Budapest and its surrounding areas have been inhabited since the Roman ages, when the city of Aquincum was raised by the Danube providing headquarters and thermal water springs for soldiers. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the area became less populous. From the 13th century on, the city of Buda has served as an administrative center, whereas Pest, on the other side of the Danube, operated as a harbor and a commercial hub. During the Ottoman occupation, Buda was still home to the pasha, and remained the capital of Hungary after the country’s reunification.
As for the 20th century, the city had to survive tough times. The flourishing development halted when World War I broke out, since Budapest’s economy suffered a lot from the tragic repercussions of the Trianon-treaty. During World War II, Budapest remained unharmed until 1944, but then the German and Soviet siege came, and the city was almost totally demolished. Despite the horrifying consequences of the Nazi genocide, Budapest still has the highest number of Jewish citizens per capita among major European cities.
The decay caused by WW2 even deepened under the neglecting dictatorship. In 1956, Budapest was the core of the Hungarian uprising against Soviet oppression, but, following a few revolutionary weeks, soviet tanks and soldiers cruelly suppressed the free-spirited movement, causing even more damage to the city.
During the consolidation, Budapest was filled with typical elements of Eastern-European socialist architecture: victorious mega-statues and Communist housing complexes have mushroomed in the outskirts.
The political changes encouraged business people to invest in the country, and joining the European Union boosted the economy, bringing wealth and prosperity to Budapest.
Mensa HungarIQa 2018 © All Rights Reserved