Captivating History - History of Eastern Europe: A Captivating Guide to a Shortened History of Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Moldova, Belarus, and Romania

Many people might have trouble pointing out an Eastern European country on a map. Their idea of Europe is limited to Western Europe, which is home to global powerhouses like Great Britain, France, and Germany. Between Western Europe and Asia lies Eastern Europea region with fascinating histories and thriving cultures. So, why is it so difficult to conjure up ideas of Eastern Europe?

The idea of Eastern Europe is actually a modern concept.

That isnt the only reason Eastern Europe is hard to define. The region has always been a neutral zone between the worlds greatest empires. At any point in history, Eastern Europe was surrounded by or occupied by the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Russian, German, and Habsburg empires, just to name a few. On several occasions, it tried to break free of the shackles of its powerful neighbors, with varying degrees of success and failure.

Despite Western attempts to lump them into a one-size-fits-all box, the countries of Eastern Europe have unique histories that make up a part of who the Eastern Europeans are. For example, Polish history is different from the Czech experience. Hungarian history is different from Romanian history. Yet, there are several themes throughout the regions history that unite the Eastern European experience as a common one.

A physical map of Europe. (Pixnio.com)

Defining Eastern Europe is not as easy as circling a region on a map. History, economics, and culture are all elements that define a nation, let alone a region. However, considering the map above, Eastern Europe seems easier to locate when compared to the whole of Europe. Generally, Eastern Europe is considered to be the region between Western Europe and Asia. However, Eastern Europe has its own political and geographical limits that play a crucial role in its history.

According to the map above, the division between Western Europe and Eastern Europe is clearly visible. Western Europe is defined by powerhouses like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. These countries are also much larger than countries one generally finds to the east.

East of Western Europe is a collection of smaller states, with a few larger ones mixed in. This book will attempt to lay out the major differences and similarities that define Eastern Europe, but it is important to know what countries and landmarks are considered Eastern.

The eastern border of Germany and Italy draws an imaginary line between what is considered Western Europe and Eastern Europe. From north to south, the region is blocked in from Scandinavia to Greece. The Baltic Sea makes up the northwestern limits, while the Adriatic Sea, the Aegean Sea, and the Black Sea make a U around the southern limits. Some may think that the eastern border of Eastern Europe may lie at Russia, that Russia is a region unto itself, but this country has had such an impact on Eastern European history that it cant be considered anything but Eastern European.

What about the spaces in between? Eastern Europe is its own region, yet it has subregions within it. Beginning in the north, the Baltic states lie to the east of the Baltic Sea. These include Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Moving to the south are the Central Eastern European states: Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary. Polands borders have changed throughout its history, as it was a battleground for the empires that surrounded it. The Czech Republic and Slovakia came from Czechoslovakia, just as Austria and Hungary were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, the center of the Habsburg dynasty, would become a major player in Eastern European history.

Central Eastern Europe lies between the Baltic states and Southeastern Europe. Southeastern Europe includes the Balkan Peninsula, which is usually referred to as the Balkans. The southern borders of Austria, Hungary, and Ukraine form the northernmost limits of Southeastern Europe. From north to south, this region includes Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Greece.