Since 1848 the Swiss Confederation has been a federal republic of relatively autonomous cantons, some of which have a history of
federation that goes back more than 700 years, putting them among the world's oldest surviving republics.
The early history of the region is tied to that of Alpine culture. Switzerland was inhabited by the Helvetii, and it came under Roman rule in the 1st century BC. The Gallo-Roman culture was amalgamated with Germanic influence during Late Antiquity, with the eastern part of Switzerland becoming Alemannic territory. The area of Switzerland was incorporated into the Frankish Empire in the 6th century. In the High Middle Ages, the eastern part became part of the Duchy of Swabia within the Holy Roman Empire, while the western part was part of Burgundy.
The Old Swiss Confederacy in the Late Middle Ages (the Eight Cantons)
established its independence from the House of Habsburg and the Duchy of Burgundy, and in the Italian Wars gained territory south of the Alps from the Duchy of Milan. The Swiss Reformation divided the Confederacy and resulted in a drawn-out history of internal strife between the Thirteen Cantons in the Early Modern period.
In the wake of the French Revolution, Switzerland fell to a French invasion in 1798 and was reformed into the Helvetic Republic, a French client state. Napoleon's Act of Mediation in 1803 restored the status of Switzerland as a Confederation, and after the end of the Napoleonic period, the Swiss Confederation underwent a period of turmoil culminating in a brief civil war in 1847 and the creation of a federal constitution in 1848.
The history of Switzerland since 1848 has been largely one of success and prosperity. Industrialisation transformed the traditional agricultural economy, and Swiss neutrality during the World Wars and the success of the banking industry furthered the ascent of Switzerland to its status as one of the world's most stable economies.
Switzerland signed a free-trade agreement with the European Economic Community in 1972 and has participated in the process of European integration by way of bilateral treaties, but it has notably resisted full accession to the European Union (EU) even though its territory almost completely (except for the microstate Liechtenstein) has been surrounded by EU member states since 1995. In 2002, Switzerland joined the United Nations.
and 29 Related for: History of Switzerland information
Since 1848 the Swiss Confederation has been a federal republic of relatively autonomous cantons, some of which have a historyof federation that goes...
The early historyofSwitzerland begins with the earliest settlements up to the beginning of Habsburg rule, which in 1291 gave rise to the independence...
economic historyofSwitzerland shows the long-term transition from a poor rural economy to a world leader in finance with a very high standard of living...
the historyofSwitzerland since 1848. See Early Modern Switzerland for the Early Modern period, Switzerland in the Napoleonic era for the period of 1798–1814...
The military historyofSwitzerland comprises centuries of armed actions, and the role of the Swiss military in conflicts and peacekeeping worldwide. Despite...
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to the east. Switzerland is geographically divided among the Swiss Plateau, the Alps and the Jura; the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory...
The historyof the Jews in Switzerland extends back at least a thousand years. Jews and Judaism have been present in the territory of what is now Switzerland...
relations ofSwitzerland are the primary responsibility of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Some international relations ofSwitzerland are...
represents Switzerland in men's international football. The national team is controlled by the Swiss Football Association. Switzerland's best performances...
This is a timeline ofSwisshistory, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Switzerland and its predecessor states...
Swiss citizenship is the status of being a citizen ofSwitzerland and it can be obtained by birth or naturalisation. The Swiss Citizenship Law is based...
The English name ofSwitzerland is a compound containing Switzer, an obsolete term for the Swiss, which was in use during the 16th to 19th centuries....
The 26 cantons ofSwitzerland are the member states of the Swiss Confederation. The nucleus of the Swiss Confederacy in the form of the first three confederate...
The government ofSwitzerland is a federal state with direct democracy. The legislative branch is the Federal Assembly. The Federal Assembly has two parts:...
Switzerland, a country which has long held a stance of neutrality in its relations with other nations, has not been immune to the movement of equality...
World War II, Switzerland maintained armed neutrality, and was not invaded by its neighbors, in part because of its topography, much of which is mountainous...
Swiss neutrality is one of the main principles ofSwitzerland's foreign policy which dictates that Switzerland is not to be involved in armed conflicts...
ofSwitzerlandHistoryof Geneva Historyof rail transport in SwitzerlandHistoryof the Swiss Air Force Military historyofSwitzerland Culture of Switzerland...
Swiss Americans are Americans ofSwiss descent. Swiss emigration to America predates the formation of the United States, notably in connection with the...
Swiss cuisine (German: Schweizer Küche, French: cuisine suisse, Italian: cucina svizzera, Romansh: cuschina svizra) is an ensemble of national, regional...
The four national languages ofSwitzerland are German, French, Italian, and Romansh. German, French, and Italian maintain equal status as official languages...
cane, originate from outside Switzerland, the actual production of the chocolate must take place in Switzerland. Switzerland's chocolates have earned an...
revolutionary armies marched eastward, enveloping Switzerland in their battles against Austria. In 1798, Switzerland was completely overrun by the French and was...
The Swiss mercenaries (German: Reisläufer) were a powerful infantry force constituted by professional soldiers originating from the cantons of the Old...
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