Croatia
Overview |History | Geography | Economy | People | Current Event
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Overview
Croatia is a
well developed country in the Yugoslav republic. It is located in Southeastern
Europe in the Balkan Peninsula. Many events took place in Croatia to develop
who they are now. With their well developed manufacturing, they thrive
with importing and exporting and their economy has always been the most
developed in the Yugoslav repubic. The people in Croatia consist mainly
of Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes.
History
Many events occured leading
up to the independence of Croatia. In the sixth century, Croats began to
settle in the lower Danube Valley. Throughout the 900's and 1000's Croatia
flourished as an independent Kingdom. Croatia became a kingdom during the
10th century. Ladislas I of Hungary conquered Croatia in 1091. A union
was formed after about 1100 with Hungary lasting for 8 centuries. In 1526
and 1527, the Hasburgs gained control of a lot of Hungary and Croatia.
They created the Military Frontier where peasants were giving land in return
for military service. By the 18th century they Hasburgs were out of Croatia.
In 1867, Croatia became part of Austria-Hungary. In 1918, Croatia became
independent from its previous ties with Austria and Hungary. They united
with neighboring territories to form a new country. It would be the kingdom
of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, and later called Yugoslavia in 1929.
By 1941, Croatia had broke off and became a independent state again. In
1945, Croatia rejoined with Yugoslavia as a people's republic. In May of
1991, Serbia blocked the election of a Croat to the head position in the
presidency. By June, tension was formed. Croatia then declared its independence
from Yugoslavia and broke away from the federation. In August of 1991,
there was heavy fighting between the Croat Militia and ethnic Serbs living
in Croatia. Yugoslavia fought on the side with the Serbs. Within a few
months, Serbian forces, had taken over about 30 percent of Croatia's land.
In January of 1992, a cease fire ended most of the fighting but little
continued.
Independcnce in Croatia
In mid-1995 Croatian forces
began taking back the land seized by the Serbs. Peace was made between
the Croatian government and the leader of the Croatian-Serbs later that
year. An agreement with Yugoslavia was signed in 1996 to normalize relations.
Croatia joined the Council of Europe. In January 1998 the remaining land
seized by the Croatian-Serbs was reunited with Croatia. The 2000 elections
brought social democrats to power. After centuries and centuries of going
back and forth with independence, Croatia now had found theirs.
Geography
Map of Croatia
People
In Croatia, most people belong
to a Slavia group called Croats. 78% of the inhabitants are Croats, 12%
are Serbian, followed by Slovenes, Italians, and Magyars. Present day Croats
are descended from Slavic tribes that bagan to settle in Croatia in AD
600's. The estimated 2000 population is 4,282,216. The population grows
at .93%. There are approximately 196 people per square mile. The counties
population consists of 54% urban and 46% rural. Life expectancy for males
is 70 years old. Females are expected to live to 78 years. There are about
2 doctors per 1000 people. They speak Croatian, the official language.
96% of the population speak Croatian, 4% speak other languages such as
Itatlian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German. Croatian is written in
Latin Script. The people follow the Roman Catholic Church. 76.5% follow
the Roman Catholic religion, 11.1% follow the Orthodox religion, and 1.2%
are Muslim. Age appropriate populaton enrolled in education levels: Primary:
87%, Secondary: 82%, Further: 28%.
Croatia's culture is influenced by other countries and art and literature. Dominant cultural influences are from Western Europe. Architecture and urban design of dalmatian city states such as Dubrovnik shows the influence of the Italian Renaissance and the Venetian Republic. Art and Literature in the 19th century followed th dominant European trends on romanticism, realism, impressionism, and secessionism. The best known 20th century Croatian writer is Miroslav Krleza. Her works depict society and culture in the years of the Hadsburg monarchy. The most famous Croatian sculpter of the 20th century is Ivan Mestrovic.
Star
Player: Alen Boksic
Alen Boksic is a Croatian football player. He
stars the World Cup team. He was born on January 31, 1970. He's 1.87 meters
tall and weighs 81kg. He has played in the 1990 World Cup finals. He debuted
in the Yugoslavian divison at Hajduk Split in 1987 at 17 years old. He
quickly became a star of the team. After a sucessful season of 1989-90
scoring 12 goals, he was chosen by Yugoslav national coach Ivica Osim for
the squad. He didn't get to play a game though that season. His 1992-93
season turned out much better. He was put in and became the country's top
scorer, making 23 goals that season. He won the league championship that
year. The club experienced severe financial problems and Boksic was sold
for £5 million to an Italian team in October 1993. After 3 years
in Rome, he swtiched to Juentus. He spent 1 season in Turin and then returned
to Lazio in the summer of 1997. 3 summers later Alen picked up his first
and only title with Lazio. In August 2000, he went to his current club,
Middlesbrough for £2.5 million.
Current
Event
Article: Croatia Remembers Tito
Author of Article: unknown
Date of Article: May 25, 2002
Source: CNN Online: www.cnn.com
In Kumrovec, Croatia, about 2,000 people have celebrated the 110th anniversary of the former Yugolsvav leader Josip Tito. Crowds gathered to honor the man who united federal Yugoslavia after World War II. Tito ruled Yugoslavia as a dictatorship until his death on May 4, 1980. On Saturday's anniversary he was remembered as a man who led the ethnic, six-nation federation on a road between Western capitalism and the communist East. Many are very proud to have spent their lives with Tito. Mate Grubisa told The Associated Press, "I am very proud I have spend a part of my life with Tito." Many speeches and poems were recited by soldiers and children sand songs dedicated tot the leader. Tito's speeches from the past were heard on loudspeakers. When Tito died, an outburst of nationalism in Yugoslavia broke out contributing to its bloody fragmentation. Four republics have broken away: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Montenegro, and the Serbian province of Kosovo.
World
Cup Information
Croatia hopes to do well in
the World Cup this year. Alen Boksic and Robert Prosinecki are trying to
prove they have life in them and are surrounded by a promising new generation.
Three of Croatia's old campaigners went to Asia with more hope than expectation.
They need official competition to show what they're really capable of this
year. Fans and press are worried about the renewal process and the loss
of some players, like Tomislav Sokota with an Achilles' injury. Other players
are fearing injury. Strength is held around Robert Jarni and Kovac brothers
because of their physical power. Croatia has had a good start since 1998.
It looks like Croatia has a good fate this year.
Visit the official website of the 2002 World Cup