Europe¶
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Albania¶- Coins
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After the collapse of the Roman empire, Albania was overrun by Goths, Byzantines, Venetians, and Turks. In 1443 the hero Skanderbeg established independence. It wasn't long-lived though -- the Turks were back 25 years later and Albania remained a part of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years. There was an independence revolt in 1912, Italy moved in during 1939, Germany took a turn in 1943, and communists took over the following year. They hung on until 1992 before getting the boot.
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Andorra¶- Coins
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Andorra is a very tiny country on the slopes of the Pyrenees Mountains on the border of France and Spain. Luckily, it's on the sunny side of the mountains. Tradition says that Charlemagne granted Andorra independence in 806 for their help battling the Moors. The French and Spanish apparently respected that and the Andorrans enough to cooperate and share the task of looking out for Andorra. They started this cooperative task in 1278, and apparently continue to this day.
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Austria¶- Coins
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Austria is in central Europe and has lots of mountains. The area was part of the Roman Empire, and was later overrun with various peoples (Huns, Rugii, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Bavarii, Avars, and Franks, in that order). Around the middle of the thirteenth century, German King Rudolf I of Hapsburg gave the area to his boys, and the 'Hapsburgs' ruled Austria into the twentieth century. There was a bit of messing around in World War I, then again in World War II, when Austria became part of Germany in 1938. The Allied Forces occupied the country after the war until 1955, when Austria became an independent Republic sworn to neutrality. Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and the Euro monetary system in 1999. Austria is a representative democracy.
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Belgium¶- Coins
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Belgium has been the site of many battles through the years between the European powers, earning it the nickname "the cockpit of Europe." Upheavals in the area can be traced back to the first century BCE, when the Roman Republic took over the area. Belgium is linguistically divided with Dutch dominant in the north and French in the south. There is also a German-speaking minority in the east. This has resulted in many heated and divisive political debates. The largest diamond trading centre in the world is located in Antwerp in the north. Belgium was one of the founding members of the European Union and is the site of its headquarters.
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Bulgaria¶- Coins
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Bulgaria is one of Europe's oldest countries. The kingdom of Bulgaria was established in 681 when the Bulgars, a tribe from Asia, moved in and merged with the local populations. A significant European power by the ninth century, Bulgaria had some ups and downs with the Byzantine Empire before being overrun by the Ottoman Empire at the end of the 14th century. By 1908, Bulgaria was a fully independent kingdom again. Shortly after, it became involved in the Balkan Wars, then fought on the losing side in both world wars. It is important to note that Bulgaria refused to comply with Germany's 1943 resolution to deport all Jews to Auschwitz. Instead, Bulgaria choose to protect and save the 50,000 Jewish members of the community. After WWII, Bulgaria fell into the Soviet camp, where it remained until 1990 when multi-party elections were held. Bulgaria is set to join the European Union on January 1, 2007.
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Croatia¶- Coins
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Croatia was part of Hungary until it helped found the "Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes" in 1918. It wasn't until 1929 that they came up with a slightly shorter name: Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Hitler proceeded to crush Yugoslavia after a coup overthrew the pro-Nazi regime, and the area of Croatia became a fascist puppet-state called the Independent State of Croatia. By 1947, Croatia was once again part of the Yugoslav Republic. Croatia declared independence in 1991, and spent the next five years bitterly fighting with both Yugoslavia and separtists within its own borders. The end of the fight saw prominent officials in charge of Croatian offensives charged with crimes against humanity. In 1998, the UN helped to peacefully unite the rest of the country. Croatia has a rich cultural heritage stretching over 1,300 years. Nikola Tesla, the inventor of wireless radio and AC electricity, was a Croatian. Croatia is a rich source of art, literature, music, and the home of the necktie.
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Danzig¶- Coins
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Freie Stadt Danzig -- Free City of Danzig -- today is the city of Gdansk, Poland's sixth largest city and most important port on the Baltic Sea. The city is at the mouth of the Mot?awa river, part of a waterway that connects 60% of Poland's land. Its history is long and colourful and worth reading (link below). Here are some key points: The original city first gained autonomy in the early 13th century when it was granted by Swantopolk II of Pomerania. It thrived, but was the site of a massacre in 1308, when the Teutonic Knights reduced most of the city to rubble. The 16th and 17th century were the golden age for Gadansk, with thriving trade and development of a rich culture. Wars in the 18th century messed things up significantly. The city became part of Prussia in 1793 and remained Prussian until 1919, except for a few short years (1807-1815) when it became autonomous for the second time as the Free City of Danzig. Following World War I the League of Nations made Gdansk the Free City of Danzig once again. Unfortunately, the city became a flash-point for World War II, offering the pretext for German invasion. It is estimated that 90% of the city was destroyed and 40% of the pre-war population killed due to the war. Toward the end, the Red Army occupied the city. With Soviet backing, Poland proceeded to kick out all the Germans once the war had ended. The old city was rebuilt in the 1960s and 70s. In 1970, anti-government demonstrations in Gdansk lead to the fall of Poland's communist leader. A decade later, it was the birthplace of the Solidarity movement that saw the fall of communist party rule. Solidarity's leader, Lech Wa??sa went on to become the president of Poland. Gdansk is still working on building back some of its rich cultural heritage.
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France¶- Coins
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France is a founding member of both the United Nations and the European Union. With a territory stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel, it is the largest country in the European Union, and the fifth largest economy on earth. The area of France is very close the area of ancient Gaul. This same area was ruled by Charlemagne's descendents from 843 to 987. After that, a series of dynasties consolidated and strengthened the area until it reached its peak in the 17th century under the reign of Louis XIV. Louis -- the Sun King -- reigned over France for 72 years (1643-1715). Actually, he was four years old at the start, so he didn't really get going until after his 21st birthday, but he made up for lost time by consolidating his power by reducing the power of others, including the church and the nobility. Louis' extravagances, along with a series of costly wars, started the slide from the peak that finally brought the monarchy to an end with the French Revolution in 1792. Only seven years into the First Republic, Napoleon came on the scene and siezed power not only of France but many of its neighbours. It would take until 1815 to put him down. France then tried monarchy again, and went through a series of Republics and two world wars before arriving at the present day Fifth Republic founded by Charles de Gaulle in 1958. Since then, France has helped strengthen and unify Europe, particularly through its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany, although these goals were set back in 2005 when French citizens voted against the European Constitution.
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Germany, 3rd Reich¶- Coins
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The Third Reich -- or Nazi Germany -- refers to Germany under Hitler and the Nazi Party between 1933-1945. The reasons for Hitler's rise to power are too complex for discussion here, but few would argue that the legacy is one of the darkest marks in the history of mankind.
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Gibraltar¶- Coins
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Gibraltar is 6.4 sq.km. British colony located on the southern most tip of Spain at the western opening to the Mediterranean Sea. It is this location that gives it stategic significance, and has caused many scuffles over its possession. Gibraltar was first fortified by the Muslims who took it from Spain in 711. It would take until 1309 for Spain to get it back, only to lose it 24 years later to the Moors. This time, it only took Spain 123 years to get it back and they hung on until 1704, when they lost it to British and Dutch forces during the Spanish War of Succession. Britain has hung onto Gibraltar ever since. Apparently Spain has tried to take it back by being not-so-nice to the inhabitants of Gibraltar, but it didn't work out too well. In 1967 the inhabitants of Gibraltar voted 12,138 to 44 to remain under British rule. A little upset with the result, Spain completely closed the border and severed all communications. It would take until 1985 for the border to be fully reopened. Later talks suggested joint sovereignty between Spain and the UK, but Gibraltar voters rejected that idea, this time by 17,900 votes to 187. Geographically, Gibraltar is a fabulous rock rising out of the Mediterranean and is identified in Greek Mythology as one of the pillars of Hercules.
