History of Vienna

History of Vienna

Vienna was founded about 500 BC. Initially, it was a Celtic settlement, but in 15 BC played the role of the Roman frontier post. It guarded security of the Roman Empire against invasions of tribes from the north.

Vienna received city rights in 1221. In the Middle Ages it was ruled by the dynasty of Babenbergs. When, in 1440 the Habsburgs took power, the city became the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, the seat of a bishopric, an important cultural and scientific center.

In the middle of the sixteenth century it was begun to build fortifications. These walls were supposed to protect the inhabitants of the city from the Turkish invasions. In the sixteenth and seventeenth century, twice managed to repel the Turks (including help of Poland).

The following years were not kind to Vienna. Suffice it to say that the epidemic ravaged the city – were killed 70 thousand humans. Card turned for the better in the eighteenth century. Then started to be “golden period” in the history of this city. There has been a rapid expansion of trade, industry, culture and art. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, there was held the Congress of Vienna. Participants of the meeting agreed on a completely new order in Europe.

When the power took over Franz Joseph I, was created the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. At the time, it created a lot of elegant buildings that we can see so far.
After World War I, Vienna became the capital of the Republic of Austria.

Unfortunately, World War II had degraded it to the role of the provincial town on the borders of the Reich. Only after the war Vienna once again became the capital of Austria, but to the the ’70s was divided into zones of occupation.