte
a ser libre o morir enseñó.
VII
Y si pudo inconsulto caudillo
de esas glorias el brillo empañar,
de la guerra se vió en Capotillo
la bandera de fuego ondear.
VIII
Y el incendio que atónito deja
de Castilla al soberbio león,
de las playas gloriosas le aleja
donde flota el cruzado pendón.
IX
Compatriotas, mostremos erguida
nuestra frente, orgullosos de hoy más;
que Quisqueya será destruida
pero sierva de nuevo, jamás.
X
Que es santuario de amor cada pecho
do la patria se siente vivir;
Y es su escudo invencible, el derecho;
Y es su lema: ser libre o morir.
XI
Libertad que aún se yergue serena
La victoria en su carro triunfal.
Y el clarín de la guerra aún resuena
Pregonando su gloria inmortal.
XII
¡Libertad! Que los ecos se agiten
Mientras llenos de noble ansiedad
Nuestros campos de gloria repiten
¡Libertad! ¡Libertad! ¡Libertad!
English translation
I
Valiant sons of Quisqueya, let's loudly sing
Our song with a fiery passion
And let's show to the face of the world
Our undefeated, glorious flag.
II
Hail, the people who strong and intrepid,
Into war launched itself unto death!
When in warfare challenge of death,
Her slavery chains she broke.
III
None people deserves to be free
If he is slave, indolent and servile;
If in his heart the flame is not burning,
Which was sparked by heroic manliness.
IV
But Quisqueya, the indomitable and brave,
Her head will always lift up high,
For if she were enslaved a thousand times,
Many more times shall she know how to be free.
V
If it will be exposed to ruse and deceit
Unto contempt of a real imposer,
On to Las Carreras! Beler! ...it were places
Where the traces of glory are found.
VI
Where on the top of the heroic bastion,
The word of the libarated became flesh,
Where the genius of Sánchez and Duarte
Taught to be free or to die.
VII
And if an unattended leader the splendor
Of these glorious events could ignore,
One has seen in Capotillo in the war
The flag of fire wave.
VIII
And the fire that lets the proud lion
Of Castilla become stupefied,
Removes him from the glorious beaches
Where the crossed banner waves.
IX
Compatriots, let us proudly
Show our face, from today prouder than ever;
Quisqueya may be destroyed
But a slave again, never!
X
It is a sanctuary of love that every character
Of the fatherland feels alive!
And it is his coat of arms, the right;
And it is his device: be free or die.
XI
Freedom that still rises cool-bloodedly
The victory in her triumphal car.
And the clarion of war re-echoes
Proclaiming his immortal glory.
XII
Freedom! That the echo's touch
While they're full of noble tension
Our fields of glory repeat
Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!
Internet Page: www.dominicanrepublic.com
Dominican Rep. in diferent languages
eng: Dominican Republic
ast | cat | glg | por | spa: República Dominicana
arg | lld | oci | roh: Republica Dominicana
hrv | hsb | slv: Dominikanska republika
est | vor: Dominikaani Vabariik
kin | run: Republika ya Dominika
pol | szl: Dominikana
afr: Dominikaanse Republiek
aze: Dominikan Respublikası / Доминикан Республикасы
bam: Dɔminikɛni
bos: Dominikanska Republika / Доминиканска Република
bre: Republik Dominikan
ces: Dominikánská republika
cor: Repoblek Dhominikanek
crh: Dominikan Cumhuriyeti / Доминикан Джумхуриети
cym: Gweriniaeth Dominica
dan: Den Dominikanske Republik
deu: Dominikanische Republik / Dominikaniſche Republik
dsb: Dominikańska republika
epo: Domingo
eus: Dominikar Errepublika
fao: Domingo lýðveldið
fin: Dominikaaninen tasavalta
fra: République dominicaine
frp: Rèpublica domeniquêna
fry: Dominikaanske Republyk
fur: Republiche Dominicane
gla: Poblachd Dhoiminicia
gle: An Poblacht Dhoiminiceach / An Poblaċt Ḋoiminiceaċ
glv: Yn Phobblaght Ghominicagh
hat: Repiblik dominikàn
hun: Dominikai Köztársaság
ina: Republica Dominican
ind: Republik Dominika / ريڤوبليك دومينيكا
isl: Dóminíska lýðveldið
ita: Repubblica Dominicana
jav: Republik Dominika
jnf: Républyique Dominnicaine
kaa: Dominikana Respublikası / Доминикана Республикасы
kmr: Cimḧurîyeta Domînîkanê / Щьмһ’ӧрийәта Доминикане / جمحوریەتا دۆمینیکانێ
kur: Komara Domînîkanê / کۆمارا دۆمینیکانێ
lat: Res Publica Dominicana; Res Publica Dominiciana; Respublica Dominicana
lav: Dominikas Republika; Dominikāna
lin: Republiki Dominikani
lit: Dominikos Respublika
ltz: Dominikanesch Republik / Dominikaneſch Republik
mlg: Repoblikan’i Dominikana
mlt: Repubblika Dominikana
mol: Republica Dominicană / Република Доминиканэ
msa: Republik Dominican / ريڤوبليك دومينيكان
nds: Dominikaansche Republiek / Dominikaanſche Republiek
nld: Dominicaanse Republiek
nno: Den dominikanske republikken
nob: Den dominikanske republikk
nrm: Saint-Domingue
pap: Repúblika Dominikanu
que: Duminikana
rmy: Dominikani Republika / दोमिनिकानी रेपुब्लिका
ron: Republica Dominicană
rup: Republica Dominicanã
scn: Ripùbbrica Duminicana
slk: Dominikánska republika
slo: Dominikanju Republik / Доминиканйу Републик
sme: Dominikána republihkka
smg: Duomėnė̄kas Respoblėka
sqi: Republika Domenikane
srd: Repùbrica Dominicana
swa: Jamhuri ya Dominikan
swe: Dominikanska republiken
tet: Repúblika Dominikana
tgl: Republika ng Dominikano
ton: Lepāpulika Tominikení
tuk: Dominikan Jumhuriýäti / Доминикан Җумхурийәти
tur: Dominik Cumhuriyeti; Dominikan Cumhuriyeti
uzb: Dominikana Respublikasi / Доминикана Республикаси
vie: Cộng hoà Dominicana
vol: Repüblikän Dominiganik
wln: Republike Dominikinne
wol: Republik Dominikee
zza: Cumhuriyetê Dominiki
kir | krc | kum: Доминикана Республикасы (Dominikana Respublikasy)
bul | mkd: Доминиканска Република (Dominikanska Republika)
alt | chm: Доминиканский Республика (Dominikanskij Respublika)
abq: Доминиканска Ареспублика (Dominikanska Arespubłika)
bak: Доминикана Республикаһы / Dominikana Respublikahı
bel: Дамініканская Рэспубліка / Daminikanskaja Respublika
che: Доминикански Республика (Dominikanski Respublika)
chv: Доминикана Республики (Dominikana Respubliki)
kaz: Доминикан Республикасы / Domïnïkan Respwblïkası / دومينيكان رەسپۋبليكاسى
kbd: Доминиканскэ Республикэ (Dominikanskă Respublikă)
kjh: Доминиканскай Республика (Dominikanskaj Respublika)
kom: Доминиканскӧй Республика (Dominikansköj Respublika)
mon: Бүгд Найрамдах Доминикан Улс (Bügd Najramdaĥ Dominikan Uls)
oss: Доминиканаг Республикӕ (Dominikanag Respublikä)
rus: Доминиканская Республика (Dominikanskaja Respublika)
srp: Доминиканска Република / Dominikanska Republika
tat: Доминикан республикасы / Dominikan respublikası
tgk: Ҷумҳурии Доминикана / جمهوری دامینیکنه / Çumhuriji Dominikana
tyv: Доминикан Республика (Dominikan Respublika)
ukr: Домініканська Республіка (Dominikans'ka Respublika)
ara: جمهوريةالدومينيكان (Ǧumhūrīyâtu d-Dūmīnīkān); جمهورية الدومنيكان(Ǧumhūrīyâtu d-Dūminīkān); الجمهوريةالدومينيكية (al-Ǧumhūrīyâtu d-Dūmīnīkīyâ)
fas: دومینیکن (Domīnīkan); دمینیکن (Domīnīkan); جمهوری دومینیکن (Jomhūrī-ye Domīnīkan)
prs: جمهوری دومینیکان (Jomhūrī-ye Dōmīnīkān)
pus: د ډومينيکان جمهوريت (də Ḋomīnīkān Jumhūriyat); د دومينيکان جمهوريت (də Domīnīkān Jumhūriyat)
uig: دومىنىكان جۇمھۇرىيىتى / Dominikan jumhuriyiti / Доминикан җумһурийити
urd: ڈومینیکن ریپبلک (Ḋômīnīkan Rīpablik); جمہوریۂ ڈومینیکا (Jumhūrīyâ-e Ḋômīnīkā)
div: ޑޮމިނިކަން ރިޕަބްލިކް (Ḋominikan Ripablik)
heb: הרפובליקה הדומיניקנית (ha-Repûblîqah ha-Dômînîqanît); הרפובליקה הדומיניקאנית (ha-Repûblîqah ha-Dômînîqânît)
lad: ריפובליקה דומיניקאנה / Republika Dominikana
yid: דאָמיניקאַנישע רעפּובליק (Dominikaniše Republik)
amh: ዶሚኒካን ሪፐብሊክ (Dominikan Ripäblik)
ell-dhi: Δομινικανή Δημοκρατία (Dominikanī́ Dīmokratía); Δομινικανική Δημοκρατία (Dominikanikī́ Dīmokratía)
ell-kat: Δομινικανὴ Δημοκρατία (Dominikanī̀ Dīmokratía); Δομινικανικὴ Δημοκρατία (Dominikanikī̀ Dīmokratía)
hye: Դոմինիկյան Հանրապետություն (Dominikyan Hanrapetouṭyoun)
kat: დომინიკელთა რესპუბლიკა (Dominikelṭa respublika)
hin: डोमिनिकन गणराज्य (Ḍominikan Gaṇrājyā); डोमीनिकन रिपब्लिक (Ḍomīnikan Ripablik); डोमिनिकन रिपब्लिक (Ḍominikan Ripablik)
mar: डॉमिनिकन प्रजासत्ताक (Ḍŏminikan Pradzāsattāk)
ben: ডোমিনিকান প্রজাতন্ত্র (Ḍominikān Prôjātôntrô)
pan: ਡੋਮੀਨੀਕਾਨ ਗਣਰਾਜ (Ḍomīnīkān Gaṇrāj)
kan: ಡೊಮಿನಿಕನ್ ಗಣರಾಜ್ಯ (Ḍominikan Gaṇarājya)
mal: ഡൊമിനിക്കന് റിപ്പബ്ലിക് (Ḍominikkan Ṟippablik)
tam: டொமினிகன் குடியரசு (Ṭomiṉikaṉ Kuṭiyaraču)
tel: డొమినికన్ రిపబ్లిక్ (Ḍominikan Ripablik)
zho: 多米尼加共和国 (Duōmǐníjiā Gōnghéguó)
jpn: ドミニカ共和国 (Dominika Kyōwakoku)
kor: 도미니카공화국 (Dominika Gonghwaguk)
mya: ဒုိမီနီကန္္သမ္မတနုိင္ငံ (Dominikã Ṯãmatánaĩṅã)
tha: สาธารณรัฐโดมินิกัน (Sātʰāronrât Dōminikân)
khm: សាធារណរដ្ឋដូមីនីកែន (Sātʰāroṇrod[tʰ] Dūmīnīkæn); សាធារណរដ្ឋដូមីនិកាំង (Sātʰāroṇrod[tʰ] Dūmīnikāṁṅ)
I am willing to bet that very few people who walk by this on a daily basis know the story behind this memorial fountain by Joseph Wackerle.
Operation Shamrock was a scheme bringing refugee children from mainland Europe to Ireland in the aftermath of the Second World War. It was organised by the Irish Red Cross, and involved about 500 children, mostly from Germany, who stayed for three years before returning home.
Irish assistance to Germany reinforced in Britain the perception, fostered by wartime neutrality, that Ireland was pro-Nazi. Conversely, West Germany in the 1950s had gratitude for Ireland's postwar relief aid, and ties grew between the countries. In January 1956 a memorial fountain sculpted by Joseph Wackerle and commissioned by the German Gratitude Fund was unveiled in St Stephen's Green, Dublin, by the West German ambassador.
In 1961, the German war cemetery was opened near St Kevin's Hostel, Glencree, for graves of German aviators killed in Ireland during the war. In 1974, the hostel became the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, which played a role in the Northern Ireland peace process in the 1990s.
German-language courses provided for refugees in Dublin led to the foundation of St. Kilian's German School.
In March 1997, a reunion of over 300 foster-children and families was held at the German embassy in Dublin, attended by Presidents Mary Robinson of Ireland and Roman Herzog of Germany.
As part of The Gathering Ireland 2013, 21 refugee children from Germany, France and Austria returned to Glencree.
The sculpture consists of a group of three bronze figures from Norse mythology, representing the Three Fates, Urd (past), Verdandi (present) and Skuld (future). In Norse mythology these three female figures are known as norns, who rule the destiny of Gods and men. Around the fountain are three plaques. Each plaque says “This fountain, designed by the sculptor Josef Wackerle, is the gift of the people of the German Federal Republic to mark their gratitude for Ireland’s help after the war of 1939-45. The bronze group portrays the three legendary fates spinning and measuring the thread of man’s destiny.” One is in English, the second is in Gaelic, and the third is in German.
Saudi Arabia (officially Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) is the largest Arab country of the Middle East. It is bordered by Jordan and Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south. The Persian Gulf lies to the northeast and the Red Sea to its west. It has an estimated population of 28 million, and its size is approximately 2,149,690 square kilometres (830,000 sq mi).
The Kingdom is sometimes called "The Land of the Two Holy Mosques" in reference to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest places in Islam. The two mosques are Masjid al-Haram and Masjid Al-Nabawi. The current Kingdom was founded by Abdul-Aziz bin Saud, whose efforts began in 1902 when he captured the Al-Saud’s ancestral home of Riyadh, and culminated in 1932 with the proclamation and recognition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, though its national origins go back as far as 1744 with the establishment of the First Saudi State.
Saudi Arabia is full of petroleum exporter. Petroleum exports fuel the Saudi economy. Oil accounts for more than 90 percent of exports and nearly 75 percent of government revenues, facilitating the creation of a welfare state, which the government has found difficult to fund during periods of low oil prices.
History
Although the region in which the country stands today has an ancient history, the emergence of the Saudi dynasty began in central Arabia in 1744. That year, Muhammad ibn Saud, the ruler of the town of Ad-Dir'iyyah near Riyadh, joined forces with a cleric, Muhammad ibn Abd-al-Wahhab, to create a new political entity. This alliance formed in the 18th century remains the basis of Saudi Arabian dynastic rule today.
Over the next 150 years, the fortunes of the Saud family rose and fell several times as Saudi rulers contended with Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and other Arabian families for control on the peninsula (see First Saudi State and Second Saudi State). The third and current Saudi state was founded in the early 20th century by King Abdul Aziz Al Saud (known internationally as Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud).
Geography
The Kingdom occupies about 80 percent of the Arabian peninsula. In 2000 Saudi Arabia and Yemen signed an agreement to settle their long-running border dispute. A significant length of the country's southern borders with the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, are not precisely defined or marked, so the exact size of the country remains unknown. The Saudi government's estimate is 2,217,949 km2 (856,355 sq mi). Other reputable estimates vary between 1,960,582 km2 (756,934 mi) and 2,240,000 km2 (860,000 sq mi). The kingdom is commonly listed as the world's 14th largest state.
Saudi Arabia's geography is varied. From the humid western coastal region (Tihamah) on the Red Sea, the land rises from sea level to a peninsula-long mountain range (Jabal al-Hejaz) beyond which lies the plateau of Nejd in the center. The southwestern 'Asir region has mountains as high as 3,000 m (9,800 ft) and is known for having the greenest and freshest climate in all of the country, one that attracts many Saudis to resorts such as Abha in the summer months. The east is primarily rocky or sandy lowland continuing to the shores of the Persian Gulf. The geographically hostile Rub' al Khali ("Empty Quarter") desert along the country's imprecisely defined southern borders contains almost no life.
Mostly uninhabited, much of the nation's landmass consists of desert and semi-arid regions, with a dwindling traditional Bedouin population. In these parts of the country, vegetation is limited to weeds, xerophytic herbs and shrubs. Less than two percent of the kingdom's total area is arable land. Population centers are mainly located along the eastern and western coasts and densely populated interior oases such as Hofuf and Buraydah. In some extended areas, primarily the Rub' al-Khali and the Arabian Desert, there is no population whatsoever, although the petroleum industry is constructing a few planned communities there. Saudi Arabia has no permanent year-round rivers or lakes; however, its coastline extends for 2,640 km (1,640 mi) and, along the Red Sea, harbors world-class coral reefs, including the Gulf of Aqaba.
Native animals include the ibex, wildcats, baboons, wolves, and hyenas in the mountainous highlands. Small birds are found in the oases. The coastal area on the Red Sea with its coral reefs has a rich marine life.
Oficial Name:
المملكة العربيّة السّعوديّة
Al-Mamlakah al-'Arabiyah as-Sa'udiyah
Establishment :
Kingdom declared January 8, 1926
- Recognized May 20, 1927
- Unified September 23, 1932
Area:
2.248.000km2
Inhabitants:
22.568.000
Languages:
Arabic, Gulf Spoken [afb] 200,000 in Saudi Arabia. Northern and southern Eastern Province. Alternate names: Gulf Spoken. Dialects: Al-Hasaa. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
More information.
Arabic, Hijazi Spoken [acw] 6,000,000 in Saudi Arabia (1996). Red Sea coast and adjacent highlands. Also spoken in Eritrea. Alternate names: Hijazi, West Arabian Colloquial Arabic. Dialects: North Hijazi, South Hijazi, Valley Tihaamah, Coastal Tihaamah. North Hijazi has 4 subdialects, South Hijazi has 16. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
More information.
Arabic, Najdi Spoken [ars] 8,000,000 in Saudi Arabia. Population total all countries: 9,863,520. Also spoken in Canada, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, USA. Dialects: North Najdi (Shammari, Bani Khaalid, Dafiir), Central Najdi (Rwala, Haayil, Al-Qasiim, Sudair, Riyadh, Hofuf, Biishah, Najraan, Wild `Ali, `Awaazim, Rashaayda, Mutair, `Utaiba, `Ajmaan), South Anjdi (Aal Murrah, Najran). Some dialects are spoken by Bedouins. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
More information.
Arabic, Standard [arb] 206,000,000 first-language speakers of all Arabic varieties (1999 WA). Middle East, North Africa, other Muslim countries. Also spoken in Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian West Bank and Gaza, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. Alternate names: High Arabic, Al Fus-Ha, Al Arabiya. Dialects: Modern Standard Arabic (Modern Literary Arabic), Classical Arabic (Koranic Arabic, Quranic Arabic). Preserves the ancient grammar. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Capital city:
Riyadh
Meaning country name:
"Saudi" after the House of Saud, the royal family who founded the kingdom and who still rule it. The dynasty takes its name from its ancestor, "Sa`ûd", whose name in Arabic means "a group of stars/planets". The etymology of the term "Arab" or "Arabian" links closely with that of the place-name "Arabia". The root of the word has many meanings in Semitic languages, including "west / sunset", "desert", "mingle", "merchant", "raven" and "comprehensible", all of which appear to have some relevance to the emergence of the name.
Description Flag:
The flag of Saudi Arabia is the flag used by the government of Saudi Arabia since March 15, 1973. It is a green flag featuring in white an Arabic inscription and a sword.
The script on the flag is written in the Thuluth script. It is the shahada or Islamic declaration of faith:
لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله
la ilaha ill allah muhammadun rasul allah
"There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his Messenger"
The sword, symbolising the victories of Ibn Saud, is underneath the inscription.
Green flags bearing this or other Arabic scripts are frequently seen in Islam and should not be confused with the Saudi national flag. These other flags normally do not bear the sword symbol.
The flag is manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides, to ensure the shahada reads correctly, from right to left, from either side. The sword points from hoist to fly on both sides. The flag is sinister hoisted, meaning that the obverse side (front) has the hoist side (flagpole side) to the right.
Coat of arms:
The Saudi Arabian coat of arms (Arabic: شعار السعودية) includes two swords and a palm tree which represents the Saudi main tree. Each of the swords represent the two houses which founded modern day Saudi Arabia, the House of Saud, and the House of Wahab.
The date palm tree represents vitality and growth. The crossed scimitars symbolize justice and strength rooted in faith.
Motto:
"There is no God but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" (the Shahadah)
National Anthem: عاش المليك --As-Salam Al Malaki
Arab
سارعي للمجد و العلياء
مجدي لخالق السماء
و ارفعي الخفاق أخضر
يحمل النور المسطر
رددِ الله أكبر ياموطني
موطني قد عشت فخر المسلمين
عاش الملك للعلم و الوطن
Transliteration
Sār‘ī le l-majd wa l-‘alyā',
Majjedī le Khāleq as-Samā'!
Wa arfa‘ī el khaffāq akhḍḍar
Yaḥmil an-Nūr al-musaṭṭar
Raddedi: Allahu akbar,
Yā mawtanī!
Mawtanī, qad ‘išta fakhr al-Muslimīn
‘Āsh al-Malik le l-‘alam wa l-watan!
English
Hasten to glory and supremacy,
Glorify the Creator of the heavens!
And raise the green, fluttering flag
Carrying the emblem of Light,
Repeat: God is greatest,
O my country!
My country, may you always live, glory of all Muslims!
Long live the King for the flag and the country!
Internet Page: www.moe.gov.sa
S.Arabia in diferent languages
eng | eus | lin: Saudi Arabia
ita | lld | oci | roh: Arabia Saudita
arg | ast | glg: Arabia Saudí
afr | lim: Saoedi-Arabië
est | vor: Saudi Araabia
fao | sme: Saudi-Arábia
fin | nor: Saudi-Arabia
ind | msa: Arab Saudi / عرب سعودي
kin | run: Sawudi Arabiya
ltz | nds: Saudi-Arabien / Saudi-Arabien
por | tet: Arábia Saudita
aze: Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı / Сәудијјә Әрәбистаны
bam: Arabi-Sawuditi
bos: Saudijska Arabija / Саудијска Арабија
bre: Arabia Saoudat
cat: Aràbia Saudita
ces: Saúdská Arábie
cor: Arabi Saoudek
cos: Arabia Saudiana
crh: Saudiy Arabistan / Саудий Арабистан
csb: Saudëjskô Arabijô
cym: Sawdi Arabia
dan: Saudi-Arabien
deu: Saudi-Arabien / Saudi-Arabien; Saudisch-Arabien / Saudiſch-Arabien
dsb: Saudi-Arabiska
epo: Saŭda Arabujo; Saŭda Arabio
fra: Arabie saoudite
frp: Arabie saoudita
fry: Saûdy-Araabje
fur: Arabie Saudide
gag: Saudi Arabiya / Сауди Арабия
gla: Saud-Aràibia; Aràbia Saudach; Aràibia Saudach
gle: An Araib Shádach / An Araib Ṡádaċ
glv: Yn Araab Saudi
hat: Arabi Sawoudit
hau: Saudi Arabiya; Makka
haw: Saudi ʻAlapia
hrv: Saudijska Arabija
hsb: Saudi-Arabska
hun: Szaúd-Arábia
ibo: Sọdi Arebia
ina: Arabia Saudita; Arabia Saudi
isl: Sádí-Arabía
jav: Arab Saudi
jnf: Arabie Saudi
kaa: Saudov Araviyası / Саудов Аравиясы
kmr: Erebistana Seûdî / Ә’рәбьстана Сәуди / عەرەبستانا سەعوودی
kur: Erebistana Seʿûdî / ئەرەبستانا سەعوودی
lat: Arabia Saudiana; Arabia Saudica
lav: Saūda Arābija
lit: Saudo Arabija
mlg: Arabo Saodita; Arabia Saodita
mlt: Għarabja Sawdita
mol: Arabia Saudită / Арабия Саудитэ
nld: Saoedi-Arabië; Saudi-Arabië
nrm: Arabie Sâodite
pol: Arabia Saudyjska
que: Sawud Arabsuyu
rmy: Saudikani Arabiya / साउदिकानी आराबिया
ron: Arabia Saudită
rup: Arabia Saudescã; Arabia Sauditã
scn: Arabbia Saudita
slk: Saudská Arábia
slo: Saudju Arabia / Саудйу Арабиа
slv: Saudska Arabija; Saudova Arabija
smg: Saudo Arabėjė
smo: Sauti Arapia
som: Sacuudi Carabiya
spa: Arabia Saudita; Arabia Saudí
sqi: Arabia Saudite
srd: Aràbbia Saùdida
swa: Arabuni Saudi
swe: Saudiarabien
szl: Arabja Saudyjsko
ton: Sauti Alepea
tuk: Saud Arabystany / Сауд Арабыстаны; Saud Arawiýa / Сауд Аравия
tur: Suudi Arabistan; Süudi Arabistan
uzb: Saudiya Arabistoni / Саудия Арабистони
vie: Ả-rập Xê-út
vol: Sauda-Larabän
wln: Arabeye Sawoudite
wol: Araabi Sawdit
zza: Erebıstanê Seudi
krc | udm: Сауд Аравия (Saud Aravija)
abq: Саудовска Аравия (Saudovska Aravija)
alt: Саудовский Аравия (Saudovskij Aravija)
ava: СагӀудияб ГӀарабустан (Saʿudijab ʿArabustan)
bak: Сәғүд Ғәрәбстаны / Säğüd Ğäräbstanı
bel: Саудаўская Аравія / Saudaŭskaja Aravija; Саудаўская Арабія / Saudaŭskaja Arabija
bul: Саудитска Аравия (Sauditska Aravija); Саудитска Арабия (Sauditska Arabija)
che: Саудовски Арави (Saudovski Aravi)
chm: Саудовский Аравий (Saudovskij Aravij)
chv: Сауд Аравийӗ (Saud Aravijĕ)
kaz: Сауд Арабиясы / Sawd Arabïyası / ساۋد ارابياسى; Сауд Аравиясы / Sawd Aravïyası / ساۋد اراۆياسى
kbd: Саудовскэ Аравие (Saudovskă Aravie)
kir: Сауд Аравиясы (Saud Aravijasy)
kjh: Саудовскай Аравия (Saudovskaj Aravija)
kom: Саудовскӧй Аравия (Saudovsköj Aravija)
kum: Сауд Арабыстаны (Saud Arabystany)
lbe: Саоьдлул Аьрабусттан (Saödlul Ärabusttan)
mkd: Саудиска Арабија (Saudiska Arabija)
mon: Саудын Араб (Saudyn Arab)
oss: Саудон Арави (Saudon Aravi)
rus: Саудовская Аравия (Saudovskaja Aravija)
srp: Саудијска Арабија / Saudijska Arabija
tab: Сауд Аьрабистан (Saud Ärabistan)
tat: Согуд Гарәбстаны / Soğud Ğaräbstanı; Сөгүд Гарәбстаны / Sögüd Ğaräbstanı
tgk: Арабистони Саудӣ / عربستان سعودی / Arabistoni Saudī
tyv: Сауд Аравиязы (Saud Aravijazy)
ukr: Саудівська Аравія (Saudivs'ka Aravija)
ara: العربية السعودية (al-ʿArabīyâtu s-Saʿūdīyâ); السعودية (as-Saʿūdīyâ)
ckb: سعوودیە / Siʿûdiye
fas: عربستان سعودی / Arabestâne Saudi
prs: عربستان سعودی (ʿArabestān-e Saʿūdī)
pus: سعودي عربستان (Saʿūdī ʿArabistān); سعودي عربيه (Saʿūdī ʿArabiyâ); سعودي عرب (Saʿūdī ʿArab)
snd: سعودي عرب (Saʿūdī ʿArabu)
uig: سەئۇدى ئەرەبىستان / Seudi Erebistan / Сәуди Әрәбистан
urd: سعودی عرب (Saʿūdī ʿArab)
div: ސައޫދީ އާރަބިޔާ (Sa'ūdī Ārabiyā); ސައޫދީ އަރަބިއްޔާ (Sa'ūdī Arabiyyā)
syr: ܥܪܒܝܐ ܕܣܥܘܕܝ (ʿArabiyā da-Saʿūdī)
heb: ערב הסעודית (ʿAraṿ ha-Saʿûdît)
lad: אראביה סאודיטה / Arabia Saudita
yid: סאַוד אַראַביע (Saud Arabye)
amh: ሳውዲ አራቢያ (Sawdi Ărabiya); ሳውዲ ዓረቢያ (Sawdi ʿAräbiya)
ell-dhi: Σαουδική Αραβία (Saoydikī́ Aravía)
ell-kat: Σαουδικὴ Ἀραβία (Saoydikī̀ Aravía)
hye: Սաուդյան Արաբիա (Saoudyan Arabia)
kat: საუდის არაბეთი (Saudis Arabeṭi)
hin: सऊदी अरब (Saūdī Arab)
nep: साउदी अरब (Sāudī Arab)
ben: সাউদি আরব (Sāudi Ārôb); সৌদি আরব (Soudi Ārôb); সৌদী আরব (Soudī Ārôb)
ori: ସୌଦି ଆରବ (Soudi Ārôb)
pan: ਸਾਊਦੀ ਅਰਬ (Sāūdī Arab)
kan: ಸೌದಿ ಅರೇಬಿಯ (Saudi Arēbiya)
mal: സൗദി അറേബ്യ (Sāudi Aṟēbya); സൌദി അറേബ്യ (Saudi Aṟēbya)
tam: சவுதி அரேபியா (Čavuti Arēpiyā); சவூதி அரேபியா (Čavūti Arēpiyā)
tel: సౌదీ అరేబియా (Saudī Arēbiyā)
zho: 沙特阿拉伯 (Shātè Ālābó)
jpn: サウディ・アラビア (Saudi Arabia); サウジアラビア (Saujiarabia)
kor: 사우디아라비아 (Saudiarabia)
bod: ཧྲ་ཐི་ཨར་ལ་སྤེ་ (Hra.tʰi. Ar.la.spe.); ས་ཐི་ཨ་ལ་པེ་ (Sa.tʰi. A.la.pe.); སའུ་དི་ཨ་ར་པི་ཡ་ (Sa'u.di. A.ra.pi.ya.)
dzo: སའུ་དི་ཨེ་ར་སྦི་ཡ་ (Sa'u.di E.ra.sbi.ya.)
mya: ဆော္ဒီအာရေဗ္ယ (Sʰɔdi Aẏebyá)
tha: ซาอุดีอาระเบีย (Sā'udī Ārabiya); ซาอุดิอาระเบีย (Sā'udi Ārabiya)
lao: ອາຣາບີຊາອູດີ (Ālābī Sā'ūdī)
khm: អារ៉ាប៊ីសាអ៊ូឌីត (Ārābī Sā'ūdīt); អារ៉ាប់ប៊ីសាអ៊ូឌីដ (Ārabbī Sā'ūdīd)
The oldest vehicles still in daily use with the works transport department at A.E.R.E. Harwell during 1984 were a handful of these Willowbrook '001' bodied Bedford YRQ that were new back in August 1974. 167 (URD 890N) approaches Rowstock Corner whilst traveling in convoy with many other vehicles taking Harwell workers hone a the end of their day shifts.
Seen in about 1973 is URD 301H, an AEC 6U3ZR Reliance/Duple Commander coach, new to Smith's Coaches, Reading in July 1970.
Is a country located in Southeastern and Central Europe, North of the Balkan Peninsula, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea. Almost all of the Danube Delta is located within its territory. Romania shares a border with Hungary and Serbia to the west, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to the northeast, and Bulgaria to the south.
Romania emerged as a personal union of the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia under prince Alexander John Cuza in 1859 and as the Kingdom of Romania under the Hohenzollern monarchy, it gained recognition of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878. In 1918, at the end of the World War I, Transylvania, Bukovina and Bessarabia united with the Kingdom of Romania. At the end of World War II, parts of its territories (roughly the present day Republic of Moldova) were occupied by the USSR and Romania became a socialist republic, member of the Warsaw Pact.
With the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, Romania started a series of political and economic reforms. After a decade of post-revolution economic problems, Romania made economic reforms such as low flat tax rates in 2005 and joined the European Union on January 1, 2007. While Romania's income level remains one of the lowest in the European Union, reforms have increased the growth speed. Romania is now an upper-middle income country economy with high human development.
Romania has the 9th largest territory and the 7th largest population (with 21.5 million people) among the European Union member states. Its capital and largest city is Bucharest (Romanian: Bucureşti , the 6th largest city in the EU with 1.9 million people. In 2007, Sibiu, a city in Transylvania, was chosen as a European Capital of Culture. Romania also joined NATO on March 29, 2004, and is also a member of the Latin Union, of the Francophonie, of the OSCE and of the United Nations, as well as an associate member of the CPLP. Romania is a semi-presidential unitary state.
History
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Romania
Geography
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Romania
Other info
Oficial name:
România
Independence:
Declared 9 May 1877
Recognised 13 July 1878
Area:
238.391 km2
Inhabitants:
23.000.000
Languages:
Română (Romeno)
Bulgarian [bul] 6,747 in Romania (2002 census). Romanian Banat. The Palityan dialect is also in Bulgaria and Hungary. Dialects: Palityan (Palitiani, Bogomil). Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Eastern
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Crimean Turkish [crh] 21,482 in Romania (2002 census). Eastern Romania. Alternate names: Crimean Tatar. Dialects: Northern Crimean (Crimean Nogai, Steppe Crimean), Central Crimean, Southern Crimean. Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern
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Gagauz [gag] Alternate names: Gagauzi. Dialects: Bulgar Gagauz, Maritime Gagauz. Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Turkish
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German, Standard [deu] 45,129 in Romania (2002 census). Transylvania. Dialects: Transylvania. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
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Greek [ell] 4,146 in Romania (2002 census). Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
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Hungarian [hun] 1,447,544 in Romania (2002 census). Trans-Carpathian provinces. Alternate names: Magyar. Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Ugric, Hungarian
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Polish [pol] 2,755 in Romania (2002 census). Alternate names: Polski. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, West, Lechitic
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Romani, Balkan [rmn] Black sea region. Dialects: Ursári (Usari). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Balkan
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Romani, Carpathian [rmc] One dialect is in Transylvania. Dialects: Galician, Transylvanian. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Northern
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Romani, Vlax [rmy] 241,617 in Romania (2002 census). 6,000,000 to 11,000,000 all Gypsies in the world (1987 Ian Hancock). Population total all countries: 1,497,846. Also spoken in Albania, Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia (Europe), Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA. Alternate names: Gypsy, Tsigene, Romanese, Vlax Romany, Danubian. Dialects: Sedentary Romania, Kalderash (Kelderashícko, Coppersmith), Ukraine-Moldavia, Eastern, Churari (Churarícko, Sievemakers), Lovari (Lovarícko), Machvano (Machvanmcko), North Albanian, South Albanian, Serbo-Bosnian, Zagundzi, Sedentary Bulgaria, Ghagar, Grekurja (Greco). Vlax developed from the Romani spoken when they were slaves in Romania for 500 years. There were migrations out of Romania from the mid-14th to mid-19th centuries. Those who left earlier have less Romanian influence in their dialects. Kalderash, Ursari, Churari are occupational ethnonyms; Machvano is a geographical one. Other names are Argintari 'silversmith' and Lingurari 'spoonmakers'. Machvano and Serbian Kalderash have a south Slavic superstratum; Russian Kalderash is influenced by east Slavic, mainly Russian; Lovari is influenced by Hungarian; Grekurja is probably Turkish influenced and is distinct from the Greek Romani dialect of Balkan Romani. All 20 or more Vlax dialects are inherently intelligible; the differences are mainly lexical and sociolinguistic (I. Hancock). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Vlax
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Romanian [ron] 19,741,356 in Romania (2002 census). Population total all countries: 23,498,367. Moldavian is in Moldova to the northeast, and Muntenian in Muntenia, or Wallachia in the southeast, other dialects in the north and west, including much of Transylvania. Also spoken in Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia (Europe), Serbia and Montenegro, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan. Alternate names: Rumanian, Moldavian, Daco-Rumanian. Dialects: Moldavian, Muntenian (Walachian), Transylvanian, Banat, Bayash. Little dialect variation. The Bayash are Gypsies who speak a dialect based on Banat, but influenced by Romani and Hungarian. Romanian has 77% lexical similarity with Italian, 75% with French, 74% with Sardinian, 73% with Catalan, 72% with Portuguese and Rheto-Romance, 71% with Spanish. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
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Romanian Sign Language [rms] Classification: Deaf sign language
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Romanian, Macedo [rup] 28,000 in Romania (official). Southeastern Romania, especially Dobrudja (75%), but also in major cities such as Bucharest and Constanta, and other places. Alternate names: Aromanian. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
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Serbian [srp] 27,001 in Romania (2002 census). Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Western
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Turkish [tur] 28,714 in Romania (2002 census). Along the Danube in southeast Romania. Alternate names: Osmanli. Dialects: Danubian. Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Capital city:
Bucaresti
Meaning country name:
"Roman Realm". The Roman Empire conquered a large part of the territory of the country, and the inhabitants became Romanized (Romanians). Older variants of the name include "Rumania" and (in a French-influenced spelling) "Roumania".
Dacia, older name and Latin variant: named after the ancient people the Dacians.
Wallachia, Slavic name for the country, from the Gothic word for Celts (walh), later also used for the Romanized tribes. This Germanic form derives from the name of the Celtic tribe of Volcae
Description Flag:
The national flag of Romania is a vertical tricolor of blue, yellow, and red. The colors stand for the three historical provinces of Romania. The current design was officially adopted in 1994 but has been in use since 1989. The first flag dates from 1834 but the colours by themselves have held special significance ever since the sixth century.
During the reign of the Domnitor Alexandru Ioan Cuza and the first years of the reign of Carol I the colours were displayed horizontally, in the following order, from top to bottom: blue, yellow, red. Also it bore the coat of arms in use at that time in the center of the flag
The three colours stand for the three historical provinces of Romania, as a symbol of unity: Transylvania, Ţara Românească(also called Muntenia) and Moldova.
Each colour, by itself, held important significance throughout history in one of the provinces. Their eventual unification within the national flag was a natural development.
The shape of the flag, similar to that of the French and Italian flags, may refelect - though this was never officially stated - the strong pro-French tradition in Romania, and the tendency of Romanian Nationalism to emphasize the country's Latin culture, setting it apart from its East European environment and creating a link with other countries of Latin-derived languages.
Coat of arms:
The Coat of arms of Romania was adopted in the Romanian Parliament on 10 September 1992 as a representative coat of arms for Romania. It is based on the Lesser Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Romania (used between 1922 and 1947). As a central element it shows a golden eagle holding a cross in its beak and a mace and a sword in its claws. It also consists of the three colors: red, yellow, and blue, which represent the colors of the National Flag.
The shield surmounting the eagle is divided in five fields, one for each historical province of Romania with its traditional symbol:
golden eagle - Wallachia
aurochs - Moldavia
dolphins - Dobrogea
a black eagle, seven castles, a sun and a moon - Transylvania
lion and a bridge - Oltenia and Banat
Romania’s coat of arms has as a central element the golden eagle holding an Orthodox cross. Traditionally, this eagle appears in the arms of the Argeş county, the town of Piteşti and the town of Curtea de Argeş. It stands for the “nest of the Basarabs”, the nucleus around which Wallachia was organised.
The eagle, being the symbol of Latinity and a heraldic bird of the first order, symbolises courage, determination, the soaring toward great heights, power, grandeur. It is to be found also in Transylvania’s coat of arms.
The shield on which it is placed is azure, symbolising the sky. The eagle holds in its talons the insignia of sovereignty: a mace and a sword, the latter reminding of Moldavia’s ruler, Stephen the Great whereas the mace reminds of Michael the Brave, the first unifier of the Romanian Countries. On the bird’s chest there is a quartered escutcheon with the symbols of the historical Romanian provinces (Wallachia, Moldavia, Transylvania, Banat and Oltenia) as well as two dolphins reminding of the country’s Black Sea Coast.
In the first quarter, Wallachia’s coat of arms, an eagle or holding in its beak a golden Orthodox cross, accompanied by a golden sun on the right and a golden new moon on the left, is displayed against an azure background.
In the second quarter, Moldavia’s traditional coat of arms is shown, gules: an auroch head sable with a mullet of or between its horns, a cinquefoil rose on the dexter and a waning crescent on the sinister, both argent.
The third quarter features the traditional coat of arms of Banat and Oltenia, gules: over waves, a golden bridge with two arched openings (symbolising Roman emperor Trajan’s bridge over the Danube), wherefrom comes a golden lion holding a broadsword in its right forepaw.
The fourth quarter shows the coat of arms of Transylvania with Maramureş and Crişana: a shield parted by a narrow fesse, gules; in the chief, on azure, there is an eagle sable with golden beak coming out of the fesse, accompanied by a golden sun on the dexter and a crescent argent on the sinister; on the base, on or, there are seven crenellated towers, placed four and three.
Also represented are the lands adjacent to the Black Sea, on azure: two dolphins affronts, head down
Motto:
"Nihil Sine Deo"
National Anthem: Deşteaptă-te, române!
1
Deşteaptă-te, române, din somnul cel de moarte,
În care te-adânciră barbarii de tirani
Acum ori niciodată croieşte-ţi altă soartă,
La care să se-nchine şi cruzii tăi duşmani.
2
Acum ori niciodată să dăm dovezi în lume
Că-n aste mâni mai curge un sânge de roman,
Şi că-n a noastre piepturi păstrăm cu fală-un nume
Triumfător în lupte, un nume de Traian.
3
Înalţă-ţi lata frunte şi caută-n giur de tine,
Cum stau ca brazi în munte voinici sute de mii;
Un glas ei mai aşteaptă şi sar ca lupi în stâne,
Bătrâni, bărbaţi, juni, tineri, din munţi şi din câmpii.
4
Priviţi, măreţe umbre, Mihai, Ştefan, Corvine,
Româna naţiune, ai voştri strănepoţi,
Cu braţele armate, cu focul vostru-n vine,
"Viaţa-n libertate ori moarte" strigă toţi.
5
Pre voi vă nimiciră a pizmei răutate
Şi oarba neunire la Milcov şi Carpaţi
Dar noi, pătrunşi la suflet de sfânta libertate,
Jurăm că vom da mâna, să fim pururea fraţi.
6
O mamă văduvită de la Mihai cel Mare
Pretinde de la fii-şi azi mână d-ajutori,
Şi blastămă cu lacrămi în ochi pe orişicare,
În astfel de pericul s-ar face vânzători.
7
De fulgere să piară, de trăsnet şi pucioasă,
Oricare s-ar retrage din gloriosul loc,
Când patria sau mama, cu inima duioasă,
Va cere ca să trecem prin sabie şi foc.
8
N-ajunge iataganul barbarei semilune,
A cărui plăgi fatale şi azi le mai simţim;
Acum se vâră cnuta în vetrele străbune,
Dar martor ne e Domnul că vii nu o primim.
9
N-ajunge despotismul cu-ntreaga lui orbie,
Al cărui jug de seculi ca vitele-l purtăm;
Acum se-ncearcă cruzii, cu oarba lor trufie,
Să ne răpească limba, dar morţi numai o dăm.
10
Români din patru unghiuri, acum ori niciodată
Uniţi-vă în cuget, uniţi-vă-n simţiri.
Strigaţi în lumea largă că Dunărea-i furată
Prin intrigă şi silă, viclene uneltiri.
11
Preoţi, cu crucea-n frunte căci oastea e creştină,
Deviza-i libertate şi scopul ei preasfânt.
Murim mai bine-n luptă, cu glorie deplină,
Decât să fim sclavi iarăşi în vechiul nost'pământ.
Translation
1
Wake up, O Romanian, from your deadly sleep
Into which you've been sunk by the barbaric tyrants
Now, as at no other time, your fate renew,
To which your cruel enemies will bow too.
2
Now or never let's give proof to the world
That in these veins still flows a Roman blood,
That in our chests we still maintain our pride in a name
The victor in his battles, the name of Trajan!
3
Raise your broad forehead and look around you
Like fir trees, hundreds of thousands of heroes are standing firm;
A voice they still wait to jump like wolves among the sheep,
Elders, men, youths, boys, from mountains to the plains.
4
Watch on, shadows of highnesses, Mihai, Stefan, Corvinus,
The Romanian Nation, your great grandchildren,
With weapons in their arms, with your fire in their veins,
"Life in freedom or death!" shout all.
5
You were vanquished by the evils of your envy
And by your blind disunity, at Milcov and the Carpathians
But we, whose souls were pierced by holy liberty,
Swear that for ever in brotherhood will join.
6
A widowed mother from the time of Michael the Great
Claims from her sons today a helping hand,
Casting curses, with tears in her eyes, on whosoever,
In such great peril, a traitor would become.
7
Of thunder and of brimstone should they perish
Those who flee our glorious endeavor
When our land, our mother with tears in her heart,
Will ask us to cross through swords and blazing fire.
8
Didn't we have enough of the yatagan of the barbaric crescent
Whose fatal wounds even today we still feel?
Now the knout is intruding our ancestral homes,
But we give witness before the Lord that alive, we do not accept it
9
Didn't we have enough of the blinded despotism
Whose yoke, like cattle, for centuries we've carried?
Now let the cruel ones try, in their blind arrogance,
T o take away our language, but give it we will only in our death!
10
Romanians from the four corners, now or never
Unite in thought, unite in feeling
Proclaim to the wide world that the Danube is stolen
Through intrigue and force, sly machinations.
11
Priests, lead with your crucifixes! Because our army is Christian,
The motto is Liberty and its goal is holy,
Better to die in battle, in full glory,
Than to once again be slaves upon our ancient ground!
Internet Page: www.gov.ro
Romania in diferent languages
eng | fin | ina | ita | jav | lld | mlg | nor | oci | smo | srd | swa: Romania
cos | fao | roh-enb | roh-eno | roh-gri: Rumenia
lin | scn | spa | sqi: Rumania
afr | lim | nld: Roemenië
fra | frp | jnf: Roumanie
hau | kin | run: Rumaniya
arg | ast: Rumanía
ces | slk: Rumunsko
deu | ltz: Rumänien / Rumänien
gag | kaa: Rumıniya / Румыния
hun | sme: Románia
ind | msa: Romania / رومانيا
tur | zza: Romanya
aze: Rumıniya / Румынија
bam: Urumani
bos: Rumunija / Румунија
bre: Roumania
cat: Romania; Rumània
cor: Roumani
crh: Romaniya / Романия
csb: Rumùńskô
cym: Rwmania
dan: Rumænien
dsb: Rumuńska
epo: Rumanujo; Rumanio
est: Rumeenia
eus: Errumania
fry: Roemeenje
fur: Romanie
gla: Romàinia; An Romàinia
gle: An Rómáin / An Rómáin; An Rúmáin / An Rúmáin
glg: Romanía
glv: Yn Romaain
hat: Woumani
hrv: Rumunjska
hsb: Rumunska
ibo: Rọmenia
isl: Rúmenía
kal: Rumaenia
kmr: Rûmînîstan / Р’уминистан / ڕوومینیستان; Rûmînî / Р’умини / ڕوومینی
kur: Romanya / رۆمانیا
lat: Romania; Rumania; Rumaenia; Dacoromania; Dacia
lav: Rumānija
lit: Rumunija
liv: Rumāņmō
mlt: Rumanija
mol: România / Ромыния
mri: Romeinia
nds: Romeenien / Romeenien
nrm: Roumanîn
pol: Rumunia
por: Roménia / Romênia
que: Rumanya
rmy: Rumuniya / रुमुनिया
roh-srs: Rumenia; Rumania
ron: România
rup: Romãnia
slo: Rumania / Руманиа
slv: Romunija
smg: Romonėjė
som: Rumaaniya
swe: Rumänien
szl: Růmůńja
tet: Roménia
tgl: Rumanya; Rumaniya
ton: Lumeinia
tuk: Rumyniýa / Румыния
uzb: Ruminiya / Руминия
vie: Lỗ Má Ni; Ru-ma-ni
vol: Rumän
vor: Romaania
wln: Roumaneye
wol: Romaani
zul: iRumaniya
alt | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | rus | tyv | udm: Румыния (Rumynija)
che | chv | oss: Румыни (Rumyni)
mon | xal: Румын (Rumyn)
abq: Румыния (Rumənija)
bak: Румыния / Rumıniya
bel: Румынія / Rumynija
bul: Румъния (Rumǎnija)
chm: Румыний (Rumynij)
kaz: Румыния / Rwmınïya / رۋمىنيا
kbd: Румыние (Rumənie)
mkd: Романија (Romanija)
srp: Румунија / Rumunija
tat: Румыния / Rumıniä
tgk: Руминия / رومینیه / Ruminija
ukr: Румунія (Rumunija)
ara: رومانيا (Rūmāniyā)
fas: رومانی / Rumâni / Români; رومانیا / Rumâniyâ
prs: رومانیا (Rōmāniyā)
pus: رومانيا (Romāniyā)
uig: رۇمىنىيە / Ruminiye / Румыния
urd: رومانیا (Romāniyā / Rūmāniyā); رومانیہ (Romāniyâ / Rūmāniyâ)
div: ރުމޭނިއާ (Rumēni'ā)
syr: ܪܘܡܢܝܐ (Rūmaniyā)
heb: רומניה (Rûmenyah)
lad: רומאניה / Rumania
yid: רומעניע (Rumenye)
amh: ሮሜኒያ (Romeniya); ሩማንያ (Rumanya); ሮማንያ (Romanya)
ell: Ρουμανία (Roymanía)
hye: Ռումինիա (Ṙouminia)
kat: რუმინეთი (Rumineṭi)
hin: रोमानिया (Romāniyā); रूमानिया (Rūmāniyā)
ben: রোমানিয়া (Romāniyā); রুমানিয়া (Rumāniyā)
pan: ਰੁਮਾਨੀਆ (Rumānīā)
kan: ರೊಮಾನಿಯ (Romāniya)
mal: റൊമാനിയ (Ṟomāniya)
tam: ருமேனியா (Rumēṉiyā); ருமானியா (Rumāṉiyā)
tel: రొమేనియా (Romēniyā)
zho: 羅馬尼亞/罗马尼亚 (Luōmǎníyà)
yue: 羅馬尼亞/罗马尼亚 (Lòhmáhnàihnga)
jpn: ルーマニア (Rūmania)
kor: 루마니아 (Rumania)
bod: རོ་མ་ཉི་ཡ་ (Ro.ma.ñi.ya.); རུ་མེན་ཉི་ཡ་ (Ru.men.ñi.ya.); རོ་མན་ནི་ཡ་ (Ro.man.ni.ya.); ལུའོ་མ་ཉི་ཡ་ (Lu'o.ma.ñi.ya.); ལོ་མ་ཉི་ཡ་ (Lo.ma.ñi.ya.)
mya: ရုိမေးနီးယား (Ẏomènìyà)
tha: โรมาเนีย (Rōmāniya)
lao: ຣູມານີ (Lūmānī)
khm: រូម៉ានី (Rūmānī)
chr: ᎶᎹᏂᏯ / Lomaniya
Is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city.
Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is the most populous insular nation in the Caribbean. Its people, culture, and customs draw from diverse sources, including the aboriginal Taíno and Ciboney peoples; the period of Spanish colonialism; the introduction of African slaves; and its proximity to the United States.
Etymology
The name "Cuba" comes from the Taíno language and though the exact meaning is unclear, it may be translated either as "where fertile land is abundant" (cubao), or as "great place" (coabana). It is also said that Cuba shares the same Arabic root word "Ka'bah." meaning "Shrine". Another claim states that the name "Cuba" was given by Columbus after the ancient town of Cuba in the district of Beja in Portugal.
History
Pre-Columbian Era
Before the arrival of the Spanish, the island was inhabited by Native American peoples known as the Taíno and Ciboney whose ancestors migrated from the mainland of North, Central and South America several centuries earlier. The Taíno were farmers and the Ciboney were farmers and hunter-gatherers; some have suggested that copper trade was significant, and mainland artifacts have been found.
Spanish colonization
On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed near what is now Baracoa, claimed the island for the new Kingdom of Spain, and named Isla Juana after Juan, Prince of Asturias. In 1511, the first Spanish settlement was founded by Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar at Baracoa; other towns soon followed including the future capital, San Cristobal de la Habana, founded in 1515. The Spanish enslaved the approximately 100,000 indigenous people who resisted conversion to Christianity, setting them primarily to the task of searching for gold, and within a century European infectious diseases had virtually wiped out the indigenous people.
Cuba remained a Spanish possession for almost 400 years (1511–1898), with an economy based on plantations agriculture, mining and the export of sugar, coffee and tobacco to Europe and later to North America. The work was done primarily by African slaves brought to the island when Britain owned it in 1762. The small land-owning elite of Spanish settlers held social and economic power, supported by a population of Spaniards born on the island (Criollos), other Europeans, and African-descended slaves.
Independence wars
In the 1820s, when the rest of Spain's empire in Latin America rebelled and formed independent states, Cuba remained loyal, although there was some agitation for independence, leading the Spanish Crown to give it the motto "La Siempre Fidelísima Isla" ("The Always Most Faithful Island"). This loyalty was due partly to Cuban settlers' dependence on Spain for trade, protection from pirates, protection against a slave rebellion, and partly because they feared the rising power of the United States more than they disliked Spanish rule.
The Ten Years' War
Independence from Spain was the motive for a rebellion in 1868 led by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, resulting in a prolonged conflict known as the Ten Years' War. The U.S. declined to recognize the new Cuban government, though many European and Latin American nations had done so. In 1878, the Pact of Zanjón ended the conflict, with Spain promising greater autonomy to Cuba. In 1879–1880, Cuban patriot Calixto Garcia attempted to start another war, known as the Little War, but received little support.
The period between wars
Slavery was abolished in 1886, although the African-descended minority remained socially and economically oppressed.[citation needed] During this period, rural poverty in Spain provoked by the Spanish Revolution of 1868 and its aftermath led to increased Spanish emigration to Cuba.
During the 1890s, pro-independence agitation was revived in part by resentment of the restrictions imposed on Cuban trade by Spain and hostility to Spain's increasingly oppressive and incompetent administration of Cuba.[citation needed] Few of Spain's promises for economic reform in the Pact of Zanjón were kept.
The War of '95
In 1892, an exiled dissident, José Martí, founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party in New York, with the aim of achieving Cuban independence. In January 1895, Martí travelled to Montecristi, Santo Domingo to join the efforts of Máximo Gómez. Martí wrote down his political views in the Manifesto of Montecristi. Fighting against the Spanish army began in Cuba on 24 February 1895, but Martí was unable to reach Cuba until 11 April 1895. Martí was killed on 19 May 1895, in the battle of Dos Rios. His death immortalized him and he has become Cuba's national hero.
Around 200,000 Spanish troops outnumbered the much smaller rebel army which relied mostly on guerrilla and sabotage tactics. The Spaniards began a campaign of suppression. General Valeriano Weyler, military governor of Cuba, herded the rural population into what he called reconcentrados, described by international observers as "fortified towns". These are often considered the prototype for 20th-century concentration camps. Between 200,000 and 400,000 Cuban civilians died from starvation and disease in the camps, numbers verified by the Red Cross and U.S. Senator (and former Secretary of War) Redfield Proctor. U.S. and European protests against Spanish conduct on the island followed.
The Spanish-American War
The U.S. battleship Maine arrived in Havana on 25 January 1898 to offer protection to the 8,000 American residents on the island; but the Spanish saw this as intimidation. On the evening of 15 February 1898, the Maine blew up in the harbor, killing 252 crew that night; another 8 died of their wounds in hospital over the next few days. A Naval Board of Inquiry, headed by Captain William Sampson, was appointed to investigate the cause of the explosion on the Maine. Having examined the wreck and taken testimony from eyewitnesses and experts, the board reported on 21 March 1898, that the Maine had been destroyed by "a double magazine set off from the exterior of the ship, which could only have been produced by a mine".
The facts remain disputed today, although an investigation by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover in 1976 established that the blast was most likely a large internal explosion, caused by spontaneous combustion in inadequately ventilated bituminous coal which ignited gunpowder in an adjacent magazine. The board was unable to fix the responsibility for the disaster, but a furious American populace, fueled by an active press—notably the newspapers of William Randolph Hearst—concluded that the Spanish were to blame and demanded action. The U.S. Congress passed a resolution calling for intervention, and President William McKinley complied. Spain and the U.S. declared war on each other in late April.
Modern history
After the Spanish-American War, Spain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris (1898), by which Spain ceded Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam to the U.S. for the sum of $20 million. Under the same treaty, Spain relinquished all claim of sovereignty over the title to Cuba. Theodore Roosevelt, who had fought in the Spanish-American War and had some sympathies with the independence movement, succeeded McKinley as U.S. President in 1901 and abandoned the 20-year treaty proposal. Instead, Cuba gained formal independence from the U.S. on May 20, 1902 as the Republic of Cuba. But under Cuba's new constitution, the U.S. retained the right to intervene in Cuban affairs and to supervise its finances and foreign relations. Under the Platt Amendment, the U.S. leased the Guantánamo Bay naval base from Cuba.
In 1906, following disputed elections, the first president, Tomás Estrada Palma, faced an armed revolt by independence war veterans who defeated the meager government forces. The U.S. intervened by occupying Cuba and named Charles Edward Magoon as Governor for three years. For many years afterwards, Cuban historians attributed Magoon's governorship as having introduced political and social corruption. In 1908, self-government was restored when José Miguel Gómez was elected President, but the U.S. continued intervening in Cuban affairs. In 1912, the Partido Independiente de Color attempted to establish a separate black republic in Oriente Province, but was suppressed by General Monteagudo with considerable bloodshed.
During World War I, Cuba shipped considerable quantities of sugar to Britain, avoiding U-boat attack, by the subterfuge of shipping sugar to Sweden. The Menocal government declared war on Germany very soon after the U.S. did.
Despite frequent outbreaks of disorder, constitutional government was maintained until 1930, when Gerardo Machado y Morales suspended the constitution. During Machado's tenure, a nationalistic economic program was pursued with several major national development projects undertaken, including Carretera Central and El Capitolio. Machado's hold on power was weakened following a decline in demand for exported agricultural produce due to the Great Depression, and to attacks first by independence war veterans, and later by covert terrorist organizations, principally the ABC.
During a general strike in which the Communist Party sided with Machado, the senior elements of the Cuban army forced Machado into exile and installed Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada, son of Cuba's founding father (Carlos Manuel de Céspedes), as President. During September 4–5, 1933 a second coup overthrew Céspedes, leading to the formation of the first Ramón Grau government. Notable events in this violent period include the separate sieges of Hotel Nacional de Cuba and Atares Castle. This government lasted 100 days but engineered radical socialist changes in Cuban society and a rejection of the Platt amendment. In 1934, Fulgencio Batista and the army replaced Grau with Carlos Mendieta.
Batista was finally elected as President democratically in the elections of 1940, and his administration carried out major social reforms. Several members of the Communist Party held office under his administration. Batista's administration formally took Cuba to the Allies of World War II camp in the World War II, declaring war on Japan on December 9, 1941, then on Germany and Italy on December 11, 1941. Cuba was not greatly involved in combat during World War II.
Ramón Grau won the 1944 elections. Carlos Prío Socarrás won the 1948 elections. The influx of investment fueled a boom which did much to raise living standards across the board and create a prosperous middle class in most urban areas, although the gap between rich and poor became wider and more obvious.
The 1952 election was a three-way race. Roberto Agramonte of the Ortodoxos party led in all the polls, followed by Dr Aurelio Hevia of the Auténtico party, and Batista as a distant third, seeking a return to office. Both Agramonte and Hevia had decided to name Col. Ramón Barquín to head the Cuban armed forces after the elections. Barquín, then a diplomat in Washington, DC, was a top officer, respected by the professional army, and had promised to eliminate corruption in the ranks. Batista feared that Barquín would oust him and his followers, and when it became apparent that Batista had little chance of winning, he staged a coup on March 10, 1952 and held power with the backing of a nationalist section of the army as a "provisional president" for the next two years.
Justo Carrillo told Barquín in Washington in March 1952 that the inner circles knew that Batista had aimed the coup at him; they immediately began to conspire to oust Batista and restore democracy and civilian government in what was later dubbed La Conspiracion de los Puros de 1956 (Agrupacion Montecristi). In 1954, Batista agreed to elections. The Partido Auténtico put forward ex-President Grau as their candidate, but he withdrew amid allegations that Batista was rigging the elections in advance.
In April 1956, Batista ordered Barquín to become General and chief of the army. But Barquín decided to move forward with his coup to secure total power. On April 4, 1956, a coup by hundreds of career officers led by Barquín was frustrated by Rios Morejon. The coup broke the backbone of the Cuban armed forces. The officers were sentenced to the maximum terms allowed by Cuban Martial Law. Barquín was sentenced to solitary confinement for eight years. La Conspiración de los Puros resulted in the imprisonment of the commanders of the armed forces and the closing of the military academies.
Cuba had Latin America's highest per capita consumption rates of meat, vegetables, cereals, automobiles, telephones and radios. In 1958, Cuba was a relatively well-advanced country, certainly by Latin American standards, and in some cases by world standards. Cuban workers enjoyed some of the highest wages in the world. Cuba attracted more immigrants, primarily from Europe, as a percentage of population than the US. The United Nations noted Cuba for its large middle class. On the other hand, Cuba was affected by perhaps the largest labor union privileges in Latin America, including bans on dismissals and mechanization. They were obtained in large measure "at the cost of the unemployed and the peasants", leading to disparities.
Between 1933 and 1958, Cuba extended economic regulations enormously, causing economic problems. Unemployment became relatively large; graduates entering the workforce could not find jobs. The middle class, which compared Cuba to the United States, became increasingly dissatisfied with the unemployment, while labor unions supported Batista until the very end.
Cuban Revolution
Main article: Cuban Revolution
On December 2, 1956 a party of 82 people, led by Fidel Castro in a small boat, the Granma, landed on the shore of Cuba with the intention of establishing an armed resistance movement in the Sierra Maestra. While facing armed resistance from these rebels in the mountains, the Batista regime was weakened and crippled by a United States arms embargo imposed on March 14, 1958. By late 1958, the rebels broke out of the Sierra Maestra and launched a general, popular insurrection. After the fighters captured Santa Clara, Batista dramatically fled from Havana on January 1, 1959 to exile in Portugal. Barquín negotiated the symbolic change of command between Camilo Cienfuegos, Che Guevara, Raúl Castro and his brother Fidel Castro after the Supreme Court decided that the Revolution was the source of law and its representative should assume command.
Castro's forces entered the capital on January 8, 1959. Shortly afterwards, a liberal lawyer, Dr Manuel Urrutia Lleó became president. He was backed by Castro's 26th of July Movement because they believed his appointment would be welcomed by the United States. Disagreements within the government culminated in Urrutia's resignation in July 1959. He was replaced by Osvaldo Dorticós who served as president until 1976. Castro became prime minister in February 1959, succeeding José Miró in that post.
In its first year, the new revolutionary government expropriated private property with little or no compensation, nationalised public utilities, tightened controls on the private sector and closed down the mafia-controlled gambling industry. The CIA conspired with the Chicago mafia in 1960 and 1961 to assassinate Fidel Castro, according to documents declassified in 2007.
Some of these measures were undertaken by Fidel Castro's government in the name of the program outlined in the Manifesto of the Sierra Maestra, while in the Sierra Maestra. The government nationalized private property totaling about $25 billion US dollars, of which American property made up only over US $1.0 billions.
By the end of 1960, all opposition newspapers had been closed down, and all radio and television stations were in state control. Moderates, teachers and professors were purged. In any year, about 20,000 dissenters were held and tortured under inhumane prison conditions. Homosexuals and other unfortunates were locked up in internment camps in the 1960s, where they were subject to medical-political "re-education". One estimate is that 15,000 to 17,000 people were executed.
The Communist Party strengthened its one-party rule, with Castro as supreme leader. Fidel's brother, Raúl Castro, became the army chief. Loyalty to Castro became the primary criterion for all appointments. In September 1960, the regime created a system known as Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), which provided neighborhood spying.
In the 1961 New Year's Day parade, the administration exhibited Soviet tanks and other weapons. Eventually, the tiny island nation built up the second largest armed forces in Latin America, second only to Brazil. Cuba became a privileged client-state of the Soviet Union.
By 1961, hundreds of thousands of Cubans had left for the United States. The 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion (La Batalla de Girón) was an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Cuban government by a U.S.-trained force of Cuban exiles with U.S. military support. The plan was launched in April 1961, less than three months after John F. Kennedy became the U.S. President. The Cuban armed forces, trained and equipped by Eastern Bloc nations, defeated the exiles in three days. The bad Cuban-American relations were exacerbated the following year by the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the Kennedy administration demanded the immediate withdrawal of Soviet missiles placed in Cuba, which was a response to U.S. nuclear missiles in Turkey and the Middle East.
The Soviets and Americans soon agreed on the removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba and American missiles secretly from Turkey and the Middle East within a few months. Kennedy also agreed not to invade Cuba in the future. Cuban exiles captured during the Bay of Pigs Invasion were exchanged for a shipment of supplies from America. By 1963, Cuba was moving towards a full-fledged Communist system modeled on the USSR. The U.S. imposed a complete diplomatic and commercial embargo on Cuba and began Operation Mongoose.
In 1965, Castro merged his revolutionary organizations with the Communist Party, of which he became First Secretary, and Blas Roca became Second Secretary. Roca was succeeded by Raúl Castro, who, as Defense Minister and Fidel's closest confidant, became and has remained the second most powerful figure in Cuba. Raúl's position was strengthened by the departure of Che Guevara to launch unsuccessful insurrections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and then Bolivia, where he was killed in 1967.
During the 1970s, Castro dispatched tens of thousands troops in support of Soviet-supported wars in Africa, particularly the MPLA in Angola and Mengistu Haile Mariam in Ethiopia. The standard of living in 1970s was "extremely spartan" and discontent was rife. Fidel Castro admitted the failures of economic policies in a 1970 speech. By the mid-1970s, Castro started economic reforms.
Cuba was expelled from the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1962 in support of the U.S. embargo, but in 1975 the OAS lifted all sanctions against Cuba and both Mexico and Canada broke ranks with the US by developing closer relations with Cuba.[citation needed] On 3 June 2009, the OAS adopted a contentious resolution to end the 47-year exclusion of Cuba, but the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton walked out in protest as the resolution was being drafted. Cuban leaders have repeatedly announced they are not interested in rejoining the OAS.
As of 2002, some 1.2 million persons of Cuban background (about 10% of the current population of Cuba) reside in the U.S., Many of them left the island for the U.S., often by sea in small boats and fragile rafts. On 6 April 1980, 10,000 Cubans stormed the Peruvian embassy in Havana seeking political asylum. The following day, the Cuban government granted permission for the emigration of Cubans seeking refuge in the Peruvian embassy. On 16 April, 500 Cubans left the Peruvian Embassy for Costa Rica. On 21 April, many of those Cubans started arriving in Miami via private boats and were halted by the U.S. State Department, but the emigration continued, because Castro allowed anyone who desired to leave the country to do so through the port of Mariel. Over 125,000 Cubans emigrated to the U.S. before the flow of vessels ended on 15 June.
Castro's rule was severely tested in the aftermath of the Soviet collapse (known in Cuba as the Special Period). The food shortages were similar to North Korea; priority was given to the elite classes and the military, while ordinary people had little to eat. The regime did not accept American donations of food, medicines and cash until 1993. On 5 August 1994, state security dispersed protesters in a spontaneous popular uprising in Havana.
Cuba has found a new source of aid and support in the People's Republic of China, and new allies in Hugo Chávez, President of Venezuela and Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, both major oil and gas exporters. In 2003, the regime arrested and imprisoned a large number of civil activists, a period known as the "Black Spring".
On July 31, 2006 Fidel Castro temporarily delegated his major duties to his brother, First Vice President, Raúl Castro, while Fidel recovered from surgery for an "acute intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding". On 2 December 2006, Fidel was too ill to attend the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Granma boat landing, fuelling speculation that he had stomach cancer, although there was evidence his illness was a digestive problem and not terminal.
In January 2008, footage was released of Fidel meeting Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, in which Castro "appeared frail but stronger than three months ago".[citation needed] In February 2008, Fidel announced his resignation as President of Cuba, and on 24 February Raúl was elected as the new President. In his acceptance speech, Raúl promised that some of the restrictions that limit Cubans' daily lives would be removed. In March 2009, Raúl Castro purged some of Fidel's officials.
Geography
Cuba is an archipelago of islands located in the northern Caribbean Sea at the confluence with the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The United States lies to the north-west, the Bahamas to the north, Haiti to the east, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands to the south, and Mexico to the west. Cuba is the principal island, surrounded by four smaller groups of islands: the Colorados Archipelago on the northwestern coast, the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago on the north-central Atlantic coast, the Jardines de la Reina on the south-central coast and the Canarreos Archipelago on the southwestern coast.
The main island is 1,199 km (745 mi) long, constituting most of the nation's land area (105,006 km2 (40,543 sq mi)) and is the 16th-largest island in the world by land area. The main island consists mostly of flat to rolling plains apart from the Sierra Maestra mountains in the southeast, whose highest point is Pico Turquino (1,975 m (6,480 ft)). The second-largest island is Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth) in the Canarreos archipelago, with an area of 3,056 km2 (1,180 sq mi). Cuba has a total land area of 110,860 km2 (42,803 sq mi).
The local climate is tropical, though moderated by northeasterly trade winds that blow year-round. In general (with local variations), there is a drier season from November to April, and a rainier season from May to October. The average temperature is 21 °C (70 °F) in January and 27 °C (81 °F) in July. The warm temperatures of the Caribbean Sea and the fact that Cuba sits across the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico combine to make the country prone to frequent hurricanes. These are most common in September and October.
The most important mineral resource is nickel, of which Cuba has the world's second largest reserves after Russia. A Canadian energy company operates a large nickel mining facility in Moa. Cuba is also the world's fifth-largest producer of refined cobalt, a byproduct of nickel mining operations. Recent oil exploration has revealed that the North Cuba Basin could produce approximately 4.6 billion barrels (730,000,000 m3) to 9.3 billion barrels (1.48×109 m3) of oil. In 2006, Cuba started to test-drill these locations for possible exploitation.
Other info
Oficial Name:
Republica de Cuba
Independence:
Declaredc October 10, 1868
- Republic declared May 20, 1902
- Cuban Revolution January 1, 1959
Area:
110.860 km2
Inhabitants:
12.500.000
Languages:
Lucumi [luq] Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri
More information.
Spanish [spa] 10,000,000 in Cuba (1995). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Capital city:
La Habana
Meaning country name:
From Taíno Indian Cubanacan — "centre place". In Portugal, some believe that the name echoes that of the Portuguese town of Cuba, speculating that Christopher Columbus provided a link. In portuguese and spanish, the word "cuba" refers to the barrels used to hold beverages.
Description Flag:
The official version of the Cuban government about the meaning of the shapes and colors of the cuban flag says that the blue stripes refer to the three old divisions of the island, the two white to the strength of the independentist ideal, the red triangle stands for equality, fraternity and freedom as well as for the blood split in the strugle for independence and the lone star symbolizes the absolute freedom among the peoples
Coat of arms:
The Cuban Coat of Arms is the official heraldic symbol of Cuba. It consists of a shield, crowned by the Phrygian Cap, all supported by an oak branch on one side and a laurel wreath on the other. The coat of arms was created by Miguel de Teurbe Tolon and was adopted on April 24, 1906.
Shield
The shield is divided in a three parts:
In the chief, a key charging a blue sea between two rocks, symbolizing Cuba’s geographical position as the key to the Gulf of Mexico, with a bright rising sun in the background, which represents the rising new republic.
In the division located to the viewer's left (dexter) are three dark blue stripes (bend sinister) on a light blue background, representing the three departments which divide the island: Oriental, Central y Occidental (the Eastern, Central and Western).
In the division toward the viewer's right (sinister), a heraldic landscape consisting of mountains, green vegetation and a royal palm, the national tree of Cuba, representing the rich soil of Cuba.
Supporters
The shield is supported by an oak branch on one side and a laurel wreath on the other. The oak branch symbolizes the strength of the nation; and the laurel wreath: honour and glory. These symbols were meant to represent the rights of man: Equality, Liberty and Fraternity.
Helm/crest
The Phrygian Cap (Gorro Frigio) or liberty cap that has a sole star, and serves as a crown symbolizing liberty, and the sole star stands for independence.
Official description
"The National coat of arms represents our island. It is shaped like a pointed leather shield, and divided into three sections. In its horizontal upper part, there is a golden key between two mountains, and a sun rising over the sea - which symbolises the position of Cuba in the Gulf, between the two Americas, amidst the emergence of a new state. The blue and white stripes, down the left hand side, represent the situation of the island, in terms of its division into states, in the colonial period. Down the right hand side, a Cuban country scene is dominated by a royal palm tree - the symbol of the unbreakable character of the Cuban people."
Motto:
" Patria O Muerte "
National Anthem: La Bayamesa
Spanish Lyrics
Al combate, corred, Bayameses,
Que la Patria os contempla orgullosa;
No temáis una muerte gloriosa,
Que morir por la Patria es vivir.
En cadenas vivir, es morir
En afrenta y oprobio sumido;
Del clarín escuchad el sonido;
¡A las armas, valientes, corred!
English translation
Hasten to battle, men of Bayamo!
The fatherland looks proudly to you;
Do not fear a glorious death,
Because to die for the fatherland is to live.
To live in chains is to live
In dishonour and ignominy,
Hear the clarion's call;
Hasten, brave ones, to battle!
eng | arg | ast | cat | dan | fra | frp | glg | hau | ina | ita | jnf | lat | lld | nah | nld | nor | oci | por | roh | ron | rup | spa | srd | swa | wln: Cuba
afr | aym | bre | ces | cor | dsb | eus | fao | fry | hrv | hsb | hun | ind | jav | lav | lin | lit | mlt | nov | pap | pol | que | slk | slv | sme | smg | sqi | swe | szl | tet | tgl | zza: Kuba
aze | bos | crh | kaa | slo | tuk | uzb: Kuba / Куба
est | fin | som | vor | yua: Kuuba
deu | ltz | nds: Kuba / Kuba
hat | kin | run: Kiba
smo | ton: Kiupa
bam: Kiba
cym: Ciwba
epo: Kubo
fur: Cube
gla: Cùba
gle: Cúba / Cúba
glv: Yn Choobey
grn: Kuva
ibo: Kiuba
isl: Kúba
kab: Kuba / ⴽⵓⴱⴰ
kmr: Kûba / Куба / کووبا
kur: Kuba / کوبا ; Kûba / کووبا
mlg: Kioba
mol: Cuba / Куба
msa: Cuba / كوبا
nrm: Tchuba
rmy: Kuba / कुबा
scn: Cubba
tur: Küba
vie: Cu Ba
vol: Kubeän
wol: Kubaa
abq | alt | bul | che | kjh | kom | krc | kum | mhr | mkd | rus | sah | tyv | udm | ukr: Куба (Kuba)
bak | bel | srp | tat: Куба / Kuba
chv: Кубӑ (Kubă)
kaz: Куба / Kwba / كۋبا
kbd: Кубэ (Kubă)
kir: Куба / كۇبا (Kuba)
mon: Куб (Kub)
oss: Кубӕ (Kubä)
tgk: Куба / کوبه / Kuba
ara: كوبا (Kūbā)
fas: کوبا / Kubâ
prs: کیوبا (Kyūbā)
pus: کيوبا (Kyūbā); کوبا (Kūbā)
uig: كۇبا / Kuba / Куба
urd: کیوبا (Kyūbā)
div: ކިއުބާ (Kiubā)
heb: קובה (Qûbah)
lad: קובה / Kuba
yid: קובאַ (Kuba)
amh: ኩባ (Kuba)
ell-dhi: Κούβα (Koýva)
ell-kat: Κοῦβα (Koỹva)
hye: Կուբա (Kouba)
kat | lzz | xmf: კუბა (Kuba)
hin: क्यूबा (Kyūbā); कूबा (Kūbā); क्योबा (Kyobā)
ben: কিউবা (Kiubā); কুবা (Kubā)
guj: ક્યુબા (Kyubā)
ori: କ୍ୟୁବା (Kyubā)
pan: ਕਿਊਬਾ (Kiūbā)
sin: කියුබාව (Kiyubāva)
kan: ಕ್ಯೂಬ (Kyūba)
mal: ക്യൂബ (Kyūba)
tam: கியூபா (Kiyūpā)
tel: క్యూబా (Kyūbā)
zho: 古巴 (Gǔbā)
yue: 古巴 (Gúbā)
jpn: キューバ (Kyūba)
kor: 쿠바 (Kuba)
bod: ཀུ་བ། (Ku.ba)
dzo: ཀིའུ་སྦ། (Ki'u.sba)
mya: က္ယူးဘား (Kyùbʰà)
tha: คิวบา (Kʰiwbā)
lao: ກຸບາ (Kubā)
khm: គុយបា (Kuybā)
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) (Hangul: 조선민주주의인민공화국, Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk), is a state in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer area between North Korea and South Korea. The Amnok River and the Tumen River form the border between North Korea and People's Republic of China. A section of the Tumen River in the extreme north-east is the border with Russia.
The peninsula was governed by the Korean Empire until it was annexed by Japan following the Russo-Japanese War of 1905. It was divided into Soviet and American occupied zones in 1945, following the end of World War II. North Korea refused to participate in a United Nations–supervised election held in the south in 1948, which led to the creation of separate Korean governments for the two occupation zones. Both North and South Korea claimed sovereignty over the peninsula as a whole, which led to the Korean War of 1950. A 1953 armistice ended the fighting; however, the two countries are officially still at war with each other, as a peace treaty was never signed. Both states were accepted into the United Nations in 1991. On May 26, 2009, North Korea unilaterally withdrew from the armistice.
North Korea is a single-party state under a united front led by the Korean Workers' Party. The country's government follows the Juche ideology of self-reliance, developed by the country's late Eternal President Kim Il-sung. Juche became the official state ideology when the country adopted a new constitution in 1972, though Kim Il-sung had been using it to form policy since at least as early as 1955. Officially a socialist republic, North Korea is considered by many in the outside world to be a totalitarian Stalinist dictatorship. The current secretary of the KWP Central Committee Secretariat and leader of the armed forces is Kim Jong-il, son of Kim Il-sung.
History
Prehistoric Korea
The Prehistoric Korea is the era of human existence in the Korean Peninsula for which written records did not exist. It, however, constitutes the greatest segment of the Korean past and is the major object of study in the disciplines of archaeology, geology, and palaeontology.
The history of North Korea formally begins with the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in 1948.
In the aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Korea which ended with Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel in accordance with a United Nations arrangement, to be administered by the Soviet Union in the north and the United States in the south. The Soviets and Americans were unable to agree on the implementation of Joint Trusteeship over Korea. This led in 1948 to the establishment of separate governments, each claiming to be the legitimate government of all of Korea.
The early years
Having occupied Najin and Ch’ŏngjin on 12 August, the Soviets moved into Wonsan and Hamhŭng on 24 August and P’yŏngyang during 24-26 August, sending troops directly into each of the provinces. Chistiakov, commander of the Soviet 25th Army arrived in Hamhŭng on 24 August and in accordance with his orders from the headquarters of the 1st Field Army of the Far Eastern Division he opened negotiations with the provincial governor and other Japanese leaders of the provincial government about taking over administration of the province. The content of their agreement was as follows:
If anyone, whether they are Japanese or Korean, leaves their post, they will immediately be sentenced to death by hanging. … For the time being, the Japanese police and military police will maintain order and administrative functions will continue to be carried out as before by the Japanese provincial governor and his subordinates. Those who cause disturbances of the peace will be severely punished. … Work should continue in factories, workshops, mines etc, and goods must not be removed from these workplaces.
This agreement was published in the Soviet Army’s decree of 25 August. This decree, which stressed the continuation of Japanese administrative and security control, was the Soviet command’s first official position revealing their policy toward the Korean peninsula. However, before a day had passed this decree was cancelled. Song Sŏnggwan, Ch’oe Kimo, Im Ch’ungsŏk and Sally Joe, and Kim Inhak, members of the South Hamgyŏng Province Communist Council as well as To Yongho and Ch’oe Myŏnghak, leaders of the South Hamgyŏng Province branch of the Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence had visited Chistiakov, informing him that a ‘South Hamgyŏng Executive Committee’ had been formed and requesting that authority for administration be transferred to this committee. Chistiakov cancelled the decree and announced that, “this Executive Committee will manage all administrative and security affairs, under the command of the Soviet Army.”
The government moved rapidly to establish a political system that was partly styled on the Soviet system, with political power monopolised by the Worker's Party of Korea (WPK). The establishment of a command economy followed. Most of the country's productive assets had been owned by the Japanese or by Koreans who had been collaborators. The nationalization of these assets in 1946 placed 70% of industry under state control. By 1949 this percentage had risen to 90%. Since then, virtually all manufacturing, finance and internal and external trade has been conducted by the state.
In agriculture, the government moved more slowly towards a command economy. The "land to the tiller" reform of 1946 redistributed the bulk of agricultural land to the poor and landless peasant population, effectively breaking the power of the landed class. In 1954, however, a partial collectivization was carried out, with peasants being urged, and often forced, into agricultural co-operatives. By 1958, virtually all farming was being carried out collectively, and the co-operatives were increasingly merged into larger productive units.
Like all the postwar communist states, North Korea undertook massive state investment in heavy industry, state infrastructure and military strength, neglecting the production of consumer goods. By paying the collectivized peasants low state-controlled prices for their product, and using the surplus thus extracted to pay for industrial development, the state carried out a series of three-year plans, which brought industry's share of the economy from 47% in 1946 to 70% in 1959, despite the devastation of the Korean War. There were huge increases in electricity production, steel production and machine building. The large output of tractors and other agricultural machinery achieved a great increase in agricultural productivity.
Korean war
The consolidation of Syngman Rhee's government in the South with American military support and the suppression of the October 1948 insurrection ended hopes that the country could be reunified by way of Stalinist revolution in the South, and from early 1949 Kim sought Soviet and Chinese support for a military campaign to reunify the country by force. The withdrawal of most U.S. forces from South Korea in June 1949 left the southern government defended only by a weak and inexperienced South Korean army. The southern regime also had to deal with a citizenry of uncertain loyalty. The North Korean army, by contrast, had been the beneficiary of the Soviet Union's outdated Soviet WWII-era equipment, and had a core of hardened veterans who had fought as anti-Japanese guerrillas or with the Chinese Communists.
Initially, the Soviet Union's Joseph Stalin rejected Kim's requests for permission to invade the South, but in late 1949 the Communist victory in China and the development of Soviet nuclear weapons made him re-consider Kim's proposal. In January 1950, after China's Mao Zedong indicated that China would send troops and other support to Kim, Stalin approved an invasion.[2] The Soviets provided limited support in the form of advisors who helped the North Koreans as they planned the operation, and Soviet military instructors to train some of the Korean units. However, from the very beginning Stalin made it clear that the Soviet Union would avoid a direct confrontation with the U.S. over Korea and would not commit ground forces even in case of some major military crisis. The stage was set for a civil war between two rival regimes on the Korean peninsula.
For over a year before North Korean forces tried to attack the southern government on June 25, 1950, the two sides had been engaged in a series of bloody clashes along the 38th parallel, especially in the Ongjin area on the west coast. On June 25, 1950, the northern forces escalated the battles into a full-fledged offensive and crossed the parallel in large numbers. Due to a combination of surprise, superior military forces, and a poorly armed South Korean army, the Northern forces quickly captured Seoul and Syngman Rhee and his government was forced to flee further south. However, the North Koreans failed to unify the peninsula when foreign powers entered the civil war. North Korean forces were soon defeated and driven northwards by United Nations forces led by the U.S. By October, the U.N. forces had retaken Seoul and captured Pyongyang, and it became Kim's turn to flee. But in November, Chinese forces entered the war and pushed the U.N. forces back, retaking Pyongyang in December and Seoul in January 1951. In March U.N. forces retook Seoul, and the war essentially became a bloody stalemate for the next two years. The front was stabilized in 1953 along what eventually became the current Armistice Line. After long negotiations, the two sides agreed on a border formed by the Korean Demilitarized Zone, and a ceasefire was declared. An official peace treaty, however, was never signed, and the two Koreas have technically been at war since 1960.
Before the war, Kim took control of North Korean politics, with the support of the armed forces, who respected his wartime record and long resistance to the Japanese. Pak Hon-yong, party vice chairman and Foreign Minister of the DPRK, was blamed for the failure of the southern population to support North Korea during the war and was executed after a show-trial in 1955. Most of the South Korean leftists who defected to the North in 1945–1953 were also accused of espionage and other crimes and killed, imprisoned or exiled to remote agricultural and mining villages. Potential rivals from other groups such as Kim Tu-bong were also purged
Gojoseon 2333 BC–108 BC
Gojoseon (Korean pronunciation: [kodʑosʌn]) was an ancient Korean kingdom. According to the Samguk Yusa and other medieval-era records, Gojoseon is said to have been founded in 2333 BC by Dangun, who is said to be a Posterity of Heaven. It was centered in the basins of Liao and Northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
Archaeological evidence of Gojoseon are found in the transition from the Jeulmun pottery to the Mumun pottery around 1500 BC, when groups of semi-sedentary small-scale agriculturalists occupied most of the Korean Peninsula. Local bronze production began around the 8th century BC. Based on contemporaneous written records, modern historians generally believe it developed from a loose federation into a powerful kingdom between 7th and 4th centuries BC.
Go(고, 古), meaning "ancient," distinguishes it from the later Joseon Dynasty; Joseon, as it is called in contemporaneous writings, is also romanized as Chosŏn.
Proto-Three Kingdoms: 108–57 BC
When Gojoseon was defeated by the Han dynasty of China in 108 BC, the northern region of the peninsula and Manchuria was occupied by the states of Buyeo, Goguryeo, Okjeo, Dongye, and other minor statelets. Goguryeo's traditional founding date is 37 BC, but it was mentioned in Chinese records as early as 75 BC, or possibly even 2nd century BC. China installed four commanderies in former Gojoseon territory, but three of them fell quickly to Korean resistance. Goguryeo gradually conquered and absorbed all its neighbors, and destroyed the last Chinese commandery in 313.
In the south, the little-understood state of Jin had given rise to the loose confederacies Jinhan, Byeonhan, and Mahan, or collectively, Samhan. Baekje was founded in 18 BC in Mahan territory and began to slowly overtake it. Silla was founded by the unification of six chiefdoms within the Jinhan, traditionally in 57 BC, although it may have been somewhat later. Byeonhan was absorbed into the later Gaya confederacy, which in turn was annexed by Silla.
Because of this continuity, most historians consider the Three Kingdoms to begin around the fall of Gojoseon, but the three did not dominate the peninsula as kingdoms until around 300.
Three Kingdoms: 57 BC – 668 AD
The name "Three Kingdoms" was used in the titles of the histories Samguk Sagi (12th century) and Samguk Yusa (13th century), and should not be confused with the earlier Chinese Three Kingdoms.
The Three Kingdoms were founded after the fall of Gojoseon, and gradually conquered and absorbed various other small states and confederacies. After the fall of Gojoseon, the Han dynasty established four commanderies in northern parts of the Korean peninsula. Three fell quickly to the Samhan, and the last was destroyed by Goguryeo in 313.
The nascent precursors of Baekje and Silla expanded within the web of complex chiefdoms during the Proto Three Kingdoms Period, and Goguryeo conquered neighboring Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye, and other complex chiefdoms in northern Korea and Manchuria. The three polities made the transition from complex chiefdom to full-fledged state-level societies in the 3rd century.
All three kingdoms shared a similar culture and language. Their original religions appear to have been shamanistic, but they were increasingly influenced by Chinese culture, particularly Confucianism and Taoism. In the 4th century, Buddhism was introduced to the peninsula and spread rapidly, briefly becoming the official religion of all three kingdoms.
North-South States: 698–935
After the unification wars, the Tang Dynasty established territories in the former Goguryeo, and began to administer and establish communities in Baekje. Silla attacked the Chinese in Baekje and northern Korea in 671.
China then invaded Silla in 674 but Silla defeated the Chinese army in the north. Silla drove the Tang forces out of the peninsula by 676 to achieve unification of most of the Three Kingdoms.
Unified Silla was a time when Korean arts flourished dramatically and Buddhism became a large part of Silla culture. Buddhist monasteries such as the Bulguksa are examples of advanced Korean architecture and Buddhist influence. State-sponsored art and architecture from this period include Hwangnyongsa Temple, Bunhwangsa Temple, and Seokguram Grotto, a World Heritage Site.
Silla began to experience political troubles in 780. This severely weakened Silla and soon thereafter, descendants of the former Baekje established Later Baekje. In the north, rebels revived Goguryeo, beginning the Later Three Kingdoms period.
Unified Silla lasted for 267 years until, under King Gyeongsun, it was absorbed by Goryeo in 935.
Goryeo Dynasty 918–1392
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ (Officially the Kingdom of Goryeo) (918-1392) was a Korean sovereign state established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which became to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392. Goryeo expanded its borders to present-day Wonsan in the north-east (936~943) and the Amnok River (993) and finally almost the whole of the Korean peninsula (1374).
Two of this period's most notable products are Goryeo celadon pottery and the Tripitaka Koreana — the Buddhist scriptures (Tripitaka) carved onto roughly 80,000 woodblocks and stored, and still in, Haeinsa. Goryeo also created the world's first metal-based movable type printing press in 1234 and the oldest surviving movable metal type book, the Jikji, was made in 1377.
In 668, Silla conquered Baekje and Goguryeo with Tang Dynasty help, but by the late 9th century it was tottering, its monarchs being unimaginative and pressed by the power of powerful statesmen. Many burglars and outlaws bubbled and in 900 Gyeon Hwon revolted from Silla control in the Jeolla region as Hubaekje and next year Gung Ye revolted from the northern regions as Hugoguryeo (Taebong). A son-of-a regional lord, Wang Geon went into Hugoguryeo as a general.
Hugoguryeo fell when Wang Geon revolted and killed Gung Ye in 918, and the tottering Silla was too overpowered by Goryeo and Hubaekje and surrendered to Goryeo in 935. In 936 Hubaekje surrendered and Goryeo started a unbroken dynasty that ruled Korea for 474 years.
By the 14th century Goryeo was tottering under Yuan Dynasty control. Although King Gongmin managed to "free" his kingdom from the Mongolian yoke, the Goryeo general Yi Seonggye revolted and overthrew the last king of Goryeo, King Gongyang in 1392. Gongyang was killed in 1394.
The name "Goryeo" is derived from "Goguryeo," one of the ancient Three Kingdoms of Korea. The English name "Korea" derives from "Goryeo." See also Names of Korea.
Joseon Dynasty 1392–1897
Joseon (July 1392 – August 1910) (also Chosŏn, Choson, Chosun), was a Korean sovereign state[3] founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo Kingdom at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul and the kingdom's northernmost borders were expanded to the natural boundaries at the Amnok and Duman rivers (through the subjugation of the Jurchens). Joseon was the last royal and later imperial dynasty of Korean history. It was the longest ruling Confucian dynasty.
During its reign, Joseon consolidated its absolute rule over Korea, encouraged the entrenchment of Confucian ideals and doctrines in Korean society, imported and adapted Chinese culture, and saw the height of classical Korean culture, trade, science, literature, and technology. However, the dynasty was severely weakened during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when invasions by the neighboring Japan and Qing virtually overran the peninsula, leading to an increasingly harsh isolationist policy for which the country became known as the Hermit Kingdom. After invasions from Manchuria, Joseon experienced a nearly 200-year period of peace.
However, whatever power the kingdom recovered during its isolation further waned as the 18th century came to a close, and faced with internal strife, power struggles, international pressure and rebellions at home, the Joseon Dynasty declined rapidly in the late 19th century. In 1895, the Joseon Dynasty was forced to write a document of independence from the Qing Dynasty after the Japanese victory in the First Sino-Japanese War and its peace treaty, the Treaty of Shimonoseki. From 1897 to 1910, Korea was formally known as the Korean Empire to signify a sovereign nation no longer a tributary of the Qing Dynasty. The Joseon Dynasty came to an end in 1910, when the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty was enforced by the Empire of Japan.
The Joseon's rule has left a substantial legacy on the modern face of Korea; much of modern Korean etiquette, cultural norms, societal attitudes towards current issues, and even the modern Korean language and its dialects stem from the traditional thought pattern that originated from this period.
Korean Empire 1897–1910
The Sino-Japanese War marked the rapid decline of any power the Joseon Dynasty of Korea had managed to hold against foreign interference, as the battles of the conflict itself had been fought on Korean soil and the surrounding seas. With its newfound preeminence over waning China, Japan had Japanese delegates negotiate the Treaty of Shimonoseki with the Qing emissaries, through which Japan wrested control over the Liaodong Peninsula from China (a move designed to prevent the southern expansion of Japan's new rival, Russia), and, more importantly to Korea, scrapped the centuries-old tributary relationship between Joseon and the Qing Dynasty. However, Russia realized this agreement as an act against its interests in northeastern China and eventually brought France and Germany to its side in saying that the Liaodong Peninsula should be repatriated to China.
At the time, Japan had no power to resist such foreign pressure, especially by nations that it considered far more advanced and which it sought to emulate, and as such relinquished its claim to the Liaodong Peninsula. With the success of the three-country intervention, Russia emerged as another major power in East Asia, replacing the Qing Dynasty as the country that the many government officials in the Joseon court advocated close ties with to prevent more Japanese meddling in Korean politics. Queen Min (the later Empress Myeongseong), the consort of King Gojong, also realized this change and recognized it by formally establishing closer diplomatic relations with Russia to counter Japan.
Queen Min began to emerge as a key figure in higher-level Korean resistance to Japanese influence. Japan, seeing its designs endangered by the queen, quickly replaced its ambassador to Korea, Inoue Kaoru, with Miura Goro, a diplomat with a background in the Japanese military. It is widely believed that he orchestrated the assassination of Queen Min on October 8, 1895, at her residence at Gyeongbokgung, nearby the Geoncheong Palace, the official sleeping quarters of the king within Gyeongbok Palace.
Japanese rule 1910–1945
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion (22 August 1910 to 15 August 1945). Formally, Japanese rule ended on 2 September 1945 upon the Japanese defeat in World War II in 1945.
Korea was occupied and declared a Japanese protectorate in the 1905 Eulsa Treaty, and officially annexed in 1910 through the annexation treaty. Japan's involvement in the region began with the 1876 Treaty of Ganghwa during the Joseon Dynasty and increased with the subsequent assassination of Empress Myeongseong (also known as "Queen Min") in 1895. The 1905 and 1910 treaties were eventually declared "null and void" by both Japan and South Korea in 1965.
In Korea, the period is usually described as a time of "Japanese forced occupation" (Hangul: 일제 강점기; Ilje gangjeomgi, Hanja: 日帝强占期). Other terms used for it include "Japanese Imperial Period" (Hangul: 일제시대, Ilje sidae, Hanja: 日帝時代) or "Wae (Japanese) administration" (Hangul: 왜정, Wae jeong, Hanja: 倭政). In Japan, a more common description is "Japanese rule of Chosun" (日本統治時代の朝鮮, Nippon Tōchi-jidai no Chōsen?).
Provisional Gov't 1919–1948
The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was the partially recognised government in exile of Korea, based in Shanghai, China and later in Chongqing, during the Japanese colonial rule of Korea.The Government was formed on April 13, 1919, following the Korean Declaration of Independence during the March 1st movement of the same year.
The government did not gain formal recognition from world powers, though modest form of recognition was given from the Nationalist Government of China and a number of other governments, most of whom were in exile themselves.
The Government strived for the independence of Korea from Japanese annexation that lasted from 1910 to 1945. They coordinated the armed resistance against the Japanese army during the 1920s and 1930s, including the Battle of Chingshanli in October, 1920 and the assault on Japanese military leadership in Shanghai in April 1932.
This struggle culminated in the formation of Korean Liberation Army in 1940, bringing together many if not all Korean resistance groups in exile. The government duly declared war against Japan and Germany on December 9 1941, and the Liberation Army took part in allied action in China and parts of Southeast Asia.
Prior to the end of World War II, the Korean Liberation Army was preparing an assault against the Japanese in Korea in conjunction with American Office of Strategic Services, but the Japanese surrender prevented the execution of the plan. The government's goal was achieved with Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945.
Division of Korea 1945–1948
The division of Korea into North Korea and South Korea stems from the 1945 Allied victory in World War II, ending Japan's 35-year colonial rule of Korea. In a proposal opposed by nearly all Koreans, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to temporarily occupy the country as a trusteeship with the zone of control demarcated along the 38th parallel. The purpose of this trusteeship was to establish a Korean provisional government which would become "free and independent in due course." Though elections were scheduled, the two superpowers backed different leaders and two states were effectively established, each of which claimed sovereignty over the whole Korean peninsula
The Korean War (1950-1953) left the two Koreas separated by the DMZ, remaining technically at war through the Cold War to the present day. North Korea is a communist state, often described as Stalinist and isolationist. Its economy initially enjoyed substantial growth but collapsed in the 1990s, unlike that of its Communist neighbor China. South Korea emerged, after decades of authoritarian rule, as a capitalist liberal democracy with one of the largest economies in the world.
Since the 1990s, with progressively liberal South Korean administrations, as well as the death of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung, the two sides have taken small, symbolic steps towards a possible Korean reunification.
Geography
North Korea is located in east Asia on the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea shares a border with three states, including China along the Amnok River, Russia along the Duman River, and South Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The Yellow Sea and the Korea Bay are off the west coast and the Sea of Japan (also called East Sea of Korea) is off the east coast.
Other infos
Oficial Name:
조선 민주주의 인민 공화국
朝鮮民主主義人民共和國
Chosun Minchu'chui Inmin Konghwa'guk
Establishment:
Independence declared March 1, 1919c
- Liberation August 15, 1945
- Formal declaration September 9, 1948
Area:
122.762km2
Inhabitants:
23.789.000
Language:
Korean
Korean [kor] 20,000,000 in North Korea (1986). Dialects: Hamgyongdo (North Hamgyongdo, South Hamgyongdo), P'yong'ando (North P'yong'ando, South P'yong'ando), Hwanghaedo. Classification: Language Isolate
Capital city:
Pyongyang
Country name:
Korea ( 조선 in North Korea, ) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Korea is currently divided into North Korea and South Korea.
Although the borders of historical Korean dynasties fluctuated, the peninsula today is defined as coterminous with the political borders of the two Koreas combined. Thus, the peninsula borders China to the northwest and Russia to the northeast, with Japan situated to the southeast across the Korea Strait.
The history of Korea began with the legendary founding of Gojoseon in 2333 BC by Dangun. Limited linguistic evidence suggests probable Altaic origins of these people, whose northern Mongolian Steppe culture absorbed immigrants and invaders from northern Manchuria, Mongolia and China.[citation needed] The adoption of the Chinese writing system ("hanja" in Korean) in the 2nd century BC, and Buddhism in the 4th century AD, had profound effects on the Three Kingdoms of Korea. Koreans later passed on these, as well as their own advances, to Japan.[1][2][3][4]
After the unification of the Three Kingdoms by Silla in 676, Korea was ruled by a single government and maintained political and cultural independence until the nineteenth century, despite the Mongol invasions of the Goryeo Dynasty in the 13th century and Japanese invasions of the Joseon Dynasty in the 16th century. In 1377, Korea produced the Jikji, the world's oldest movable metal print document.[5] In the 15th century, the turtle ships, possibly the world's first ironclad warships, were deployed, and during the reign of King Sejong the Great, the Korean alphabet han-geul was created.
During the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty, Korea's isolationist policy earned it the Western nickname the "Hermit Kingdom". By the late 19th century, the country became the object of the colonial designs of Japan and Europe. In 1910, Korea was forcibly annexed by Japan and remained occupied until the end of World War II in August 1945.
In 1945, the Soviet Union and the United States agreed on the surrender and disarming of Japanese troops in Korea; the Soviet Union accepting the surrender north of the 38th parallel and the United States taking the surrender south of it. This led to division of Korea by the two great powers, exacerbated by their inability to agree on the terms of Korean independence. The two Cold War rivals then established governments sympathetic to their own ideologies, leading to Korea's current division into two political entities: North Korea and South Korea.
Description Flag:
The Flag of North Korea was adopted on September 8, 1948, as the national flag and ensign. The famous red star of Communism can be seen on this flag on a white disk. Interestingly enough, North Korea had originally adopted a "taegeugki" following independence from the Japanese Empire with a taoist yin-yang symbol similar to that in the South Korean flag but later revised its flag to more closely reflect that of the USSR.
Flagpole with North Korean flag in 'Peace village'.The colour red represents revolutionary patriotism. The blue stripes connote "The aspiration of the Korean people to unite with the revolutionary people of the whole world and fight for the victory of the idea of independence, friendship and peace."
A 300-pound (136 kg) North Korean national flag flies from the world's largest flagpole, which is located at Kijŏng-dong, on the North Korean side of the Military Demarcation Line within the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
The flag created in 1948 consists of three stripes - blue, red, blue - separated from each other by two narrow white lines, the proportions being 6 : 2 : 17 : 2 : 6. The hoist of the red stripe is charged with a white disc containing a red five-pointed star. The blue stripes stand for the people's desire for peace, the red one symbolizes the revolutionary spirit of the struggle for socialism, and white - a traditional Korean color - represents the purity of the ideals of (North) Korea and national sovereignty. The five-pointed star signifies the happy prospects of the people building socialism under the leadership of the Korean Worker's Party.
Coat of arms:
The National Emblem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea bears the design of a hydroelectric power plant under Mount Paektu and bearing the beaming light of a five-pointed red star, with ears of rice forming an oval frame, bound with a red ribbon bearing the inscription "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea" in Hangul characters.
This coat of arms follow the basic design guidelines of the coat of arms of the Soviet Union adopted in many other countries, which indicates clearly relations between the communist ideology and the foundation of the country at the beginning of the Cold War.
Motto:
"강성대국" "(強盛大國)" "A powerful and prosperous country"
National Anthem : Aegukka
Chosongul
아침은 빛나라 이 강산
은금에 자원도 가득한
삼천리 아름다운 내 조국
반만년 오랜 력사에
찬란한 문화로 자라난
슬기론 인민의 이 영광
몸과 맘 다 바쳐 이 조선
길이 받드세
백두산 기상을 다 안고
근로의 정신은 깃들어
진리로 뭉쳐진 억센 뜻
온 세계 앞서 나가리
솟는 힘 노도도 내밀어
인민의 뜻으로 선 나라
한없이 부강하는 이 조선
길이 빛내세
Chosongul and hanja
아침은 빛나라 이 江山
銀金에 資源도 가득한
三千里 아름다운 내 祖國
半萬年 오랜 歷史에
燦爛한 文化로 자라난
슬기론 人民의 이 榮光
몸과 맘 다 바쳐 이 朝鮮
길이 받드세
白頭山 氣像을 다 안고
勤勞의 精神은 깃들어
眞理로 뭉쳐진 억센 뜻
온 世界 앞서 나가리
솟는 힘 怒濤도 내밀어
人民의 뜻으로 선 나라
限없이 富强하는 이 朝鮮
길이 빛내세
Transliteration
Ach'imŭn pinnara i kangsan
Ŭn'gŭme chawŏndo kadŭkhan
Samch'ŏlli arŭmdaun nae choguk
Panmannyŏn oraen ryŏksaë
Ch'allanhan munhwaro charanan
Sŭlgiron inminŭi i yŏnggwang
Momgwa mam ta pach'yŏ i chosŏn
Kiri pattŭse
Paektusan kisangŭl ta anko
Kŭlloŭi chŏngsinŭn kittŭrŏ
Chilliro mungch'yŏjin ŏksen ttŭt
On segye apsŏ nagari
Sonnŭn him nododo naemirŏ
Inminŭi ttŭsŭro sŏn nara
Hanŏpsi puganghanŭn i chosŏn
Kiri pinnaese
English
Let morning shine on the silver and gold of this land,
Three thousand leagues packed with natural wealth.
My beautiful fatherland.
The glory of a wise people
Brought up in a culture brilliant
With a history five millennia long.
Let us devote our bodies and minds
To supporting this Korea forever
The firm will, bonded with truth,
Nest for the spirit of labour,
Embracing the atmosphere of Mount Paektu,
Will go forth to all the world.
The country established by the will of the people,
Breasting the raging waves with soaring strength.
Let us glorify forever this Korea,
Limitlessly rich and strong.
Internet Page: www.Korea-dpr.com
N.C. in diferent languages
eng: North Korea
afr | lim | nld: Noord-Korea
cat | ina | ita: Corea del Nord
roh-enb | roh-eno | roh-gri: Corea dal Nord
ast | spa: Corea del Norte
dan | swe: Nordkorea
deu | ltz: Nordkorea / Nordkorea
fra | jnf: Corée du Nord
ind | msa: Korea Utara / كوريا اوتارا
kin | run: Koreya y’uburaruko
arg: Corea d’o Norte
aze: Şimali Koreya / Шимали Кореја
bam: Kɔre Saheliyanfan
bos: Sjeverna Koreja / Сјеверна Кореја
bre: Korea an Norzh; Norzhkorea
ces: Severní Korea
cor: Korea Gledh
cos: Corea tramuntana
crh: Şimaliy Koreya / Шималий Корея
csb: Nordowô Kòreja
cym: Gogledd Corea
dsb: Pódpołnocna Koreja
epo: Nord-Koreo; Nord-Koreio
est: Põhja-Korea
eus: Ipar Korea
fao: Norður-Korea
fin: Pohjois-Korea
frp: Corê du Nord
fry: Noard-Korea
fur: Coree dal Nort
gag: Poyraz Koreya / Пойраз Kорея
gla: Coirea a Tuath; Coiria a Tuath; Corea a Tuath
gle: An Chóiré Thuaidh / An Ċóiré Ṫuaiḋ; An Choria Thuaidh / An Ċoria Ṫuaiḋ
glg: Corea do Norte
glv: Yn Chorea Twoaie
hat: Kore dinò
hau: Koreya ta Arewa
hrv: Sjeverna Koreja
hsb: Sewjerna Koreja
hun: Észak-Korea
ibo: Kọria Ugwu
isl: Norður-Kórea
jav: Korea Utara
kaa: Arqa Koreya / Арқа Корея
kmr: Korê ya Bakur / Коре йа Бакӧр’ / کۆرێیا باکوڕ; Korê ya Şimalê / Коре йа Шьмале / کۆرێیا شمالی
kur: Koreya Bakur / کۆرەیا باکور
lat: Corea Septentrionalis
lav: Ziemeļkoreja
lin: Kore ya Nola
lit: Šiaurės Korėja
lld: Corea dl Nord
mlg: Kôrea Avaratra
mlt: Korea ta’ Fuq
mol: Coreea de Nord / Корея де Норд
nds: Noordkorea / Noordkorea
nor: Nord-Korea
nrm: Coraée-du-Nord
oci: Corèa del Nòrd
pol: Korea Północna
por: Coreia do Norte / Coréia do Norte
que: Chinchay Kuriya
rmy: Nordutni Koreya / नोर्दुत्नी कोरेया
roh-srs: Corea dil Nord
ron: Coreea de Nord
rup: Corea di Aratsile
scn: Corea dû Nord
slk: Severná Kórea
slo: Severju Korea / Северйу Кореа
slv: Severna Koreja
sme: Davvi-Korea
smg: Šiaurės Kuoriejė
smo: Korea i Matu
som: Kooriyada Waqooyi; Kuuriyada Waqooyi
sqi: Korea Veriore
srd: Corea de Susu
swa: Korea ya Kaskazini
szl: Korea Půunocno
tet: Koreia Norte
tgl: Hilagang Korea
tpi: Not Korea
tuk: Demirgazyk Koreýa / Демиргазык Корея
tur: Kuzey Kore
uzb: Shimoliy Quriya / Шимолий Қурия; Shimoliy Koreya / Шимолий Корея
vie: Bắc Hàn; Triều Tiên
vol: Nolüda-Koreyän; Tjosönän; Tsyosönän
vor: Põh́a-Korea
wln: Bijhe Corêye
wol: Koore bu Noor
zza: Korya Zımey
abq | bul: Северна Корея (Severna Koreja)
alt: Тӱндӱк Корея (Tündük Koreja)
bak: Төньяҡ Корея / Tönyaķ Koreya
bel: Паўночная Карэя / Paŭnočnaja Kareja
che: Къилбседера Корея (Q̣ilbsedera Koreja)
chm: Йӱдвел Корея (Jüdvel Koreja)
chv: Ҫурҫӗр Корейӑ (Śurśĕr Korejă)
kaz: Солтүстік Корея / Soltüstik Koreya / سولتۇستىك كورەيا; Чаушьян / Çawşyan / چاۋشيان
kbd: Севернэ Корея (Severnă Koreja)
kir: Түндүк Корея (Tündük Koreja)
kjh: Севернай Корея (Severnaj Koreja)
kom: Севернӧй Корея (Severnöj Koreja)
krc: Север Корея (Sever Koreja)
kum: Темиркъазыкъ Корея (Temirqazyq Koreja)
mkd: Северна Кореа (Severna Korea)
mon: Умард Солонгос (Umard Solongos); Хойд Солонгос (Ĥojd Solongos)
oss: Цӕгат Корей (Cägat Korej)
rus: Северная Корея (Severnaja Koreja)
srp: Северна Кореја / Severna Koreja
tat: Төньяк Корея / Tönyaq Koreä
tgk: Қурияи Шимолӣ / قوریۀ شمالی / Qurijai Şimolī; Кореяи Шимолӣ / کاریۀ شمالی / Korejai Şimolī
tyv: Соңгу-Көрей (Soṅgu-Körej)
udm: Уйпал Корея (Ujpal Koreja)
ukr: Північна Корея (Pivnična Koreja)
ara: كوريا الشمالية (Kūrīyā š-Šimālīyâ)
fas: کرۀ شمالی / Koreye Šemâli
prs: کوریای شمالی (Kōriyā-ye Šemālī)
pus: شمالي کوريا (Šimālī Koriyā)
snd: اتر ڪوريا (Utaru Koriyā)
uig: شىمالىي چاۋشيەن / Shimaliy Chawshyen / Шималий Чавшйән; شىمالىي چاۋشەن / Shimaliy Chawshen / Шималий Чавшән
urd: شمالی کوریا (Šimālī Koriyā)
div: ކޮރެއާ ޑީ.ޕީ.އާރ (Kore'ā Ḋī.Pī.Ār)
heb: צפון קוראה (Tsəfôn Qôreʾah); צפון קוריאה (Tsəfôn Qôrêʾah); קוראה הצפונית (Qôreʾah ha-Tsəfônît); קוריאה הצפונית (Qôrêʾah ha-Tsəfônît)
lad: קוריאה דיל נורטי / Korea del Norte
yid: צפֿון קאָריִיע (Tsofn Koriye)
amh: ሰሜን ኮርያ (Sämen Korya)
ell-dhi: Βόρεια Κορέα (Vóreia Koréa)
ell-kat: Βόρειος Κορέα (Vóreios Koréa)
hye: Հյուսիսային Կորեա (Hyousisayin Korea)
kat: ჩრდილოეთ კორეა (Č̣rdiloeṭ Korea)
hin: उत्तर कोरिया (Uttar Koriyā)
ben: উত্তর কোরিয়া (Uttôr Koriyā)
pan: ਉੱਤਰੀ ਕੋਰੀਆ (Uttarī Korīā)
kan: ಉತ್ತರ ಕೊರಿಯಾ (Uttara Koriyā)
mal: ഉത്തര കൊറിയ (Uttara Koṟiya)
tam: வட கொரியா (Vaṭa Koriyā); வடகொரியா (Vaṭakoriyā)
tel: ఉత్తర కొరియా (Uttara Koriyā)
zho: 北韓/北韩 (Běihán); 朝鮮/朝鲜 (Cháoxiǎn)
yue: 北韓/北韩 (Bākhòhn); 朝鮮/朝鲜 (Chosen)
jpn: 朝鮮 (Chōsen)
kor: 북조선/北朝鮮 (Pukchosŏn); 북한/北韓 (Pukhan)
bod: བྱང་ཁྲའོ་ཤན་ (Byaṅ. Kʰra'o.šan.); ཁྲའོ་ཤན་བྱང་རྒྱུད་ (Kʰra'o.šan. Byaṅ.rgyud.)
dzo: བྱང་ཀོ་རི་ཡ་ (Byaṅ.Ko.ri.ya.)
mya: မ္ရောက္ကုိရီးယား (Myouʿ Koẏìyà)
tha: เกาหลีเหนือ (Kaw[h]lī [h]Nʉ̄a)
lao: ເກົາຫຼີເໜືອ (Kaw[h]ḷī [h]Nʉ̄a)
khm: កូរ៉េខាងជើង (Kūre Kʰāṅčøṅ)
chr: ᏅᏒᏢ ᎢᏗᏢ ᎪᎴᏯ / Nvsvtlv Iditlv Goleya; ᏅᏒᏢ ᎢᏗᏢ ᎪᎴᎠ / Nvsvtlv Iditlv Golea
Is a country located partly on the European Continent and partly on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The independent states of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within the Italian Peninsula, and Campione d'Italia is an Italian exclave in Switzerland. The territory of Italy covers 301,338 km² and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. With 60.2 million inhabitants, it is the sixth most populous country in Europe, and the twenty-third most populous in the world.
The land known as Italy today has been the cradle of European cultures and peoples, such as the Etruscans and the Romans. Italy's capital, Rome, was for centuries the political centre of Western civilisation, as the capital of the Roman Empire. After its decline, Italy would endure numerous invasions by foreign peoples, from Germanic tribes such as the Lombards and Ostrogoths, to the Normans and later, the Byzantines, among others. Centuries later, Italy would become the birthplace of the Renaissance, an immensely fruitful intellectual movement that would prove to be integral in shaping the subsequent course of European thought.
Through much of its post-Roman history, Italy was fragmented into numerous kingdoms and city-states (such as the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Duchy of Milan), but was unified in 1861, a tumultuous period in history known as the "Risorgimento". In the late 19th century, through World War I, and to World War II, Italy possessed a colonial empire, which extended its rule to Libya, Eritrea, Italian Somaliland, Ethiopia, Albania, Rhodes, the Dodecanese and a concession in Tianjin, China.
Modern Italy is a democratic republic and the world's eighteenth most developed country, with the eighth or tenth highest quality of life index rating in the world. Italy enjoys a very high standard of living, and has a high nominal GDP per capita. It is a founding member of what is now the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Italy is also a member of the G8 and G20. It has the world's seventh-largest nominal GDP, tenth highest GDP (PPP) and the fifth highest government budget in the world. It is also a member state of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Trade Organization, the Council of Europe, and the Western European Union. Italy, on addition to this, has the world's eight-largest defence budget and shares NATO's nuclear weapons.
Italy, especially Rome, has an important place in political, military and cultural affairs, with worldwide organizations such as Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Glocal Forum, and the NATO Defence College being headquartered in the country and the city. The country's European political, social and economic influence make it a major regional power, alongside the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Russia, and Italy has been classified in a study as being the eleventh greatest worldwide national power. The country has a high public education level, high labour force, is a globalised nation, and also has 2009's sixth best international reputation. Italy also has the world's nineteenth highest life expectancy, and the world's second best healthcare system. It is the world's fifth most visited country, with over 43.7 million international arrivals, and boasts a long tradition of excellence in all the arts and sciences, including the fact that Italy has the world's greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to date.
History
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Italy
Geography
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Italy
Other info
Oficial name:
Repubblica Italiana
Formation:
Unification 17 March 1861
- Republic 2 June 1946
Area:
301.338 km2
Inhabitants:
58.450.000
Languages:
Albanian, Arbëreshë [aae] 80,000 (1963 L. Newmark). Ethnic population: 260,000 (1976 M. Stephens). Southern; Calabria, Apulia, Basilicata, Molise, Sicily. Alternate names: Arbëreshë. Dialects: Sicilian Albanian, Calabrian Albanian, Central Mountain Albanian, Campo Marino Albanian. Speakers say the four Italian dialects are not inherently intelligible with each other. Lexical similarity 45% with Tosk Albanian. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk
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Bavarian [bar] 258,885 in Italy (2000 WCD). South Bavarian is in the Bavarian Alps, Tyrol, Styria, including Heanzian dialect of Burgenland, Carinthia, northern Italy, and part of Gottschee; Central Bavarian is in the Alps and Lower Austria and Salzburg; North Bavarian in the north of Regensburg, to Nuremburg and Western Bohemia, Czech Republic. Alternate names: Bayerisch, Bavarian Austrian. Dialects: Central Bavarian, North Bavarian, South Bavarian. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Bavarian-Austrian
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Catalan-Valencian-Balear [cat] 20,000 in Alghero (1996). Alghero, northwest coast on Sardinia. Dialects: Algherese. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, East Iberian
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Cimbrian [cim] 2,230. Population includes 500 in Lusernese Cimbrian in Trentino Alto Oolige 40 km southeast from Trento, plus 1,500 Sette Comuni Cimbrian (40% of Roana (Rowan), 70% of Messaselva di Roana Rotzo) in Veneto around 60 km north of Vicenza (1978 H. Kloss), and 230 or 65% of Giazza (Ijetzan) Veneto, 43 km northeast of Verona (1992 R. Zamponi). There were 22,700 speakers in Sieben Gemeinde and 12,400 in Dreizehn Gemeinde in 1854. Northeast Italy, Sette and Tredici Comuni (Sieben and Dreizehn Gemeinde) south of Trent, towns of Giazza (Glietzen, Ljetzen), Roana (Rabam), Lusern, some in Venetia Province. Alternate names: Tzimbro, Zimbrisch. Dialects: Lusernese Cimbrian, Tredici Communi Cimbrian (Tauch), Sette Comuni Cimbrian. Structural and intelligibility differences indicate that the 3 dialects listed could be considered separate languages. Lusernese Cimbrian is heavily influenced by Italian. Heavily influenced by Bajuwarisch dialects. It is sometimes considered to be a dialect of South Bavarian. Different from Bavarian, Walser, and Mocheno. No written influence from Standard German. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Bavarian-Austrian
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Corsican [cos] 1,000 in Italy (1990). Maddalena Island, northeast coast of Sardinia. Alternate names: Corso, Corsu, Corse, Corsi. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Corsican
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Croatian [hrv] 3,500 in Italy (N. Vincent in B. Comrie 1987). Molise, southern, villages of Montemitro, San Felice del Molise, Acquaviva-Collecroce. Dialects: Croatian. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Western
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Emiliano-Romagnolo [eml] 2,000,000 in Emilia-Romagna (2003). Population total all countries: 2,020,112. Northwest Italy, region of Piacenza to that of Ravenna, and between the Po and the Adriatic and the Apennines, in the territories of Emilia and Romagna, southern Pianura Padana (all provinces), southern Lombardia (Provinces Mantova and Pavia), northern Toscana (Lunigiana), northern Marche (Province Pesaro). Also spoken in San Marino. Alternate names: Emiliano, Emilian, Sammarinese. Dialects: Western Emiliano, Central Emiliano, Eastern Emiliano, Northern Romagnolo, Southern Romagnolo, Mantovano, Vogherese-Pavese, Lunigiano. A structurally separate language from Italian (F.B. Agard). Related to Lombard (R.A. Hall 1974:29, S. Fleischman 1992, OIEL 3:339). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian
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Franco-Provençal [frp] 70,000 in Italy (1971 census). Population includes 700 Faetar speakers (1995 Naomi Nagy). Northwest Italy, Aosta Valley. A small speech community also in Faeto and Celle S. Vito in the Province of Foggia in Apulia, and Guardia Piemontese in Calabria, Cosenza. Covers a huge area. Dialects: Valle D'aosta (Patoé Valdoten, Valdotain, Valdostano), Faeto (Faetar), Celle San Vito. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, Southeastern
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French [fra] 100,000 in Italy (1987 Harris). Aosta Valley. Alternate names: Français. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
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Friulian [fur] 794,000 (2000). Northeast and adjacent areas, northern Friuli-Venezia-Giulia on the borders of the Austrian Province of Corinthia and the Republic of Slovenia. Alternate names: Furlan, Frioulan, Frioulian, Priulian, Friulano. Dialects: East Central Friulian, Western Friulian, Carnico. Friulian, Ladin, and Romansch are separate languages (R. A. Hall, Jr. 1978, personal communication). F. B. Agard considers it to be structurally closer to Italian than to Romansch (personal communication 1981). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Rhaetian
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German, Standard [deu] 225,000 in Italy (1987 Vincent in B. Comrie). Northern, Trentino-Alto Adige, South Tyrol, Province of Bolzano. Alternate names: Tedesco. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
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Greek [ell] 20,000 in Italy (1987 Vincent in B. Comrie). Southern, east of Reggio; Salento (Colimera, Sternatía, Zollino) and Aspromonte (Bova, Condofuri, Palizzi, Roccoforte, Roghudi). Alternate names: Greco. Dialects: Salento, Aspromonte. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
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Italian [ita] 55,000,000 in Italy. Population includes some of whom are native bilinguals of Italian and regional varieties, and some of whom may use Italian as second language. Population total all countries: 61,489,984. Also spoken in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Egypt, Eritrea, France, Germany, Israel, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Vatican State. Alternate names: Italiano. Dialects: Tuscan, Abruzzese, Pugliese, Umbrian, Laziale, Central Marchigiano, Cicolano-Reatino-Aquilano, Molisano. Regional varieties coexist with the standard language; some are inherently unintelligible (Nida) to speakers of other varieties unless they have learned them. Aquilano, Molisano, and Pugliese are very different from the other Italian 'dialects'. Piemontese and Sicilian are distinct enough to be separate languages (F. B. Agard 1981, personal communication). Venetian and Lombard are also very different (Philippe Cousson 1981, personal communication). Neapolitan is reported to be unintelligible to speakers of Standard Italian. Northern varieties are closer to French and Occitan than to standard or southern varieties (Agard, N. Vincent). Lexical similarity 89% with French, 87% with Catalan, 85% with Sardinian, 82% with Spanish, 78% with Rheto-Romance, 77% with Rumanian. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
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Italian Sign Language [ise] Alternate names: Lingua Italiana Dei Segni, Lis. Dialects: Partially intelligible with French Sign Language. Not intelligible with American Sign Language. Regional differences, but signers from different regions seem to communicate fluently. Classification: Deaf sign language
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Judeo-Italian [itk] 200. Alternate names: Italkian. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
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Ladin [lld] 30,000 in Italy (2001 census). Ethnic population: 38,000. Autonomous province of Bolzano or Southern Tyrol (German Südtirol, Italian Alto Adige), in the Valleys of Gherdëina (Italian Val Gardena, German Grödnertal) and of Badia (Italian Val Badia, German Gadertal); autonomous province of Trento (Trient) or Trentino, in the Valley of Fascia (Italian Val di Fassa, German Fassatal) and in the province of Belluno in Fodom (Italian Livinallongo, German Buchenstein) and in Anpezo (Italian Ampezzo, around Cortina d'Ampezzo). Also spoken in USA. Alternate names: Dolomite, Rhaeto-Romance. Dialects: Atesino, Cadorino, Nones (Nones Blot, Nonesh, Parlata Trentina, Nonese), Gardenese (Grüdno, Grödnerisch), Fassano, Badiotto (Gadertalisch), Marebbano (Ennebergisch), Livinallese, Ampezzano. Friulian, Ladin (in Italy), and Romansch (in Switzerland) are separate languages (R. A. Hall, Jr. 1978, personal communication). Seven dialects. The dialect of Val di Fassa is taught in schools. Distinct from Ladino (Dzhudezmo, Judeo-Spanish). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Rhaetian
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Ligurian [lij] 1,915,749 in Italy (2000 WCD). Population total all countries: 1,920,849. Liguria, northern Italy; east and west of Genoa along the Riviera and mountain hinterland, St. Pietro and St. Antioch, islands off southwest coast of Sardinia, cities of Carloforte and Calasetta in Sardinia. Also spoken in France, Monaco. Alternate names: Líguru, Ligure. Dialects: Genoese (Genoan, Genovese). Ligurian is closer to Piemontese, Lombard, and French than to Standard Italian. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian
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Lombard [lmo] 8,830,855 in Italy (2000 WCD). Population total all countries: 9,133,855. Milan, Lombardy, 3 valleys of Graubünden (Val Mesolcina, Val Bregaglia, Val Poschiavo), northern Italy. Western Lombard varieties also in Sicily. Ticino is in Switzerland. Also spoken in Switzerland, USA. Alternate names: Lombardo. Dialects: Milanese, Eastern Lombard, Western Lombard (Piazza Armerina, Novara, Nicosia, San Fratello), Alpine Lombard, Novarese Lombard, Trentino Western, Latin Fiamazzo, Latin Anaunico, Bergamasco, Ticinese (Ticino). A group of dialects, some of which may be separate languages. Western Lombard dialects (of Ticino and Graubnnden) are inherently intelligible to each other's speakers. Speakers in more conservative valleys may have to use some kind of 'standard' dialect to communicate with speakers of other dialects of Lombard. Very different from Standard Italian. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian
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Mócheno [mhn] 1,900 (1992 Raoul Zamponi). Population includes 400 Fierozzo, 1,000 Palú, 460 Gereut. Valle del Fersina (Trentino). Dialects: Fierozzo (Florutz), Palú (Palai), Frassilongo (Gereut). Speakers can partially understand Bavarian, Cimbrian, or Standard German. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Bavarian-Austrian
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Napoletano-Calabrese [nap] 7,047,399 (1976). Campania and Calabria provinces, southern Italy. Alternate names: Neapolitan-Calabrese. Dialects: Napoletano (Neapolitan, Tirrenic), Northern Calabrese-Lucano (Lucanian, Basilicatan). Limited inherent intelligibility of Standard Italian. Neapolitan and Calabrese are reported to be very different from each other. Southern Calabrian is reported to be a dialect of Sicilian. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
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Piemontese [pms] 3,106,620 in Italy (2000 WCD). Northwest Italy, Piedmont, except for the Provençal- and Franco-Provençal-speaking Alpine valleys. Also spoken in Australia, USA. Alternate names: Piemontèis, Piedmontese. Dialects: High Piemontese (Alto Piemontese), Low Piemontese (Basso Piemontese). Distinct enough from Standard Italian to be considered a separate language. Considerable French influence. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian
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Provençal [prv] 100,000 in Italy (1990 P. Blanchet). Upper valleys of the Italian Piedmont (Val Mairo, Val Varacho, Val d'Esturo, Entraigas, Limoun, Vinai, Pignerol, Sestriero), Guardia Piemontese in Calabria. Alternate names: Provenzale. Dialects: Transalpin. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, Oc
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Romani, Balkan [rmn] 5,000 Arlija in Italy (1990). Dialects: Arlija (Erli). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Balkan
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Romani, Sinte [rmo] 14,000 in Italy (1980). Population includes 10,000 Manouche, 4,000 Slovenian-Croatian. North Italy. Dialects: Piedmont Sintí, Slovenian-Croatian, Manouche. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Northern
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Romani, Vlax [rmy] 4,000 in Italy. Population includes 1,000 to 3,000 Kalderash, 1,000 Lovari. Dialects: Kalderash, Lovari. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Vlax
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Sardinian, Campidanese [sro] 345,180 (2000 WCD). Southern Sardinia. Alternate names: Sardu, Campidanese, Campidese, South Sardinian. Dialects: Cagliare (Cagliari, Cagliaritan), Arborense, Sub-Barbaricino, Western Campidenese, Central Campidanese, Ogliastrino, Sulcitano, Meridionale, Sarrabense. Cagliaritan is the dialect of Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia. Campidanese is quite distinct from the other Sardinian languages. Lexical similarity 62% between Cagliare and Standard Italian, 73% with Logudorese, 66% with Gallurese. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Sardinian
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Sardinian, Gallurese [sdn] Gallurese is in northeastern Sardinia. Alternate names: Northeastern Sardinian, Gallurese. Dialects: Lexical similarity 83% with Standard Italian, 81% with Sassarese, 70% with Logudorese, 66% with Cagliare. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Sardinian
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Sardinian, Logudorese [src] 1,500,000 (1977 M. Ibba, Rutgers University). Population includes all Sardinian languages. Central Sardinia. Alternate names: Sard, Sardarese, Logudorese, Central Sardinian. Dialects: Nuorese, Northern Logudorese, Barbaricino, Southwestern Logudorese. No one form of Sardinian is selected as standard for literary purposes. Logudorese is quite different from other Sardinian varieties. Lexical similarity 68% with Standard Italian, 73% with Sassarese and Cagliare, 70% with Gallurese. 'Sardinian' has 85% lexical similarity with Italian, 80% with French, 78% with Portuguese, 76% with Spanish, 74% with Rumanian and Rheto-Romance. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Sardinian
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Sardinian, Sassarese [sdc] Northwestern Sardinia. Alternate names: Northwestern Sardinian, Sassarese. Dialects: Lexical similarity 81% with Gallurese, 76% with Standard Italian. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Southern, Sardinian
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Sicilian [scn] 4,832,520 (2000 WCD). Sicily, an island off the southern mainland. Alternate names: Calabro-Sicilian, Sicilianu, Siculu. Dialects: Western Sicilian (Palermo, Trapani, Central-Western Agrigentino), Central Metafonetica, Southeast Metafonetica, Eastern Nonmetafonetica, Messinese, Isole Eolie, Pantesco, Southern Calabro. Distinct enough from Standard Italian to be considered a separate language. Pugliese (see Italian) and Southern Calabrese are reported to be dialects of Sicilian. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
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Slovenian [slv] 100,000 in Italy (N. Vincent in B. Comrie 1987). The provinces of Trieste and Gorizia in northeast near Slovenia border. Alternate names: Slovene. Dialects: Primorski, Cividale, Resia. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Western
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Venetian [vec] 2,180,387 in Italy (2000 WCD). Northern Italy, city of Venice, area of the Tre Venezie; Venezia Eugànea westward to Verona, southward to the Po, and eastward to the border of the Fruili; Venezia Tridentina, in the Adige valley and neighboring mountain regions to the north of Trent; and Venezia Giulia, east of the Friuli, and including Trieste. Bisiacco is spoken in Gorizia Province. Also spoken in Croatia, Slovenia. Alternate names: Veneto, Venet. Dialects: Istrian, Triestino, Venetian Proper, Bisiacco. Distinct from Standard Italian. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian
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Walser [wae] 3,400 in Italy (1978 Fazzini). Valle d'Aosta: Val Lesa (Gressoney, Issime, Gaby); Piemonte: Valsesie (Alagna, Rima S. Siuseppe, Rimelle), Novara: Valle Anzacxa (Macugnage); Val Formazza (Formazza, Pomatt). 9 communities in Italy, and 4 former ones. Alternate names: Walscher. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic
Capital city:
Roma
Meaning country name:
From Latin Italia, the name having entered Latin from a non-Latin source. The etymology of Italia probably directly relates to an ancient Greek word italos (bull), from PIE *wet; the Greek word follows the sound-changes from Proto-Indo-European to Greek, but the Latin equivalent vitulus (young bull) from this root, does not. Speakers of ancient Oscan called Italy Viteliu, also from PIE *wet. Varro wrote that the region got its name from the excellence and abundance of its cattle (italos, "bull" hence italia). Some disagree with this etymology. Compare Italus.
Friagi or Friaz' in Old Russian: from the Byzantine appellation for the medieval Franks.
Valland (variant in Icelandic): land of "valer", (an Old Norse name for Celts, later also used for the Romanized tribes).
Włochy (Polish) and Olaszország (Hungarian): from Gothic walh, the same root as in Valland, see details under "Wallachia" below.
Description Flag:
The flag of Italy (often referred to in Italian as Il Tricolore) is a tricolour featuring three equally sized vertical bands of green, white and red, with the green at the hoist side.
The first entity to use the Italian flag was the Cispadane Republic in 1796, after Napoleon's army crossed Italy. During this time, many small republics based on the Jacobian model, were formed and almost all used the French tricolour with different colours. The colours chosen by the Cispadane Republic were red and white, the colours of the Flag of Milan, and green which was the colour of the uniform of the Lombard Legion .
Some have tried to attribute some particular values to the colours and a common interpretation is that the green represents the country's plains and the hills; white, the snowy Alps; and red, the blood spilt in the Italian Independence wars. A more religious interpretation is that the green represents hope, the white represents faith and the red represents charity. This interpretation references the three theological virtues.
Coat of arms:
The Coat of Arms of the Italian Republic depicted here has been the symbol of the Italian Republic since May 5, 1948. Technically it is a pictorial image rather than a coat of arms, as it was not designed to obey traditional heraldic rules.
The emblem comprises a white five-pointed star, with a red border, superimposed on a five-spoked cogwheel which stands between an olive on its left and a branch of oak on its right; the branches in turn are bound by a red ribbon bearing the legend "REPUBBLICA ITALIANA" (Italian Republic in Italian).
The star is an ancient symbol for the personification of Italy (Italia Turrita), usually shining on her head, and was a symbol of the Kingdom of Italy from 1890; The steel cogwheel refers to the first article of the Constitution of Italy, which says that "Italy is a democratic Republic based on work"; its shape recalls also a mural crown, another symbol used for the personification of Italy;
The olive branch stands for the Republic’s desire for peace, internal and international, and refers to Article 11 of the Constitution ("Italy rejects war [...]");
The oak branch stands for the strength and dignity of the Italian people.
Oak and olive trees are also characteristic of the Italian landscape.
National Anthem: Il Canto degli Italiani
Italian lyrics
Fratelli d'Italia,
l'Italia s'è desta,
dell'elmo di Scipio
s'è cinta la testa.
Dov'è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
che schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.
CORO:
Stringiamoci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò.
Stringiamoci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò!
Noi fummo da secoli
calpesti, derisi,
perché non siam popolo,
perché siam divisi.
Raccolgaci un'unica
bandiera, una speme:
di fonderci insieme
già l'ora suonò.
CORO
Uniamoci, amiamoci,
l'unione e l'amore
rivelano ai popoli
le vie del Signore.
Giuriamo far libero
il suolo natio:
uniti, per Dio,
chi vincer ci può?
CORO
Dall'Alpi a Sicilia
Dovunque è Legnano,
Ogn'uom di Ferruccio
Ha il core, ha la mano,
I bimbi d'Italia
Si chiaman Balilla,
Il suon d'ogni squilla
I Vespri suonò.
CORO
Son giunchi che piegano
Le spade vendute:
Già l'Aquila d'Austria
Le penne ha perdute.
Il sangue d'Italia,
Il sangue Polacco,
Bevé, col cosacco,
Ma il cor le bruciò.
CORO
English
English translation
Brothers of Italy,
Italy has awakened,
with Scipio's helmet
binding her head.
Where is Victory?
Let her bow down,
For God has made her
Rome's slave.
CHORUS:
Let us join in cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
Let us join in cohort,
We are ready to die!
We are ready to die!
Italy has called!
We were for centuries
Downtrodden and derided,
because we are not one people,
because we are divided.
Let one flag, one hope
gather us all.
The hour has struck
for us to join together!
CHORUS
Let us unite and love one another;
Union and love
Show the people
The way of the Lord
Let us swear to free
Our native soil;
United under God,
Who can defeat us?
CHORUS
From the Alps to Sicily,
Legnano is everywhere;
Every man has the heart
and hand of Ferruccio
The children of Italy
Are all called Balilla;
Every trumpet blast
sounds the Vespers.
CHORUS
Mercenary swords,
they're feeble reeds.
The Austrian eagle
Has already lost its plumes.
The blood of Italy
and the Polish blood
Was drank, along with the Cossack,
But it burned her heart.
CHORUS
Internet Page: www.quirinale.it
Italy in diferent languages
eng: Italy
arg | ast | bre | cos | eus | fao | fin | glg | ina | ita | jav | kal | lat | mlg | nor | nso | pap | roh | ron | rup | smo | spa | sqi: Italia
bam | bis | cor | hat | ibo | mos: Itali
fra | fur | jnf | nrm: Italie
por | rms | sme | tet: Itália
afr | lim | nld: Italië
cat | oci | srd: Itàlia
crh | gag | kaa: İtaliya / Италия
deu | ltz | nds: Italien / Italien
hrv | lit | slv: Italija
lin | que | tgl: Italya
dan | swe: Italien
dje | hau: Italiya
dsb | hsb: Italska
est | vor: Itaalia
kin | run: Ubutariyano
lld-fas | lld-grd: Talia
tur | zza: İtalya
aze: İtaliya / Италија
bos: Italija / Италија
ces: Itálie
csb: Italskô; Jitalskô; Jitaliô
cym: Yr Eidal
epo: Italujo; Italio
frp: Étalie
frr: Itaalien
fry: Itaalje
gla: An Eadailt
gle: An Iodáil / An Iodáil
glv: Yn Iddaal
haw: ʻIkalia
hun: Olaszország
ind: Italia / ايتاليا
isl: Ítalía; Valland
kmr: Îtalî / Итали / ئیتالی
kur: Îtalya / ئیتالیا
lav: Itālija
liv: Itāļmō
lld-bad: Talia; Italia
mlt: Italja
mol: Italia / Италия
mri: Ītari
msa: Itali / ايتالي
nbl: i-Ithali
non: Ítalía; Ítalíaland
pol: Włochy
rmy: Italiya / इतालिया
sag: Italïi
scn: Italia; Talia
slk: Taliansko
slo: Italia / Италиа; Italzem / Италзем
smg: Italėjė
som: Talyaani
swa: Uitaliani; Italia
szl: Wuochy
tah: ʻItāria
ton: ʻItali
tsn: Itale
tuk: Italiýa / Италия
uzb: Italiya / Италия
vie: Ý Đại Lợi; Ý
vol: Litaliyän
wln: Itåleye
wol: Itaali
xho: i-Itali
zul: i-Italiya; iTaliyana
chu: Италія (Italīja)
alt | bul | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | rus | tyv | udm: Италия (Italija)
che | chv | mon | oss: Итали (Itali)
ady | kbd: Италие (Italie)
abq: Италия (Itałija)
bak: Италия / İtaliya
bel: Італія / Italija
chm: Италий (Italij)
kaz: Италия / Ïtalïya / يتاليا
mkd: Италија (Italija)
srp: Италија / Italija
tat: Италия / İtaliä
tgk: Итолиё / ایتالیا / Itolijo; Италия / ایتلیه / Italija
ukr: Італія (Italija)
xal: Италь (Ital')
ara: إيطاليا (Īṭāliyā)
ckb: ئیتالیا / Îtalya; ئیتالستان / Îtalistan
fas: ایتالیا / Itâliyâ; ایطالیا / Itâliyâ
prs: ایتالیا (Ītāliyā); اتالیا (Itāliyā)
pus: ايټاليا (Īṫāliyā); ايټاليه (Īṫāliyâ); اټالیا (Iṫāliyā); ايټالي (Īṫālī); ايتاليا (Ītāliyā); ايطاليا (Īṭāliyā)
uig: ئىتالىيە / Italiye / Италия
urd: اٹلی (Iṫalī); اتالیہ (Itāliyâ)
div: އިޓަލީ (Iṫalī)
syr: ܐܝܛܠܝܐ (Īṭaliyā)
heb: איטליה (Îṭalyah); איטאליה (Îṭâlyah)
lad: איטאליה / Italia
yid: איטאַליע (Italye)
amh: ጣልያን (Ṭalyan); ኢጣልያ (Iṭalya)
tir: ኢጣልያ (Iṭalya)
ell-dhi: Ιταλία (Italía)
ell-kat: Ἰταλία (Italía)
hye: Իտալիա (Italia)
kat: იტალია (Italia)
hin | mar | nep: इटली (Iṭalī)
ben: ইতালি (Itāli); ইতালী (Itālī)
pan: ਇਟਲੀ (Iṭalī)
kan: ಇಟಲಿ (Iṭali)
mal: ഇറ്റലി (Iṟṟali)
tam: இத்தாலி (Ittāli)
tel: ఇటలీ (Iṭalī)
zho: 意大利 (Yìdàlì)
yue: 意大利 (Yidaaihleih)
jpn: イタリア (Itaria)
kor: 이탈리아 (Itallia)
bod: དགྱིའི་དའ་རླིས་ (dGyi'i.da'.rlis.); ཨི་ཏ་ལི་ (I.ta.li.); ཨེ་ཏ་ལི་ (E.ta.li.); ཡི་ཏ་ལི་ (Yi.ta.li.)
dzo: ཨྀཊ་ལི་ (Īṭa.li.)
mya: အီတလီ (Itáli)
tha: อิตาลี (Itālī)
lao: ອິຕາລີ (Itālī)
khm: អ៊ីតាលី (Ītālī); អ៊ិតាលី (Itālī)
officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն, Hayastani Hanrapetut’yun, [hɑjɑstɑˈni hɑnɾɑpɛtuˈtʰjun]), is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Situated at the juncture of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, the de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south.
A former republic of the Soviet Union, Armenia is a unitary, multiparty, democratic nation-state with an ancient and historic cultural heritage. The Kingdom of Armenia was the first state to adopt Christianity as its religion in the early years of the 4th century (the traditional date is 301). The modern Republic of Armenia recognizes the Armenian Apostolic Church as the national church of Armenia, although the republic has separation of church and state with the Armenian Apostolic Church liable to the laws of the state.
Armenia is a member of more than 40 international organisations, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Asian Development Bank, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the World Trade Organization, the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, and La Francophonie. It is a member of the CSTO military alliance, and also participates in NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. In 2004 its forces joined KFOR, a NATO-led international force in Kosovo. It is also an observer member of the Eurasian Economic Community and the Non-Aligned Movement. The country is an emerging democracy. Armenia is classified as a country with medium human development and 10.6% of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.
Etymology of name
The native Armenian name for the country is Hayk’. The name in the Middle Ages was extended to Hayastan, by addition of the Iranian suffix -stan (land). The name has traditionally been derived from Hayk (Հայկ), the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and a great-great-grandson of Noah, who according to Moses of Chorene defeated the Babylonian king Bel in 2492 BC, and established his nation in the Ararat region. The further origin of the name is uncertain.
The exonym Armenia is first attested in the Old Persian Behistun inscription (515 BC) as Armina (). Ancient Greek Αρμένιοι "Armenians" is attested from about the same time, perhaps the earliest reference being a fragment attributed to Hecataeus of Miletus (476 BC). Herodotus (440 BC) has Ἀρμένιοι δὲ κατά περ Φρύγες ἐσεσάχατο, ἐόντες Φρυγῶν ἄποικοι. "the Armenians were equipped like Phrygians, being Phrygian colonists" (7.73).
Some decades later, Xenophon, a Greek general serving in some of the Persian expeditions, describes many aspects of Armenian village life and hospitality. He relates that the people spoke a language that to his ear sounded like the language of the Persians. According to the histories of both Moses of Chorene and Michael Chamich, Armenia derives from the name of Aram, a lineal descendent of Hayk, son of Harma and father of Ara the Beautiful, who ruled around 900 BC[when?] and became widely acclaimed by the peoples of the region for his exploits.
History
Antiquity
Armenia lies in the highlands surrounding the Biblical mountains of Ararat, upon which, according to the Bible, Noah's Ark came to rest after the flood. (Gen. 8:4). In the Bronze Age, several states flourished in the area of Greater Armenia, including the Hittite Empire (at the height of its power), Mitanni (South-Western historical Armenia), and Hayasa-Azzi (1500–1200 BC). Then, the Nairi people (twelfth to ninth centuries BC) and the Kingdom of Urartu (1000–600 BC) successively established their sovereignty over the Armenian Highland. Each of the aforementioned nations and tribes participated in the ethnogenesis of the Armenian people. Yerevan, the modern capital of Armenia, was founded in 782 BC by king Argishti I.
Around 600 BC, the Kingdom of Armenia was established under the Orontid Dynasty. The kingdom reached its height between 95 and 66 BC under Tigranes the Great, becoming one of the most powerful kingdoms of its time within the region. Throughout its history, the kingdom of Armenia enjoyed periods of independence intermitted with periods of autonomy subject to contemporary empires. Armenia's strategic location between two continents has subjected it to invasions by many peoples, including the Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Ottoman Turks and Russians.
Armenia was historically Mazdean Zoroastrian (as opposed to the Zurvanite Sassanid dynasty), particularly focused on the worship of Mihr (Avestan Mithra), and Christianity spread into the country as early as AD 40. King Tiridates III (AD 238–314) made Christianity the state religion in AD 301, becoming the first officially Christian state, ten years before the Roman Empire granted Christianity an official toleration under Galerius, and 36 years before Constantine the Great was baptized.After the fall of the Armenian kingdom in AD 428, most of Armenia was incorporated as a marzpanate within the Sassanid Empire. Following an Armenian rebellion in AD 451, Christian Armenians maintained their religious freedom, while Armenia gained autonomy.
Middle Ages
After the Marzpanate period (428–636), Armenia emerged as the Emirate of Armenia, an autonomous principality within the Arabic Empire, reuniting Armenian lands previously taken by the Byzantine Empire as well. The principality was ruled by the Prince of Armenia, recognised by the Caliph and the Byzantine Emperor. It was part of the administrative division/emirate Arminiyya created by the Arabs, which also included parts of Georgia and Caucasian Albania, and had its center in the Armenian city Dvin. The Principality of Armenia lasted until 884, when it regained its independence from the weakened Arabic Empire.
The re-emergent Armenian kingdom was ruled by the Bagratuni dynasty, and lasted until 1045. In time, several areas of the Bagratid Armenia separated as independent kingdoms and principalities such as the Kingdom of Vaspurakan ruled by the House of Artsruni, while still recognizing the supremacy of the Bagratid kings.
In 1045, the Byzantine Empire conquered Bagratid Armenia. Soon, the other Armenian states fell under Byzantine control as well. The Byzantine rule was short lived, as in 1071 Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantines and conquered Armenia at the Battle of Manzikert, establishing the Seljuk Empire. To escape death or servitude at the hands of those who had assassinated his relative, Gagik II, King of Ani, an Armenian named Roupen went with some of his countrymen into the gorges of the Taurus Mountains and then into Tarsus of Cilicia. The Byzantine governor of the palace gave them shelter where the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia was eventually established.
The Seljuk Empire soon started to collapse. In the early 1100s, Armenian princes of the Zakarid noble family established a semi-independent Armenian principality in Northern and Eastern Armenia, known as Zakarid Armenia, lasted under patronages of Seljuks, Georgian Kingdom, Atabegs of Azerbaijan and Khwarezmid Empire. The noble family of Orbelians shared control with the Zakarids in various parts of the country, especially in Syunik and Vayots Dzor.
Early Modern Era
Under Ottoman rule, the Armenians were granted considerable autonomy within their own enclaves and lived in relative harmony with other groups in the empire (including the ruling Turks). However, as Christians under a strict Muslim social system, Armenians faced pervasive discrimination. When they began pushing for more rights within the Ottoman Empire, Sultan ‘Abdu’l-Hamid II, in response, organised state-sponsored massacres against the Armenians between 1894 and 1896, resulting in an estimated death toll of 80,000 to 300,000 people. The Hamidian massacres, as they came to be known, gave Hamid international infamy as the "Red Sultan" or "Bloody Sultan".
As the Ottoman Empire began to collapse, the Young Turk Revolution (1908) overthrew the government of Sultan Hamid. Armenians living in the empire hoped that the Committee of Union and Progress would change their second-class status. Armenian reform package (1914) was presented as a solution by appointing an inspector general over Armenian issues.
Soviet Armenia
Armenia was annexed by Bolshevist Russia and along with Georgia and Azerbaijan, it was incorporated into the Soviet Union as part of the Transcaucasian SFSR on March 4, 1922. With this annexation, the Treaty of Alexandropol was superseded by the Turkish-Soviet Treaty of Kars. In the agreement, Turkey allowed the Soviet Union to assume control over Adjara with the port city of Batumi in return for sovereignty over the cities of Kars, Ardahan, and Iğdır, all of which were part of Russian Armenia.
The TSFR existed from 1922 to 1936, when it was divided up into three separate entities (Armenian SSR, Azerbaijan SSR, and Georgian SSR). Armenians enjoyed a period of relative stability under Soviet rule. They received medicine, food, and other provisions from Moscow, and communist rule proved to be a soothing balm in contrast to the turbulent final years of the Ottoman Empire. The situation was difficult for the church, which struggled under Soviet rule. After the death of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin took the reins of power and began an era of renewed fear and terror for Armenians.[28] As with various other ethnic minorities who lived in the Soviet Union during Stalin's Great Purge, tens of thousands of Armenians were either executed or deported.
Fears decreased when Stalin died in 1953 and Nikita Khruschev emerged as the Soviet Union's new leader. Soon, life in Soviet Armenia began to see rapid improvement. The church which suffered greatly under Stalin was revived when Catholicos Vazgen I assumed the duties of his office in 1955. In 1967, a memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide was built at the Tsitsernakaberd hill above the Hrazdan gorge in Yerevan. This occurred after mass demonstrations took place on the tragic event's fiftieth anniversary in 1965.
During the Gorbachev era of the 1980s with the reforms of Glasnost and Perestroika, Armenians began to demand better environmental care for their country, opposing the pollution that Soviet-built factories brought. Tensions also developed between Soviet Azerbaijan and its autonomous district of Nagorno-Karabakh, a majority-Armenian region separated by Stalin from Armenia in 1923. The Armenians of Karabakh demanded unification with Soviet Armenia. Peaceful protests in Yerevan supporting the Karabakh Armenians were met with anti-Armenian pogroms in the Azerbaijani city of Sumgait. Compounding Armenia's problems was a devastating earthquake in 1988 with a moment magnitude of 7.2.
Gorbachev's inability to solve Armenia's problems (especially Karabakh) created disillusionment among the Armenians and only fed a growing hunger for independence. In May 1990, the New Armenian Army (NAA) was established, serving as a defence force separate from the Soviet Red Army. Clashes soon broke out between the NAA and Soviet Internal Security Forces (MVD) troops based in Yerevan when Armenians decided to commemorate the establishment of the 1918 Democratic Republic of Armenia. The violence resulted in the deaths of five Armenians killed in a shootout with the MVD at the railway station. Witnesses there claimed that the MVD used excessive force and that they had instigated the fighting.
Further firefights between Armenian militiamen and Soviet troops occurred in Sovetashen, near the capital and resulted in the deaths of over 26 people, mostly Armenians. Pogrom of Armenians in Baku in January 1990 forced almost all of the 200,000 Armenians in the Azerbaijani capital Baku to flee to Armenia. On March 17, 1991, Armenia, along with the Baltic states, Georgia and Moldova, boycotted a union-wide referendum in which 78% of all voters voted for the retention of the Soviet Union in a reformed form.
Restoration of independence
In 1991, the Soviet Union broke apart and Armenia re-established its independence. Declaring independence on August 23, it was the first non-Baltic republic to secede. However, the initial post-Soviet years were marred by economic difficulties as well as the break-out of a full-scale armed confrontation between the Karabakh Armenians and Azerbaijan. The economic problems had their roots early in the Karabakh conflict when the Azerbaijani Popular Front managed to pressure the Azerbaijan SSR to instigate a railway and air blockade against Armenia. This move effectively crippled Armenia's economy as 85% of its cargo and goods arrived through rail traffic. In 1993, Turkey joined the blockade against Armenia in support of Azerbaijan.
The Karabakh war ended after a Russian-brokered cease-fire was put in place in 1994. The war was a success for the Karabakh Armenian forces who managed to secure 14% of Azerbaijan's internationally recognised territory including Nagorno-Karabakh itself. Since then, Armenia and Azerbaijan have held peace talks, mediated by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The status over Karabakh has yet to be determined. The economies of both countries have been hurt in the absence of a complete resolution and Armenia's borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan remain closed. By the time both Azerbaijan and Armenia had finally agreed to a ceasefire in 1994, an estimated 30,000 people had been killed and over a million had been displaced.
As it enters the twenty-first century, Armenia faces many hardships. Still, it has managed to make some improvements. It has made a full switch to a market economy and as of 2009, is the 31st most economically free nation in the world. Its relations with Europe, the Middle East, and the Commonwealth of Independent States have allowed Armenia to increase trade. Gas, oil, and other supplies come through two vital routes: Iran and Georgia. Armenia maintains cordial relations with both countries.
Geography
Armenia is a landlocked country in Europe, between the Black and Caspian Seas, bordered on the north and east by Georgia and Azerbaijan and on the south and west by Iran and Turkey.
The terrain is mostly mountainous and flat, with fast flowing rivers and few forests but with many trees. The climate is highland continental: hot summers and cold winters. The land rises to 4,095 m above sea-level at Mount Aragats, and no point is below 400 m. Mount Ararat, one of the national symbols of Armenia, is the highest mountain in the region.
Pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT is not helping the already poor soil quality in many parts of the country.
Armenia is trying to address its environmental problems. It has established a Ministry of Nature Protection and introduced taxes for air and water pollution and solid waste disposal, whose revenues are used for environmental protection activities. Armenia is interested in cooperating with other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS, a group of 12 former Soviet republics) and with members of the international community on environmental issues. The Armenian Government is working toward closing the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant as soon as alternative energy sources are identified.
Oficial name:
Հայաստանի Հանրապետությո
Hayastani Hanrapetud'Yun
Area:
29.743km2
Inhabitants:
3.450.000
Languages:
Armenian [hye] 3,399,903 in Armenia (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk). Population total all countries: 6,723,840. Throughout the country. Also spoken in Azerbaijan , Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Egypt, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Palestinian West Bank and Gaza, Romania, Russia (Europe), Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey (Europe), Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan. Alternate names: Haieren, Somkhuri, Ermenice, Ermeni Dili, Armjanski Yazyk. Dialects: Eastern Armenian, Erevan (Eriwan), Tbilisi (Tiflis), Karabagh, Shamakhi (Schamachi), Astrakhan (Astrachan), Dzhulfa (Dschugha, Dschulfa), Agulis, Khvoy-Salmst (Choi-Salmst), Urmia-Maragheh (Urmia-Maragha), Artvin (Artwin), Karin (Erzurum, Erzerum), Mus (Musch), Van (Wan), Tigranakert (Diyarbakir, Diarbekir), Kharberd (Charberd, Erzincan, Erzenka), Shabin-Karahissar (Schabin-Karahissar), Trabzon (Trapezunt), Hamshen (Hamschen), Malatya (Malatia), Kilikien, Syria (Syrien), Arabkir, Akn, Sebaste, Ewdokia (Tokat), Smyrna (Izmir), North Komedia, Constantinople (Konstantinopel, Istanbul), Rodosto, Crimea (Krim), Ashkharik. All dialects in all countries usually reported to be inherently intelligible. Eastern Armenian (4,341,000) is spoken in Armenia and its Turkish and Iranian borderlands; Western Armenian (879,612) is spoken elsewhere. Western Armenian is understood only by some in Iran. In Syria, people in Kessaberen (northeastern mountain village of Kessab) and the village of Musa Dagh (now relocated to Lebanon) speak related varieties which other Western Armenian speakers do not understand. Most speakers of Kessaberen have now learned Western Armenian. Western (Turkish) Armenian and Ararat (Russian) are easily intelligible. Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic [aii] 3,000 in Armenia (1999). Ethnic population: 15,000. Erevan and scattered throughout Transcaucasia. Alternate names: Aisorski, Sooreth. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern
Azerbaijani, North [azj] 161,000 in Armenia (1993 Johnstone). In southern Dagestan, along the Caspian coast and beyond the Caucasus Mountains. Alternate names: Azeri Turk, Turkler, Azerbaydzhani. Dialects: Kuba, Derbent, Baku, Semakha, Saliany, Lenkoran, Kazakh, Airym, Borcala, Terekeme, Kyzylbash, Nukha, Zakataly (Mugaly), Kutkasen, Erevan, Nakhichevan, Ordubad, Kirovabad, Susa (Karabakh), Karapapak. Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani
Kurdish, Northern [kmr] 100,000 in Armenia (2004). Alternate names: Kurmanji, Kurmancî, Êzdîkî. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Lomavren [rmi] 50 in Armenia (2004). Armenia, southern Caucasus. Also spoken in Azerbaijan, Russia (Asia), Syria. Alternate names: Armenian Bosha, Armenian Bosa, Bosha, Bosa. Dialects: Gramatically restructured to be like Armenian with phonology and lexicon also influenced by Armenian. Classification: Mixed Language, Armenian-Romani
Capital city:
Yereven
Meaning of the country name:
From Old Persian Armina (6th century BC), Greek Armenia (5th century BC). The further etymology of the Persian name is uncertain, but may be connected to the Assyrian Armânum, Armanî and/or the Biblical Minni. The Old Persian name is an exonym, see Hayk for the native name and Urartu for the Biblical Ararat.
Description flag:
The meanings of the colors have been interpreted in many different ways. However, many agree that red stands for the blood shed by Armenian soldiers in war, blue stands for the Armenian sky, and orange represents the fertile lands of Armenia and the workers who work them.
The official meaning of the colors, as stated in the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, is:
" Red symbolizes the Armenian Highland, the Armenian people's continued struggle for survival, maintenance of the Christian faith, Armenia's independence and freedom. Blue symbolizes the will of the people of Armenia to live beneath peaceful skies. Orange symbolizes the creative talent and hard-working nature of the people of Armenia."
Coat of arms:
The shield itself consists of many components. In the center is a depiction of Mount Ararat with Noah's Ark sitting atop it. According to tradition, the ark is said to have finally rested on the mountain after the great flood. Ararat is considered the national symbol of Armenia and thus is of principal importance to the coat of arms. Surrounding Mount Ararat are symbols of old Armenian dynasties. In the lower left portion of the shield, there are two eagles looking at each other, symbolizing the length of the Armenian territory during the reign of the Artaxiad Dynasty that ruled in the 1st century BC. In the upper left portion, there is a lion with a cross, the emblem for the Bagratuni dynasty that ruled during the Middle Ages, between 7th and 11th centuries. Under this dynasty, Armenia blossomed culturally, making its capital, Ani, one of the most important cultural, social and commercial centers of its time. Bagratuni was destroyed by the Byzantine Empire's encroachment and by Seljuk invasions in the 11th century AD. In the upper right portion, there is a two-headed eagle, the emblem of the first dynasty to reign over a Christian Armenia, the Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia. Tiridates III of Arsacid Dynasty made Armenia the first Christian nation in 301 AD. This dynasty ruled from the 1st century AD to 428 AD. In the lower right portion, there is a lion with a cross, the emblem of the Rubenid dynasty. This dynasty reigned in Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, a state that expanded and prospered during the 12th and 13th centuries, until the Mamelukes and Turks eventually conquered it.
Eagle and Lion
The eagle supports the shield on the left side of the coat of arms, while the lion on the right side. The eagle was the symbol of the Artaxiad Dynasty and later on the symbol of the Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia. It holds the Artaxiad Dynasty's branch of the shield. Whereas, the lion was the symbol of the Bagratuni Dynasty and later on the symbol of the Rubenid Dynasty. It holds the Rubenid Dynasty's branch of the shield.
Both of these animals were chosen because of their power, courage, patience, wisdom, and nobility in animal kingdom.
Motto:
"One Nation, One Culture"
National Anthem: "Մեր Հայրենիք" , Mer Hayrenik , "Our Fatherland"
Armenian
Մեր Հայրենիք, ազատ, անկախ
Որ ապրէլ է դարէ դար
Իւր որդիքը արդ կանչում է
Ազատ, անկախ Հայաստան:
Ահա՝ եղբայր, քեզ մի դրօշ,
Որ իմ ձեռքով գործեցի
Գիշերները ես քուն չեղայ,
Արտասուքով լուացի:
Նայիր նրան երեք գոյնով,
Նուիրական մէր նշան,
Թող փողփողի թշնամու դէմ,
Թող միշտ պանծայ Հայաստան:
Ամենայն տեղ մահը մի է
Մարդ մի անգամ պիտ՚ մեռնի,
Բայց երանի՚ որ իւր ազգի
Ազատութեան կը զոհուի:
Translation
Mer Hayrenik, azat ankakh,
Vor aprel eh dareh dar
Yur vortikeh ard kanchoom eh
Azat, ankakh Hayastan.
(repeat previous two lines)
Aha yeghbair kez mi drosh,
Vor im dzerkov gortzetsi
Gishernereh yes koon chegha,
Artasoonkov lvatsi.
(repeat previous two lines)
Nayir nran yerek gooynov,
Nvirakan mer nshan,
Togh poghpoghi tshnamoo dem,
Togh misht pantza Hayastan.
(repeat previous two lines)
Amenayn tegh maheh mi eh
Mard mee ankam pit merni,
Baytz yerani vor yur azgi
Azatootyan keh zohvi.
(repeat previous two lines)
(repeat first verse)
English
Our fatherland, free and independent,
That has lived for centuries
Calls on its children now,
Free independent Armenia.
(repeat previous two lines)
Here brother, for you a flag,
That I made with my hands
At nights I did not sleep,
I washed it with tears.
(repeat previous two lines)
Look at it, in three colours
It is our gifted symbol.
Let it shine against the enemy.
Let Armenia always be glorious.
(repeat previous two lines)
Everywhere death is the same
A man will only die once
But fortunate is he
who dies for the freedom of his nation.
(repeat previous two lines)
(repeat first verse)
Internet Page: www.gov.am
Amenia in diferent languages :
eng | arg | ast | bre | cym | eus | fao | fin | glg | ina | ita | jav | lat | lld | mlg | nor | oci | pol | roh | ron | scn | sme | spa | sqi | swa: Armenia
afr | lim | nld: Armenië
ces | fra | jnf: Arménie
deu | ltz | nds: Armenien / Armenien
cat | srd: Armènia
dan | swe: Armenien
dsb | hsb: Armeńska
gag | kaa: Armeniya / Армения
hrv | slv: Armenija
ind | msa: Armenia / ارمينيا
kin | run: Armeniya
aze: Ermənistan / Ермәнистан
bam: Arameni
bos: Armenija / Арменија
cor: Armeni
crh: Ermenistan / Эрменистан
csb: Armenijô
epo: Armenujo; Armenio
est: Armeenia
frp: Armènie
fry: Armeenje
fur: Armenie
gla: Airmeinia; Arminia
gle: An Airméin / An Airméin
glv: Yn Armeain
hat: Ameni
hun: Örményország
ibo: Aminia
isl: Armenía
kmr: Êrmenistan / Ермәньстан / ئێرمەنستان; Ermenîstan / Әрмәнистан / ئەرمەنیستان; Filistan / Фьльстан / فلستان; Hayastan / Һайастан / هایاستان
kur: Ermenistan / ئەرمەنستان; Ermênya / ئەرمێنیا
lav: Armēnija
lit: Armėnija
mlt: Armenja
mol: Armenia / Армения
mri: Āmenia
non: Ermland
nrm: Arménîn
por: Arménia / Armênia
que: Arminya
rmy: Armeniya / आर्मेनिया
rup: Ermenia
slk: Arménsko
slo: Armenia / Армениа; Armenzem / Армензем
smg: Armienėjė
smo: Amenia
som: Armeeniya
tet: Arménia
tgl: Armenya
tly: Ərməniston / Әрмәнистон
ton: ʻAminia
tuk: Ermenistan / Эрменистан; Armeniýa / Армения
tur: Ermenistan
uzb: Armaniston / Арманистон
vie: Ác-mê-ni-a
vol: Larmenän
vor: Armeeniä
wln: Årmeneye
wol: Armeeni
zza: Ermenıstan
chu: Арменія (Armenīja)
abq | alt | bul | kir | kjh | kom | kum | rus | tyv | udm: Армения (Armenija)
ava | lez | tab: Эрменистан (Ėrmenistan)
bak | tat: Әрмәнстан / Ärmänstan
che | chv: Армени (Armeni)
abk: Ерманҭәыла (Ermanṭʷyla)
bel: Арменія / Armienija; Армэнія / Armenija
chm: Армений (Armenij)
kaz: Армения / Armenïya / ارمەنيا
kbd: Армение (Armenie)
krc: Эрмен (Ėrmen); Армения (Armenija)
lbe: Арманий (Armanij)
mkd: Ерменија (Ermenija)
mon: Армен (Armen)
oss: Сомих (Somiĥ); Армени (Armeni)
srp: Јерменија / Jermenija; Арменија / Armenija
tgk: Арманистон / ارمنستان / Armaniston
ukr: Вірменія (Virmenija)
xal: Эрмәль (Ėrmäl')
ara: أرمينيا (Armīniyā)
ckb: ئەرمەنستان / Ermenistan
fas: ارمنستان (Armanestān)
prs: ارمنستان (Armanestān / Armenestān)
pus: ارمنستان (Armanistān / Arministān); ارمنيا (Armaniyā / Arminiyā)
uig: ئەرمېنىيە / Erméniye / Әрмения
urd: آرمینیا (Ārmeniyā / Ārmīniyā)
div: އަރްމީނިއާ (Armīni'ā)
syr: ܐܪܡܝܢܝܐ (Armīniyā)
heb: ארמניה (Armenyah)
lad: ארמיניה / Armenia
yid: אַרמעניע (Armenye)
amh: አርመኒያ (Ărmäniya); አርሜንያ (Ărmenya)
ell-dhi: Αρμενία (Armenía)
ell-kat: Ἀρμενία (Armenía)
hye: Հայաստան (Hayastan); Հայք (Hayḳ)
kat: სომხეთი (Somĥeṭi); სასომხეთი (Sasomĥeṭi)
hin: आर्मेनिया (Ārmeniyā); आर्मीनिया (Ārmīniyā); आर्मिनिया (Ārminiyā); अर्मइन (Armain)
mar: आर्मिनिया (Ārminiyā)
ben: আর্মেনিয়া (Ārmeniyā)
guj: આર્મીનિયા (Ārmīniyā)
pan: ਅਰਮੀਨੀਆ (Armīnīā)
kan: ಅರ್ಮೇನಿಯ (Armēniya)
mal: അര്മേനിയ (Armēniya)
tam: ஆர்மீனியா (Ārmīṉiyā)
tel: ఆర్మేనియా (Ārmēniyā)
zho: 亞美尼亞/亚美尼亚 (Yàměiníyà)
jpn: アルメニア (Arumenia)
kor: 아르메니아 (Areumenia)
mya: အာမေးနီးယား (Amènìyà)
tha: อาร์เมเนีย (Ā[r]mēniya)
lao: ອາກເມນີ (Ākmēnī); ອັກເມເນຍ (Âkmēniya)
khm: អាមេនី (Āmenī); អារមីនៀ (Ārmīnie)
Is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe where it is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.
Switzerland is a landlocked country whose territory is geographically divided between the Alps, the Central Plateau and the Jura that yields a total area of 41,285 km2 (15,940 sq mi). The Swiss population of approximately 7.8 million people concentrates mostly on the Plateau, where the largest cities are to be found. Among them are the two global cities and economic centres of Zürich and Geneva. Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world by per capita gross domestic product, with a nominal per capita GDP of $67,384. Zürich and Geneva have respectively been ranked as having the second and third highest quality of life in the world.
The Swiss Confederation has a long history of neutrality—it has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815—and was one of the last countries to join the United Nations. Switzerland is home to many international organisations, including the World Economic Forum, the International Olympic Committee, the Red Cross, the World Trade Organization and the second largest UN office. On the European level it was a founder of the European Free Trade Association and is part of the Schengen Agreement.
Switzerland comprises three main linguistic and cultural regions: German, French, and Italian, to which the Romansh-speaking valleys are added. The Swiss therefore do not form a nation in the sense of a common ethnic or linguistic identity. The strong sense of belonging to the country is founded on the common historical background, shared values (federalism, direct democracy, neutrality) and Alpine symbolism. The establishment of the Swiss Confederation is traditionally dated to 1 August 1291; Swiss National Day is celebrated on the anniversary.
History
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Switzerland
Geography
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Switzerland
Other info
Oficial name:Confœderatio Helvetica
Confédération suisse
Confederazione Svizzera
Confederaziun svizra
Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft
Independence:
- Foundation date 1 August 1291
- de facto 22 September 1499
- Recognised 24 October 1648
- Restored 7 August 1815
- Federal state 12 September 1848
Area:
41.284 km2
Inhabitants:
7.100.000
Languages:
Reto-romance, French, Italien and Deutsch
Franco-Provençal [frp] 7,000 in Valais Canton, Switzerland (1998). French cantons of Valais, Fribourg, and Vaud. Alternate names: Patois. Dialects: Savoyard, Neuch-Telois, Valaisan, Vaudois. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, Southeastern
More information.
French [fra] 1,272,000 in Switzerland (1990 census). Western Switzerland. Alternate names: Français. Dialects: Franche-Comtois (Jurassien, Fribourgois). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
More information.
German, Standard [deu] Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
More information.
Italian [ita] 195,000 in Switzerland (1990). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
More information.
Lombard [lmo] 303,000 in Switzerland (1995). Ticino Canton and Graubünden in the Mesolcina District and two districts south of St. Moritz, central southeast Switzerland. Dialects: Ticinese (Ticino, Tessinian, Ticines, Ticinees). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Italian
More information.
Romani, Sinte [rmo] 21,000 in Switzerland (1993 Johnstone). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Northern
More information.
Romansch [roh] 40,000 (1990 census). Borders of Switzerland, Austria, Italy; Graubünden Canton, Grisons valley of Surselva, valley of Voderrhein; Engadin and Val Mustair, southeast Switzerland. Alternate names: Rheto-Romance, Rhaeto-Romance, Romansh, Romanche. Dialects: Lower Engadine (Vallader-Lower Engadine, Grisons), Upper Engadine (Puter-Upper Engadine), Sursilvan (Surselva, Sutsilvan-Hinterrhein), Sursilvan-Oberland, Surmiran-Albula. Friulian, Ladin, and Romansch are separate languages (R. A. Hall, Jr., personal communication 1978). Lexical similarity 78% with Italian and French, 76% with Catalan, 74% with Spanish, Sardinian, and Portuguese, 72% with Romanian. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Rhaetian
More information.
Schwyzerdütsch [gsw] 4,215,000 in Switzerland (1990 census). Population total all countries: 6,044,000. Central, south central, north central, northeast, and eastern cantons. Also spoken in Austria, France, Germany, Liechtenstein. Alternate names: Alemannisch. Dialects: Bern (Bärndütsch), Zurich, Lucerne, Basel, Obwald, Appenzell, St. Gallen, Graubenden-Grisons (Valserisch), Wallis. Swiss varieties are High Alemannisch (most) and Highest Alemannisch (several in central Switzerland). Not functionally intelligible to speakers of Standard German. Each canton has a separate variety, many of which are unintelligible to each other's speakers. Only a few of the 20 to 70 varieties are listed as dialects (subdialects). Close to Schwäbisch in south central Germany. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic
More information.
Swiss-French Sign Language [ssr] 1,000 (1986 Gallaudet Univ.). Alternate names: Langage Gestuelle. Dialects: Some regional lexical variations in the French area are tied to specific schools. There are local Swiss signs and imported French signs. Classification: Deaf sign language
More information.
Swiss-German Sign Language [sgg] 6,000 (1986 Gallaudet Univ.). Alternate names: Natürliche Gebärde. Classification: Deaf sign language
More information.
Swiss-Italian Sign Language [slf] 200 (1986 Gallaudet Univ.). Classification: Deaf sign language
More information.
Walser [wae] 10,000 in Switzerland (2004). Population total all countries: 22,780. Ethnic population: 21,900 (1980 C. Buchli). Bosco-Gurin, Canton Ticino; Wallis, Simplon; Graubunden, Obersaxen; Valsertal (Vals, St. Martin); Safiental (Valendas, Versam, Tenna, Safien); Rheinwald (Medels, Nufenen, Splngen, Sufers, Hinterrhein, Avers); Schanfigg (Arosa, Langwiesn); Albula (Mutten, Schmitte Wiesen); Landquart (Davos, Klosters, Furna, Says, St. Antonien, Valzeina). 26 communities in Switzerland, and 7 former ones. Also spoken in Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein. Alternate names: Walscher. Dialects: Ancestors came from the Wallis Canton between the 12th and 13th centuries. Close but different from Schwyzerdütsch spoken in Wallis Canton in Switzerland. Different from Cimbrian, Mocheno, or Bavarian. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic
Capital city:
Berne
Meaning country name:
From the toponym Schwyz (see there) first attested AD 972 as Suittes derived from an allemanic proper name Suito
Helvetia (ancient Latin name), after the celtic Helvetii people
Description Flag:
The flag of Switzerland consists of a red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center. It is one of only two square sovereign-state flags, the other being the flag of the Vatican City. (The civil and state ensign, used by Swiss ships and boats, has more traditional proportions of 2:3.)
Only the dimensions of the cross are formally established since 1889: "The coat of arms of the federation is, within a red field, an upright white cross, whose [four] arms of equal length are a sixth longer than their width.". The size of the cross in relation to the field is not formally established except on the naval ensign. A relation of 2:3 or 7:10 to the span of the flag is usual.
The exact hue of red in the Swiss flag is not defined by law, and various authorities have used various colours over time. In 2007, the corporate design guide of the federal authorities designated Pantone's PMS 485 (consisting of 100 percent magenta and yellow each) as the shade of red to be used in print, and the colour described with the hexadecimal value of #FF0000 for use on the web.
The Red Cross symbol used by the International Committee of the Red Cross is based on the Swiss flag. The Red Cross on white background was the original protection symbol declared at the 1864 Geneva Convention. It is, in terms of its color, a reversal of the Swiss national flag, a meaning which was adopted to honor Swiss native and Red Cross founder Henry Dunant.
Coat of arms:
The Coat of Arms of Switzerland shows the same white cross as the flag of Switzerland, but on a red shield. The appearance of the coat of arms or shield varies greatly, but there has been a federal resolution including a drawing of the coat of arms.
Like the Swiss flag, the coat of arms is used on many items such as Swiss francs, Swiss car number plates, and Swiss-branded exports such as Swiss Army knives.
Motto:
"Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno"
National Anthem: Swiss Psalm
German: Schweizerpsalm
By Leonhard Widmer (1809-1867).
1st verse
Trittst im Morgenrot daher,
Seh' ich dich im Strahlenmeer,
Dich, du Hocherhabener, Herrlicher!
Wenn der Alpenfirn sich rötet,
Betet, freie Schweizer, betet!
Eure fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
2nd verse
Kommst im Abendglühn daher,
Find' ich dich im Sternenheer,
Dich, du Menschenfreundlicher, Liebender!
In des Himmels lichten Räumen
Kann ich froh und selig träumen!
Denn die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
3rd verse
Ziehst im Nebelflor daher,
Such' ich dich im Wolkenmeer,
Dich, du Unergründlicher, Ewiger!
Aus dem grauen Luftgebilde
Tritt die Sonne klar und milde,
Und die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland.
4th verse
Fährst im wilden Sturm daher,
Bist Du selbst uns Hort und Wehr,
Du, allmächtig Waltender, Rettender!
In Gewitternacht und Grauen
Lasst uns kindlich ihm vertrauen!
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt,
Ja, die fromme Seele ahnt
Gott im hehren Vaterland,
Gott, den Herrn, im hehren Vaterland !
P. Alberich Zwyssig (1808-1854)
French: Cantique suisse
By Charles Chatelanat (1833-1907).
1st verse
Sur nos monts, quand le soleil
Annonce un brillant réveil,
Et prédit d'un plus beau jour le retour,
Les beautés de la patrie
Parlent à l'âme attendrie;
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.
2nd verse
Lorsqu'un doux rayon du soir
Joue encore dans le bois noir,
Le cœur se sent plus heureux près de Dieu.
Loin des vains bruits de la plaine,
L'âme en paix est plus sereine,
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.
3rd verse
Lorsque dans la sombre nuit
La foudre éclate avec bruit,
Notre cœur pressent encore le Dieu fort;
Dans l'orage et la détresse
Il est notre forteresse;
Offrons-lui des coeurs pieux:
Dieu nous bénira des cieux,
Dieu nous bénira du haut des cieux.
4th verse
Des grands monts vient le secours;
Suisse, espère en Dieu toujours!
Garde la foi des aïeux, Vis comme eux!
Sur l'autel de la patrie
Mets tes biens, ton cœur, ta vie!
C'est le trésor précieux
Que Dieu bénira des cieux,
Que Dieu bénira du haut des cieux.
Italian: Salmo svizzero
By Camillo Valsangiacomo (1898-1978).
1st verse
Quando bionda aurora il mattin c'indora
l'alma mia t'adora re del ciel!
Quando l'alpe già rosseggia
a pregare allor t'atteggia;
in favor del patrio suol,
cittadino Dio lo vuol.
2nd verse
Se di stelle è un giubilo la celeste sfera
Te ritrovo a sera o Signor!
Nella notte silenziosa
l'alma mia in Te riposa:
libertà, concordia, amor,
all'Elvezia serba ognor.
3rd verse
Se di nubi un velo m'asconde il tuo cielo
pel tuo raggio anelo Dio d'amore!
Fuga o sole quei vapori
e mi rendi i tuoi favori:
di mia patria deh! Pietà
brilla, sol di verità
4th verse
Quando rugge e strepita impetuoso il nembo
m'è ostel tuo grembo o Signor!
In te fido Onnipossente
deh, proteggi nostra gente;
Libertà, concordia, amor,
all'Elvezia serba ognor.
Romansh: Psalm svizzer
1st verse
En l'aurora la damaun ta salida il carstgaun,
spiert etern dominatur, Tutpussent!
Cur ch'ils munts straglischan sura,
ura liber Svizzer, ura.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern
2nd verse
Er la saira en splendur da las stailas en l'azur
tai chattain nus, creatur, Tutpussent!
Cur ch'il firmament sclerescha
en noss cors fidanza crescha.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.
3rd verse
Ti a nus es er preschent en il stgir dal firmament,
ti inperscrutabel spiert, Tutpussent!
Tschiel e terra t'obedeschan
vents e nivels secundeschan.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.
4th verse
Cur la furia da l'orcan fa tremblar il cor uman
alur das ti a nus vigur, Tutpussent!
Ed en temporal sgarschaivel
stas ti franc a nus fidaivel.
Mia olma senta ferm,
Mia olma senta ferm Dieu en tschiel,
Il bab etern, Dieu en tschiel, il bab etern.
English: Swiss Psalm (Unofficial translation)
1st verse
When the morning skies grow red
And o'er us their radiance shed,
Thou, O Lord, appeareth in their light.
When the Alps glow bright with splendour,
Pray to God, to Him surrender,
For you feel and understand,
That He dwelleth in this land.
2nd verse
In the sunset Thou art night
And beyond the starry sky,
Thou, O loving Father, ever near.
When to Heaven we are departing,
Joy and bliss Thou'lt be imparting,
For we feel and understand
That Thou dwellest in this land.
3rd verse
When dark clouds enshroud the hills
And gray mist the valley fills,
Yet Thou art not hidden from Thy sons.
Pierce the gloom in which we cover
With Thy sunshine's cleansing power
Then we'll feel and understand
That God dwelleth in this land.
4th verse
Drives in the wild storm therefore,
Is you us stronghold and resistance,
You, all-powerfully whale tender, saving!
In thunderstorm eight and grey ones let
Us childlike it trust! Yes, which suspects
Pious soul, the pious soul suspects God in
The hehren native country, God, the gentleman,
In the hehren native country!
Internet Page: www.admin.ch
Switzerland in diferent languages
eng | hau: Switzerland
fra | frp | jnf | nrm: Suisse
arg | ast | spa: Suiza
dsb | hsb: Šwicarska
est | liv: Šveits
ita | mlt: Svizzera
kaa | uzb: Shveytsariya / Швейцария
kin | run: Ubusuwisi
lim | nld: Zwitserland
nor | vor: Sveits
pap | tet: Suisa
que | tgl: Suwisa
afr: Switserland
aze: İsveçrə / Исвечрә
bam: Suwisi
bos: Švajcarska / Швајцарска
bre: Suis
cat: Suïssa
ces: Švýcarsko
cor: Swistir
cos: Svizzera; Sguizzera
crh: İsviçriya / Исвичрия
crs: Laswis
csb: Szwajcarskô
cym: Y Swistir
dan: Schweiz; Svejts
deu: Schweiz / Schweiz
epo: Svislando; Svisujo; Svisio
eus: Suitza
fao: Sveis
fij: Swizalend
fin: Sveitsi
frr: Swaits
fry: Switserlân
fur: Svuizare
gag: Şveyţariya / Швейцария
gla: An Eilbheis; An-t Suis
gle: An Eilvéis / An Eilvéis; An Eilbhéis / An Eilḃéis
glg: Suíza
glv: Yn Elveeish
hat: Swis
hrv: Švicarska
hun: Svájc
ibo: Switsaland
ina: Suissa; Switza
ind: Swiss / سويس
isl: Sviss
jav: Swiss
kal: Schweizi
kmr: Sûîs / Суис / سووئیس; Şvêsarî / Швесари / شڤێساری
kur: Swîs / سویس; Siwêsira / سوێسرا; Svîçre / سڤیچره; Siwîsre / سویسره
lat: Helvetia
lav: Šveice
lin: Swisi
lit: Šveicarija
lld-bad: Svizera
lld-grd: Svizra; Svizera
ltz: Schwäiz / Schwäiz
mlg: Soisa
mol: Elveţia / Елвеция
mri: Witerana
msa: Switzerland / سويتزرلند
nah: Zuizcan
nds: Swiez / Swiez
nso: Swise
oci: Soïssa
pol: Szwajcaria
por: Suíça
rmy: Elveciya / एल्वेत्सिया
roh: Svizra
ron: Elveţia
rup: Shwaitsã
scn: Svìzzira
slk: Švajčiarsko
slo: Sxveicaria / Швеицариа; Sxveicarzem / Швеицарзем
slv: Švica
sme: Šveica
smg: Šveicarėjė
som: Swiiserlaand; Suwiserlaand; Suwitsera; Iswitserlaand
sqi: Zvicra
srd: Isvìtzera
swa: Uswisi
swe: Schweiz
szl: Šwajcarja
ton: Suisalani
tuk: Şweýsariýa / Швейцария
tur: İsviçre
vie: Thụy Sĩ
vol: Jveizän
wln: Swisse
wol: Suwis
zul: iSwisi
zza: İswiçre
abq | alt | bul | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | rus | tyv | udm: Швейцария (Švejcarija)
che | chv | oss: Швейцари (Švejcari)
bak: Швейцария / Şveycariya
bel: Швейцарыя / Šviejcaryja; Швайцарыя / Švajcaryja; Швэйцарыя / Švejcaryja
chm: Швейцарий (Švejcarij)
kaz: Швейцария / Şveycarïya / شۆەيتساريا
kbd: Швейцарие (Švejcarie)
mkd: Швајцарија (Švajcarija)
mon: Швейцар (Švejcar)
srp: Швајцарска / Švajcarska
tat: Исвичрә / İswiçrä; Швейцария / Şveytsariä
tgk: Швейтсария / شویتسریه / Şvejtsarija
ukr: Швейцарія (Švejcarija)
xal: Швейцарь (Švejcar')
ara: سويسرا (Suwīsrā / Siwīsrā)
fas: سوئیس / Suis; سویس / Suvis
prs: سویس (Svīs)
pus: سويس (Swīs); سويټزلنډ (Swīṫzarlənḋ); سويټزلېنډ (Swīṫzarlenḋ); سويزرلنډ (Swīzarlənḋ); سويزرلېنډ (Swīzarlenḋ); سويزرلند (Swīzarlənd); سويزرلېند (Swīzarlend)
uig: شۋېتسارىيە / Shwétsariye / Швейцария; شىۋىتسارىيە / Shiwitsariye / Швейцария
urd: سوئس (Sūʾis); سوئٹزرلینڈ (Sūʾiṫzarlænḋ); سویٹزرلینڈ (Savīṫzarlænḋ); ہلویشیا (Halvīšiyā / Halvešiyā)
div: ސްވިޒަރްލޭންޑް (Sviżarlēnḋ)
syr: ܣܘܣܪܐ (Swisrā)
heb: שויץ / שוויץ / שווייץ (Švayts)
lad: סואיזה / Suiza
yid: שװײץ (Šveyts)
amh: ስዊስ (Swis); ስዊዘርላንድ (Swizärland)
ell-dhi: Ελβετία (Elvetía)
ell-kat: Ἑλβετία (Helvetía)
hye: Շվեյցարիա (Šveyc̣aria)
kat: შვეიცარია (Šveic̣aria)
hin: स्विट्ज़रलैंड (Sviṭzarlæṁḍ); स्वीटजरलैंड (Svīṭjarlæṁḍ); स्विट्सरलैंड (Sviṭsarlæṁḍ); स्विस (Svis)
nep: स्वीट्जरल्याण्ड (Svīṭdzarlæṇḍ)
ben: সুইজারল্যাণ্ড (Suijārlæṇḍ); সুইজারল্যান্ড (Suijārlænḍ); সুইজর্ল্যাণ্ড (Suijôrlæṇḍ)
pan: ਸਵਿਟਜ਼ਰਲੈਂਡ (Sviṭzarlæ̃ḍ)
kan: ಸ್ವಿಟ್ಜರ್ಲ್ಯಾಂಡ್ (Sviṭjarlæṁḍ)
mal: സ്വിറ്റ്സര്ലന്ഡ് (Sviṟṟsarlanḍ)
tam: சுவிற்சர்லாந்து (Čuviṛčarlāntu); சுவிட்சர்லாந்து (Čuviṭčarlāntu); ஸ்விட்சர்லாந்து (Sviṭčarlāntu)
tel: స్విట్జర్లాండ్ (Sviṭjarlāṁḍ)
zho: 瑞士 (Ruìshì)
yue: 瑞士 (Seuihsih)
jpn: スイス (Suisu)
kor: 스위스 (Seuwiseu)
bod: སུ་ཝེ་ཚེ་ (Su.we.tsʰe.); རུའེ་ཧྲི་ (Ru'e.hri.); སུའེ་སི་ (Su'e.si.); རོས་སི་ (Ros.si.)
dzo: སུའིཊ་ཛར་ལེན་ (Su'iṭ.dzar.len.)
mya: ဆ္ဝစ္ဇာလန္ (Sʰwiʿzalã)
tha: สวิตเซอร์แลนด์ (Sawitsə̄[r]lǣn[d]); สวิส (Sawit)
lao: ສະວິດ (Sawit)
khm: ស្វ៊ីស (Svīs); ស្វីស (Svīs); ស្វ៊ឺស (Svʉ̄s)
This statue of the Three Fates by the southwestern corner of St Stephen's Green was presented to the city of Dublin in 1956 by West German president Roman Herzog in gratitude for Irish aid after WWII. The statue, by Josef Wackerle, depicts the Norse figures of Urd (past), Verdandi (present) and Skuld (future), 'spinning and measuring the thread of man's destiny'
Is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. With Ecuador, it is one of two countries in South America which do not border Brazil. The Pacific coastline of Chile is 6,435 kilometres. Chilean territory includes the Pacific islands of Juan Fernández, Salas y Gómez, Desventuradas and Easter Island. Chile also claims about 1,250,000 square kilometres (480,000 sq mi) of Antarctica, although all claims are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.
Chile's unusual ribbon-like shape—4,300 kilometres (2,700 mi) long and on average 175 kilometres (109 mi) wide—has given it a varied climate, ranging from the world's driest desert—the Atacama—in the north, through a Mediterranean climate in the centre, to a rainy temperate climate in the south. The northern desert contains great mineral wealth, principally copper. The relatively small central area dominates in terms of population and agricultural resources, and is the cultural and political center from which Chile expanded in the late 19th century, when it incorporated its northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in forests and grazing lands and features a string of volcanoes and lakes. The southern coast is a labyrinth of fjords, inlets, canals, twisting peninsulas, and islands.
Prior to arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while the indigenous Araucanians inhabited central and southern Chile. Chile declared its independence on February 12, 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879–83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern regions. It was not until the 1880s that the Araucanians were completely subjugated.Although relatively free of the coups and arbitrary governments that blighted South America, Chile endured a 17-year military dictatorship (1973–1990) that left more than 3,000 people dead or missing.
Currently, Chile is one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations. It leads Latin American nations in human development, competitiveness, quality of life, political stability, globalization, economic freedom, low perception of corruption and comparatively low poverty rates. It also ranks high regionally in freedom of the press and democratic development. However, it has a high income inequality, as measured by the Gini index. In December 2009 Chile became the first South American country to be invited to join the OECD.[8] Chile is also a founding member of both the United Nations and the Union of South American Nations.
Etymology
There are various theories about the origin of the word Chile. According to a theory proposed by 18th century Spanish chronicler Diego de Rosales, the Incas of Peru called the valley of the Aconcagua "Chili" by corruption of the name of a Picunche tribal chief ("cacique") called Tili, who ruled the area at the time of the Incan conquest in the 15th century. Another theory points to the similarity of the valley of the Aconcagua with that of the Casma Valley in Peru, where there was a town and valley named Chil.
Other theories say Chile may derive its name from the indigenous Mapuche word chilli, which may mean "where the land ends," "the deepest point of the Earth," or "sea gulls;" or from the Quechua chin, "cold", or the Aymara tchili, meaning "snow". Another meaning attributed to chilli is the onomatopoeic cheele-cheele—the Mapuche imitation of a bird call. The Spanish conquistadors heard about this name from the Incas, and the few survivors of Diego de Almagro's first Spanish expedition south from Peru in 1535–36 called themselves the "men of Chilli."Ultimately, Almagro is credited with the universalization of the name Chile, after naming the Mapocho valley as such.
History
About 10,000 years ago, migrating Native Americans settled in fertile valleys and coastal areas of what is present day Chile. Example settlement sites from the very early human habitation are Cueva del Milodon and the Pali Aike Crater's lava tube. The Incas briefly extended their empire into what is now northern Chile, but the Mapuche successfully resisted many attempts by the Inca Empire to subjugate them, despite their lack of state organization. They fought against the Sapa Inca Tupac Yupanqui and his army. The result of the bloody three-day confrontation known as the Battle of the Maule was that the Inca conquest of the territories of Chile ended at the Maule river.
In 1520, while attempting to circumnavigate the earth, Ferdinand Magellan discovered the southern passage now named after him, the Strait of Magellan. The next Europeans to reach Chile were Diego de Almagro and his band of Spanish conquistadors, who came from Peru in 1535 seeking gold. The Spanish encountered hundreds of thousands of Native Americans from various cultures in the area that modern Chile now occupies. These cultures supported themselves principally through slash-and-burn agriculture and hunting. The conquest of Chile began in earnest in 1540 and was carried out by Pedro de Valdivia, one of Francisco Pizarro's lieutenants, who founded the city of Santiago on February 12, 1541. Although the Spanish did not find the extensive gold and silver they sought, they recognized the agricultural potential of Chile's central valley, and Chile became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
Conquest of the land took place only gradually, and the Europeans suffered repeated setbacks at the hands of the local population. A massive Mapuche insurrection that began in 1553 resulted in Valdivia's death and the destruction of many of the colony's principal settlements. Subsequent major insurrections took place in 1598 and in 1655. Each time the Mapuche and other native groups revolted, the southern border of the colony was driven northward. The abolition of slavery by the Spanish crown in 1683 was done in recognition that enslaving the Mapuche intensified resistance rather than cowing them into submission. Despite the royal prohibitions relations remained strained from continual colonialist interference.
Cut off to the north by desert, to the south by the Mapuche (or Araucanians), to the east by the Andes Mountains, and to the west by the ocean, Chile became one of the most centralized, homogeneous colonies in Spanish America. Serving as a sort of frontier garrison, the colony found itself with the mission of forestalling encroachment by Araucanians and by Spain's European enemies, especially the British and the Dutch. In addition to the Araucanians, buccaneers and English adventurers menaced the colony, as was shown by Sir Francis Drake's 1578 raid on Valparaíso, the principal port. Because Chile hosted one of the largest standing armies in the Americas, it was one of the most militarized of the Spanish possessions, as well as a drain on the treasury of Peru. By the end of the colonial period, the population reached an estimated 500,000 (not including unsubjugated Indians); approximately 300,000 were mestizos and about 150,000 were Criollos (European or European descent).
The first general census was performed by the government of Agustín de Jáuregui between 1777 and 1778. The census indicated that the population was 259,646 inhabitants and was composed of 73.5% European descent, 7.9% mestizos, 8.6% Indians and 9.8% blacks. In 1784, Francisco Hurtado, Governor of the province of Chiloe, conducted a population census of Chiloe whereby the population was 26,703 inhabitants, of which 64.4% were whites and 33.5% natives.
Finally, in 1812, the Diocese of Concepción made a census of population, south of the Maule river, but not including the indigenous population (estimated at 8,000 people), nor the inhabitants of the province of Chiloé, which gave indicated a population of 210,567, of which 86.1% were Spanish and whites, 10% Indians and 3.7% of mestizos, blacks and mulattos.
The drive for independence from Spain was precipitated by usurpation of the Spanish throne by Napoleon's brother Joseph in 1808. A national junta in the name of Ferdinand—heir to the deposed king—was formed on September 18, 1810. The Government Junta of Chile proclaimed Chile an autonomous republic within the Spanish monarchy. A movement for total independence soon won a wide following. Spanish attempts to re-impose arbitrary rule during what was called the Reconquista led to a prolonged struggle.
Intermittent warfare continued until 1817, when an army with Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile's most renowned patriot, and led by José de San Martín, hero of the Argentine War of Independence, crossed the Andes into Chile and defeated the royalists. On February 12, 1818, Chile was proclaimed an independent republic under O'Higgins' leadership. The political revolt brought little social change, however, and 19th century Chilean society preserved the essence of the stratified colonial social structure, which was greatly influenced by family politics and the Roman Catholic Church. A strong presidency eventually emerged, but wealthy landowners remained powerful.
Toward the end of the nineteenth century, the government in Santiago consolidated its position in the south by ruthlessly suppressing the Mapuche during the Occupation of Araucanía. In 1881, it signed a treaty with Argentina confirming Chilean sovereignty over the Strait of Magellan. As a result of the War of the Pacific with Peru and Bolivia (1879–83), Chile expanded its territory northward by almost one-third, eliminating Bolivia's access to the Pacific, and acquired valuable nitrate deposits, the exploitation of which led to an era of national affluence.
The Chilean Civil War in 1891 brought about a redistribution of power between the President and Congress, and Chile established a parliamentary style democracy. However, the Civil War had also been a contest between those who favored the development of local industries and powerful Chilean banking interests, particularly the House of Edwards who had strong ties to foreign investors.
20th century
The Chilean economy partially degenerated into a system protecting the interests of a ruling oligarchy. By the 1920s, the emerging middle and working classes were powerful enough to elect a reformist president, Arturo Alessandri Palma, whose program was frustrated by a conservative congress. In the 1920s, Marxist groups with strong popular support arose.
A military coup led by General Luis Altamirano in 1924 set off a period of great political instability that lasted until 1932. The longest lasting of the ten governments between those years was that of General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, who briefly held power in 1925 and then again between 1927 and 1931 in what was a de facto dictatorship, although not really comparable in harshness or corruption to the type of military dictatorship that has often bedeviled the rest of Latin America and certainly not comparable to the violent and repressive regime of Augusto Pinochet decades later.
By relinquishing power to a democratically elected successor, Ibáñez del Campo retained the respect of a large enough segment of the population to remain a viable politician for more than thirty years, in spite of the vague and shifting nature of his ideology. When constitutional rule was restored in 1932, a strong middle-class party, the Radicals, emerged. It became the key force in coalition governments for the next 20 years. During the period of Radical Party dominance (1932–52), the state increased its role in the economy. In 1952, voters returned Ibáñez del Campo to office for another six years. Jorge Alessandri succeeded Ibáñez del Campo in 1958, bringing Chilean conservatism back into power democratically for another term.
The 1964 presidential election of Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei Montalva by an absolute majority initiated a period of major reform. Under the slogan "Revolution in Liberty", the Frei administration embarked on far-reaching social and economic programs, particularly in education, housing, and agrarian reform, including rural unionization of agricultural workers. By 1967, however, Frei encountered increasing opposition from leftists, who charged that his reforms were inadequate, and from conservatives, who found them excessive. At the end of his term, Frei had not fully achieved his party's ambitious goals.
In the 1970 election, Senator Salvador Allende reached a partial majority in a plurality of votes in a three-way contest, followed by candidates Radomiro Tomic for the Christian Democrat Party and Jorge Alessandri for the Conservative Party. He was a physician and member of the Socialist Party of Chile, who headed the "Popular Unity" (UP or "Unidad Popular") coalition of the Socialist, Communist, Radical, and Social-Democratic Parties, along with dissident Christian Democrats, the Popular Unitary Action Movement (MAPU), and the Independent Popular Action. Despite pressure from the United States government, the Chilean Congress conducted a runoff vote between the leading candidates, Allende and former president Jorge Alessandri and keeping with tradition, chose Allende by a vote of 153 to 35. Frei refused to form an alliance with Alessandri to oppose Allende, on the grounds that the Christian Democrats were a workers party and could not make common cause with the right-wing.
An economic depression that began in 1967 peaked in 1970, exacerbated by capital flight, plummeting private investment, and withdrawal of bank deposits in response to Allende's socialist program. Production fell and unemployment rose. Allende adopted measures including price freezes, wage increases, and tax reforms, to increase consumer spending and redistribute income downward. Joint public-private public works projects helped reduce unemployment.page needed] Much of the banking sector was nationalized. Many enterprises within the copper, coal, iron, nitrate, and steel industries were expropriated, nationalized, or subjected to state intervention. Industrial output increased sharply and unemployment fell during the Allende administration's first year.
Allende's program included advancement of workers' interests, replacing the judicial system with "socialist legality", nationalization of banks and forcing others to bankruptcy, and strengthening "popular militias" known as MIR. Started under former President Frei, the Popular Unity platform also called for nationalization of Chile's major copper mines in the form of a constitutional amendment. The measure was passed unanimously by Congress. As a result, the Richard Nixon administration organized and inserted secret operatives in Chile, in order to quickly destabilize Allende’s government. In addition, American financial pressure restricted international economic credit to Chile. The economic problems were also exacerbated by Allende's public spending which was financed mostly by printing money and poor credit ratings given by commercial banks.
Simultaneously, opposition media, politicians, business guilds and other organizations, helped to accelerate a campaign of domestic political and economical destabilization, some of which was helped by the United States. By early 1973, inflation was out of control. The crippled economy was further battered by prolonged and sometimes simultaneous strikes by physicians, teachers, students, truck owners, copper workers, and the small business class. On 26 May 1973, Chile’s Supreme Court, which was opposed to Allende's government, unanimously denounced the Allende disruption of the legality of the nation. Although, illegal under the Chilean constitution, the court supported and strengthened Pinochet seizure of power.
Finally, a military coup overthrew Allende on September 11, 1973. As the armed forces bombarded the presidential palace of (Palacio de La Moneda), Allende reportedly had committed suicide. A military junta, led by General Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, took over control of the country. The first years of the regime were marked by human rights violations. On October 1973, at least 72 people were murdered by the Caravan of Death. According to the Rettig Report and Valech Commission, at least 2,115 were killed, and at least 27,265 were tortured (including 88 children younger than 12 years old). A new Constitution was approved by a controversial plebiscite on September 11, 1980, and General Pinochet became president of the republic for an 8-year term.
In the late 1980s, the government gradually permitted greater freedom of assembly, speech, and association, to include trade union and political activity. The government launched market-oriented reforms, which have continued ever since. Chile moved toward a free market economy that saw an increase in domestic and foreign private investment, although the copper industry and other important mineral resources were not opened for competition. In a plebiscite on October 5, 1988, General Pinochet was denied a second 8-year term as president (56% against 44%). Chileans elected a new president and the majority of members of a two-chamber congress on December 14, 1989. Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin, the candidate of a coalition of 17 political parties called the Concertación, received an absolute majority of votes (55%). President Aylwin served from 1990 to 1994, in what was considered a transition period.
In December 1993, Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, the son of previous president Eduardo Frei Montalva, led the Concertación coalition to victory with an absolute majority of votes (58%).
21st century
Frei Ruiz-Tagle was succeeded in 2000 by Socialist Ricardo Lagos, who won the presidency in an unprecedented runoff election against Joaquín Lavín of the rightist Alliance for Chile. In January 2006, Chileans elected their first female president, Michelle Bachelet Jeria, of the Socialist Party, defeating Sebastián Piñera, of the National Renewal party, extending the Concertación government for another four years. In January 2010, Chileans elected Sebastián Piñera, of the National Renewal party of the centre-right Coalition for Change, as the first rightist President of Chile during the Chilean presidential election of 2009-2010, defeating former President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle of the Concertación, for a four-year term succeeding Michelle Bachelet.
On February 27, 2010, Chile was struck by an 8.8 Mm earthquake, one of the largest ever recorded in the world. As many as 1,000 people died; hundreds of thousands of buildings were damaged. Initial damage estimates were in the range of 15–30 billion USD, around 10–15% of Chile real gross domestic product.
Geography
A long and narrow coastal Southern Cone country on the west side of the Andes Mountains, Chile stretches over 4,630 kilometres (2,880 mi) north to south, but only 430 kilometres (265 mi) at its widest point east to west. This encompasses a remarkable variety of landscapes. It contains 756,950 square kilometres (292,260 sq mi) of land area. It is situated within the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The northern Atacama Desert contains great mineral wealth, primarily copper and nitrates. The relatively small Central Valley, which includes Santiago, dominates the country in terms of population and agricultural resources. This area also is the historical center from which Chile expanded in the late nineteenth century, when it integrated the northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in forests, grazing lands, and features a string of volcanoes and lakes. The southern coast is a labyrinth of fjords, inlets, canals, twisting peninsulas, and islands. The Andes Mountains are located on the eastern border. Chile is the longest north-south country in the world, and also claims 1,250,000 km2 (480,000 sq mi) of Antarctica as part of its territory. However, this latter claim is suspended under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty, of which Chile is signatory.
Chile controls Easter Island and Sala y Gómez Island, the easternmost islands of Polynesia, which it incorporated to its territory in 1888, and Robinson Crusoe Island, more than 600 kilometres (370 mi) from the mainland, in the Juan Fernández archipelago. Easter Island is today a province of Chile. Also controlled but only temporally inhabited (by some local fishermen) are the small islands of Sala y Gómez, San Ambrosio and San Felix. These islands are notable because they extend Chile's claim to territorial waters out from its coast into the Pacific.
Other info
Oficial name:
Republica de Chile
Independence:
First National, Government Junta, September 18, 1810
- Declared February 12, 1818
- Recognized April 25, 1844
Area:
756.096 km2
Inhabitants:
17.560.000
Languages:
Aymara, Central [ayr] 899 in Chile (1994 Hans Gundermann K.). Ethnic population: 20,000 in Chile (1983 SIL). Mountains of extreme north, first region Tarapacá; Arica, Parinacota, Iquique. Classification: Aymaran
More information.
Chilean Sign Language [csg] Classification: Deaf sign language
More information.
Huilliche [huh] 2,000 (1982 SIL). South of the Mapuche, Tenth Region, from Valdivia to Chiloé. Alternate names: Veliche, Huiliche. Dialects: Tsesungún. Related to Mapudungun, but barely intelligible with it. Classification: Araucanian
More information.
Mapudungun [arn] 200,000 in Chile (1982 SIL). Population total all countries: 300,000. Ethnic population: 928,000 (1992 census). Between the Itata and Tolten rivers. Also spoken in Argentina. Alternate names: Mapudungu, "Araucano", Mapuche. Dialects: Moluche (Ngoluche, Manzanero), Picunche, Pehuenche. Easy intelligibility among all dialects. Pehuenche and Moluche are very close. Classification: Araucanian
More information.
Qawasqar [alc] 20 (1996 Oscar Aguilera). Population includes 10 in Puerto Edin. Channel Region, western Patagonia, Isle of Wellington off south Chilean coast, 49 degrees south with center in Puerto Edin. Speakers of the extinct Aksanás dialect also lived in Puerto Edén. Alternate names: Kaweskar, Kawesqar, Alacalufe, Alacaluf, Halakwulup. Dialects: Aksanás (Aksana). Classification: Alacalufan Nearly extinct.
More information.
Quechua, Chilean [cqu] Ethnic population: 4,563 (2000 WCD). Northern second region. Dialects: May be intelligible with, or the same as, South Bolivian Quechua. Classification: Quechuan, Quechua II, C
More information.
Rapa Nui [rap] 3,392 in Chile (2000 WCD). Population includes 2,200 on Easter Island; 200 to 300 on Chile mainland, Tahiti, and USA. Ethnic population: 3,500. Easter Island, 3,800 km from Chile, 4,000 km from Tahiti. Also spoken in French Polynesia, USA. Alternate names: Easter Island, Pascuense. Dialects: Lexical similarity 64% with Hawaiian, Mangareva, Rarotonga, 63% with Marquesan; 62% with Tahitian, Paumotu. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Rapanui
More information.
Spanish [spa] 13,800,000 in Chile (1995). Population includes 25% Spanish, 66% mestizo. Alternate names: Español, Castellano. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
More information.
Yámana [yag] 1 (2003). Ethnic population: 100 (2000 W. Adelaar). Patagonia, Isla Navarino, Puerto Williams, Ukika hamlet. Extinct in Argentina. Alternate names: Yaghan, Yagán, Tequenica, Háusi Kúta. Dialects: Tovar (1961) says it was closest to Qawasqar, and had some relationship to Ona. Earlier there were up to five dialects. Classification: Language Isolate Nearly extinct.
More information.
Extinct languages
Kakauhua [kbf] Extinct. Alternate names: Kaukaue, Cacahue. Classification: Alacalufan
More information.
Kunza [kuz] Extinct. A few speakers were located in 1949 and since by anthropologists. Ethnic population: 2,000 (2000 W. Adelaar). Peine, Socaire (Salar de Atacama), and Caspana. Alternate names: Likanantaí, Lipe, Ulipe, Atacameño. Dialects: Greenberg places it in Macro-Chibchan. Classification: Unclassified
Capital city:
Santiago del Chile
Meaning of the country name :
Exact etymology unknown. Possibilities include that it comes from a native Mapudungun term meaning "the depths", a reference to the fact that the Andes mountain chain looms over the narrow coastal flatland. The Quechua or Mapuche Indian word "chili/chilli" or "where the land ends/where the land runs out/limit of the world" also provides a possible derivation. Another possible meaning originates with a native word tchili, meaning "snow".
Description Flag:
The flag of Chile consists of two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red stands for the blood spilled to achieve independence.
Coat of arms:
The Coat of Arms of Chile dates from 1834 and was designed by the English artist Charles Wood Taylor. It is made up by a figurative background divided in two equal parts: the top one is blue and the bottom, red. A five pointed white star is in the centre of the shield. This background is supported in one side by a condor, the most significant bird of prey from the Andes, and in the other, by a huemul, the most singular and rare mammal of the Chilean territory. Both animals have in their heads the navy's golden crown, symbol of the heroic deeds of the Chilean Navy in the Pacific Ocean.
The shield is crowned by a three feathered crest; each feather bearing one colour: blue, white and red. This crest was a symbol of distinction that former Presidents of the Republic used to wear on their hats.
Underneath the shield and on the ellaborated pedestal, there is a white band with the motto: "Por la Razón o la Fuerza" ("By Right or Might").
Motto:
" Por la Razón o la Fuerza "
National Anthem: Himno Nacional de Chile
Spanish
Puro, Chile, es tu cielo azulado;
Puras brisas te cruzan también.
Y tu campo de flores bordado
Es la copia feliz del Edén.
Majestuosa es la blanca montaña
Que te dio por valuarte el Señor
Que te dio por valuarte el Señor,
Y ese mar que tranquilo te baña
Te promete futuro esplendor
Y ese mar que tranquilo te baña
Te promete futuro esplendor.
Coro
Dulce Patria, recibe los votos
Con que Chile en tus aras juró:
Que o la tumba serás de los libres
O el asilo contra la opresión
Que o la tumba serás de los libres
O el asilo contra la opresión
Que o la tumba serás de los libres
O el asilo contra la opresión
O el asilo contra la opresión
O el asilo contra la opresión.
English
Pure, Chile, is your blue sky;
Pure breezes flow across you as well.
And your flower-embroidered field
Is a happy copy of Eden .
Majestic is the snow-capped mountain
That was given as a bastion by the Lord
That was given as a bastion by the Lord,
And the sea that quietly washes your shores
Promises you future splendor
And the sea that quietly washes your shores
Promises you future splendor.
Chorus
Sweet fatherland, accept the vows
That were given by Chile at your altars:
Either you be the tomb of the free
Or the refuge against oppression
Either you be the tomb of the free
Or the refuge against oppression
Either you be the grave of the free
Or the refuge against oppression
Or the refuge against oppression
Or the refuge against oppression.
Internet Page: www.chile.com
Chile in diferent languages
eng | arg | ast | bre | ces | cor | cym | dan | fin | glg | hau | hsb | hun | ina | jnf | nor | oci | pol | por | roh | ron | sme | spa | swa | swe | szl: Chile
afr | fra | hat | ibo | jav | nld | nrm | pap | que: Chili
hrv | rup | slk | slv: Čile
deu | ltz | nds: Chile / Chile
ita | lld | srd: Cile
kin | lin | run: Shili
aze | tuk: Çili / Чили
bam | smo: Sili
cat | tet: Xile
kaa | uzb: Chili / Чили
lit | smg: Čilė
tur | zza: Şili
bos: Čile / Чиле
cos: Chilì
crh: Çile / Чиле
dsb: Chilska
epo: Ĉilio
est: Tšiili
eus: Txile
fao: Kili
frp: Ch•ili
fry: Sily
fur: Cîl
gla: An t-Sile
gle: An tSile / An tSile
glv: Yn Çhillee
ind: Cili / چيلي
isl: Chile; Síle
kmr: Çîlî / Ч’или / چیلی; Çîlîstan / Ч’илистан / چیلیستان
kur: Şîlî / شیلی
lat: Chilia; Chile; Cilia
lav: Čīle
mlg: Silia
mlt: Ċili
mol: Cili / Чили
msa: Chile / چيلي
rmy: Čile / चिले
scn: Cili
slo: Cxile / Чиле
som: Jili
sqi: Kili
tgl: Tsile
ton: Saile
vie: Chi-lê
vol: Tjilän
vor: Tsiili
wln: Tchili
wol: Ciili
alt | bul | che | chm | chv | kbd | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | mon | oss | rus | tyv | udm: Чили (Čili)
bak | tat: Чили / Çili
abq: Чили (Čiłi)
bel: Чылі / Čyli
kaz: Чили / Çïlï / چيلي
mkd: Чиле (Čile)
srp: Чиле / Čile
tgk: Чили / چیلی / Cili
ukr: Чилі (Čyli); Чілі (Čili)
ara: تشيلي (Tišīlī); شيلي (Šīlī)
fas: شیلی (Šīlī)
prs: چیلی (Čīlī)
pus: چيلي (Čīlī); چلي (Čilī)
uig: چىلى / Chili / Чили
urd: چلی (Čilī)
div: ޗިލީ (Čilī)
heb: צ׳ילה (Čîleh); צ׳ילי (Čîlî)
lad: ג'ילי / Chile
yid: טשילע (Tšile)
amh: ቺሌ (Čile); ቺሊ (Čili)
ell: Χιλή (Ĥilī́)
hye: Չիլի (Č̣ili)
kat: ჩილე (Č̣ile); ჩილი (Č̣ili)
hin: चिली (Čilī); चाइल (Čāil)
ben: চিলি (Čili)
pan: ਚਿਲੀ (Čilī)
kan: ಚಿಲಿ (Čili)
mal: ചിലി (Čili)
tam: சிலி (Čili)
tel: చిలీ (Čilī)
zho: 智利 (Zhìlì)
yue: 智利 (Jileih)
jpn: チリ (Chiri)
kor: 칠레 (Chillae)
mya: ခ္ယီလီ (Čili)
tha: ชิลี (Čʰilī)
lao: ຊີເລ (Sīlē)
khm: ឈីលី (Čʰīlī)
Patron: Hisham ibn 'Abd al-Malik 691-743 (r.724-743) 10th Umayyad caliph.
Construction Manager: Sulayman ibn 'Ubaid.
Bicester Heritage's resident 505, still with only 8000 miles on the clock after being off the road from 1985 to 2017. It is currently for sale (offers invited) if anyone wants to own the only 505 STI left on UK roads.
Is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the southwest. In addition to the mainland, Scotland consists of over 790 islands including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides.
Edinburgh, the country's capital and second largest city, is one of Europe's largest financial centres.Edinburgh was the hub of the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century, which transformed Scotland into one of the commercial, intellectual and industrial powerhouses of Europe. Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, was once one of the world's leading industrial cities and now lies at the centre of the Greater Glasgow conurbation. Scottish waters consist of a large sector of the North Atlantic and the North Sea, containing the largest oil reserves in the European Union. This has given Aberdeen, the third largest city in Scotland, the title of Europe's oil capital.
The Kingdom of Scotland was an independent sovereign state before 1 May 1707 when it entered into a political union with the Kingdom of England to create the united Kingdom of Great Britain. This union resulted from the Treaty of Union agreed in 1706 and enacted by the twin Acts of Union passed by the Parliaments of both countries, despite widespread protest across Scotland. Scotland's legal system continues to be separate from those of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and Scotland still constitutes a distinct jurisdiction in public and in private law.
The continued existence of legal, educational and religious institutions distinct from those in the remainder of the UK have all contributed to the continuation of Scottish culture and national identity since the Union. Although Scotland is no longer a separate sovereign state, issues surrounding devolution and independence continue to be debated. After the creation of the devolved Scottish Parliament in 1999, the first ever pro-independence Scottish Government was elected in 2007 when the Scottish National Party formed a minority administration.
Etymology
Scotland is from the Latin Scoti, the term applied to Gaels, people from what is now Scotland and Ireland, both pirates and the Dal Riada who had come from Ireland to reside in the Northwest of what is now Scotland, in contrast, for example, to the Picts. Accordingly, the Late Latin word Scotia (land of the Gaels) was initially used to refer to Ireland. However, by the 11th century at the latest, Scotia was being used to refer to (Gaelic-speaking) Scotland north of the river Forth, alongside Albania or Albany, both derived from the Gaelic Alba. The use of the words Scots and Scotland to encompass all of what is now Scotland became common in the Late Middle Ages.
History
please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Scotland
Geography
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Scotland
Other info
Oficial name:
Scotland
Alba
Unification :
Lands north of Forth united under Bridei m. Beli c. 685
- Dál Riata incorporated by Óengus m. Fergusa c. 741
- Lothian and Strathclyde finally incorporated on accession of David I 1124 (confirmed Treaty of York, 1237)
- Galloway incorporated 1234/5
- Orkney and Shetland annexed 1472
Area:
78.782 km2
Inhabitants:
6.200.000
Languages:
Scotish, Gaelic, English
Capital city:
Edimbourgh
Meaning country name:
Land of the Scots, from Old English Scottas, "inhabitants of Ireland." Old English borrowed the word from late Latin Scotti, of unknown origin. It may possibly have come from an Irish term of scorn, scuit. After the departure of the Romans from Britain in 423, an Irish tribe invaded Scotland, and the name came with them. It later extended to other Irish who settled in the northern regions of Britain.
Alba (Gaelic name): The Scots- and Irish-Gaelic name for Scotland derives from the same Celtic root as the name Albion, which designates sometimes the entire island of Great Britain and sometimes the country of England, Scotland's southern neighbour. The term arguably derives from an early Indo-European word meaning 'white', generally held to refer to the cliffs of white chalk around the English town of Dover, ironically located at the furthest end of Great Britain from Scotland itself. Others take it to come from the same root as "the Alps", possibly being an ancient word for mountain.
Caledonia, an old Latin name for Scotland, deriving from the Caledonii tribe. Caledonia in Greek also means "good waters".
Description Flag:
The flag of Scotland features a white saltire, a crux decussate (X-shaped cross) representing the cross of the Christian martyr Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, on a blue field. It is named the Saltire or the Saint Andrew's Cross. In heraldic language, it may be blazoned Azure, a saltire argent.
The flag of Scotland is one of the oldest flags in the world, traditionally dating back to the 9th century.
Coat of arms:
The Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland was the official coat of arms of the monarchs of Scotland, and were used as the official coat of arms of the Kingdom of Scotland until the Union of the Crowns in 1603. Afterwards, the arms became an integral part of the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.
Motto:
"Cha togar m'fhearg gun dioladh" (Scottish Gaelic)
"Wha daur meddle wi me?" (Scots)
National Anthem: Flower of Scotland
O Flower of Scotland,
When will we see
Your like again,
That fought and died for,
Your wee bit Hill and Glen,
And stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.
The Hills are bare now,
And Autumn leaves
lie thick and still,
O'er land that is lost now,
Which those so dearly held,
That stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.
Those days are past now,
And in the past
they must remain,
But we can still rise now,
And be the nation again,
That stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.
O Flower of Scotland,
When will we see
your like again,
That fought and died for,
Your wee bit Hill and Glen,
And stood against him,
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.
Gaelic
O Fhlùir na h-Alba,
cuin a chì sinn
an seòrsa laoich
a sheas gu bàs 'son
am bileag feòir is fraoich,
a sheas an aghaidh
feachd uailleil Iomhair
's a ruaig e dhachaidh
air chaochladh smaoin?
Na cnuic tha lomnochd
's tha duilleach Foghair
mar bhrat air làr,
am fearann caillte
dan tug na seòid ud gràdh,
a sheas an aghaidh
feachd uailleil Iomhair
's a ruaig e dhachaigh
air chaochladh smaoin.
Tha 'n eachdraidh dùinte
ach air dìochuimhne
chan fheum i bhith,
is faodaidh sinn èirigh
gu bhith nar Rìoghachd a-rìs
a sheas an aghaidh
feachd uailleil Iomhair
's a ruaig e dhachaidh
air chaochladh smaoin.
O Fhlùir na h-Alba,
cuin a chì sinn
an seòrsa laoich
a sheas gu bàs 'son
am bileag feòir is fraoich,
a sheas an aghaidh
feachd uailleil Iomhair
's a ruaig e dhachaidh
air chaochladh smaoin?
Internet Page: www.scotland.org
Scotland in diferent languages
eng | sco: Scotland
afr | dan | fao | isl | non: Skotland
cos | ita | lld | roh: Scozia
ast | glg | spa: Escocia
deu | ltz | nds: Schottland / Schottland
cat | oci: Escòcia
dsb | hsb: Šotiska
hrv | slv: Škotska
kaa | uzb: Shotlandiya / Шотландия
nor | swe: Skottland
tur | zza: İskoçya
arg: Escozia
aze: Şotlandiya / Шотландија
bos: Škotska / Шкотска
bre: Skos; Bro-Skos
ces: Skotsko
cor: Alban
cym: Yr Alban
epo: Skotujo; Skotio; Skotlando
est: Šotimaa
eus: Eskozia
fin: Skotlanti
fra: Écosse
frr: Schåtlönj
fry: Skotlân
gla: Alba
gle: An Albain / An Albain; Alba / Alba
glv: Nalbin
hat: Ekòs
hun: Skócia
ina: Scotia
ind: Skotlandia / سكوتلنديا
jav: Skotlandia
kmr: Şotlandî / Шотланди / شۆتلاندی; Êskotlandî / Ескотланди / ئێسکۆتلاندی
kur: Sikotlende / سکۆتلەندە; Skotland / سکۆتلاند; Îskoçya / ئیسکۆچیا
lat: Scotia; Caledonia
lav: Skotija
lim: Sjotland
lin: Ekósi
lit: Škotija
mlg: Ekôsy
mlt: Skozja
mol: Scoţia / Скоция
mri: Koterana
msa: Scotland / سكوتلند
nld: Schotland
nrm: Êcosse
pol: Szkocja
por: Escócia
que: Iskusya
ron: Scoţia
rup: Scotlandia
slk: Škótsko
slo: Sxkotia / Шкотиа; Sxkotzem / Шкотзем
sme: Skotlánda
smg: Škotėjė
sqi: Skocia; Skotlanda
ssw: iSikhwahlande
swa: Uskoti
szl: Škocyjo
tet: Eskósia
tgl: Eskosya
tpi: Skotlan
tuk: Şotlandiýa / Шотландия
vie: Tô Cách Lan; Scốt-len
vor: Sotimaa
wln: Scôsse / Sicôsse; Escôsse
xho: iSkotlani
zul: iSikhohlandi; iSikotilandi
alt | bul | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | rus | tyv: Шотландия (Šotlandija)
abq: Шотландия (Šotłandija)
bak: Шотландия / Şotlandiya
bel: Шатландыя / Šatłandyja; Шатляндыя / Šatlandyja; Шкоцыя / Škocyja
chm: Шотландий (Šotlandij)
kaz: Шотландия / Şotlandïya / شوتلانديا
mkd: Шкотска (Škotska)
mon: Шотланд (Šotland)
oss: Шотланди (Šotlandi)
srp: Шкотска / Škotska
tat: Шотландия / Şotlandiä
tgk: Шотландия / شاتلنیه / Şotlandija
ukr: Шотландія (Šotlandija)
ara: سكوتلندا (Sikūtlandā); إسكتلندا (Iskutlandā); أسكتلندا (Askutlandā); إسكوتلندا (Iskūtlandā); إسكوتلندة (Iskūtlandâ)
fas: اسکاتلند / Eskâtland; اسکاتلاند / Eskâtlând
prs: سکاتلند (Skātland)
pus: سکاتلنډ (Skātlənḋ); سکاټلېنډ (Skāṫlenḋ)
uig: شوتلاندىيە / Shotlandiye / Шотландия
urd: اسکاچستان (Iskāčistān); سکاٹلینڈ (Sakāṫlænḋ); اسکاٹلینڈ (Iskāṫlænḋ)
heb: סקוטלנד (Sqôṭland); סקוטלאנד (Sqôṭlând)
yid: שאָטלאַנד (Šotland)
amh | tir: ስኮትላንድ (Skotland)
ell: Σκωτία (Skōtía); Σκοτία (Skotía)
hye: Շոտլանդիա (Šotlandia)
kat: შოტლანდია (Šotlandia)
hin: स्कॉट्लैंड (Skŏṭlæṁḍ)
ben: স্কটল্যান্ড (Skôṭlænḍ)
pan: ਸਕਾਟਲੈਂਡ (Skāṭlæ̃ḍ)
kan: ಸ್ಕಾಟ್ಲೆಂಡ್ (Skāṭleṁḍ)
mal: സ്കോട്ട്ലന്റ് (Skōṭṭlanṟ)
tam: ஸ்காட்லாந்து (Skāṭlāntu)
zho: 蘇格蘭/苏格兰 (Sūgélán)
jpn: スコットランド (Sukottorando)
kor: 스코틀랜드 (Seukoteullaendeu)
bod: སུའུ་ཀེ་ལན་ (Su'u.ke.lan.)
tha: สกอตแลนด (Sakɔ̄tlǣn[d]); สก็อตแลนด (Sakɔtlǣn[d])
lao: ສະກອັດ (Sakɔt)
khm: អេកូស (Ekūs)
English
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Island
Is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeastern most point of the Polynesian triangle. A special territory of Chile annexed in 1888, Easter Island is widely famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai (pronounced /ˈmoʊ.аɪ/), created by the early Rapanui people. It is a World Heritage Site (as determined by UNESCO) with much of the island protected within the Rapa Nui National Park. In recent times the island has served as a cautionary tale about the cultural and environmental dangers of overexploitation. Ethnographers and archaeologists now argue that the introduction of diseases carried by European colonizers and the slave raiding, that devastated the population in the 1800s had a much greater social than environmental impact. Introduced animals—first rats and then sheep—were largely responsible for the island's loss of native flora.
Português
pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilha_de_P%c3%a1scoa
é uma ilha da Polinésia oriental, localizada no sul do Oceano Pacífico (27º 10' latitude Sul e 109º 25' longitude Oeste). Está situada a 3700 km de distância da costa oeste do Chile e sua população em 2002 era de 3791 habitantes, 3304 dos quais viviam na capital Hanga Roa. Famosa por suas enormes estátuas de pedra, faz parte da V Região de Valparaíso, pertencente ao Chile.
Em rapanui, o idioma local, é denominada Rapa Nui ("ilha grande"), Te pito o te henúa ("umbigo do mundo") e Mata ki te rangi ("olhos fixados no céu").
Other Info / Outras Informações
Area:
163.60km2
Population:
3.900
Major city:
Hanga Roa
Easter Island (Rapa Nui in the Rapa Nui language, Isla de Pascua in Spanish language), is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian triangle. The island is an overseas territory of Chile. Easter Island is famous for its monumental statues, called moai (pronounced MOE-eye), created by the Rapanui people. It is a world heritage site with much of the island protected within the Rapa Nui National Park.
Name
The name "Easter Island" was given by the island's first recorded European visitor, the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, who encountered Easter Island on Easter Sunday 1722, while searching for Davis or David's island.The island's official Spanish name, Isla de Pascua, is Spanish for "Easter Island".
The current Polynesian name of the island, "Rapa Nui" or "Big Rapa", was coined by labor immigrants from Rapa in the Bass Islands, who likened it to their home island in the aftermath of the Peruvian slave deportations in the 1870s.However, Thor Heyerdahl has claimed that the naming would have been the opposite, Rapa being the original name of Easter Island, and Rapa Iti was named by its refugees.
There are several hypotheses about the "original" Polynesian name for Easter Island, including Te pito o te henua, or "The Navel of the World" due to its isolation. Legends claim that the island was first named as Te pito o te kainga a Hau Maka, or the "Little piece of land of Hau Maka". Another name, Mata-ki-Te-rangi, means "Eyes that talk to the sky.
Location and physical geography
Easter Island is one of the world's most isolated inhabited islands. It is 3,600 km (2,237 mi) west of continental Chile and 2,075 km (1,290 mi) east of Pitcairn (Sala y Gómez, 415 kilometres to the east, is closer but uninhabited).
It has a latitude close to that of Caldera, Chile, an area of 163.6 km² (63 sq mi), and a maximum altitude of 507 metres. There are three Rano (freshwater crater lakes), at Rano Kau, Rano Raraku and Rano Aroi, near the summit of Terevaka, but no permanent streams or rivers.
Geology
Easter Island is a volcanic high island, consisting of three extinct volcanoes: Terevaka (altitude 507 metres) forms the bulk of the island. Two other volcanoes, Poike and Rano Kau, form the eastern and southern headlands and give the island its approximately triangular shape. There are numerous lesser cones and other volcanic features, including the crater Rano Raraku, the cinder cone Puna Pau and many volcanic caves including lava tubes.
Easter Island and surrounding islets such as Motu Nui, Motu Iti are the summit of a large volcanic mountain which rises over two thousand metres from the sea bed. It is part of the Sala y Gómez Ridge, a (mostly submarine) mountain range with dozens of seamounts starting with Pukao and then Moai, two seamounts to the west of Easter Island, and extending 2,700 km (1,700 mi) east to the Nazca Seamount.
Pukao, Moai and Easter Island were formed in the last 750,000 years, with the most recent eruption a little over a hundred thousand years ago. They are the youngest mountains of the Sala y Gómez Ridge, which has been formed by the Nazca Plate floating over the Easter hotspot.Only at Easter Island, its surrounding islets and Sala y Gómez does the Sala y Gómez Ridge form dry land.
In the first half of the 20th century, steam came out of the Rano Kau crater wall. This was photographed by the island's manager, Mr Edmunds.
History of Easter Island
The history of Easter Island is incredibly rich and highly controversial. Its inhabitants have endured famines, epidemics, civil war, slave raids and colonialism, and the crash of their ecosystem; their population has declined precipitously more than once. They have left a cultural legacy that has brought them fame out of all proportion to their numbers.
There are many theories about the cultural composition and history of Easter Island. No two seem to agree. Most scholars consider the island's culture Polynesian. But local traditions say the original culture consisted of two different races: the Hanau epe, or long-ears, the original settlers of the island with red hair and fair skin, and the Hanau momoko, or short ears, the Polynesian peoples generally associated with the Pacific.
Pedro Atan, an eleventh generation descendant of Ororoina told Thor Heyerdahl in 1955: "There were handsome people among our ancestors. There were two kinds of people on this island: some were dark (Polynesian) and some were quite fair skinned like you from the mainland, and with light hair. Real white people. But they were genuine Easter Islanderes, quite genuine. In our family there were many of the fair type, who were called oho-tea, or the light-haired. My own mother and aunt had [red] hair. ... There were many of that type in our family, all the way back. We brothers are not like that. But my daughter who was drowned had milk-white skin and completely red hair, and so has my grown up son, Juan. He makes the twelfth generation after Ororoina."
That the population consisted of two distinct races was also noted by the first European to visit the island, Jacob Roggeveen, on Easter Sunday, 1722:
"Among the first who came aboard was a white man. He was ornamented with a crown of feathers on his head, which was close shaven." The islander was presented with several gifts including "two strings of blue pearls, a small mirror, and a pair of scissors." Particularly striking were the man's artificially lengthened ears which contained "round white pegs as large as his fist." The lobes hung down to his shoulders. Roggeveen later noted that "masses of the islanders had their ears lengthened in this [same] manner." If their long ears got in the way when working, they removed the pegs and lifted the long flap up and over the upper edge of the ear.
"They are a tall, well built people," he continues, "who, so far as can be judged, are fair skinned [Polynesains] such as we know them in Tahiti, Hawaii and other eastern islands of the south seas. But the population is mixed, some are conspicuous by their darker skins, while others are quite white, like Europeans. A few are also of a reddish tint as if somewhat severely tanned by the sun. Many had beards."
"Many islanders went about stark naked, but with their entire body artistically tattooed in one continuous pattern of birds and strange figures. Others ware cloaks of bark cloth colored red and yellow. Some have waving crowns of feathers on their heads, and others [wear] queer reed hats. All are friendly, and we saw no weapons of any kind. Curiously there were hardly women to be seen, although the place was swarming with men. But the few women who showed themselves are more than cordial to us, without the men showing the slightest sign of jealousy."
According to tradition, the first oho-tea, (light-skinned) Hotu Matua, landed on the island's North-Eastern shore at Anakena Bay sometime around 300 CE. (The remains of his stone house and fireplace are still in evidence there with carbon 14 dating of the ashes providing the date.) The two vessels in Hotu Matua's party were so large they carried several hundred men, and Oroi, Matua's worst enemy made passage as a stowaway.
A single moai or statue (representing Hotu Matua?) stands on the platform, or ahu, at the beach. It was the first of the ancient stone sculptures to be re-erected under the urging of Thor Heyerdahl during his 1955 expedition to the island.
Ecology
Easter Island, together with its closest neighbour, the tiny island of Isla Sala y Gómez 415 km further east, is recognized by ecologists as a distinct ecoregion, the Rapa Nui subtropical broadleaf forests. Having relatively little rainfall contributed to eventual deforestation. The original subtropical moist broadleaf forests are now gone, but paleobotanical studies of fossil pollen and tree moulds left by lava flows indicate that the island was formerly forested, with a range of trees, shrubs, ferns, and grasses. A large palm, Paschalococos disperta, related to the Chilean wine palm (Jubaea chilensis), was one of the dominant trees, as was the toromiro tree (Sophora toromiro). The palm is now extinct, and the toromiro is extinct in the wild. However, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the Göteborg Botanical Garden are jointly leading a scientific program to reintroduce the toromiro to Easter Island. The island is, and has been for at least the last three centuries, mainly covered in grassland with nga'atu or bulrush in the crater lakes of Rano Raraku and Rano Kau. Presence of these reeds (which are called totora in the Andes) was used to support the argument of a South American origin of the statue builders, but pollen analysis of lake sediments shows these reeds have grown on the island for over 30,000 years. Before the arrival of humans, Easter Island had vast seabird colonies, no longer found on the main island, and several species of landbirds, which have become extinct
Mhytes:
Hotu Matu'a
Hotu Matu'a was the legendary first settler and ariki mau ("supreme chief" or "king") of Easter Island.[1] Hotu Matua and his two canoe (or one double hulled canoe) colonizing party were Polynesians from the now unknown land of Hiva (probably the Marquesas). They landed at Anakena beach and his people spread out across the island, sub divided it between clans claiming descent from his sons, and lived for more than a thousand years in their isolated island home at the southeastern tip of the Polynesian Triangle
History
Polynesians first came to Rapa Nui/Easter Island sometime between 300 CE and 800 CE. These are the common elements of oral history that have been extracted from island legends. Linguistic, DNA and Pollen analysis all point to a Polynesian first settlement of the island at that time, but it is unlikely that other details can be verified. [2]
During this era the Polynesians were colonising islands acroass a vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
Hotu Matua led his people from Hiva. Linguistic analysis comparing Rapanui to other Polynesian languages suggests this was the Marquesas Islands.
[edit] Legend
It is said that Hau-Maka had a dream in which his spirit travelled to a far country, to help look for new land for King Hotu Matu'a. In the dream, his spirit travelled to the Mata ki te Rangi (Eyes that look to the Sky). The island has also been called "Te Pito 'o te Käinga", which means "the Center of the Earth." Both islands are commonly said to be Easter Island.
When Hau-Maka woke, he told the King. The King then ordered seven men to travel to the island from Hiva (a mythical land) to investigate. After they found the land, they returned to Hiva. The King and many more travelled to this new island. [3]
[edit] Theories and controversy
[edit] Tu'u ko Iho
Resemblance of the name to an early Mangarevan founder god Atu Motua ("Father Lord") has made some historians suspect that Hotu Matua was added to Easter Island mythology only in the 1860s, along with adopting the Mangarevan language. The "real" founder would have been Tu'u ko Iho, who became just a supporting character in th Hotu Matu'a centric legends.[4]
[edit] Date of First settlement
There is considerable uncertainty about the accuracy of this legend as well as the date of settlement. Published literature suggests the island was settled around 300-400 CE, or at about the time of the arrival of the earliest settlers in Hawaii. Some scientists say that Easter Island was not inhabited until 700-800 CE. This date range is based on glottochronological calculations and on three radiocarbon dates from charcoal that appears to have been produced during forest clearance activities.[5] Whilst a recent study, with radiocarbon dates from what is thought to be very early material, proves the island was settled by 1200 CE.[6] This seems to be supported by the latest information on island's deforestation that could have started around the same time. [7] Any earlier human activity seems to be insignificant or low impact.
[edit] South America or Polynesia
The Norwegian ethnographer Thor Heyerdahl pointed out many cultural similarities between Easter Island and South American Indian cultures which he suggested might have resulted from some settlers arriving also from the continent.[8] According to local legends, a group of long-eared[9] unknown men called as hanau epe[10] had arrived on the island sometime after Polynesians, introducing the stone carving technology and attempting to enslave the local Polynesians.[11] Some early accounts of the legend place hanau epe as the original residents and Polynesians as later immigrants coming from Oparo.[12] After mutual suspicions erupted in a violent clash, the hanau epe were overthrown and exterminated, leaving only one survivor.[13] The first description of island's demographics by Jacob Roggeveen in 1722 still claimed that the population consisted of two distinctive ethnic groups, one being clearly Polynesian and the other "white" with so lengthened earlobes that they could tie them behind their necks[verification needed]. Roggeveen also noted how some of the islanders were "generally large in stature". Islanders' tallness was also witnessed by the Spanish who visited the island in 1770, measuring heights of 196 and 199 cm.[14]
The fact that sweet potatoes, a staple of the Polynesian diet, and several other domestic plants - up to 12 in Easter Island - are of South American origin indicates that there may have been some contact between the two cultures. Either Polynesians have traveled to South America and back, or Indian balsa rafts have drifted to Polynesia, possibly unable to make a return trip because of their less developed navigational skills and more fragile boats, or both. Polynesian connections in South America have been noticed among the Mapuche Indians in central and southern Chile.[15] The Polynesian name for the small islet of Sala y Gómez (Manu Motu Motiro Hiva, "Bird's islet on the way to a far away land") east of Easter Island has also been seen as a hint that South America was known before European contacts. Further complicating the situation is that the word Hiva ("far away land") was also the name of the islanders' legendary home country. Inexplicable insistence on an eastern origin for the first inhabitants was unanimous among the islanders in all early accounts.[16]
Mainstream archeology is skeptical about any non-Polynesian influence on the island's prehistory, although the discussion has become political. DNA sequence analysis of Easter Island's current inhabitants (a tool not available in Heyerdahl's time) offers strong evidence of Polynesian origins. However, since few islanders survived the 19th century slave raids and epidemics deportations (perhaps only 0.25% of the peak population) this evidence depends on how representative the survivors were of the general Rapanui population
Make-make
Make-make or Makemake in the Rapa Nui mythology of Easter Island, was the creator of humanity, the god of fertility and the chief god of the "Tangata manu" or bird-man cult (this cult succeeded the islands more famous Moai era).
He is a frequent subject of the island's Petroglyphs.
Tangata manu
The Tangata manu (bird-man), was the winner of a traditional competition on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). The ritual was an annual competition to collect the first Sooty Tern (manu tara) egg of the season from the islet of Motu Nui, swim back to Rapa Nui and climb the sea cliff of Rano Kau to the clifftop village of Orongo.
Contestants were revealed in dreams by ivi-attuas (individuals with the gift of prophecy). The contestants would each appoint a Hopu who would swim to Motu Nui and fetch them the Egg; whilst the contestants waited at Orongo. The race was very dangerous and many Hopu were killed by sharks, drowning or by falling.
Once the hopu had presented the egg to the contestant a fire would be lit on the landward side of the rim of Rano Kau, the location of the fire would announce to the whole island whether the new Tangata manu was from the western or eastern clans.
The winner was given a new name and the title Tangata manu, and great power on the island. Including their clan having sole rights to collect that seasons harvest of wild bird eggs and fledglings from Motu Nui.
The Tangata manu would then lead a dance down the slope of Rano Kau and on either to Anakena if he was from the western clans or Rano Raraku if he was from the eastern clans.
Make-make was the chief god of the birdman cult, the other three Gods associated with it were Hawa-tuu-take-take (the Chief of the eggs) his wife Vie Hoa and Vie Kanatea.
The Birdman cult was suppressed by Christian missionaries in the 1860s. The start point is uncertain as it is unknown whether the cult replaced the preceding Moai based religion or had co-existed with it, but Katherine Routledge was able to collect the names of 86 Tangata manu.
Hanau epe
The Hanau epe or Long-ears were a group of semi-legendary people who are said to have arrived at Easter Island. According to some theories (particularly the one popularised by Thor Heyerdahl), they were a South American indigenous people; but most evidence suggests that the original Easter Islanders were Polynesian in origin
Sebastian Englert states that "Long-Ear" is a misinterpretation of Hanau ‘E‘epe "stout race".
The Legend
There are two legends about how the Hanau epe reached Easter Island. The first is that they arrived sometime after the local Polynesians and tried to enslave them. However, some earlier accounts place the Hanau epe as the original inhabitants and the Polynesians as later immigrants from Oparo or Rapa Iti. According to this story, after the arrival of both groups, mutual suspicions led to a violent clash, and the Hanau epe were exterminated, except for one. In 1772, a description of the islands demographics by Jacob Roggeveen claimed that there were two distinctive ethnic groups: Polynesians and 'White' people, whose earlobes were lengthened a great amount. This suggests that the Hanau epe were not exterminated, but still lived peacefully alongside the Polynesians.
Moai (statues)
The large stone statues, or moai, for which Easter Island is world-famous, were carved during a relatively short and intense burst of creative and productive megalithic activity. A total of 887 monolithic stone statues have been inventoried on the island and in museum collections. Although often identified as "Easter Island heads", the statues are actually complete torsos, the figures kneeling on bent knees with their hands over their stomach. Some upright moai have become buried up to their necks by shifting soils.
The period when the statues were produced remains disputed, with estimates ranging from 400 CE to 1500–1700 CE. Almost all (95%) moais were carved out of distinctive, compressed, easily worked volcanic ash or tuff found at a single site inside the extinct volcano Rano Raraku. The native islanders who carved them used only stone hand chisels, mainly basalt toki, which still lay in place all over the quarry. The stone chisels were re-sharpened by chipping off a new edge when dulled. The volcanic stone the moai were carved from was first wetted to soften it before sculpting began, then again periodically during the process. While many teams worked on different statues at the same time, a single moai would take a team of five or six men approximately one year to complete. Each statue represents a deceased long-ear chief or important person, their body interred within the ahu, or coastal platforms, the moai stand upon.
Only a quarter of the statues were installed, while nearly half still remain in the quarry at Rano Raraku and the rest elsewhere on the island, probably on their way to final locations. Moving the huge statues required a miro manga erua, a Y-shaped sledge with cross pieces, pulled with ropes made from the tough bark of the hau-hau tree, and tied fast around the statue's neck. Anywhere from 180 to 250 men were required for pulling, depending on the size of the moai. Some 50 of the now standing statues have been re-erected in modern times. The first moai was re-erected on the beach of Anakena in 1958 using traditional methods during an expedition to the island by Thor Heyerdahl.
While the vast majority of moai follow a fairly standard design, a few are radically different, in most parts badly eroded and broken. These are believed to predate the better-known moai, including a kneeling statue with hands on its knees, parts of a statue with clearly carved ribs and a headless, rectangularly shaped torso. Similarities to Indian stone statues around Lake Titicaca in South America are striking, whether this is accidental or not.[13]
Ahu
Ahu are stone platforms on which some of the moai were erected. They vary greatly in layout and many have been significantly reworked in the islands during or after the huri mo'ai or statue-toppling era; many became ossuaries; one was dynamited open; and Ahu Tongariki was swept inland by a tsunami.
The classic elements of ahu design are:
A retaining rear wall several feet high, usually facing the sea.
A platform behind the wall.
Pads or cushions on the platform.
A sloping ramp covered with evenly sized, wave-rounded boulders on the inland side of the platform rising most of, but not all, the way up the side of the platform.
A pavement in front of the ramp.
Inside the Ahu was a fill of rubble.
On top of many Ahu would have been:
Moai on the pads looking out over the pavement with their backs to the rear wall.
Pukao on the moai's heads.
And in their eye sockets, white coral eyes with black obsidian pupils.
Ahu evolved from the traditional Polynesian marae in which the word ahu was only used for the central stone platform, though on Easter Island ahu and moai evolved to a much greater size. The biggest ahu contained 20 times as much stone as a moai; however, most of this stone was sourced very locally (apart from broken, old moai, fragments of which have also been used in the fill).[14] Also individual stones are mostly far smaller than the moai, so less work was needed to transport the raw material.
Ahu are found mostly on the coast, where they are distributed fairly evenly except on the western slopes of Mount Terevaka and the Rano Kau and Poike[15] headlands. These are the three areas with the least low-lying coastal land, and apart from Poike the furthest areas from Rano Raraku. One ahu with several moai was recorded on the cliffs at Rano Kau in the 1880s, but had fallen to the beach by the time of the Routledge expedition in 1914.
Of the 313 known ahu, only 125 carried a stone moai. Others perhaps had statues made of wood, now lost. The majority of the rest had just one moai, probably due to the shortness of the moai period and difficulties in transporting them. Ahu Tongariki, one kilometer from Rano Raraku, had the most and biggest moai, 15 in total. Other notable ahu with moai are Ahu Akivi, restored in 1960 by William Mulloy, Nau Nau at Anakena and Tahai.
[edit] Stone walls
One of the highest-quality examples of Easter Island stone masonry is the rear wall of the Ahu at Vinapu. Made without mortar by shaping hard basalt rocks of up to seven tonnes to match each other exactly, it has a superficial similarity to some Inca stone walls in South America.[16]
[edit] Stone houses
Some 1,233 prehistoric stone "houses", called tupa in earlier times[17] and hare moa ("chicken house") later, are more conspicuous than the remains of the prehistoric human houses which only had stone foundations (except for those at Orongo). Stone houses were up to 6 meters long, with a distinctive boat-shaped structure combined with a stick and palm leaf or thatch superstructure. The entrances were very low, and getting in required crawling.
Germans excavated some of the Hare Moa in 1882 and found human remains inside. Locals told them that they were resting places for the ariki, Easter Island kings and chiefs. Each house had two small holes—if a hostile spirit entered through one, the spirit of the deceased could escape through the other. As such and also by their old name, the stone houses are seen similar to Indian chullpas in Peru and Bolivia.[18] Noteworthy is that the remaining numbers of the stone houses and moais are quite close to each other, possibly meaning that for each person buried in a stone house, a moai was immediately constructed. Usage of stone houses as graves seems to have ceased around the same time when production of moais ended and ancestral worship declined. During the turmoils of the late 18th century, the islanders seem to have started to bury their dead among the ruined ahus—the moai platforms—and use the stone houses as chicken shelters. There are no human remains in them any more.
[edit] Petroglyphs
Petroglyphs are pictures carved into rock, and Easter Island has one of the richest collections in all Polynesia. Around 1,000 sites with more than 4,000 petroglyphs are catalogued. Designs and images were carved out of rock for a variety of reasons: to create totems, to mark territory or to memorialize a person or event. There are distinct variations around the island in terms of the frequency of particular themes among petroglyphs, with a concentration of Birdmen at Orongo. Other subjects include sea turtles, Komari (vulvas) and Make-make, the chief god of the Tangata manu or Birdman cult. (Lee 1992)
Petroglyphs are also common in the Marquesas islands.
Rongorongo
The undeciphered Easter island script Rongorongo may be one of the very few writing systems created ex nihilo, without outside influence. Alternatively, the islanders' brief but very visible exposure to Western writing during the Spanish visit in 1770 inspired the ruling class to establish Rongorongo as a religious tool.[19] Rongorongo was first reported by a French missionary, Eugène Eyraud, in 1864. At that time, several islanders still claimed to be able to understand the scripture, but all attempts to read them were unsuccessful. According to traditions, only a small part of the population was ever literate, Rongorongo being a privilege of the ruling families and priests. This contributed to the total loss of knowledge of how to read Rongorongo in the 1860s, when the island's elite was annihilated by slave raids and disease.
Of the hundreds of wooden tablets and staffs reportedly having Rongorongo writing carved on them, only 26 survive,[20] all in museums around the world and none remaining on Easter Island. Decades of numerous attempts to decipher proved unfruitful. The scientific community did not agree on whether or not Rongorongo was truly a form of writing, until Thor Heyerdahl's expedition in 1958 was given an ancient 41-page manuscript to photocopy. On its pages the rongo-rongo symbols were set in a column down the left hand side of the page and to the right of each sign, its definition was given in Easter Island Polynesian. (Two pages of the text were even reproduced in Heyerdahl's book "Aku-Aku.")
Legends claim that Hotu Matu'a brought the original tablets with him when he first landed at Anakena; however, as Metraux pointed out, the largest tablet is made from a European oar. Also, as there is not a single line of Rongorongo carved in stone despite thousands of Rapanui petroglyphs and other remarkable stonework, Rongorongo probably originated on Easter Island in a rather late period.
The Rongorongo script has few similarities to the petroglyph corpus.[21]
[edit] Wood carving
Wood was scarce on Easter Island during the 18th and 19th centuries, but a number of highly detailed and distinctive carvings have found their way to the world's museums. Particular forms include:[22]
Rei Miro, a gorget or breast ornament of crescent shape with a head at one or both tips.[23] The same design appears on the flag of Rapa Nui. Two Rei Miru at the British Museum are inscribed with Rongorongo.
Moko-Miro, a man with a lizard head.
Moai-Miro, human images often emaciated and sometimes with long ears.
Ao, a large dancing paddle.
Internet Page:
www.rongorongo.org/leyendas/index.htm
Easter isl in diferent languages
eng: Easter Island
afr | nld: Paaseiland
ind | msa: Pulau Paskah / ڤولاو ڤسكه
ast: Islla de Pascua
aze: Pasxa adası / Пасха адасы
bos: Uskršnje ostrvo / Ускршње острво
bre: Enez Pask
cat: Illa de Pasqua
ces: Velikonoční ostrov
cor: Ynys Pask
cym: Ynys y Pâsg
dan: Påskeøen
deu: Osterinsel / Oſterinſel
epo: Paskinsulo
est: Lihavõttesaar
eus: Bazko Irla
fao: Páskaoyggin
fin: Pääsiäissaari
fra: Île de Pâques
frp: Ila de Pâques
fry: Peaske-eilân
fur: Isule di Pasche
gla: Eilean na Càisge
gle: Oileán na Cásca / Oileán na Cásca
glg: Illa de Páscoa
hrv: Uskršnji otok
hun: Húsvét-sziget
ina: Insula de Pascha
isl: Páskaeyja
ita: Isola di Pasqua
lat: Insula Paschalia
lav: Lieldienu sala
lit: Velykų sala
ltz: Ouschterinsel / Ouſchterinſel
mlt: Gżira ta’ l-Għid
mol: Insula Paştelui / Инсула Паштелуй
nds: Oosterinsel / Ooſterinſel
nor: Påskeøya
pol: Wyspa Wielkanocna
por: Ilha de Páscoa
rap: Rapa Nui
ron: Insula Paştelui
scn: Isula di Pasqua
slk: Veľkonočný ostrov
slv: Velikonočni otok
sme: Beassášsuolu
spa: Isla de Pascua
sqi: Ishulli i Pashkëve
srd: Isula de Pasca
swa: Kisiwa ya Pasaka
swe: Påskön
tgl: Pulau ng Pasko
tur: Paskalya Adası
vie: Đảo Phục Sinh
bel: Востраў Пасхі / Vostraŭ Paschi; Выспа Вялікдня / Vyspa Vialikdnia
bul: Великденски остров (Velikdenski ostrov)
kaz: Пасха аралы / Pasxa aralı / پاسحا ارالى
mkd: Велигденски остров (Veligdenski ostrov)
mon: Улаан өндөгний баярын арал (Ulaan öndögnij bajaryn aral)
rus: Остров Пасхи (Ostrov Pasĥi)
srp: Ускршњи острво / Uskršnji ostrvo
tgk: Ҷазираи Писҳо / جزیرۀ پسها / Çazirai Pisho
ukr: Острів Пасхі (Ostriv Pasĥi); Острів Великдня (Ostriv Velykdnja)
ara: جزيرة الفصح (Ǧazīrâtu l-Fiṣḥ)
fas: جزیرۀ ایستر (Jazīre-ye Īstar); جزیرۀ پاک (Jazīre-ye Pāk)
uig: پاسخا ئارالى / Pasxa arali / Пасха арали
urd: جزیرۂ ایسٹر (Jazīrâ-e Īsṫar)
heb: אי הפסחא (Î ha-Pasḥâ)
yid: קײסעך-אינדזלען (Keyseḫ-Indzlen)
amh: የፋሲካ ደሴት (yä-Fasika däset)
ell: Νησί του Πάσχα (Nīsí toy Pásĥa)
hye: Զատիկան կղզի (Zatikan kġzi)
kat: აღდგომის კუნძული (Aġdgomis kundzuli)
hin: ईस्टर टापू (Īsṭar ṭāpū)
guj: ઈસ્ટર ટાપુ (Īsṭar ṭāpu)
pan: ਈਸਟਰ ਟਾਪੂ (Īsṭar ṭāpū)
mal: ഈസ്റ്റര് ദ്വീപ് (Īsṟṟar dvīp)
tam: உயிர்த்த ஞாயிறு தீவு (Uyirtta Ñāyiṛu tīvu)
zho: 復活節島/复活节岛 (Fùhuó Jié dǎo)
jpn: イースター島 (Īsutā tō)
kor: 부활절 섬 (Buhwaljeol seom)
tha: เกาะอีสเตอร์ (Kɔ Īttə̄[r])
Is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. The country has land borders with Albania, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of mainland Greece, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Greece has the tenth longest coastline in the world at 14,880 km (9,246.00 mi) in length, featuring a vast number of islands (approximately 1400, 227 of which are inhabited), including Crete, the Dodecanese, the Cyclades, and the Ionian Islands among others. Eighty percent of Greece consists of mountains, of which Mount Olympus is the highest at 2,917 m (9,570.21 ft).
Modern Greece traces its roots to the civilization of ancient Greece, generally considered to be the cradle of Western civilization. As such, it is the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, Western literature and historiography, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, and Western drama, including both tragedy and comedy. This legacy is partly reflected in the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites that Greece is home to.
A developed country with a very high Human Development Index, Greece has been a member of what is now the European Union since 1981 and its Economic and Monetary Union since 2001, NATO since 1952, and the European Space Agency since 2005. It is also a founding member of the United Nations, the OECD, and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization. Athens is the capital; other major cities include Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion and Larissa.
History
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Greece
Geography
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Greece
Other info
Oficial names:
Ελληνική Δημοκρατία-Ellinikí Dhimokratía
Hellenic Republic
Formation:
First known Greek civilizations, c.3000 BCE
- Last previously independent state, 1461
- Independence from, the Ottoman Empire, 25 March 1821
- Recognized 1832, with the Treaty of Constantinople
Area:
131.957 km2
Inhabitants:
11.560.000
Languages:
Ελληνικά__Elliniká (Greeke)
Albanian, Arvanitika [aat] 150,000 (2000). Attica (Attiki), Boeotia (Viotia), southern Euboea (Evia), and the island of Salamis (Salamina); Thrace; Peloponiso Peninsula, Arkadia; Athens. Mainly rural. Also the Northwestern Peloponnese with enclaves elsewhere in the Peloponnese; north of the island of Andros, 300 villages. Alternate names: Arvanitika, Arvanitic, Arberichte. Dialects: Thracean Arvanitika, Northwestern Arvanitika, South Central Arvanitika. Arvanitika is partially intelligible to speakers of Tosk. Dialects are perceived as unintelligible to speakers of other dialects. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk
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Albanian, Tosk [als] 10,000 in Greece (2002 Nicholas). Epyrus Region, village of Lehovo. Alternate names: Camerija, Arvanitika. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk
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Bulgarian [bul] 30,000 in Greece (1998 Greek Helsinki Monitor). Western Thrace, 3 departments, including Xanthi. Dialects: Pomak (Pomakci, Pomakika). Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Eastern
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Greek [ell] 9,859,850 in Greece (1986). Population total all countries: 12,258,540. Throughout the country, concentrated in Greek Macedonia. Also spoken in Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Canada, Congo, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Malawi, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, Russia (Europe), Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey (Europe), Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA. Alternate names: Ellinika, Grec, Greco, Graecae, Romaic, Neo-Hellenic. Dialects: Katharevousa, Dimotiki, Saracatsan. Katharevousa is an archaic literary dialect, Dimotiki is the spoken literary dialect and now the official dialect. The Saracatsan are nomadic shepherds of northern Greece. The Greek of Italy and that of Corsica are probably separate languages (R. Zamponi 1992). In Cyprus, the dialect is reported to be closer to Classical Greek than that spoken in Greece in some vocabulary and grammar, and to have many Arabic and Turkish loanwords. Lexical similarity 84% to 93% with Standard Greek. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
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Greek Sign Language [gss] 42,600 (1986 Gallaudet Univ.). Classification: Deaf sign language
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Pontic [pnt] 200,000 in Greece (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk). Population total all countries: 324,535. The majority of speakers live in Salonica, borough of Kalamaria, and the rest of Macedonia in Greece. Also spoken in Azerbaijan, Canada, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia (Europe), Turkey (Europe), USA. Alternate names: Pontic Greek. Dialects: Speakers of Standard Greek cannot understand Pontic, and Pontic speakers are reported to not understand or speak Standard Greek. Pontic clubs and centers exist in the Athens-Peiraeus suburbs. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
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Romani, Balkan [rmn] 40,000 in Greece (1996 Birgit Igla). Population includes 10,000 Arlija, 30,000 Greek Romani. About 500 families in Agia Varvara. Agia Varvara, a suburb of Athens. Dialects: Greek Romani, Arlija (Erli). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Balkan
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Romani, Vlax [rmy] 1,000 Lovari in Greece. Alternate names: Romanés, Tsingani, Rom. Dialects: Lovari. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Vlax
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Romanian, Macedo [rup] 200,000 in Greece (1995 Greek Monitor of Human and Minority Rights 1.3 Dec. 1995). Population total all countries: 306,237. Ethnic population: Possibly 700,000 in Greece (Association of French Aromanians). Northwest Salonika, and northern Greece, Pindus Mountains, around Trikala. Also spoken in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro. Alternate names: Macedo-Rumanian, Arumanian, Aromanian, Armina, Vlach. Dialects: Structurally a distinct language from Romanian (F. Agard). It split from the other 3 Rumanian languages between 500 and 1000 A.D. Many dialects. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
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Romanian, Megleno [ruq] 3,000 in Greece (2002 Nicholas). Population total all countries: 5,000. Kilkis prefecture, Meglen Region, north of Salonika. Also spoken in Macedonia. Alternate names: Meglenitic, Meglenite. Dialects: Structurally a distinct language from Romanian, Macedo Romanian, and Istro Romanian (F. Agard). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
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Romano-Greek [rge] 30 (2000). Alternate names: Hellenoromani, Romika. Dialects: Structured on Greek with heavy Romani lexicon. Classification: Mixed Language, Greek-Romani Nearly extinct.
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Slavic [mkd] 180,180 in Greece (1986 census). Macedonia Region in Greece, Florina prefecture, northern Kastoria prefecture, and Thessalonica prefecture. Alternate names: Macedonian Slavic, Macedonian. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Eastern
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Tsakonian [tsd] 1,200 (1981 J. Werner). 300 shepherds. Towns of Kastanitsa, Sitena, Prastos, Leonidi, Pramatefti, Sapounakeika, Tyros, Melana, possibly Korakovunio; eastern coast of Peloponnesos. Isolated in summer in the mountains west of Leonidi in the eastern Peloponnesus; in winter they descend to Leonidi and neighboring towns. Alternate names: Tsakonia. Dialects: Northern Tsakonian (Kastanista-Sitena), Southern Tsakonian (Leonidio-Prastos), Propontis Tsakonian (Vatka-Havoutsi). Derived from the Doric dialect spoken in Lakonia by ancient Spartans. Northern and Southern are reported to be intelligible to each other's speakers, but Propontis was more distinct, and closer to Standard Greek. Not inherently intelligible with modern Greek (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977). Lexical similarity 70% or less with Standard Greek. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Doric
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Turkish [tur] 128,380 in Greece (1976 WA). Thrace and Aegean regions. Alternate names: Osmanli. Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Turkish
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Extinct languages
Cappadocian Greek [cpg] Extinct. Resettled to various locations in Greece in 1922. Formerly in central Turkey (Cappadocia). The Sille dialect was in Sille town near Konya, Western Cappadocian was in villages south of Kayseri, Pharasa was in Pharasa (Faràs) and surrounding villages. Dialects: Sille, Western Cappadocian, Pharasa. Closest to Pontic. Even more distinct from Standard Greek than Pontic is. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
More information.
Greek, Ancient [grc] Extinct. Dialects: Koine Greek, Classical Greek. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Capital city:
Athens
Meaning country name:
From the Latin Græcus (Greek Γραικοί, claimed by Aristotle to refer to the name of the original people of Epirus)
Hellas/Ellas/Ellada (Greek name): land of the Hellenes, descended in mythology from Hellen; the place name has a linguistic cognate in the English verb "settle". A popular folk etymology holds the name to mean "land of light", relating to ἥλιος (hḗlios), the Greek word for "sun".
Hurumistan (Kurdish variant), Urəm (Урым, Adyghe):
Saberdzneṭi (საბერძნეთი, Georgian):
Yunanistan (Azeri, Kurdish variant, Turkish), al-Yūnān (Arabic), Yavan (Hebrew): after Ionians, an older name for Greeks of Asia Minor
Description Flag:
The flag of Greece (Greek: Σημαία της Ελλάδος, popularly referred to as the Γαλανόλευκη or the Κυανόλευκη, the "blue-white") is based on nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white. There is a blue canton in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolises Christianity, the established religion of the majority of the people. According to popular tradition, the nine stripes represent the nine syllables of the phrase "Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος" ("Freedom or Death", " E-lef-the-ri-a i Tha-na-tos"), the five blue stripes for the syllables "Έλευθερία" and the four white stripes "ή Θάνατος". There is also a different theory, that the nine stripes symbolize the nine Muses, the goddesses of art and civilization (nine has traditionally been one of the numbers of reference for the Greeks). The official flag ratio is 2:3.
The blazon of the flag is Azure, four bars Argent; the canton Azure with a Greek cross throughout Argent. The shade of blue used in the flag has varied throughout its history, from light blue to dark blue, the latter being increasingly used since the late 1960s.
The above patterns were officially adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus in January 1822. Blue and white have many interpretations, symbolizing the colors of the famed Greek sky and sea (combined with the white clouds and waves), traditional colors of Greek clothes in the islands and the mainland, etc.
Coat of arms:
The National Emblem of Greece consists of a blue escutcheon with a white cross totally surrounded by two laurel branches.
The emblem is painted or woven, mainly on the hats, uniforms and buttons of the military, the security forces etc.
The Greek national emblem was provided for by the Constitution of Epidauros of 1 January 1822 and was established by decree on 15 March of the same year. It was blue and white and circular in shape.
Since it was first established the emblem has undergone many changes in shape and in design, mainly due to changes of regime.
The original Greek national emblem depicted the goddess Athena and the owl. At the time of Capodistrias, the first Prime Minister of modern Greece, the phoenix, the symbol of rebirth, was added. During the reign of King Otto, the royal coat of arms, with two crowned lions holding the shield with the royal crown, became the national emblem of the country. With the arrival of King George I, the Bavarian emblem was replaced by the Danish one. After Greece became a republic in 1924 the national emblem consisted of a simple white cross on a blue background. The Danish emblem returned with the restoration of the Monarchy until 1967.
Motto:
Ελευθερία ή θάνατος, Eleftheria i thanatos, "Freedom or else Death"
National Anthem: Ύμνος εις την Ελευθερίαν-- Ímnos is tin Eleftherían--
Hymn to Liberty
Greek originals
Polytonic orthography
Σὲ γνωρίζω ἀπὸ τὴν κόψι
τοῦ σπαθιοῦ τὴν τρομερή,
σὲ γνωρίζω ἀπὸ τὴν ὄψι
ποὺ μὲ βία μετράει τὴ γῆ.
Ἀπ’ τὰ κόκκαλα βγαλμένη
τῶν Ἑλλήνων τὰ ἱερά,
καὶ σὰν πρῶτα ἀνδρειωμένη,
χαῖρε, ὦ χαῖρε, Ἐλευθεριά!
Monotonic orthography
Σε γνωρίζω από την κόψη
του σπαθιού την τρομερή,
σε γνωρίζω από την όψη
που με βία μετράει τη γη.
Απ’ τα κόκκαλα βγαλμένη
των Ελλήνων τα ιερά,
και σαν πρώτα ανδρειωμένη,
χαίρε, ω χαίρε, Ελευθεριά!
Transliteration
Se gnorízo apó tin kópsi
tu spathiú tin tromerí,
se gnorízo apó tin ópsi,
pu me vía metrái ti yi.
Ap' ta kókkala vgalméni
ton Ellínon ta ierá,
ke san próta andhrioméni,
khére, o khére, Eleftheriá!
English Translations
I recognize you from the dreadful
edge of your sword
I recognize you from the countenance
which surveys the earth with force
Risen from the sacred bones
of the Greeks
and, valiant as before,
hail, oh hail, liberty!
Poetic
I shall always recognize you
by the dreadful sword you hold,
as the earth, with searching vision,
will rule, with spirit bold.
it was the Greeks of old whose dying
brought to birth our spirit free,
now, with ancient valour rising,
let us hail you, oh liberty!
Internet Page: www.greece.com
Greece in diferent languages
eng | hau: Greece
ast | cos | glg | ina | ita | lld | ron | scn | spa: Grecia
arg | eus | roh: Grezia
afr | lim: Griekeland
cat | oci: Grècia
fra | frp: Grèce
ibo | tpi: Gris
kin | run: Ubugereki
nbl | zul: iGirisi
aze: Yunanıstan / Јунаныстан
bam: Girɛsi
bos: Grčka / Грчка
bre: Gres
ces: Řecko
cor: Pow Grek
crh: Yunanistan / Юнанистан
csb: Greckô
cym: Gwlad Groeg
dan: Grækenland
deu: Griechenland / Griechenland
dje: Gares
dsb: Grichiska
epo: Grekujo; Grekio
est: Kreeka
fao: Grikkaland
fin: Kreikka
fry: Grikelân
fur: Grecie
gag: Greţiya / Греция
gla: A’ Ghrèig
gle: An Ghréig / An Ġréig
glv: Yn Ghreag
hat: Grès; Lagrès
haw: Helene
hrv: Grčka
hsb: Grjekska
hun: Görögország
ind: Yunani / يوناني
isl: Grikkland
jav: Yunani
jnf: Grêce
kaa: Gretsiya / Греция
kal: Graekenlandi
kmr: Hurumistan / Һӧр’ӧмьстан / هوڕومستان; Ûnanistan / Унаньстан / ئوونانستان; Hûnastan / Һунастан / هووناستان; Yûnanîstan / Йунанистан / یوونانیستان
kur: Yunanistan / یونانستان; Yunan / یونان; Yewnanistan / یەونانستان; Yewnan / یەونان; Yûnanistan / یوونانستان; Grîkistan / گریکستان
lat: Graecia
lav: Grieķija
lin: Gresi
lit: Graikija
liv: Grīekmō
ltz: Griicheland / Griicheland
lug: Buyonani
mlg: Gresy
mlt: Greċja
mol: Grecia / Гречия
mos: Gɛrs
mri: Karīki
msa: Yunani / يوناني; Greece / ڬريس
nah: Ellincan
nds: Grekenland / Grekenland
nld: Griekenland
non: Gríkland; Grikkland
nor: Hellas
nrm: Graêce
nso: Gerikilane
pap: Gresia
pol: Grecja
por: Grécia
que: Grisya
rmy: Grečiya / ग्रेचिया
rup: Gãrtsia
sag: Gerêsi
slk: Grécko
slo: Grecia / Грециа
slv: Grčija
sme: Greika
smg: Graikėjė
smo: Eleni
som: Giriig
sqi: Greqia
srd: Gréghia
swa: Ugiriki; Uyunani
swe: Grekland
szl: Grecyjo
tet: Grésia
tgl: Gresya
ton: Kalisi
tuk: Gresiýa / Греция
tur: Yunanistan
uzb: Yunoniston / Юнонистон; Gretsiya / Греция
ven: Gerika
vie: Hy Lạp; Hy Lập
vol: Grikän
vor: Kriika
wln: Grece
wol: Girees
zza: Yunanıstan
chu: Еллада (Ellada); Елада (Elada)
abq | alt | kjh | kom | krc | kum | rus | tyv | udm: Греция (Grecija)
chv | oss: Греци (Greci)
ady: Урым (Urəm); Грециа (Grecia)
bak: Греция / Grecija
bel: Грэцыя / Hrecyja
bul: Гърция (Gǎrcija)
che: Джелтимохк (Dželtimoḫk); Греци (Greci)
chm: Греций (Grecij)
kaz: Греция / Grecïya / گرەتسيا; Грекия / Grekïya / گرەكيا
kbd: Грецие (Grecie)
kir: Грекия (Grekija)
lbe: Юнан (Junan); Греция (Grecija)
mkd: Грција (Grcija)
mon: Грек (Grek)
srp: Грчка / Grčka
tat: Юнанстан / Yunanstan; Греция / Gretsiä
tgk: Юнон / یونان / Junon
ukr: Ґреція (Grecija)
xal: Грек (Grek)
ara: اليونان (al-Yūnān)
ckb: یۆنانستان / Yonanistan; یۆنان / Yonan
fas: یونان (Yūnān)
prs: یونان (Yūnān)
pus: يونان (Yūnān)
uig: گرېتسىيە / Grétsiye / Греция
urd: یونان (Yūnān); گریس (Garīs)
div: ގްރީސް (Grīs)
syr: ܝܘܢܢ (Yūnan); ܝܘܢ (Yawan)
heb: יון / יוון (Yavan)
lad: גריסיה / Gresia
yid: גריכנלאַנד (Griḫnland)
amh: ግሪክ (Grik)
tir: ግሪኽ (Griĥ)
cop-boh: Ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲛⲓⲛ (Oueinin); Ϯⲉ̄ⲗⲗⲁⲥ (Tièllas)
ell-dhi: Ελλάδα (Elláda)
ell-kat: Ἑλλάς (Hellás)
hye: Հունաստան (Hounastan)
kat: საბერძნეთი (Saberdzneṭi)
hin: यूनान (Yūnān); ग्रीस (Grīs)
nep: यूनान (Yūnān)
ben: গ্রীস (Grīs); গ্রিস (Gris)
pan: ਗਰੀਸ (Grīs)
kan: ಗ್ರೀಸ್ (Grīs)
mal: ഗ്രീസ് (Grīs)
tam: கிரீஸ் (Kirīs)
tel: గ్రీస్ (Grīs)
zho: 希臘/希腊 (Xīlà)
yue: 希臘/希腊 (Hèilihp)
jpn: ギリシャ (Girisha)
kor: 그리스 (Geuriseu)
bod: ཧི་ལ་ (Hi.la.); ཞི་ལ་ (Ži.la.)
dzo: གིརིསི་ (Girisi.)
mya: ဂရိ (Gáẏí)
tha: กรีซ (Krīs)
lao: ເກຣັກ (Klek)
khm: ក្រិក (Krik); ក្រឹក (Krʉk)
Is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west. At the time of the 2001 UK Census, its population was 1,685,000, constituting about 30% of the island's total population and about 3% of the population of the United Kingdom.
Northern Ireland consists of six of the traditional nine counties of the historic Irish province of Ulster. It was created as a distinct division of the United Kingdom on 3 May 1921 under the Government of Ireland Act 1920,though its constitutional roots lie in the 1800 Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland. For over 50 years it had its own devolved government and parliament. These institutions were suspended in 1972 and abolished in 1973. Repeated attempts to restore self-government finally resulted in the establishment of the present-day Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland Assembly. The Assembly operates on consociational democracy principles requiring cross-community support.
Northern Ireland was for many years the site of a violent and bitter ethno-political conflict—The Troubles—between those claiming to represent nationalists, who are predominantly Roman Catholic, and those claiming to represent unionists, who are predominantly Protestant. Unionists want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, while nationalists wish it to be politically reunited with the rest of Ireland. Since the signing of the "Good Friday Agreement" in 1998, most of the paramilitary groups involved in the Troubles have ceased their armed campaigns.
Due to its unique history, the issue of the symbolism, name and description of Northern Ireland is complex, and similarly the issue of citizenship and identity. In general, Unionists consider themselves British and Nationalists see themselves as Irish, though these identities are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
History
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Northern_Ireland
Geography
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Ireland
Other info
Oficial name:
Tuaisceart Éireann
Norlin Airlann
Establishment
- Government of Ireland Act 1920
Area:
13.843 km2
Inhabitants:
2.000.000
Languages:
Irish and English
Capital city:
Belfast
Meaning island name:
After Éire from Proto-Celtic *Īweriū "the fertile place" or "Place of Éire (Eriu)" a Celtic fertility goddess. Often mistakenly derived as "Land of Iron", or from a reflex of Proto-Indo-European *arya, or from variations of the Irish word for west (modern Irish iar, iarthar).
Hibernia (ancient name and Latin variant): apparently assimilated to Latin hibernus (wintry).
Ireland is known as Eirinn in Scottish Gaelic, from a grammatical case of Éire. In fellow Celtic language Welsh it is Iwerddon, in Cornish it is Ywerdhon or Worthen and in Breton it is Iwerzhon.
In Gaelic bardic tradition Ireland is also known by the poetical names of Banbha (meaning piglet) and Fódhla. In Gaelic myth, Ériu, Banbha and Fódla were three goddesses who greeted the Milesians upon their arrival in Ireland, and who granted them custodianship of the island
Description Flag:
The "Ulster Banner" is the official name that was given to the flag, which can be referred to as "the flag of Northern Ireland", the "Northern Ireland flag", the "Red Hand Flag" or as the "Ulster Flag" (not to be confused with the provincial Flag of Ulster). The Ulster Banner was the official flag that was used to represent the Government of Northern Ireland from 1953 to 1973. In common with other British flags, any civic status of the flag was not defined in a de jure manner.
In 1924, the Government of Northern Ireland was granted arms by Royal Warrant and had the right to display these arms on a flag or banner. This right was exercised for the Coronation in 1953. Between 1953 and 1972, this flag was the arms of the Government of Northern Ireland. It ceased to have official government sanction when the Parliament of Northern Ireland was dissolved by the British government under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973, but remains the only flag to date which represents Northern Ireland at international level in sport. and the flag of the province of Ulster, with the addition of a crown to symbolise the loyalty of Ulster unionists to the British Monarchy. As with the flag of the province of Ulster, it contains the Red Hand of Ulster at the centre. There is a dispute as to the meaning of the star, with some maintaining it is the Star of David, and others say it represents the six counties that make up Northern Ireland.
The flag is used within the unionist community, along with the Union Flag. A variation of the flag places the Union Flag in the Canton, and defaced with the red hand and the outline of a map of Northern Ireland on the Union Flag. It is regularly displayed by fans of the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also used to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games, the Northern Ireland national football team.
Coat of arms:
The Coat of Arms of Northern Ireland was granted to the Government of Northern Ireland in 1924, after the Irish Free State had separated from the United Kingdom.
Neville Rodwell Wilkinson, Ulster King of Arms, had designed the great seal and flag of Northern Ireland in 1923. In January 1924 he held discussions with Northern Ireland officials in London regarding the coat of arms. The final design was completed by Wilkinson's deputy Thomas Ulick Sadleir for approval by the Northern Ireland cabinet in April 1924. The artwork was approved and the Royal warrant signed by George V and issued through the Home Office on August 2, 1924 and registered in the Register of Arms in Dublin as follows:
Royal Warrant Government of Northern Ireland
Argent a cross gules, overall on a six pointed star of the field ensigned by an Imperial crown proper a dexter hand couped at the wrist of the second.
Given at our Court of St. James in the 15th year of our reign 2nd August 1924 by His Majesty's command.
This was the same design as the Flag of Northern Ireland which had been designed in the previous year.
The supporters were granted in 1925, and consist of a gold lion supporting a banner of the Irish coat of arms — Azure a harp Or stringed Argent, meaning a gold harp, stringed silver, on a blue background, as represented in the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom; and a white elk with gold antlers and hooves supporting a banner of the arms of the De Burgo Earls of Ulster, the basis for the Flag of Ulster.
In 1971 the College of Arms in London added the compartment on which the supporters stand. The Latin motto Quis separabit (Who shall separate). The motto was first used by the Order of St. Patrick in the 18th Century, and was also used by the British Army regiment, the Royal Ulster Rifles. More recently, the motto has been used by the proscribed paramilitary group known as the Ulster Defence Association (the UDA).
When the Government of Northern Ireland was prorogued in 1972 the arms went out of official use. The grant has not been rescinded, but the arms are considered historical, as the body to which the arms were granted no longer exists and so cannot be used unless regranted to another armiger.
Motto:
" Quis separabit? "
National Anthem: Londonderry Air
'Oh! shrive me, father - haste, haste, and shrive me,
'Ere sets yon dread and flaring sun;
'Its beams of peace, - nay, of sense, deprive me,
'Since yet the holy work's undone.'
The sage, the wand'rer's anguish balming,
Soothed her heart to rest once more;
And pardon's promise torture calming,
The Pilgrim told her sorrows o'er.
The charms that caus'd in life's young morning,
The woes the sad one had deplor'd,
Were now, alas! no more adorning,
The lips that pardon sweet implor'd:-
But oh! those eyes, so mildly beaming,
Once seen, not Saints could e'er forget! -
And soon the Father's tears were streaming,
When Devorgilla's gaze he met!
Gone, gone, was all the pride of beauty,
That scorn'd and broke the bridal vow,
And gave to passion all the duty
So bold a heart would e'er allow;
Yet all so humbly, all so mildly,
The weeping fair her fault confess'd,
Tho' youth had viewed her wand'ring wildly,
That age could ne'er deny her rest.
The tale of woe full sadly ended,
The word of peace the Father said,
While balmy tear-drops fast descended,
And droop'd the suppliant sinner's head.
The rose in gloom long drear and mourning,
Not welcomes more the sun's mild ray,
Than Breffni's Princess hail'd returning
The gleam of rest that shriving-day.
The first writer, after Petrie's publication, to set verses to the tune was Alfred Perceval Graves, in the late 1870's. His song was entitled 'Would I Were Erin's Apple Blossom o'er You.' Graves later stated '.....that setting was, to my mind, too much in the style of church music, and was not, I believe, a success in consequence.' (ref Audley, below).
Would I were Erin's apple-blossom o'er you,
Or Erin's rose, in all its beauty blown,
To drop my richest petals down before you,
Within the garden where you walk alone;
In hope you'd turn and pluck a little posy,
With loving fingers through my foliage pressed,
And kiss it close and set it blushing rosy
To sigh out all its sweetness on your breast.
Would I might take a pigeon's flight towards you,
And perch beside your window-pane above,
And murmur how my heart of hearts it hoards you,
O hundred thousand treasures of my love;
In hope you'd stretch your slender hand and take me,
And smooth my wildly-fluttering wings to rest,
And lift me to your loving lips and make me
My bower of blisses in your loving breast.
And when the dew no longer pearls your roses,
Nor gems your footprint on the glittering lawn,
I'd follow you into the forest closes
In the fond image of your sportive fawn;
Till you should woo me 'neath the wavering cover
With coaxing call and friendly hands and eyes,
Where never yet a happy human lover
His head has pillowed—mine to emparadise.
Irish Love Song
The tune was first called "Londonderry Air" in 1894 when Katherine Tynan Hinkson set the words of her "Irish Love Song" to it:
Would God I were the tender apple blossom
That floats and falls from off the twisted bough
To lie and faint within your silken bosom
Within your silken bosom as that does now.
Or would I were a little burnish'd apple
For you to pluck me, gliding by so cold
While sun and shade you robe of lawn will dapple
Your robe of lawn, and you hair's spun gold.
Yea, would to God I were among the roses
That lean to kiss you as you float between
While on the lowest branch a bud uncloses
A bud uncloses, to touch you, queen.
Nay, since you will not love, would I were growing
A happy daisy, in the garden path
That so your silver foot might press me going
Might press me going even unto deat
Use as a hymn tune
As with a good many folk tunes, Londonderry Air is also used a hymn tune; most notably for "I cannot tell" [1], written by William Young Fullerton.
I cannot tell why He Whom angels worship,
Should set His love upon the sons of men,
Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderers,
To bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that He was born of Mary
When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,
And that He lived at Nazareth and labored,
And so the Savior, Savior of the world is come.
I cannot tell how silently He suffered,
As with His peace He graced this place of tears,
Or how His heart upon the cross was broken,
The crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, He heals the brokenhearted,
And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,
And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,
For yet the Savior, Savior of the world is here.
I cannot tell how He will win the nations,
How He will claim His earthly heritage,
How satisfy the needs and aspirations
Of East and West, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,
And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,
And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendour
When He the Savior, Savior of the world is known.
I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled,
Or who can say how great the jubilation
When all the hearts of men with love are filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
And myriad, myriad human voices sing,
And earth to Heaven, and Heaven to earth, will answer:
At last the Savior, Savior of the world is King
It was also used as a setting for "I would be true" by Howard Arnold Walter at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales:
I would be true, for there are those that trust me.
I would be pure, for there are those that care.
I would be strong, for there is much to suffer.
I would be brave, for there is much to dare.
I would be friend of all, the foe, the friendless.
I would be giving, and forget the gift,
I would be humble, for I know my weakness,
I would look up, laugh, love and live.
Internet Page: www.northernireland.gov.uk
www.discovernorthernireland.com
N.Ireland in diferent languages
eng: Northern Ireland
afr | lim | nld: Noord-Ierland
cat | ina | ita: Irlanda del Nord
roh-enb | roh-eno | roh-gri: Irlanda dal Nord
ast | spa: Irlanda del Norte
dan | swe: Nordirland
deu | ltz: Nordirland / Nordirland
fra | nrm: Irlande du Nord
glg | tet: Irlanda Norte
kin | run: Irilande y’uburaruko
arg: Irlanda d’o Norte
aze: Şimali İrlandiya / Шимали Ирландија
bam: Irilandi Saheliyanfan
bos: Severna Irska / Северна Ирска
bre: Norzh-Iwerzhon
ces: Severní Irsko
cor: Iwerdhon Gledh
cos: Irlanda tramuntana
cym: Gogledd Iwerddon
dsb: Pódpołnocna Irska
epo: Nord-Irlando
est: Põhja-Iirimaa
eus: Ipar Irlanda
fao: Norðurírland
fin: Pohjois-Irlanti
fry: Noard-Ierlân
gla: Èirinn a Tuath
gle: Tuaisceart Éireann / Tuaisceart Éireann
glv: Nerin Hwoaie
hat: Iland dinò
hau: Ireland ta Arewa
hrv: Sjeverna Irska
hsb: Sewjerna Irska
hun: Észak-Írország
ibo: Aialand Ugwu
ind: Irlandia Utara / ايرلنديا اوتارا
isl: Norður-Írland
jav: Irlandia Utara
kaa: Arqa İrlandiya / Арқа Ирландия
kmr: Îrlandî ya Bakur / Ирланди йа Бакӧр’ / ئیرلاندیا باکوڕ; Îrlandî ya Şimalê / Ирланди йа Шьмале / ئیرلاندیا شمالی
kur: Îrlandaya Bakur / ئیرلاندایا باکور
lat: Irlandia Septentrionalis; Hibernia Septentrionalis
lav: Ziemeļīrija
lin: Irlandi ya Nola
lit: Šiaurės Airija
lld: Irlanda dl Nord
mlg: Irlandy Avaratra
mlt: Irlanda ta’ Fuq
mol: Irlanda de Nord / Ирланда де Норд
mri: Airangi ki te Raki
msa: Ireland Utara / ايرلند اوتارا
nds: Noordirland / Noordirland
nor: Nord-Irland
oci: Irlanda del Nòrd
pol: Irlandia Północna
por: Irlanda do Norte
que: Chinchay Ilanda
rmy: Nordutno Irland / नोर्दुत्नो इर्लान्द
roh-srs: Irlanda dil Nord
ron: Irlanda de Nord
rup: Irlanda di Aratsile
scn: Irlanna dû Nord
sco: Northren Ireland
slk: Severné Írsko
slo: Severju Irlandia / Северйу Ирландиа
slv: Severna Irska
sme: Davvi-Irlánda
smg: Šiauris Airėjė
smo: Aialani i Matu
som: Ayrlaandada Waqooyi
sqi: Irlanda Veriore
srd: Irlanda de Susu
swa: Ireland ya Kaskazini
szl: Irlandja Půunocno
tgl: Hilagang Irlandiya
tpi: Noten Aialan
tuk: Demirgazyk Irlandiýa / Демиргазык Ирландия
tur: Kuzey İrlanda
uzb: Shimoliy Irlandiya / Шимолий Ирландия
vie: Bắc Ái Nhĩ Lan; Bắc Ai-len
wln: Bijhe Irlande
wol: Irlaand bu Noor
zza: İrlanda Zımey
abq: Северна Ирландия (Severna Irłandija)
alt: Тӱндӱк Ирландия (Tündük Irlandija)
bak: Төньяҡ Ирландия / Tönyaķ İrlandiya
bel: Паўночная Ірландыя / Paŭnočnaja Irłandyja; Паўночная Ірляндыя / Paŭnočnaja Irlandyja
bul: Северна Ирландия (Severna Irlandija)
che: Къилбседера Ирланди (Q̣ilbsedera Irlandi)
chm: Йӱдвел Ирландий (Jüdvel Irlandij)
chv: Ҫурҫӗр Ирланди (Śurśĕr Irlandi)
kaz: Солтүстік Ирландия / Soltüstik Ïrlandïya / سولتۇستىك يرلانديا
kbd: Севернэ Ирландие (Severnă Irlandie)
kir: Түндүк Ирландия (Tündük Irlandija)
kjh: Севернай Ирландия (Severnaj Irlandija)
kom: Севернӧй Ирландия (Severnöj Irlandija)
krc: Север Ирландия (Sever Irlandija)
kum: Темиркъазыкъ Ирландия (Temirqazyq Irlandija)
mkd: Северна Ирска (Severna Irska)
mon: Умард Ирланд (Umard Irland)
oss: Цӕгат Ирланди (Cägat Irlandi)
rus: Северная Ирландия (Severnaja Irlandija)
srp: Северна Ирска / Severna Irska
tat: Төньяк Ирландия / Tönyaq İrlandiä
tgk: Ирландияи Шимолӣ / ایرلندیۀ شمالی / Irlandijai Şimolī
tyv: Соңгу-Ирландия (Soṅgu-Irlandija)
ukr: Північна Ірландія (Pivnična Irlandija)
ara: آيرلندا الشمالية (Āyirlandā š-Šimālīyâ); إيرلندا الشمالية (Īrlandā š-Šimālīyâ); إرلندة الشمالية (Irlandâtu š-Šimālīyâ); إرلندا الشمالية (Irlandā š-Šimālīyâ)
fas: ایرلند شمالی / Irlande Šemâli; ایرلاند شمالی / Irlânde Šemâli
pus: شمالي آيرلېنډ (Šimālī Āyrlenḋ); شمالي آيرلېند (Šimālī Āyrlend); شمالي آئرلېنډ (Šimālī Āʾirlenḋ); شمالي آئرلېند (Šimālī Āʾirlend)
snd: اتر آئرلينڊ (Utaru Āʾirlenḍa)
uig: شىمالىي ئىرلاندىيە / Shimaliy Irlandiye / Шималий Ирландия
urd: شمالی آئرستان (Šimālī Āʾiristān); شمالی آئرلینڈ / شمالی آئرلینڈ (Šimālī Āʾirlænḋ); شمالی آیرلینڈ (Šimālī Āyarlænḋ)
heb: צפון אירלנד (Tsəfôn Îrland); צפון אירלאנד (Tsəfôn Îrlând); אירלנד הצפונית (Îrland ha-Tsəfônît); אירלאנד הצפונית (Îrlând ha-Tsəfônît)
yid: צפֿון אירלאַנד (Tsofn Irland)
amh: ሰሜን አየርላንድ (Sämen Ăyärland)
ell-dhi: Βόρεια Ιρλανδία (Vóreia Irlandía)
ell-kat: Βόρειος Ἰρλανδία (Vóreios Irlandía)
hye: Հյուսիսային Իռլանդիա (Hyousisayin Iṙlandia)
kat: ჩრდილოეთ ირლანდია (Č̣rdiloeṭ Irlandia)
hin: उत्तर आयरलैंड (Uttar Āyarlæṁḍ)
ben: উত্তর আয়ারল্যান্ড (Uttar Āyārlæṇḍ); উত্তর আয়ারল্যাণ্ড (Uttar Āyārlæṇḍ)
kan: ಉತ್ತರ ಐರ್ಲೆಂಡ್ (Uttara Airleṁḍ)
mal: ഉത്തര അയര്ലന്റ് (Uttara Ayarlanṟ)
tam: வட அயர்லாந்து (Vaṭa Ayarlāntu)
zho: 北愛爾蘭/北爱尔兰 (Běi Ài'ěrlán)
yue: 北愛爾蘭/北爱尔兰 (Bāk Oiyíhlàahn)
jpn: 北アイルランド (Kita Airurando)
kor: 북아일랜드 (Buk Aillaendeu)
dzo: བྱང་ཨའིརི་ལེནཌ་ (Byaṅ A'iri.lenḍ.)
mya: မ္ရောက္အုိင္ယာလန္ (Myouʿ Aĩyalã)
tha: ไอร์แลนด์เหนือ (Ai[r]lǣn[d] [h]Nʉ̄a)
lao: ອຽກລັງເໜືອ (Aẏklâṅ [h]Nʉ̄a)
khm: អៀរឡង់ខាងជើង (Ierḷăṅ Kʰāṅčøṅ)
There must be an interesting story behind this as it was last taxed in 1985 when just two years old and has done a mere 7000 miles. It has never had an MoT; it failed one a couple of weeks ago on brakes and lights and judging by the bird poo on the windscreen has been parked here since awaiting repair and retest. There are very few 505s left in the UK thanks to a thriving export trade and none of the STI model are currently taxed.
All the info you will see here, i took from the internet.
I dont want this page, used for politics or holy wars or other things.
Respect the page.
I dont take part of any country.
Thanks for understand
The State of Palestine (Arabic: دولة فلسطين, dawlat filastin), officially simply Palestine (Arabic: فلسطين, filastin), is a state with limited recognition. It was proclaimed on November 15, 1988, in Algiers by the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) Palestinian National Council (PNC) as an affirmation of the Palestinian people's right to self determination in form of an independent, sovereign state, at a time when the PLO did not exercise any control over the territory in question.The declaration designated Jerusalem the capital of Palestine, despite the Israeli control over the city and its designation as the Israeli capital in the Israeli law.
More than 100 countries recognized the state of Palestine, while other countries announced they welcomed this step without explicitly declaring recognition. The United Nations General Assembly officially acknowledged the 1988 proclamation and voted to change the name of the PLO General Assembly permanent observer to "Palestine". In the list of "non-member states and entities" Palestine is categorized under "Other entities having received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly and are maintaining permanent offices at Headquarters".
The Palestinian National Authority (PNA or PA), established as a result of the Oslo Accords which were signed between the PLO and Israel, is an interim administrative body that exercises some governmental functions in parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The current President of Palestine is Mahmoud Abbas, serving in his capacity as Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Other info
Oficial name:
دولة فلسطين
Dawlat Filastin
Independence:
15 de Novembro 1988
Area:
26.500km2
Inhabitants:
5.000.000
Languages:
Arabic, Levantine Bedawi Spoken [avl] 10,000 in Palestinian West Bank and Gaza (1996). Judean desert and along the Jordan River. Alternate names: Bedawi. Dialects: South Levantine Bedawi Arabic, North Levantine Bedawi Arabic, Eastern Egyptian Bedawi Arabic. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
More information.
Arabic, South Levantine Spoken [ajp] 1,600,000 in Palestinian West Bank and Gaza (1996). Alternate names: Bedawi. Dialects: Madani, Fellahi. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
More information.
Arabic, Standard [arb] Middle East, North Africa. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
More information.
Domari [rmt] 2,000 in Palestinian West Bank and Gaza (1997). Population includes Israel. Gaza and Bir Zeit near Ramallah. Alternate names: Nawari, Dom, Near-Eastern Gypsy. Dialects: Nawari. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Dom
More information.
Extinct languages
Samaritan [smp] Extinct. Ethnic population: 620 (1999 H. Mutzafi). West bank near Nablus and in Tel Aviv, Israel. Also spoken in Israel. Alternate names: Samaritan Hebrew. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Canaanite
More information.
Samaritan Aramaic [sam] Extinct. Ethnic population: 620 (1999 H. Mutzafi). West Bank near Nablus and in Tel Aviv, Israel. Also spoken in Israel. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Western
Capital city:
Jerusalem
Meaning country name:
Named after the ancient Philistines of the area around Gaza. The Greeks adopted the name to refer to the broader area, as Palaistinê, but Herodotus and others considered this as one part of Syria. The Roman Empire later adopted this concept in the form Syria Palaestina, as a new name for the province (formerly known as Judaea) after the defeat of Bar Kochba in AD 135.
Jórsalaheimr, Jórsalaland, Jórsalaríki in Old Norse: after Jórsala (Jerusalem).
Description Flag:
The Meaning of the Flag [5]
RED: The Islamic rulers of Andalusia (756-1355)
The Khawarij were the first Islamic group to emerge after the assassination of Caliph Uthman III, forming the first republican party in the early days of Islam. Their symbol was the red flag. Arab tribes who participated in the conquest of North Africa and Andalusia carried the red flag, which became the symbol of the Islamic rulers of Andalusia (756-1355). In modern times, red symbolizes the Ashraaf of the Hijaz and the Hashemites, descendants of the Prophet. Sharif Hussein designed the current flag as the flag of the Arab Revolt on June 1916. The Palestinian people raised it as the flag of the Arab National movement in 1917. In 1947, the Arab Ba'ath Party interpreted the flag as a symbol of the liberation and unity of the Arab nation. The Palestinian people readopted the flag at the Palestinian conference in Gaza in 1948. The flag was recognized by the Arab League as the flag of the Palestinian people. It was further endorsed by the PLO, the representative of the Palestinians, at the Palestinian conference in Jerusalem in 1964.
BLACK: The Prophet Mohammad (570-632) and Rashidun Caliphate
In the seventh century, with the rise of Islam and subsequent liberation of Mecca, two flags - one white, one black - were carried. On the white flag was written, "There is no god but God (Allah) and Mohammad is the Prophet of God." In pre-Islamic times, the black flag was a sign of revenge. It was the color of the headdress worn when leading troops into battle. Both black and white flags were placed in the mosque during Friday prayers. The Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258), ruling from Baghdad, took black as a symbol of mourning for the assassination of relatives of the Prophet and in remembrance of the Battle of Karbala.
WHITE: The Umayyad Dynasty (661-750), Damascus
The Umayyads ruled for ninety years, taking white as their symbolic color as a reminder of the Prophet's first battle at Badr, and to distinguish themselves from the Abbasids, by using white, rather than black, as their color of mourning. Mu'awia Ibn Abi Sufian (661-750), founder of the Umayyad state, proclaimed himself Caliph of Jerusalem.
GREEN: The Fatimid Dynasty (909-1171), North Africa
The Fatimid Dynasty was founded in Morocco by Abdullah Al-Mahdi, and went on rule all of North Africa. They took green as their color, to symbolize their allegiance to Ali, the Prophet's cousin, who was once wrapped in a green coverlet in place of the Prophet in order to thwart an assassination attempt.
Another opinion claims the origin of the Arab Revolt flag to a group of Arab Activists at the Arab Intellectual Council in Istanbul, around 1909-1911, who created a banner for their council with the four colors and the following poem written within it:
Ask the high rising spears, of our aspirations
Bring witness the swords, did we lose hope
We are a band, honor halts our souls
Of beginning with harm, those who won’t harm us
White are our deeds, black are our battles,
Green are our fields, red are our swords.
(Safi al-Din al-Hili, poet)
Coat of arms:
The Coat of Arms of the Palestinian National Authority is the coat of arms used by the Palestinian National Authority. It features the Pan-Arab colours of the Palestinian flag on a shield carried by the Eagle of Saladin. Below, a scroll says "السلطة الفلسطينية", or "The Palestinian Authority" in Arabic.
EscutcheonPaly of three pieces, Sable, Argent and Vert; a pile Gules
MottoArabic: السلطة الفلسطينية
The Palestinian Authority
Other elementsEagle of Saladin (single supporter)
National Anthem : Biladi
Arab
بلادي يا أرضي يا أرض الجدود
بلادي بلادي بلادي
يا شعبي يا شعب الخلود
بعزمي وناري وبركان ثأري وأشواق دمي لأرضي وداري
صعدت الجبال وخضت النضال
قهرت المحال عبرت الحدود
بلادي بلادي بلادي
يا شعبي يا شعب الخلود
بعزم الرياح ونار السلاح وإصرار شعبي بأرض الكفاح فلسطين
داري فلسطين ناري فلسطين
ثأري وأرض الصمود
بلادي بلادي بلادي
يا شعبي يا شعب الخلود
بحق القسم تحت ظل العلم
بأرضي وشعبي ونار الألم سأحيا فدائي
وأمضي فدائي وأقضي فدائي
الى أن تعود بلادي
بلادي يا شعب الخلود
Translation
CHORUS:
Biladi Biladi
Biladi ya ardi ya arda al-judoud
Fida'i Fida'i
Fida'I ya sha'bi ya sha'b al-khuloud
Bi'azmi wa nari wa burkani thari
Wa ashwaqi dammi li ardi wa dari
Sa?adto al-jibala wa khodto an-nidala
Qaharto al-mohala abarto al-hudood
CHORUS
Bi'azmi al-riyah wa nari al-silah
Wa israri sha'bi bi ardi al-kifah
Filisteeno dari Filisteeno nari
Filisteeno thari wa ardi as-sumood
CHORUS
Bihaqqi al-qasam tahta zilli al-'alam
Bi ardi w sha'bi wa nari al-alam
Sa ahya fida'i wa amdee fida'i
Wa aqdee fida'i ila ann ta'oud
CHORUS
English
My country , my country
My country, the land of my grand fathers
My country, my country
My country, my nation, the nation of eternity
With my determination, my fire and the volcano of my revenge
The longing of my blood to my land and home
I have climbed the mountains and fought the wars
I have conquered the impossible, and crossed the frontiers
My country, my country, the nation of eternity
With the resolve of the winds and the fire of the guns
And the determination of my nation in the land of struggle
Palestine is my home, Palestine is my fire, Palestine is my revenge and the land of eternal
My country, my country, the nation of eternity
I swear under the shade of the flag
To my land and nation, and the fire of pain
I will live as a guerrilla, I will go on as guerrilla, I will expire as guerrilla until I will be back
My country, my country, the nation of eternity
Internet Page: www.al-awda.org
Palestine in diferent languages
eng | fra | fur: Palestine
afr | arg | ast | bre | cat | ces | cym | dsb | eus | glg | hrv | hsb | ina | ita | jav | lit | lld | mlt | nld | nor | oci | por | roh | ron | rup | scn | slv | spa | sqi | srd | swe | tet | tgl: Palestina
bos | kaa | mol | tuk: Palestina / Палестина
deu | ltz | nds: Palästina / Paläſtina
est | fin | vor: Palestiina
isl | slk: Palestína
aze: Fələstin / Фәләстин
crh: Filistin / Филистин
dan: Palæstina
epo: Palestino
frp: Palèstina
gla: Palastain; Paileastain
gle: An Phalaistín / An Ṗalaistín; An Phailistín / An Ṗailistín
glv: Yn Phalasteen
haw: Palekekine
hun: Palesztina; Palesztína
ibo: Palestain
ind: Palestina / ڤالستينا
kmr: Felestîn / Фәләстин / فەلەستین; Falêstîn / Фалестин / فالێستین; Palêstîn / Палестин / پالێستین
kur: Filistîn / فلستین
lat: Palaestina
lav: Palestīna
lin: Palesitíni
mfe: Palestinn
mlg: Palestinina
msa: Palestin / ڤالستين; Falastin / فلسطين
non: Jórsalaheimr; Jórsalaland; Jórsalaríki
pol: Palestyna
que: Palistina
rmy: Palestina / पालेस्तिना
slo: Palestinia / Палестиниа
som: Falastiin
tur: Filistin
uzb: Falastin / Фаластин
vol: Palästinän
wol: Palestiin
xho: iPalestina
zza: Fılıstin
chu: Палестинъ (Palestinŭ)
alt | bul | che | chm | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | rus | tyv | udm: Палестина (Palestina)
bak | srp: Палестина / Palestina
abq: Палестина (Pałestina)
bel: Палестына / Palestyna; Палесціна / Palescina
chv: Палестинӑ (Palestină)
kaz: Палестина / Palestïna / پالەستينا
kbd: Палестинэ (Palestină)
mon: Палестин (Palestin)
oss: Палестинӕ (Palestinä)
tat: Филистин / Filistin; Палестина / Palestina
tgk: Фаластин / فلسطین / Falastin
ukr: Палестина (Palestyna)
ara: فلسطين (Filasṭīn)
ckb: فیلەستین / Fîlestîn
fas: فلسطین / Felastin / Felestin
prs: فلسطین (Felasṭīn)
pus: فلسطين (Filasṭīn)
snd: فلسطين (Falasṭīn)
uig: پەلەستىن / Pelestin / Пәләстин
urd: فلسطین (Falasṭīn)
heb: פלשתינה (Paleśtînah); ארץ ישראל (Erets Yiśraʾel)
lad: פאליסטינה / Palestina
yid: פּאַלעסטינע (Palestine); ארץ-ישׂראל (Erts-Yiśroel)
amh: ፓለስታይን (Palästayn); ፍልስጥኤም (Fələsṭ'em)
cop-boh: Ⲫⲩⲗⲓⲥⲧⲓⲙ (Ḟylistim)
ell: Παλαιστίνη (Palaistínī)
hye: Պաղեստին (Paġestin); Պալեստինա (Palestina)
kat: პალესტინა (Palestina)
hin: पेलेस्टाइन (Pelesṭāin)
ben: প্যালেষ্টাইন (Pæleṣṭāin); প্যালেস্টাইন (Pælesṭāin)
pan: ਫਿਲੀਸਤੀਨ (Pʰilīstīn); ਫ਼ਲਸਤੀਨ (Falastīn)
mal: പലസ്തീന് (Palastīn)
tam: பாலஸ்தீனம் (Pālastīṉam); பலஸ்தீனம் (Palastīṉam)
tel: పాలస్తీనా (Pālastīnā)
zho: 巴勒斯坦 (Bālèsītǎn)
jpn: パレスチナ (Paresuchina)
kor: 팔레스타인 (Palleseutain)
dzo: པེ་ལིསི་ཊི་ན་ (Pe.lisi.ṭi.na.)
tha: ปาเลสไตน์ (Pālēttai[n])
khm: ប៉ាលេស្ទីន (Bālestīn); ប៉ាឡេស្ទីន (Bāḷestīn)
Urd weaves the thread of life, Verdandi measures it, and Skuld cuts it.
(my humble entry for the Oh my goddess challenge)
Is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and Indonesia and India in the Andaman Sea to the southwest.
The country is a kingdom, a constitutional monarchy with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, who has reigned since 1946, making him the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. The king is officially titled as the Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, an Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all Faiths. The largest city in Thailand is Bangkok, the capital, which is also the country's center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities.
Thailand is the world's 50th largest country in terms of total area (slightly smaller than Yemen and slightly larger than Spain), with a surface area of approximately 513,000 km2 (198,000 sq mi), and the 21st most-populous country, with approximately 64 million people. About 75% of the population is ethnically Thai, 14% is of Chinese origin, and 3% is ethnically Malay; the rest belong to minority groups including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes. There are approximately 2.2 million legal and illegal migrants in Thailand. Thailand has also attracted a number of expatriates from developed countries. The country's official language is Thai.
Thailand has a prevalence of Buddhism that ranks among the highest in the world. The national religion is Theravada Buddhism which is practiced by more than 94.7% of all Thais. Muslims make up 4.6% of the population and 0.7% belong to other religions. Thai culture and traditions are mainly influenced by Chinese, and to a lesser degree, by Indian culture, along with Burma, Laos and Cambodia. Thailand experienced rapid economic growth between 1985 and 1995 and is a newly industrialized country with tourism, due to well-known tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Bangkok, and Phuket, and exports contributing significantly to the economy.
History
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Thailand
Geography
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Thailand
Other info
Flags from Provinces
Oficial Name:
ราชอาณาจักรไทย
Ratcha Anachak Thai
Kingdom of Thailand
Formation:
Sukhothai kingdom 1238–1368
- Ayutthaya kingdom 1350–1767
- Thonburi kingdom 1767 to April 6, 1782
- Rattanakosin kingdom April 6, 1782 to date
Area:
513.115km2
Inhabitants:
63.577.000
Language:
Aheu [thm] 750 in Thailand (1996 Ferlus). Population total all countries: 2,520. The Thavung live in Sakon Nakhon Province, Song Daw District, 3 villages. The Phon Soung live about 100 km south of the Thavung. Also spoken in Laos. Alternate names: Phon Soung, So, Sotawueng. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Thavung
More information.
Akha [ahk] 60,000 in Thailand (1998). Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Maehongson provinces. 250 villages. Alternate names: Kaw, Ekaw, Ko, Aka, Ikaw, Ak'a, Ahka, Khako, Kha Ko, Khao Kha Ko, Ikor, Aini, Yani. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese, Loloish, Southern, Akha, Hani, Ha-Ya
More information.
Ban Khor Sign Language [bfk] Northeastern Thailand, a few villages. Dialects: Not related to the original sign languages of Thailand, but there is some similarity. Classification: Deaf sign language
More information.
Bisu [bii] 1,000 in Thailand (1987 Purnell). Southwest Chiangrai, North Lampang. Two main villages, the largest with 100 houses. Alternate names: Mbisu, Mibisu. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese, Loloish, Southern, Phunoi
More information.
Blang [blr] 1,200 in Thailand (1998 SIL). Chiangrai; 1,000 live outside Mae Sai near the northern border, a village of 200 to 300 is near Mae Chan. About 200 live west of Bangkok and work in gardens. Alternate names: Sen Chun, Hkawa, Kawa, K'wa, K'ala, Bulang, Pulang, Pula, Plang, Wa, Khon Doi, Kontoi. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Palaungic, Western Palaungic, Waic, Bulang
More information.
Bru, Eastern [bru] 5,000 in Thailand (1983 SIL). Sakon Nakhon Province. Tri are in Kusuman District, Kok Sa-at Bru are in Phanna Nikom and Phang Khon District, about 12 villages; one village in Amnat Charoen Province. Dialects: Tri, Bru Kok Sa-At, Bru Dong Sen Keo. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Katuic, West Katuic, Brou-So
More information.
Bru, Western [brv] 20,000 in Thailand(1991). Dong Luang District of Mukdahan Province. Also spoken in USA. Alternate names: Bruu, B'ru, Baru. Dialects: It is partially intelligible with Eastern Bru. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Katuic, West Katuic, Brou-So
More information.
Cham, Western [cja] 4,000 in Thailand. Ban Khrue, Bangkok, and possibly in refugee camps. Alternate names: Cambodian Cham, Tjam, Cham, New Cham. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayic, Achinese-Chamic, Chamic, South, Coastal, Cham-Chru
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Chiangmai Sign Language [csd] Chiangmai. Alternate names: Chiengmai Sign Language. Dialects: Related to present sign languages in Laos and Viet Nam (Haiphong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City). A distinct language from Thai Sign Language. Classification: Deaf sign language
More information.
Chinese, Hakka [hak] 58,800 in Thailand (1984). Cities. Alternate names: Hakka. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
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Chinese, Mandarin [cmn] 5,880 in Thailand (1984). Bangkok, provincial towns, and Kra Peninsula in the south. Dialects: Ho (Haw, Cin Haw, Yunnanese, Western Mandarin, Hui, Hui-Tze, Hwei, Panghse, Pantha, Panthe, Pathee). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
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Chinese, Min Dong [cdo] Alternate names: Eastern Min. Dialects: Fuzhou (Fuchow, Foochow). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
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Chinese, Min Nan [nan] 1,081,920 in Thailand. Population includes 1,058,400 Chaochow (18%), 17,640 Fujian (.3%), 5,880 Hainanese (.1%) (1984). Cities. Alternate names: Min Nan, Minnan. Dialects: Chaozhou (Chaochow, Tiuchiu, Teochow, Techu), Shantou (Swatow), Hainan, Fujian (Fukien, Hokkien). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
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Chinese, Yue [yue] 29,400 in Thailand (1984). Alternate names: Cantonese, Yue, Yueh. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
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Chong [cog] 500 in Thailand. Chantaburi, four villages, Trat Province, northwest of Par. Alternate names: Shong, Xong, Chawng. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Chong
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Hmong Daw [mww] 32,395 in Thailand (2000 WCD). Petchabun, Tak, Maehongson, Chiangmai, Nan, Chiangrai, Pitsanalok, Loei, Sukhothai, Kamphaengphet, Prae, Phayao, Uttaradit, Lampang. Alternate names: White Meo, White Miao, Meo Kao, White Lum, Peh Miao, Pe Miao, Chuan Miao, Bai Miao. Dialects: Hmong Gu Mba (Hmong Qua Mba, Striped Hmong, Miao Lai), Mong Leng, Petchabun Miao. Classification: Hmong-Mien, Hmongic, Chuanqiandian
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Hmong Njua [blu] 33,000 in Thailand (1987). Tak, Nan, Chiangmai, Maehongson, Petchabun, Chiangrai, Phayao, Phrae, Loei, Sukhothai, Kamphaengphet, Uthai provinces. Alternate names: Chuanqiandian Miao, Chuanchientien Miao, Sichuan-Guizhou-Yunnan Hmong, Tak Miao, Meo, Miao, Western Miao. Classification: Hmong-Mien, Hmongic, Chuanqiandian
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Iu Mien [ium] 40,000 in Thailand (1999). Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Phayao, Lampang, Kampaengphet, Nan, and Sukhothai provinces, 159 villages. Alternate names: Mien, Yao, Mian, Myen, Yiu Mien, Youmian, Highland Yao, Pan Yao. Dialects: Chiangrai. Classification: Hmong-Mien, Mienic, Mian-Jin
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Karen, Pa'o [blk] 743 in Thailand (2000). Maehongson. Alternate names: Taungtu, Black Karen, Pa-U, Pa'0, Pa Oh. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karen, Pa'o
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Karen, Phrae Pwo [kjt] Northern Thailand, eastern provinces including Phrae Province. Alternate names: Pwo Phrae, Phrae, Prae, Northeastern Pwo Karen. Dialects: Not intelligible with other Pwo Karen languages. Lexical similarity 87% with Northern Pwo Karen of Thailand, 67% to 71% with other Pwo Karen varieties. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karen, Pwo
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Karen, Pwo Northern [pww] 60,000 (1983 SIL). Mae Sarieng town in northwest Thailand, Mae Ngaw along the Salween River, 15 to 25 villages, Hot to Mae Sarieng (Highway 1099 which runs south to Omkoi). Alternate names: Phlong. Dialects: Mae Ping, Omkoi (Hod), Mae Sarieng. Three dialects are intelligible with each other. The Pwo Karen of Phrae, Kanchanaburi, and Hua Hin are not intelligible with these. Lexical similarity 87% with Phrae Province Pwo Karen of Thailand, 68% to 73% with other Pwo Karen. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karen, Pwo
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Karen, Pwo Western Thailand [kjp] 50,000 in Thailand (1998). Tak (Mae Sot south), Ulthaithani, Suphanburi, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, and Prachuapkhirikhan (Huahin District) provinces. Kanchanaburi dialect is northern, Ratchaburi-Phetchaburi dialect is southern. Alternate names: Phlou, Southern Pwo Karen. Dialects: Kanchanaburi Pwo Karen, Ratchaburi Pwo Karen (Phetchaburi Pwo Karen). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karen, Pwo
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Karen, S'gaw [ksw] 300,000 in Thailand (1987 E. Hudspith). Tak, Maehongson, Chiangmai, and Chiangrai provinces, near the Myanmar border. Alternate names: S'gaw, S'gau, S'gaw Kayin, Kanyaw, Paganyaw, Pwakanyaw, White Karen, Burmese Karen, Yang Khao. Dialects: Panapu, Palakhi (Palachi). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karen, Sgaw-Bghai, Sgaw
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Kayah, Eastern [eky] 98,642 in Thailand (2000 WCD). Maehongson Province, east of the Salween River. Alternate names: Red Karen, Karennyi, Kayay, Kayah. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karen, Sgaw-Bghai, Kayah
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Kensiu [kns] 300 in Thailand. Southern Yala Province, Phattaloong, Satun, Narathiwat provinces, Thai-Malay border. Some in a resettlement camp in Yala. Alternate names: Kense, Kensieu, Kenseu, Kensiw, Sakai, Moniq, Monik, Maniq, Moni, Menik, Meni, Ngok Pa, Orang Bukit, Orang Liar, Mos, Mengo, Tiong, Mawas, Belubn. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Aslian, North Aslian, Western
More information.
Khmer, Northern [kxm] 1,117,588 (2000 WCD). Very few are monolingual. Northeastern Thailand, mainly Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, Khorat provinces. Alternate names: Khmer Lue, Thailand Khmer. Dialects: Buriram, Surin, Sisaket. Different from Central Khmer. Dialects are intelligible with each other. Many local varieties. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Khmer
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Khmu [kjg] 31,403 in Thailand (2000 WCD). Scattered through Thailand, Chiangrai, Nan, Phayao. Alternate names: Kmhmu, Khamu, Khmu', Khamuk, Kamhmu, Kamu, Kha Khmu, Kammu, Tmooy, Mou, Luu, Pouteng. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Khmuic, Mal-Khmu', Khmu'
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Khün [kkh] 6,281 in Thailand (2000 WCD). Chiangrai, Chiangmai. May not be in Thailand. Alternate names: Hkun, Khun Shan, Gon Shan, Tai Khun, Khuen. Classification: Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Be-Tai, Tai-Sek, Tai, Southwestern, Northwest
More information.
Kintaq [knq] Kedah-Perak border area, Thai border. Overlaps slightly into Southern Yala Province of Thailand. Alternate names: Kenta, Kintk, Kintaq Bong. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Aslian, North Aslian, Western
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Korean [kor] Bangkok. Classification: Language Isolate
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Kuy [kdt] 300,000 in Thailand (1992 Diffloth). Few monolinguals. Population total all countries: 366,675. East central Thailand, provinces of Buriram, Surin, Sisaket, Ubon, Roi Et. Also spoken in Cambodia, Laos. Alternate names: Sui, Suai, Suay, Suoi, Soai, Suei, Cuoi, Kui Souei, Kui, Kuoy, Kuuy, Khamen-Boran. Dialects: Chang (Suai Chang), Nheu, Kuay. In Cambodia there are four Kuy dialects, based on the use of their word for 'what': Kuy Antra (northern Kompong Thom, southern Preah Vihear), Kuy Anthua (central Preah Vihear), Kuy May or Ma'ay (in Kratie), Kuy Mlor (one village in northern Preah Vihear); only the older people still speak the last two dialects. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Katuic, West Katuic, Kuay-Nheu
More information.
Lahu [lhu] 32,000 in Thailand (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk). Chiangmai, Chiangrai, Maehongson, Lampang, Tak provinces, 119 known villages. There has been some migration from Myanmar and Laos. Alternate names: Lohei, Muhsur, Mussuh, Muhso, Musso, Musser. Dialects: Na (Black Lahu, Musser Dam, Northern Lahu, Loheirn), Nyi (Red Lahu, Southern Lahu, Musseh Daeng, Luhishi, Luhushi), Shehleh. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese, Loloish, Southern, Akha, Lahu
More information.
Lahu Shi [kds] 20,000 in Thailand (1998). In refugee camps near Laos border; formerly in Chiang Kham camp, but now in camps near Pua, Nan, or elsewhere. Alternate names: Kutsung, Kucong, Kui, Kwi, Shi, Yellow Lahu, Musseh Kwi, Musseh Lyang. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese, Loloish, Southern, Akha, Lahu
More information.
Lamet [lbn] 100 in Thailand. Lampang, Chiangrai. Alternate names: Kha Lamet, Khamet, Kamet, Lemet. Dialects: Upper Lamet, Lower Lamet. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Palaungic, Western Palaungic, Lametic
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Lawa, Eastern [lwl] 7,000 (1987 D. Schlatter). Northern; Chiangmai, Chiangrai, one village: Wiang Papao. Alternate names: Wiang Papao Lua, Northern Lawa. Dialects: Phalo, Phang. Not intelligible with Western Lawa. Phalo (100) and Phang (100) are treated as distinct languages in Wurm and Hattori 1981. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Palaungic, Western Palaungic, Waic, Lawa
More information.
Meaning of the flag
The flag of Thailand shows five horizontal stripes in the colours red, white, blue, white and red, with the middle blue stripe being twice as wide as each of the other four. The three colours red-white-blue stand for nation-religion-king, an unofficial motto of Thailand.[citation needed] The flag was adopted on 28 September 1917, according to the royal decree about the flag in that year. The Thai name for the flag is ธงไตรรงค์ (Thong Trairong), which simply means tricolour flag.
The first flag used for Siam was probably a plain red one, first used under King Narai (1656-1688). Naval flags later used different symbols on the red ground—a white chakra (the weapon of god Vishnu which use as the symbol of the House of Chakri), or a white elephant inside the chakra.
Officially the first flag was created in 1855 by King Mongkut (Rama IV), showing a white elephant (a royal symbol) on red ground, as the plain coloured flag was not distinct enough for international relations.
In 1916 the flag was changed to the current design, but with the middle colour being the same red as the outer stripe. The story goes that during a flood King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) saw the flag hanging upside-down, and to prevent this from happening again created a new flag which was symmetrical. In 1917 the middle color was changed to dark blue, the auspicious colour for Saturday in Thai astrology, the day King Vajiravudh was born. According to other sources, the blue colour was also chosen to show solidarity with the Allies of World War I, which also had the colours blue-red-white in their flags.
The flag resembles the flag of Costa Rica, which was adopted 11 years prior to Thailand's. The main difference is that the blue and red colors are inverted.
Coat of arms
The National Emblem (National Symbol) of Thailand features the Garuda, a figure from both Buddhist and Hindu mythology. In Thailand, this figure is used as a symbol of the royal family and authority. This version of the figure is referred to as Krut Pha, meaning "garuḍa acting as the vehicle (of Vishnu)."
The Garuda also features in the coat of arms of Indonesia and the city of Ulan Bator (the capital of Mongolia). The coat of arms of Indonesia is different from that of Thailand in one respect, because it does not feature a heraldic shield
Motto:
National Anthem: Phleng Chat
ประเทศไทยรวมเลือดเนื้อชาติเชื้อไทย
เป็นประชารัฐ ไผทของไทยทุกส่วน
อยู่ดำรงคงไว้ได้ทั้งมวล
ด้วยไทยล้วนหมาย รักสามัคคี
ไทยนี้รักสงบ แต่ถึงรบไม่ขลาด
เอกราชจะไม่ให้ใครข่มขี่
สละเลือดทุกหยาดเป็นชาติพลี
เถลิงประเทศชาติไทยทวี มีชัย ชโย
Transcription
Prathet Thai Ruam Lueat Nuea Chat Chuea Thai,
Pen Pracha Rat, Phathai Khong Thai Thuk Suan
Yu Damrong Khong Wai Dai Thang Muan
Duai Thai Luan Mai, Rak Samakkhi
Thai Ni Rak Sa-ngop, Tae Thueng Rop Mai Khlat
Ekkarat Cha Mai Hai Khrai Khom Khi,
Sala Lueat Thuk Yat Pen Chat Phli
Thaloeng Prathet Chat Thai Thawi Mi Chai Cha-yo
English Translation
Thailand unites flesh and blood of Thais.
Nation of the people; belonging to the Thais in every respect.
Long maintained [has been] the independence
Because the Thais seek, and love, unity.
Thais are peace-loving;
But at war we're no cowards.
Sovereignty will not be threatened
Sacrificing every drop of blood for the nation
Hail the nation of Thailand, long last the victory, Hurrah
Royal anthem: Phleng Sansoen Phra Barami
ข้าวรพุทธเจ้า
เอามโนและศิรกราน
นบพระภูมิบาล บุญญะดิเรก
เอกบรมจักริน
พระสยามินทร์
พระยศยิ่งย
เย็นศิระเพราะพระบริบาล
ผลพระคุณ ธ รักษา
ปวงประชาเป็นศุขสานต์
ขอบันดาล
ธ ประสงค์ใด
จงสฤษดิ์
ดังหวังวรหฤทัย
ดุจจะถวายชัย ชโย!
Transliteration
Kha Wora Phutthachao
Ao Mano Lae Sira Kran
Nop Phra Phummiban Bunyadirek
Ek Boromma Chakkrin
Phra Sayamin
Phra Yotsa Ying Yong
Yen Sira Phro Phra Boriban
Phon Phra Khuntha Raksa
Puang Pracha Pen Suk San
Kho Bandan
Tha Prasong Dai
Chong Sarit
Dang Wang Wora Haruethai
Dutcha Thawai Chai Cha-yo
English
I, servant of His Majesty,
Extend my heart and body to his feet,
To pay respect and give praise
To the protector of the country,
To the great Chakri Dynasty,
To the leader of the Siamese people in might and splendor,
The people, in peace and contentment
From his tireless labor and guidance,
Pray, that whatever he wills,
Will come to pass for his glory
Internet Pages:
www.www.thailandtourismdirectory.com
amazingthailand.tourismthailand.org
Thailand in diferent languages
eng | afr | bre | dan | fao | jav | lim | nld | nor | swa | swe: Thailand
arg | ast | eus | glg | scn | spa: Tailandia
ina | ita | lat | lld: Thailandia
deu | ltz | nds: Thailand / Thailand
frp | kin | run: Tayilande
gag | kaa | uzb: Tailand / Таиланд
cat | oci: Tailàndia
ces | slk: Thajsko
dsb | hsb: Thailandska
est | vor: Tai
fra | jnf: Thaïlande
ind | msa: Thailand / تايلند
mlg | roh: Tailanda
mlt | szl: Tajlandja
tur | zza: Tayland
aze: Tayland / Тајланд
bam: Tayilandi
bos: Tajland / Тајланд
cor: Pow Tay
crh: Tayland / Тайланд
csb: Tajlandiô
cym: Gwlad y Tai
epo: Tajlando
fin: Thaimaa
fry: Tailân
fur: Tailandie
gla: Tài-lann
gle: An Téalainn / An Téalainn
glv: Yn Çheer Thai
hat: Tayiland
hau: Thai; Thailand
hrv: Tajland
hun: Thaiföld
ibo: Tailand
isl: Tæland; Taíland
kmr: Tayland / Т’айланд / تایلاند
kur: Tayland / تایلاند
lav: Taizeme
lin: Tailandi
lit: Tailandas
mol: Thailanda; Tailanda / Таиланда
nrm: Thaïlaunde
pol: Tajlandia
por: Tailândia
que: Taylandya
rmy: Ťailand / थाइलान्द
ron: Thailanda; Tailanda
rup: Thailanda
slo: Taizem / Таизем
slv: Tajska; Thajska
sme: Thaieana
smg: Tailands
smo: Tailani
som: Taylaand
sqi: Tajlanda
srd: Thailàndia
tet: Tailándia
tgl: Tayland; Taylanda
ton: Taileni
tuk: Taýland / Таиланд
vie: Thái Lan
vol: Tayän
wln: Taylande
wol: Taaylaand
alt | che | chm | chv | kbd | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | oss | rus | tyv | udm: Таиланд (Tailand)
bak | tat: Таиланд / Tailand
bul | mon: Тайланд (Tajland)
abq: Таиланд (Taiłand)
bel: Тайланд / Tajłand; Тайлянд / Tajland
kaz: Таиланд / Taïland / تايلاند
mkd: Тајланд (Tajland)
srp: Тајланд / Tajland
tgk: Таиланд / تئیلند / Tailand
ukr: Таїланд (Taïland)
ara: تايلاند (Tāylānd); تايلند (Tāyland); تايلاندا (Tāylāndā); تايلندا (Tāylandā)
fas: تایلند / Tâyland; تائیلند / Tâiland; تائیلاند / Tâilând
prs: تایلند (Tāyland)
pus: تايلنډ (Tāylənḋ); تايلېنډ (Tāylenḋ); ټايلنډ (Ṫāylənḋ); ټايلېنډ (Ṫāylenḋ)
snd: ٿائيلينڊ (Tʰāʾīlenḍa)
uig: تايلاند / Tayland / Таиланд
urd: تھائیلینڈ (Tʰāʾīlænḋ); تھائلینڈ (Tʰāʾilænḋ)
div: ތައިލޭންޑް (Ta'ilēnḋ)
heb: תהילנד (Thayland); תהאילנד (Thâyland); תילנד (Tayland); תאילנד (Tâyland); תאילאנד (Tâylând)
lad: טאיילאנדיה / Taylandia
yid: טײַלאַנד (Tayland)
amh: ታይላንድ (Tayland)
ell: Ταϊλάνδη (Taïlándī)
hye: Թաիլանդ (Ṭailand)
kat: ტაილანდი (Tailandi)
hin: थाईलैंड (Tʰāīlæṁḍ); थाइलैंड (Tʰāilæṁḍ)
nep: थाइलैंड (Tʰāiləiṁḍ); थाइल्यान्ड (Tʰāilyānḍ)
ben: থাইল্যান্ড (Tʰāilænḍ); থাইল্যাণ্ড (Tʰāilæṇḍ)
guj: થાઇલેન્ડ (Tʰāilenḍ)
pan: ਥਾਈਲੈਂਡ (Tʰāīlæ̃ḍ)
sin: තායිලන්තය (Tāyilantaya)
kan: ಥಾಯ್ಲಂಡ್ (Tʰāylaṁḍ)
mal: തായ്ലന്ഡ് (Tāylanḍ)
tam: தாய்லாந்து (Tāylāntu)
tel: థాయిలాండ్ (Tʰāyilāṁḍ)
zho: 泰國/泰国 (Tàiguó)
yue: 泰國/泰国 (Taaigwok)
jpn: タイ (Tai)
kor: 타이 (Tai); 태국 (Taeguk)
bod: ཐའེ་གོ་ (Tʰa'e.go.)
dzo: ཐཱའི་ལེནཌ་ (Tʰā'i.lenḍ.)
mya: ထုိင္း (Tʰaĩ̀)
tha: ไทย (Tʰai[y]); เมืองไทย (Mʉ̄aṅ Tʰai[y]); ประเทศไทย (Pratʰēt Tʰai[y])
lao: ໄທ (Tʰai); ເມືອງໄທ (Mʉ̄aṅ Tʰai); ປະເທດໄທ (Patʰēt Tʰai)
khm: ថៃ (Tʰai); ថៃឡង់ដ៏ (Tʰaiḷăṅ[d])
Currently holidaying out of Arriva North West's Winsford depot due to a vehicle shortage is this Bolton based DAF DB250LF with Plaxton President bodywork. It is registered LF52 URD with the fleet number of 4172 on service 84 to Nantwich bus station, it was new to Arriva London North as their DLP99 back in 2002.
Is a landlocked country in the Carpathian Basin in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Its capital is Budapest. Hungary is a member of EU, NATO, OECD, V4 and is a Schengen state. The official language is Hungarian, which is part of the Finno-Ugric family, thus one of the four official languages of the European Union that are not of Indo-European origin.
Following a Celtic (after c. 450 BC) and a Roman (9 BC – c. 430) period, the foundation of Hungary was laid in the late 9th century by the Hungarian ruler Árpád, whose great-grandson Stephen I of Hungary was crowned with a crown sent from Rome by the pope in 1000. The Kingdom of Hungary lasted for 946 years, and at various points was regarded as one of the cultural centers of the Western world. The Battle of Mohács resulted in Ottoman occupation, followed by an integration into the Habsburg Monarchy, and later constituting half of the Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy. A great power until the end of World War I, Hungary lost over 70% of its territory, along with 3.3 million people of Hungarian ethnicity, under the Treaty of Trianon, the terms of which have been considered excessively harsh by many in Hungary. The kingdom was succeeded by a Communist era (1947–1989) during which Hungary gained widespread international attention regarding the Revolution of 1956 and the seminal move of opening its border with Austria in 1989, thus accelerating the collapse of the Eastern Bloc. The present form of government is a parliamentary republic (since 1989). Today, Hungary is a high-income economy, and a regional leader regarding certain markers.
Hungary is ranked 20th globally (out of 194 countries) on International Living's Quality of Life index (2010) and 6th in an environmental protection index by GW/CAN. Until recently, it was also listed as one of the 15 most popular tourist destinations in the world. The country is home to the largest thermal water cave system and the second largest thermal lake in the world (Lake Hévíz), the largest lake in Central Europe (Lake Balaton), and the largest natural grasslands in Europe (Hortobágy).
History
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungary#History
Geography
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Hungary
Other info
Oficial name:
Magyar Köztársaság
Foundation: Kingdom of Hungary December 1000
Area:
93.030 km2
Inhabitants:
10.500.000
Languages:
Magyar
Bavarian [bar] 170,000. Alternate names: Bayerisch, Bavarian-Austrian. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Bavarian-Austrian
More information.
Croatian [hrv] 32,130 in Hungary (1986). Southern border area. Dialects: Croatian, Serbian. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Western
More information.
German, Standard [deu] 250,000 in Hungary (1988 Hawkins in B. Comrie). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
More information.
Hungarian [hun] 10,298,820 in Hungary (1995). Population total all countries: 13,611,600. Also spoken in Australia, Austria, Canada, Israel, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, USA. Alternate names: Magyar. Dialects: Alfold, West Danube, Danube-Tisza, King's Pass Hungarian, Northeast Hungarian, Northwest Hungarian, Székely, West Hungarian. Closest to Vogul (Mansi) of Russia. Speakers of Standard Hungarian have difficulty understanding Oberwart dialect. Classification: Uralic, Finno-Ugric, Ugric, Hungarian
More information.
Hungarian Sign Language [hsh] 60,000 deaf (1999 National Association for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing). Used throughout Hungary. May also be used in western Romania. Alternate names: Magyar Jelnyelv. Dialects: Budapest, Sopron, Miskolc, Debrecen, Szeged, Eger. Related to Austrian Sign Language and German Sign Language. May be related to Yugoslavian Sign Language. Dialects have some different signs for lexical items, similar or same grammar. Classification: Deaf sign language
More information.
Romani, Balkan [rmn] In Hungary, 150,000 Gypsies speak a variety of Romani as first language (1995 Z. Réger). Ethnic population: 450,000 to 800,000 all Gypsies in Hungary. Alternate names: Cigány. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Balkan
More information.
Romani, Carpathian [rmc] 3,000 in Hungary (1980 UBS). Three divisions are recognized: Nograd County north of Budapest, overlapping into Slovakia; in Budapest and towns along the Danube such as Baja, Dunaszekcso, Kalocsa, Mohacs, Pecs, and Versend as far south as the Yugoslav border; and travelers with carnivals, as knife grinders, horse dealers, and brick makers. One dialect is in east Hungary, south Poland, and Galicia; another in Transylvania, Romania; others in Czech Republic and Slovakia; Ukraine, USA. Alternate names: Cigány. Dialects: Galician, Transylvanian. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Northern
More information.
Romani, Sinte [rmo] Eastern Hungary. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Northern
More information.
Romani, Vlax [rmy] 20,932 in Hungary (2000 WCD). Alternate names: Gypsy, Tsigene, Cigány, Romungre. Dialects: Lovari, Churari. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Romani, Vlax
More information.
Romanian [ron] 100,000 in Hungary (1995 Iosif Bena). Alternate names: Rumanian, Daco-Romanian, Moldavian. Dialects: Bayash Romanian. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
More information.
Slovak [slk] 11,562 in Hungary (2000 WCD). Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, West, Czech-Slovak
More information.
Slovenian [slv] 4,984 in Hungary (2000 WCD). Near Slovenian border. Alternate names: Slovene. Dialects: Prekmurski. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, South, Western
Capital city:
Budapeste
Meaning country name:
Turkic: on-ogur, "(people of the) ten arrows" — in other words, "alliance of the ten tribes". Byzantine chronicles gave this name to the Hungarians; the chroniclers mistakenly assumed that the Hungarians had Turkic origins, based on their Turkic-nomadic customs and appearance, despite the Finno-Ugric language of the people. The Hungarian tribes later actually formed an alliance of the seven Hungarian and three Khazarian tribes, but the name originates from the time before this, and first applied to the original seven Hungarian tribes. The ethnonym Hunni (referring to the Huns) has influenced the Latin (and English) spelling.
Uhorshchyna (Угорщина, Ukrainian), Vuhorščyna (Вугоршчына, Belarusian), Węgry (Polish), Wędżierskô (Kashubian), and Ugre in Old Russian: from the Turkic "on-ogur", see above. The same root emerges in the ethnonym Yugra, a people living in Siberia and distantly related to Hungarians.
Magyarország (native name - land of the Magyars): According to a famous Hungarian chronicle (Simon of Kéza: Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum, 1282), Magyar (Magor), the forefather of all Hungarians, had a brother named Hunor (the ancestor of the Huns); their father king Menrot, builder of the tower of Babel, equates to the Nimrod of the Hebrew Bible.
The Turkish language uses Macaristan, a compound derived from a Turkish spelling of Magyar and the Persian suffix -stan meaning "country".
Description Flag:
Today's flag of Hungary stems from the national freedom movement before 1848 which climaxed in the 1848/49 revolution, which was not only a revolution against the monarchy and to constitute a republic, but also a national movement against the Habsburgs. Thus, the tricolour feature of the flag is based on the French flag and the ideas of French revolution, while the colours red, white and green were taken from the historical coat of arms. The coat of arms first appeared in the form, which is but for minor details basically the same as nowadays in the mid-15th century, marshalled from arms that first appeared in the late-12th and early-13th century as arms of the Árpáds, Hungary's founding dynasty.
In sum, the Hungarian flag has its origins in the national republican movements of the 18th-19th century (concerning its form, the tricolour) and in the Hungary of the Middle Ages (concerning its colours).
Folklore of the romantic period attributed the colours to virtues: red for strength, white for faithfulness and green for hope. Alternatively, red for the blood spilled for the fatherland, white for freedom and green for the land, for the pastures of Hungary.
Coat of arms:
The current coat of arms of Hungary was adopted in July 1990, after the end of the Communist regime.
The arms have been used before, both with and without the crown of St. Stephen, sometimes as part of a larger, more complex coat of arms, and many of its elements date back to the Middle Ages.
It is usually said that the silver stripes represent four rivers (Duna, Tisza, Dráva, Száva) and the hills represent three mountain ranges (Mátra, Tátra, Fátra), but this theory is historically unfounded.
The coat of arms also features the double cross on the right side similarly to the Coat of arms of Slovakia
Motto:
Historically Regnum Mariae Patronae Hungariae (Latin)
"Kingdom of Mary the Patroness of Hungary"
National Anthem: Himnuz
Magyar -Hungarian
Isten, áldd meg a magyart
Jó kedvvel, bőséggel,
Nyújts feléje védő kart,
Ha küzd ellenséggel;
Bal sors akit régen tép,
Hozz rá víg esztendőt,
Megbűnhődte már e nép
A múltat s jövendőt!
Őseinket felhozád
Kárpát szent bércére,
Általad nyert szép hazát
Bendegúznak vére.
S merre zúgnak habjai
Tiszának, Dunának,
Árpád hős magzatjai
Felvirágozának.
Értünk Kunság mezein
Ért kalászt lengettél,
Tokaj szőlővesszein
Nektárt csepegtettél.
Zászlónk gyakran plántálád
Vad török sáncára,
S nyögte Mátyás bús hadát
Bécsnek büszke vára.
Hajh, de bűneink miatt
Gyúlt harag kebledben,
S elsújtád villámidat
Dörgő fellegedben,
Most rabló mongol nyilát
Zúgattad felettünk,
Majd töröktől rabigát
Vállainkra vettünk.
Hányszor zengett ajkain
Ozmán vad népének
Vert hadunk csonthalmain
Győzedelmi ének!
Hányszor támadt tenfiad
Szép hazám, kebledre,
S lettél magzatod miatt
Magzatod hamvvedre!
Bújt az üldözött, s felé
Kard nyúlt barlangjában,
Szerte nézett s nem lelé
Honját e hazában,
Bércre hág és völgybe száll,
Bú s kétség mellette,
Vérözön lábainál,
S lángtenger fölette.
Vár állott, most kőhalom,
Kedv s öröm röpkedtek,
Halálhörgés, siralom
Zajlik már helyettek.
S ah, szabadság nem virúl
A holtnak véréből,
Kínzó rabság könnye hull
Árvák hő szeméből!
Szánd meg Isten a magyart
Kit vészek hányának,
Nyújts feléje védő kart
Tengerén kínjának.
Bal sors akit régen tép,
Hozz rá víg esztendőt,
Megbűnhődte már e nép
A múltat s jövendőt!
English
O Lord, bless the nation of Hungary
With your grace and bounty
Extend over it your guarding arm
During strife with its enemies
Long torn by ill fate
Bring upon it a time of relief
This nation has suffered for all sins
Of the past and of the future!
You brought our ancestors up
Over the Carpathians' holy peaks
By You was won a beautiful homeland
For Bendeguz's sons
And wherever flow the rivers of
The Tisza and the Danube
Árpád our hero's descendants
Will root and bloom.
For us on the plains of the Kuns
You ripened the wheat
In the grape fields of Tokaj
You dripped sweet nectar
Our flag you often planted
On the wild Turk's earthworks
And under Mátyás' grave army whimpered
Vienna's "proud fort."
Alas, but for our sins
Anger gathered in Your bosom
And You struck with Your lightning
From Your thundering clouds
Now the plundering Mongols' arrows
You swarmed over us
Then the Turks' slave yoke
We took upon our shoulders.
How often came from the mouths
Of Osman's barbarian nation
Over the corpses of our defeated army
A victory song!
How often did your own son agress
My homeland, upon your breast,
And you became because of your own sons
Your own sons' funeral urn!
The fugitive hid, and towards him
The sword reached into his cave
Looking everywhere he could not find
His home in his homeland
Climbs the mountain, descends the valley
Sadness and despair his companions
Sea of blood beneath his feet
Ocean of flame above.
Castle stood, now a heap of stones
Happiness and joy fluttered,
Groans of death, weeping
Now sound in their place.
And Ah! Freedom does not bloom
From the blood of the dead,
Torturous slavery's tears fall
From the burning eyes of the orphans!
Pity, O Lord, the Hungarians
Who are tossed by waves of danger
Extend over it your guarding arm
On the sea of its misery
Long torn by ill fate
Bring upon it a time of relief
They who have suffered for all sins
Of the past and of the future!
Internet Page: www.keh.hu
Hungary in diferent languages
eng: Hungary
bre | eus | ina | lat | sqi | swa: Hungaria
lld | roh-enb | roh-gri | roh-srs | ron | rup: Ungaria
ast | glg | spa: Hungría
cos | ita | srd: Ungheria
dan | fao | nor: Ungarn
deu | ltz | nds: Ungarn / Ungarn
fra | frp | jnf: Hongrie
cat | mlg: Hongria
ces | slk: Maďarsko
cor | tpi: Hungari
est | vor: Ungari
fry | nld: Hongarije
gag | kaa: Vengriya / Венгрия
kin | run: Hungariya
afr: Hongarye
arg: Ongría; Ongaría
aze: Macarıstan / Маҹарыстан
bam: Ongiri
bos: Mađarska / Мађарска
crh: Macaristan / Маджаристан
csb: Wędżierskô; Madżarskô
cym: Hwngari
dsb: Hungorska
epo: Hungarujo; Hungario
fin: Unkari
fur: Ongjarie; Ungjarie
gla: An Ungair
gle: An Ungáir / An Ungáir
glv: Yn Ungaar
hat: Ongri
hau: Hangare; Hungary
hrv: Mađarska
hsb: Madźarska
hun: Magyarország
ibo: Họṅgari
ind: Hongaria / هوڠڬاريا
isl: Ungverjaland
jav: Hongaria
kal: Ungarni
kmr: Macaristan / Мащарьстан / ماجارستان; Macarîstan / Мащаристан / ماجاریستان; Mecerîstan / Мәщәристан / مەجەریستان; Hûngarîstan / Һунгаристан / هوونگاریستان; Hûngarî / Һунгари / هوونگاری
kur: Macaristan / ماجارستان; Meceristan / مەجەرستان; Hungarya / هونگاریا
lav: Ungārija
lim: Hongarieë
lin: Ungri
lit: Vengrija
liv: Ungārmō
mlt: Ungerija
mol: Ungaria / Унгария
mri: Hanekeria
msa: Hungary / هوڠڬاري
nah: Maquiyacan
nrm: Houngrie
oci: Ongria
pol: Węgry
por: Hungria
que: Unriya
rmy: Ungariya / उन्गारिया; Magyariya / माग्यारिया
roh-eno: Ungiaria
scn: Unghiria
slo: Madaria / Мадариа; Madarzem / Мадарзем
slv: Madžarska
sme: Uŋgár; Hungária
smg: Vengrėjė
smo: Hanikeri
som: Hangeri
swe: Ungern
szl: Madźary; Wyngry
tet: Ungria
tgl: Unggarya; Unggariya
ton: Hungali
tuk: Wengriýa / Венгрия
tur: Macaristan
uzb: Mojoriston / Моҷористон; Vengriya / Венгрия
vie: Hung Gia Lợi; Hung-ga-ri
vol: Macarän
wln: Hongreye
wol: Oonguri
zza: Macarıstan
abq | alt | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | rus | tyv | udm: Венгрия (Vengrija)
che | chv | oss: Венгри (Vengri)
bak: Венгрия / Vengriya
bel: Венгрыя / Vienhryja; Вугоршчына / Vuhorščyna; Вэнгрыя / Venhryja
bul: Унгария (Ungarija)
chm: Венгрий (Vengrij)
kaz: Венгрия / Vengrïya / ۆەنگريا; Мажарстан / Majarstan / ماجارستان
kbd: Венгрие (Vengrie)
mkd: Унгарија (Ungarija)
mon: Унгар (Ungar); Мажар (Maǧar)
srp: Мађарска / Mađarska
tat: Маҗарстан / Macarstan
tgk: Маҷористон / مجارستان / Maçoriston; Венгрия / ونگریه / Vengrija
ukr: Угорщина (Uhorščyna)
xal: Венгрь (Vengr')
ara: هنغاريا (Hunġāriyā); هنجاريا (Hungāriyā); المجر (al-Maǧar)
fas: مجارستان / Majârestân; هنگری / Hongri
prs: مجارستان (Majārestān); هنگری (Hangarī)
pus: مجارستان (Majāristān); هنګري (Hangərī); هڼري (Haṅərī)
uig: ۋېنگرىيە / Wén’griye / Венгрия
urd: ہنگری (Hangarī)
div: ހަނގަރީ (Haṅgarī); ހަންގޭރީ (Hangērī)
syr: ܡܓܪ (Magar)
heb: הונגריה (Hûngaryah); הונגאריה (Hûngâryah)
lad: אונגריה / Ungria
yid: אונגערן (Ungern); אונגאַרן (Ungarn)
amh: ሀንጋሪ (Hăngari); ሁንጋሪያ (Hungariya)
ell-dhi: Ουγγαρία (Oyggaría)
ell-kat: Οὑγγαρία (Houggaría)
hye: Հունգարիա (Houngaria)
kat: უნგრეთი (Ungreṭi)
hin: हंगरी (Haṁgarī); हंगेरी (Haṁgerī)
mar: हंगेरी (Haṁgerī)
ben: হাঙ্গেরি (Hāṅgeri); হাঙ্গেরী (Hāṅgerī)
pan: ਹੰਗਰੀ (Haṁgarī)
kan: ಹಂಗೇರಿ (Haṁgēri)
mal: ഹംഗറി (Haṁgaṟi)
tam: ஹங்கேரி (Haṅkēri)
tel: హంగేరీ (Haṁgērī)
zho: 匈牙利 (Xiōngyálì)
yue: 匈牙利 (Hùngngàhleih)
jpn: ハンガリー (Hangarī)
kor: 헝가리 (Heonggari)
bod: ཧན་ག་རི་ (Han.ga.ri.); ཧང་ག་རི་ (Haṅ.ga.ri.); ཧུང་ག་རི་ (Huṅ.ga.ri.); ཞུང་ཡ་ལི་ (Žuṅ.ya.li.); ཤུང་ཡ་ལི་ (Šuṅ.ya.li.)
mya: ဟန္ဂေရီ (Hãgeẏi)
tha: ฮังการี (Hâṅkārī)
lao: ຮົງກຣີ (Hôṅklī)
khm: ហុងគ្រី (Huṅkrī)
Is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It is a continental mainland with numerous islands located off its coastline in the Caribbean Sea. The republic won its independence from Spain in 1821.
Venezuela borders Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Colombia to the west. Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St. Lucia, Barbados, Curaçao, Bonaire, Aruba, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Leeward Antilles lie just north, off the Venezuelan coast. Its size is 916,445 km² with an estimated population of 26,414,816. Its capital is Caracas. The colors of the Venezuelan flag are yellow, blue and red, in that order: the yellow stands for land wealth, the blue for the sea and sky of the country, and the red for the blood shed by the heroes of independence.
Venezuela has territorial disputes with Guyana, largely concerning the Essequibo area, and with Colombia concerning the Gulf of Venezuela. In 1895, after the dispute over the Essequibo River border flared up, it was submitted to a neutral commission (composed of United Kingdom, United States and Russian representatives and without a direct Venezuelan representative), which in 1899 decided mostly against Venezuela's claim. Venezuela is known widely for its petroleum industry, the environmental diversity of its territory, and its natural features. Venezuela is considered to be among the world's 18 most biodiverse countries, featuring diverse wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.
Venezuela is among the most urbanized countries in Latin America; the vast majority of Venezuelans live in the cities of the north, especially in the capital Caracas which is also the largest city. Other major cities include Maracaibo, Valencia, Maracay, Barquisimeto, Merida, Barcelona-Puerto La Cruz and Ciudad Guayana.
History
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Venezuela
Geography
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Venezuela
Other info
Oficial name:
República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Independence
- from Spain July 5, 1811
- from Gran Colombia January 13, 1830
- Recognised March 30, 1845
Area:
916.445 km2
Inhabitants:
28.160.000
Languages:
Akawaio [ake] Few speakers in Venezuela. Bolivar State. Alternate names: Acewaio, Akawai, Acawayo, Acahuayo, Waicá. Classification: Carib, Northern, East-West Guiana, Macushi-Kapon, Kapon
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Arawak [arw] 100 in Venezuela (2002 SIL). Coastal area near Guyana, Delta Amacuro. Alternate names: Arowak, Lokono. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Caribbean
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Arutani [atx] 2 in Venezuela (2002 SIL). Ethnic population: 39 in Venezuela (2002 SIL). Below the Sape of the Karum River area, Bolivar State, headwaters of the Paraqua and Uraricáa rivers. Alternate names: Auaqué, Auake, Awaké, Uruak, Urutani, Aoaqui, Oewaku. Classification: Arutani-Sape Nearly extinct.
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Baniwa [bwi] 433 in Venezuela (2002 SIL). Ethnic population: 1,150 (2002 SIL). Amazonas, between the Curipaco and the Guarequena, along the Colombian border. Alternate names: Baniua do Içana, Maniba, Baniva, Baniba. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Inland
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Barí [mot] 850 in Venezuela (1980 Seely). Venezuelan and Colombian border, Zulia State. Alternate names: Motilone, Motilón. Classification: Chibchan, Motilon
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Carib [car] 7,251 in Venezuela (2000 WCD). Population total all countries: 10,226. Monagas and Anzoategui states, northeast near Orinoco River mouth, plus a few communities in Bolivar State, just south of Orinoco. Also spoken in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname. Alternate names: Caribe, Cariña, Kalihna, Kalinya, Galibi. Dialects: Tabajari. Classification: Carib, Northern, Galibi
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Chaima [ciy] Eastern Venezuela coastal region. Alternate names: Chayma, Sayma, Warapiche, Guaga-Tagare. Classification: Carib, Northern, Coastal
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Cuiba [cui] 650 in Venezuela (1995 SIL). Nearly all are monolingual. Apure Division. Alternate names: Cuiva. Dialects: Chiricoa, Amaruwa (Amorua), Masiguare, Siripu, Yarahuuraxi-Capanapara, Mella, Ptamo, Sicuane (Sicuari). Classification: Guahiban
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Curripaco [kpc] 210 in Venezuela (1970 census). Amazonas. Alternate names: Curipaco, Kuripako, Kurripako. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Inland
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Eñepa [pbh] 1,200. Nearly all are monolingual. 150 mile perimeter south of Caicaro de Orinoco basin of the Cuchivero River; Bolivar State. Two groups: jungle and highland. 20 or more villages. Alternate names: Panare, Panari, Abira, Eye. Classification: Carib, Northern, Western Guiana
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German, Colonia Tovar [gct] Alternate names: Alemán Coloneiro. Dialects: Developed from the Alemannisch (Oberdeutsch) of 1843 under the influence of many other dialects of south Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Not intelligible with Standard German. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Upper German, Alemannic
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Guahibo [guh] 12,000 ? in Venezuela. Orinoco River from Caicaro de Orinoco on the upper Orinoco, Amazonas, and Apure states. Alternate names: Guajibo, Wahibo. Classification: Guahiban
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Guarequena [gae] 367 in Venezuela. Population total all countries: 705. Village of Guzmán Blanco, half an hour below Maroa. San Miguel River, Amazonas. Also possibly in Colombia. Also spoken in Brazil. Alternate names: Guarekena, Arequena, Urequema, Uerequema, Warekena. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Inland
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Japrería [jru] 90 to 100 (2002 SIL). Ethnic population: 152 (2000 WCD). Northern region of Sierra de Perija, Zulia State. Alternate names: Yaprería. Dialects: Not inherently intelligible with other Carib languages of the area (M. Durbin). Low lexical similarity with Yukpa (Luis Oquendo: U. of Zulia). Classification: Carib, Northern, Coastal
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Maco [wpc] 2,500 (2002 Miller). Tributaries of the Ventuari River, Wapuchi, Paru, Yureba, and Marueta rivers, in the villages of Marueta, Wapuchi, Porvenir, Tavi-Tavi, Mariche, Morocoto. Alternate names: Mako, Itoto, Wotuja, Jojod. Classification: Salivan
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Macushi [mbc] 600 in Venezuela. Eastern border area. Alternate names: Makusi, Makuxi, Makushi, Teweya. Classification: Carib, Northern, East-West Guiana, Macushi-Kapon, Macushi
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Mandahuaca [mht] 3,000 in Venezuela (1975 Gaceta Indigenista). Population total all countries: 3,003. Colombian border in extreme southwest, Amazonas, east of the Baré on the Baria River and Casiquiare Canal. Also spoken in Brazil. Alternate names: Mandauaca, Mandawaka, Ihini, Arihini, Maldavaca, Cunipusana, Yavita, Mitua. Dialects: Related to Adzaneni, Yabaana, Masaca. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Inland
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Mapoyo [mcg] 3 (2000 Muller). Ethnic population: 120. Suapure River, 100 kilometers north of La Urbana, Amazonas. Alternate names: Mapayo, Mapoye, Mopoi, Nepoye, Wanai. Dialects: Close to Yawarana. Classification: Carib, Northern, Western Guiana Nearly extinct.
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Maquiritari [mch] 4,970 in Venezuela (1975 Gaceta Indigenista). Population total all countries: 5,240. Bolivar State and Amazonas, near the Brazilian border on the mid-Paragua, Caura, Erebato, upper Ventuari, upper Auaris, Matacuni, Cuntinano, Padamo, and Cunucunuma rivers. Also spoken in Brazil. Alternate names: Maiongong, Maquiritare, Yekuana, De'cuana, Ye'cuana, Maquiritai, Soto, Cunuana, Pawana. Classification: Carib, Southern, Southern Guiana
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Nhengatu [yrl] 2,000 in Venezuela (1987 Mosonyi). Alternate names: Yeral, Geral, Waengatu, Modern Tupi. Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup III
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Ninam [shb] 100 in Venezuela. Karun and Paragua rivers, Bolivar State. Alternate names: Yanam, Xiriana. Dialects: Northern Ninam, Southern Ninam. Classification: Yanomam
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Pemon [aoc] 5,000 in Venezuela (2001 Becsky). Many are monolingual. Population total all countries: 6,154. Ethnic population: 18,871 in Venezuela (1993 census, may include Macushi). Bolivar State, Gran Sabana and adjacent areas, southeastern Venezuela. Also spoken in Brazil, Guyana. Alternate names: Pemong. Dialects: Camaracoto, Taurepan (Taulipang), Arecuna (Aricuna, Arekuna, Jaricuna, Pemon, Daigok, Potsawugok, Pishauco, Purucoto, Kamaragakok). Marginally intelligible with Akawaio and Patamona. The Camaracoto dialect may be a distinct language. Classification: Carib, Northern, East-West Guiana, Macushi-Kapon, Kapon
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Pémono [pev] 1 (2000 M-C Mattei Muller). Lives with the Yabarana in an Upper Majagua village. Dialects: Close to Mapoyo and Yawarana. Classification: Carib, Northern, Western Guiana Nearly extinct.
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Piapoco [pio] 99 in Venezuela (1975 Gaceta Indigenista). Area of San Fernando de Atapapo, Amazonas along the Orinoco. Alternate names: Dzaze, Piapoko. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Inland
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Piaroa [pid] 12,000 in Venezuela (1987 UBS). Population includes 130 Maco. Population total all countries: 12,080. South bank of the Orinoco River, inland from the Paguasa River to Manipiari, Amazonas. Large area. Also spoken in Colombia. Alternate names: Kuakua, Guagua, Quaqua. Classification: Salivan
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Puinave [pui] 240 in Venezuela (1975 Gaceta Indigenista). Amazonas. Alternate names: Puinare, Wanse. Classification: Language Isolate
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Pumé [yae] 3,396 (2000 WCD). Orinoco, Sinaruco, Meta, and Apure rivers, Amazonas and Apure states. Alternate names: Llaruro, Yaruro, Yaruru, Yuapín. Classification: Unclassified
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Sáliba [slc] 250 in Venezuela (1991 Adelaar). Cedoño Department. Alternate names: Sáliva. Classification: Salivan
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Sanumá [xsu] 4,612 in Venezuela (2000 WCD). Population includes 500 Yanoma. Population total all countries: 5,074. Caura and Ervato-Ventuari rivers. Also spoken in Brazil. Alternate names: Tsanuma, Sanema, Sanima, Guaika, Samatari, Samatali, Xamatari, Chirichano. Dialects: Yanoma, Cobari (Kobali, Cobariwa). Classification: Yanomam
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Sapé [spc] 5 (1977 E. Migliazza). Ethnic population: 25 or fewer (1977 Migliazza). 3 small settlements on Paragua and Karuna rivers. Alternate names: Kariana, Kaliána, Caliana, Chirichano. Dialects: Some lexical correspondences Warao (Language Isolate). Greenberg classified it provisionally as Macro-Tucanoan. Classification: Arutani-Sape Nearly extinct.
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Sikiana [sik] Alternate names: Sikiána, Shikiana, Chiquiana, Chikena, Chiquena. Classification: Carib, Northern, East-West Guiana, Waiwai, Sikiana Nearly extinct.
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Spanish [spa] 21,480,000 in Venezuela (1995). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
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Tunebo, Central [tuf] Apure State. Classification: Chibchan, Chibchan Proper, Tunebo
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Venezuelan Sign Language [vsl] Dialects: The sign language used in the classroom is different from the one used by adults outside. Classification: Deaf sign language
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Warao [wba] 18,000 in Venezuela (1993 UBS). 10,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 27,000. On the delta of the Orinoco River, Delta Amacuro, Sucre, Monagas. Also spoken in Guyana, Suriname. Alternate names: Guarauno, Guarao, Warrau. Classification: Language Isolate
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Wayuu [guc] 170,000 in Venezuela (1995 SIL). Zulia State, Guajira Peninsula. Alternate names: Guajiro, Guajira, Goajiro. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Caribbean
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Yabarana [yar] 20 to 50 (1977 Migliazza). North central, Nueva Esparta, area of the Manapiare River basin above the village of San Juan de Manapiare, Amazonas. Alternate names: Yauarana, Yawarana. Dialects: Curasicana, Wokiare (Uaiquiare, Guayqueri). Close to Mapoyo and Pémono. Classification: Carib, Northern, Western Guiana Nearly extinct.
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Yanomamö [guu] 15,710 in Venezuela (2000 WCD). Population total all countries: 17,653. Orinoco-Mavaca area. The Eastern dialect is in the Parima Mountains, east of Batau River, Western dialect in Padamo River basin; Ocamo, Manaviche, and upper Orinoco rivers; and south of the Orinoco River up to headwaters of Marania and Cauaburi rivers, and a number of large villages in the Siapa River area in southern Venezuela. Also spoken in Brazil. Alternate names: Yanomame, Yanomami, Guaica, Guaharibo, Guajaribo, Shamatari, Cobari Kobali, Cobariwa. Dialects: Eastern Yanomami (Parima), Western Yanomami (Padamo-Orinoco). Related to Yanomámi (Waiká) of Brazil. The Cobari dialect is easily intelligible with the others. Classification: Yanomam
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Yukpa [yup] 500 in Venezuela. Areas adjacent to Colombia border, Zulia State. Alternate names: Yuko, Yucpa, Yupa, Northern Motilón. Dialects: Yrapa, Río Negro. Classification: Carib, Northern, Coastal
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Yuwana [yau] 300 (1970 census). Central Venezuela. A northern group is in Bolivar Division on the Kaima River, a tributary of the Cuchivero River; an isolated southern group is in Amazonas on the Iguana, a tributary of the Asita River, and on the Parucito, a tributary of the Manapiare River. Alternate names: Yoana, Yuana, Waruwaru, Chicano, Chikano, Joti, Jodi, Hoti. Dialects: There are linguistic similarities to Yanomamö and Piaroa (Salivan). Classification: Unclassified
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Extinct languages
Baniva [bvv] Extinct. Colombian border area. Alternate names: Avani, Ayane, Abane. Dialects: Baniva, Quirruba. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Inland
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Baré [bae] Extinct. Ethnic population: Perhaps 238 (1975 Gaceta Indigenista). Colombian border in extreme southwest, Amazonas, along the upper Rio Negro from Brazil-Venezuela border to the Casiquiare Canal, Maroa. Alternate names: Barawana, Barauna, Barauana, Ihini, Arihini, Maldavaca, Cunipusana, Yavita, Mitua. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Inland
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Cumanagoto [cuo] Extinct. Eastern Venezuela coastal region. Classification: Carib, Northern, Coastal
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Paraujano [pbg] Extinct. Ethnic population: 4,306 (1975 Gaceta Indigenista). Lake Maracaibo, near Guajiro, Zulia State. Alternate names: Parahujano, Añú. Dialects: Alile, Toa. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Caribbean
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Tamanaku [tmz] Extinct. Near Mapoyo and Yawarana. Dialects: Similar to Eñepa. Classification: Carib, Northern, Western Guiana
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Yavitero [yvt] Extinct. Alternate names: Paraene. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Inland
Capital city:
Caracas
Meaning country name:
Little Venice", from the diminutive form of "Venezia". The native stilt-houses built on Lake Maracaibo impressed the European explorers Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci and reminded them of buildings in Venice.
Description Flag:
The flag of Venezuela dates from 1811, the beginning of that nation's struggle for independence. The basic design includes a horizontal tricolor of yellow, blue, and red. Further modifications have involved including a set of stars, multiple changes to the placement and number of stars and inclusion of an optional coat of arms at the upper-left corner.
The flag is the one primarily adopted by the National Congress of 1811, consisting of three equal horizontal stripes. This original design was by Francisco de Miranda, who on March 12, 1806 hoisted a flag with three stripes, yellow, blue, and red, on his ship headed to the Venezuelan port of Coro on his second attempt to initiate an independence movement (Previously, in Venezuela the Flag Day was celebrated in March 12, until August 3, 2006).
The yellow band stands for the wealth of the land, the blue for courage, and the red for the independence from Spain. Flag Day is celebrated in Venezuela on August 3 since 2006, in honor of the disembarkation of Francisco de Miranda in La Vela de Coro, 1806.
This format has remained largely unchanged since 1811, but underwent several modifications in the 19th and early 20th centuries as regards the stars and the Coat of Arms. On the pictures of the flag shown here, there are 8 stars.
Coat of arms:
The current coat of arms of Venezuela was primarily approved by the Congress on April 18, 1836, undergoing small modifications through history, reaching the version described below. (Note that in heraldic descriptions dexter means right from the viewpoint of a person standing behind the shield, i.e. the viewer's left; sinister means left, i.e. the viewer's right.)
The coat of arms was established in the Law of the National Flag, Shield and Anthem (Ley de Bandera, Escudo e Himno Nacionales), passed on February 17, 1954. The shield is divided in the colors of the National Flag. In the dexter chief, on a red field, wheat represents the union of the 20 States of the Republic existing at the time and the wealth of the Nation. In sinister chief, on a yellow field, weapons (a sword, a sabre and three lances) and two National Flags are tied by a branch of laurel, as a symbol of triumph in war. In base, on a deep blue field, a wild white horse (perhaps representing Simón Bolívar's white horse Palomo) runs free, an emblem of independence and freedom.
Above the shield are two crossed cornucopias (horns of plenty), pouring out wealth. The shield is flanked by an olive branch and another of palm, both tied at the bottom of the coat with a large band that represents the national tricolour (yellow for the nation's wealth, blue for the ocean separating Venezuela from Spain, and red for the blood and courage of the people).
National Anthem: Gloria al Bravo Pueblo
Spanish
— Coro —
Gloria al bravo pueblo
que el yugo lanzó,
la Ley respetando
la virtud y honor.
¡Abajo cadenas!
Gritaba el Señor;
y el pobre en su choza
libertad pidió.
Y a este santo nombre
tembló de pavor
el vil egoísmo
que otra vez triunfó.
Gritemos con brio
Muera la opresion!
Compatriotas fieles,
la fuerza es la union;
y desde el empireo,
el Supremo Autor
un sublime aliento
al pueblo infundio.
Unida con lazos
que el cielo forjo,
la America toda
existe en nacion;
y si el despotismo
levanta la voz
seguid el ejemplo
que Caracs dio.
English
— Chorus —
Glory to the brave people
which shook off the yoke,
the Law respecting
virtue and honour.
— I —
“Down with the chains!” (repeat)
Cried out the Lord; (repeat)
and the poor man in his hovel
for freedom implored.
Upon this holy name ((repeat))
trembled in fear
the vile selfishness
that had once triumphed.
((repeat last four lines))
(((repeat last two lines)))
(Chorus)
— II —
Let’s cry out aloud: (repeat)
Down with oppression! (repeat)
Faithful countrymen, your strength
lies in your unity;
and from the heavens ((repeat))
the supreme Creator
breathed a sublime spirit
into the nation.
((repeat last four lines))
(((repeat last two lines)))
(Chorus)
— III —
United by bonds (repeat)
made by heaven, (repeat)
all America exists
as a Nation;
and if tyranny ((repeat))
raises its voice,
follow the example
given by Caracas.
((repeat last four lines))
(((repeat last two lines)))
(Chorus)
Internet Page: www.gobiernoenlinea.ve
Venezuela in diferent languages
eng | afr | ast | bre | ces | dan | dsb | eus | fin | glg | hau | hsb | hun | ibo | ina | ita | jav | jnf | lld | nld | nor | por | roh | ron | slk | slv | sme | spa | sqi | srd | swa | swe | tet | tur | vor | zza: Venezuela
hat | lin | mlt | wln: Venezwela
crh | kaa | uzb: Venesuela / Венесуэла
deu | ltz | nds: Venezuela / Venezuela
fao | lit | smo: Venesuela
cym | pol: Wenezuela
ind | msa: Venezuela / ۏينيزويلا
kin | run: Venezuwela
mol | slo: Venezuela / Венезуела
arg: Benezuela
aze: Venesuela / Венесуела
bam: Wenezuwela
bos: Venecuela / Венецуела
cat: Veneçuela
cor: Veneswela
cos: Venezuella
epo: Venezuelo
est: Venezuela; Venetsueela
fra: Vénézuela; Venezuela
frp: Venezuèla
fry: Fenezuëla
fur: Venezuele
gla: A’ Bheiniseala; Benesuela; Bhenesuèla
gle: Veiniséala / Veiniséala ; An Bheneséil / An Ḃeneséil
glv: Yn Veneswaaley
grn: Venezuéla
hrv: Venecuela; Venezuela
isl: Venesúela
kmr: Vênêsûêla / Венесуела / ڤێنێسووئێلا ; Vênêsûêl / Венесуел / ڤێنێسووئێل ; Vênêsûla / Венесула / ڤێنێسوولا
kur: Venezwêla / ڤەنەزوێلا ; Venezûela / ڤەنەزووئەلا
lat: Venetiola; Venessuela
lav: Venecuēla
mlg: Venezoela
nrm: Vénézuéla
oci: Veneçuèla; Venezuela
pap: Benesuela
que: Winiswila
rmy: Venezuela / वेनेज़ुएला
rup: Venetsuela
scn: Venezzuela
som: Fenisuweela
szl: Wynezuela
tgl: Beneswela; Benesuela
ton: Venisuela
tuk: Wenesuela / Венесуэла
vie: Vê-nê-zu-ê-la
vol: Venesolän
wol: Benesuwela
alt | che | chm | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | rus | tyv | udm: Венесуэла (Venesuėla)
bul | mkd: Венецуела (Venecuela)
abq: Венесуэла (Venesuėła)
bak: Венесуэла / Venesuela
bel: Венесуэла / Vieniesueła; Вэнэсуэла / Venesueła
chv: Венесуэлӑ (Venesuėlă)
kaz: Венесуэла / Veneswela / ۆەنەسۋەلا
kbd: Венесуэлэ (Venesuălă)
mon: Венесуэл (Venesuäl)
oss: Венесуэлӕ (Venesuėlä)
srp: Венецуела / Venecuela
tat: Венесуэла / Venezuela
tgk: Венесуэла / ونسوئیله / Venesuela
ukr: Венесуела (Venesuela)
ara: فنزويلا (Fanzuwaylā / Finzuwaylā); فينيزويلا (Fīnīzwīlā); فينزويلا (Fīnizwīlā); فنزويلا (Finizwīlā)
ckb: ڤەنەزوێلا / Venezwêla
fas: ونزوئلا / Venezoelâ / Venezuelâ
prs: وینزویلا (Vēnezūēlā)
pus: وېنزوېلا (Wenizūelā); ونزوېلا (Winizūelā)
uig: ۋېنېسۇئېلا / Wénésuéla / Венесуэла
urd: وینیزویلا (Venīzvelā); وینزویلا (Venizvelā)
div: ވެނެޒުއެލާ (Veneżu'elā)
heb: ונצואלה / וונצואלה (Venetsûʾelah)
lad: ב'יניזואילה / Venezuela
yid: װענעזװעלע (Venezvele)
amh: ቬኔዙዌላ (Venezuwela)
ell: Βενεζουέλα (Venezoyéla)
hye: Վենեսուելա (Venesouela)
kat: ვენესუელა (Venesuela)
hin: वेनेज़ुएला (Venezuelā); वेनेज़ुवेला (Venezuvelā)
ben: ভেনিজুয়েলা (Bʰenijuyelā); ভেনেজুয়েলা (Bʰenejuyelā)
pan: ਵੈਨੇਜ਼ੂਏਲਾ (Vænezūelā)
kan: ವೆನೆಜುಯೆಲ (Venejuyela)
mal: വെനിസ്വേല (Venisvēla); വെനസ്വേല (Venasvēla)
tam: வெனிசுலா (Veṉičulā); வெனிசுயேலா (Veṉičuyēlā)
tel: వెనిజ్వెలా (Venijvelā)
zho: 委内瑞拉 (Wēinèiruìlā)
jpn: ヴェネズエラ (Venezuera); ベネズエラ (Benezuera)
kor: 베네주엘라 (Benejuella); 베네수엘라 (Benesuella)
bod: ཝེ་ནེ་ཟུའེ་ལ་ (We.ne.zu'e.la.)
mya: ဗင္နီဇ္ဝဲလား (Bĩnizwɛ̀là)
tha: เวเนซูเอลา (Wēnēsū'ēlā); เวเนซุเอลา (Wēnēsu'ēlā)
lao: ເວເນຊູເອລາ (Vēnēsū'ēlā)
khm: វេណេហ្សុយអេឡា (Veṇehsuy'eḷā); វីណេហ្ស៊ូអេឡា (Vīṇehsū'eḷā)
Is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, 234 kilometres (145 mi) in length and as much as 80 kilometres (50 mi) in width, amounting to 11,100 km2. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 190 kilometres (120 mi) west of Hispaniola, the island harboring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Its indigenous Arawakan-speaking Taíno inhabitants named the island Xaymaca, meaning the "Land of Wood and Water", or the "Land of Springs".
Formerly a Spanish possession known as Santiago, it later became the British Crown colony of Jamaica. With 2.8 million people, it is the third most populous anglophone country in the Americas, after the United States and Canada. It remains a Commonwealth realm with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State. Kingston is the largest city in Jamaica and the country's capital.
History
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Jamaica
Geography
Please go to
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Jamaica
Other info
Oficial Name:
Jamaica
Independence:
August 6, 1962
Area:
10.991km2
Inhabitants:
3.600.000
Languages:
English [eng] Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
More information.
Jamaican Country Sign Language [jcs] Alternate names: Country Sign. Dialects: There is no standardized sign language, but 'Country Sign' differs from region to region. Classification: Deaf sign language
More information.
Jamaican Creole English [jam] 2,665,636 in Jamaica (2001). Population total all countries: 3,181,171. Also spoken in Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Panama, United Kingdom, USA. Alternate names: Patwa, Patois, Bongo Talk, Quashie Talk, Southwestern Caribbean Creole English. Dialects: The basilect (extreme varieties) and Standard English are inherently unintelligible to each other's speakers (Voegelin and Voegelin, LePage, Adler). It may be partly intelligible to speakers of Cameroon Pidgin and Krio of Sierra Leone, spoken by descendants of Jamaicans repatriated between 1787 and 1860. Inherently intelligible to speakers of creoles in Panama and Costa Rica. Reported to be very close to Belize Creole, close to Grenada, Saint Vincent, different from Tobago, very different from Guyana, Barbados, Leeward and Windward islands. Lexical similarity 25% with Guyanese, 13% with Belizean, 9% with Trinidadian, 8% with Barbadian, 5% with Nicaraguan. Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Western
Capital city:
Kingston
Meaning country name:
Taíno/Arawak Indian "Xaymaca" or "Hamaica", "Land of wood and water" or perhaps "Land of Springs".
Description Flag:
The flag of Jamaica was adopted on August 6, 1962 which was the original Jamaican Independence Day. The flag consists of the colours green, gold, and black. Black symbolises the strength and creativity of the Jamaican people. Gold represents sunlight and the country's natural wealth. Green represents hope for the future and agricultural richness. The flag is blazoned per saltire vert, sable, of the second, and of the first, a saltire Or.
Coat of arms:
Considered as a legacy from the British with slight modifications, the Jamaican Coat of Arms was granted to Jamaica in 1661 under Royal Warrant. The original was designed by William Sancroft, then Archbishop of Canterbury.
In giving consideration to what might have be the form of an appropriate Coat of Arms for an Independent Jamaica, both Government and the Opposition reached agreement in the following principle: the existing Arms (granted in 1661) constituted a “badge of great historical significance to the nation and should be retained”.
All the figures on the Arms represent Jamaica in different aspects: the pineapples -as the indigenous fruits, the Tainos – as the first inhabitants and the crocodile – as the indigenous reptile in the country. The use of the Royal Helmet and Mantlings is a unique distinction accorded Jamaica.
It is also stated that the original grant of arms was made in February 1662 not 1661. The latter year is an error owing to the change in 1752 from the old style of dating to the new(the New Year began on March 25 so that what was then 1661 would be 1662 to nowadays).
The Jamaica coat of Arms has seen quite a number of changes, but only three are officially recorded. These changes occurred in 1692, 1957 and 1962 respectively.
Motto:
"Out of many, one people"
National Anthem: Jamaica,Land we love you
Eternal Father, Bless our land
Guide us with thy mighty hand
Keep us free from evil powers
Be our light through countless hours
To our leaders, Great Defender,
Grant true wisdom from above
Justice, truth be ours forever
Jamaica, land we love
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love
Teach us true respect for all
Stir response to duty's call
Strengthen us the weak to cherish
Give us vision lest we perish
Knowledge send us, Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above
Justice, truth be ours forever
Jamaica, land we love
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love
Internet Page: www.my-island-jamaica.com
Jamaica in diferent languages
eng | cat | cym | dan | est | hau | ina | nld | nor | oci | por | ron | sme | spa | swe | vor: Jamaica
afr | bre | dsb | eus | fin | fry | hsb | hun | jav | lav | lit | mlg | smg | swa | tet: Jamaika
ces | hrv | pol | slk | slv: Jamajka
ita | lld | roh | scn: Giamaica
deu | ltz | nds: Jamaika / Jamaika
fra | jnf | nrm: Jamaïque
ast | glg: Xamaica
cor | wol: Jamayka
ind | msa: Jamaika / جامايكا
kaa | uzb: Yamayka / Ямайка
kin | run: Jamayika
arg: Chamaica
aze: Yamayka / Јамајка
bam: Zamayiki
bos: Jamajka / Јамајка
crh: Camayka / Джамайка
epo: Jamajko
fao: Jameika
frp: J•amayica
fur: Gjamaiche
gla: Iaimeuca
gle: Iamáice / Iamáice
glv: Yn Yamaicey
hat: Jamayik
ibo: Jameka
isl: Jamaíka
kmr: Yamayka / Йамайка / یامایکا; Yamayk / Йамайк / یامایک
kur: Cemayîka / جەماییکا
lat: Iamaica; Jamaica
lin: Jamaïke
mlt: Ġamajka
mol: Jamaica / Жамайка
pap: Hamaika
que: Shamayka
rmy: Jamaika / जामाइका
rup: Iamaica
slo: Jamaika / Йамаика
smo: Iamaika
som: Jameyka
sqi: Xhamajka
srd: Jamàica
tgl: Hamayka
ton: Samaika
tuk: Ýamaýka / Ямайка
tur: Jamaika; Jamayka
vie: Ha-mai-ca
vol: Camaykeän
wln: Djamayike
zza: Cameika
abq | alt | bul | che | chm | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | rus | tyv | udm | ukr: Ямайка (Jamajka)
bak |tat: Ямайка / Yamayka
bel: Ямайка / Jamajka
chv: Ямайкӑ (Jamajkă)
kaz: Ямайка / Yamayka / يامايكا
kbd: Ямайкэ (Jamajkă)
mkd: Јамајка (Jamajka)
mon: Ямайк (Jamajk)
oss: Ямайкӕ (Jamajkä)
srp: Јамајка / Jamajka
tgk: Ямайка / یمیکه / Jamajka
ara: جامايكا (Ǧāmāykā); جمايكا (Ǧamāykā); جاميكا (Ǧāmaykā)
fas: جامائیکا / Jâmâikâ; ژامائیک / Žâmâik
prs: جامایکا (Jāmāykā)
pus: جامايکا (Jāmāykā); جميکا (Jamaykā)
uig: يامايكا / Yamayka / Ямайка
urd: جمیکا (Jamekā)
div: ޖެމެއިކާ (Jeme'ikā)
heb: ג׳מיקה (Jameyqah / Jamayqah); ג׳אמאיקה (Jâmâyqah); ג׳אמייקה (Jâmayqah / Jâmeyqah); ג׳מייקה (Jameyqah)
lad: ז'אמאייקה / Jamayka
yid: יאַמײַקאַ (Yamayka)
amh: ጃማይካ (Jamayka)
ell-dhi: Τζαμάικα (Tzamáika)
ell-kat: Τζαμάϊκα (Tzamáïka); Ζαμάϊκα (Zamáïka); Ἰαμάϊκα (Iamáïka); Ἰαμαϊκή (Iamaïkī́)
hye: Յամայկա (Yamayka)
kat: იამაიკა (Iamaika)
hin: जमैका (Jamækā); जमाइका (Jamāikā)
ben: জামাইকা (Jāmāikā); জ্যামেকা (Jæmekā)
pan: ਜੈਮਾਈਕਾ (Jæmāīkā)
kan: ಜಮೈಕ (Jamaika)
mal: ജമൈക്ക (Jamaikka)
tam: ஜமேக்கா (Jamēkkā); ஜமைக்கா (Jamaikkā); ஜமைகா (Jamaikā)
tel: జమైకా (Jamaikā)
zho: 牙買加/牙买加 (Yámǎijiā)
jpn: ジャマイカ (Jamaika)
kor: 자마이카 (Jamaika); 자메이카 (Jameika)
bod: ཡ་མས་ཁ་ (Ya.mas.kʰa.)
dzo: ཇ་མའི་ཀ་ (Ja.ma'i.ka.)
mya: ဂ္ယမေကာ (Jámeka)
tha: จาเมกา (Čāmēkā)
khm: ហ្សាម៉ាអ៊ិគ (Hsāmā'ik); ចាម៉ៃកា (Čāmaikā)