Slovakia became an independent state in January 1993 after Czechoslovakia split into its two constituent parts.
Slovakia has a long history, it was settled by the Celts around 450 BC . Silver coins which depict the Celtic emperors have been found in the area. Samo Empire, named after the Frankish merchant was the first organized state in the region known as Slovakia today. According to archaeological findings Slovakia was invaded by Romans in 6 A.D. It was in the 9th century that the Great Moravian Empire came into being integrating parts of present-day Slovakia. After that Slovakia remained a part of the Hungarian kingdom and then the Habsburg Empire. When the Magyars (Hungarians) moved to Slovakia at the end of the 9th century, they did not treat Slovaks well for centuries. It was not until the 13th century that it started witnessing some development. Slovakia’s history reveals that it has experienced foreign dominance from Hungary, Germany, the Soviet Union and then the Czech Republic. Ever since its invasion Slovakia has struggled to be recognized as a nation state. 19th century saw a Slovak National Awakening within the country and the cause for a separate Slovak State took its roots. During the World War I, Slovaks joined Czechs, to push for independence from Austria-Hungary. In October 1915, an agreement known as the Cleveland Agreement was signed and it was in 1918 a federal state Czecho-Slovak Republic came into being.
From here started the united Slovak/Czech history. The Czech lands were more economically developed putting them in a strong position and they dominated politics as well. After the end of World War II, the Czechoslovak Republic remained a communist dictatorship for 41 years. The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia did not allow any official opposition parties and no one was allowed to speak against the government for risk of persecution. Public opinion and rebels were suppressed; books and movies which had any negative implication towards the regime were banned. All schools, media and businesses were under state control.
In November 1989 came the turning point, after the Berlin Wall had come down the Czechs and Slovaks rose up against the Communists in mass protest. Giving in to pressure and realizing that without the support of Moscow the communist government could not continue it decided to resign.Four decades of dictatorship ended in 1989 with the Velvet Revolution. The name ‘Velvet revolution’ was given because of the fact that the Czechs and Slovaks managed to successfully overthrow the Communist government without any bloodshed.
Over four decades of totalitarianism in Slovakia ended with the Velvet Revolution of 1989. The authoritarian part of Europe was 'only' separated from the free world by the well-guarded river.
A few years after the Velvet Revolution Slovakia still found itself at a disadvantage. The four decades of industrialization had left its impact landing Slovakia with a defense oriented industry, rising unemployment and economic problems. The Czech on the other hand had a better economic scenario.
The economic disparity of course lead to differences about the division of power which gave birth to the idea of two separate sovereign states. On January 1st 1993 that the two republics finally split into two independent countries, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. This opened a new chapter of history for Slovakia from where it started its journey towards a democratic country. In 2004 Slovakia became the member of NATO and the European Union which has opened new doors for Slovakia.
