Host Community Information
Hungary has long been an integral part of Europe -- first as a monarchy for nearly 1,000 years, then as a Communist state, and finally a democracy. Its constitutional system preceded by several centuries the establishment of Western-style governments in other European countries.
The region that now comprises Hungary was once part of the ancient Roman province of Pannonia. Situated on the periphery of the Roman Empire, the region was among the first to fall to the Germanic tribes that began to seize the Roman dominions in the closing years of the 2nd century AD. The Germanic tribes were later driven from the region by the Huns. Numerous warring tribes occupied the region for hundreds of years until a new era began with the first millennium.
Struggles for the throne and pagan revolts bred instability in the country for another stretch of several hundred years leading to the French Revolution. A nationalistic struggle followed until the Hungarian government accepted the Treaty of Trianon, which was part of the World War I peace settlements. The treaty stripped about two-thirds of Hungary's territory, including Transylvania, Croatia, and Slovakia. The country was communist until 1990, when a multiparty parliament arose. Hungary entered the European Union in 2004.
