New states are being formed before our eyes - mainly due to the collapse of old empires. In the ranking of 7 countries that disappeared in the 20th century, we did not include the well-known Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, East Germany, Czechoslovakia. It is much more interesting to find out which other countries have recently ceased to exist.
Austro-hungary
After the end of the First World War, many countries suffered. Some found themselves alone with the economic crisis, others lost part of their territories, but only Austria-Hungary was torn to shreds.
After the collapse of this empire, new countries appeared on the map of Europe - Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Several more regions were subsequently annexed to Italy, Poland and Romania.
Why did Austria-Hungary expect such a final, while neighboring Germany was able to resist disintegration? The main reasons for the disappearance of a strong country were:
- internal conflicts between different peoples living in the territory of Austria-Hungary;
- disunity of people on linguistic issues and beliefs;
- poor state of the economy.
That is why, in 1918, each of the ethnic groups decided to move their own way.
Tibet
The region known throughout the world as Tibet has been around for about a millennium. True, Tibet officially became a separate state only in 1913 and existed in this status for 38 years - until 1951.
Tibet was unlucky to have a rather aggressive communist China as a neighbor, which decided that such a territory "is needed by itself." Throughout the 1950s, China established its own order in Tibet. This continued until 1959, when the locals rebelled against the invaders. Then the Chinese dissolved the local government and turned Tibet into one of their own provinces.
Tibetans are still trying to argue with the official Beijing, defending their independence.
South Vietnam
In 1954, the French colonialists left Indochina, and Vietnam split into two parts - South and North. The border ran along the 17th parallel. North Vietnam came under the influence of China and the Soviet Union, the South began to be supported by the United States of America.
On the territory of modern Vietnam, wars broke out between the North and the South every now and then. The United States here openly fought against the guerrillas of North Vietnam. As a result, the Americans, having lost about half a million people, withdrew their troops from the country in 1973. Left without US military support, the South was conquered by the northerners after 2 years.
The state of South Vietnam ceased to exist. Its capital Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam is now a socialist country.
United Arab Republic
Under this name, in 1958-1971, there were two countries - Egypt and Syria. They were united at the insistence of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, a socialist who is looking for ways to oppose Israel. The creation of the United Arab Republic at that time seemed effective and expedient.
The new state did not last long and, as analysts believe, was initially doomed to disintegration. Egypt and Syria were far from each other, and their leaders could not agree on different issues. They failed to defeat Israel even by joint efforts.
In 1961, a revolution took place in Syria, and this country seceded from the UAR. From that moment on, Egypt alone was called the United Arab Republic.
This continued until 1971, when a new union of three states appeared - Egypt, Syria and Libya. The UAR ceased to exist.
Ottoman Empire
One of the most powerful and influential states in the world - the Ottoman Empire - lasted more than 6 centuries. At the beginning of the 20th century, it no longer resembled a splendid state, which it was before 1683. In those days, she occupied a huge space from Morocco to the Persian Gulf and from Sudan to Hungary.
In 1908, a gradual disintegration of the empire began. Taking the side of the losers in the First World War, she lost Egypt, Sudan and Palestine, which were immediately taken up by England. The French took patronage over the former Turkish possessions - Syria and Lebanon.
Before the hostilities that shook the whole of Europe, part of the Ottoman Empire went to Austria-Hungary and Italy.
In 1922, the Ottoman Empire finally disintegrated, and a new country appeared on the world map - Turkey.
Sikkim
The small monarchy of Sikkim has existed since the 8th century AD. NS. until 1975, that is, it was older than the Ottoman Empire. She was in the Himalayas, between India and Tibet, which now belongs to China.
The inhabitants of Sikkim constantly defended themselves from the attacks of their neighbors - Bhutanese, Nepalese, Chinese. As a result, the local prime minister (and the absolute monarchy in Sikkim was eradicated in 1955) asked for the patronage of India. Since 1975, Sikkim has been one of the Indian states.
Despite its diminutive size, Sikkim is famous for the fact that there is no single language. Here they communicate in 4 languages and a bunch of dialects. Another feature of Sikkim is the absence of large cities. Only 50 thousand people live in the largest settlement.
It will freeze
After another redistribution of Europe in 1815, 2 countries - the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and Prussia - began to argue over who should receive a small triangular section on the border. On this site were the villages of Moresnet, Novy Moresnet and Kelmis. Next to the latter was a zinc mine.
It was possible to swear, to figure out who was right and who was not, so the Netherlands and Prussia divided everything in a brotherly way: Moresnet became Dutch, New Moresnet became Prussian, and Kelmis and the mine were recognized by the state of Moresnet, the so-called neutral territory area 3.5 km, which was ruled by both states.
Moresnet existed until 1920. Esperanto was recognized as the official language of this tiny country, and they paid in francs. Moresnet is now part of Belgium.
