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|Topic Type=Background | |Topic Type=Background | ||
|Background=History | |Background=History | ||
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| link1=[[Belgium Genealogy|Belgium]] | | link1=[[Belgium Genealogy|Belgium]] | ||
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= | === Political and Administrative History === | ||
== History == | |||
The Flemish (Dutch) speaking peoples of Belgium are closely related to those speaking Germanic languages in other countries. The French or Walloon speaking peoples are associated with the populations of France and Luxembourg. The Belgae, a Celtic people, were overrun by the Franks, a Germanic stock. | The Flemish (Dutch) speaking peoples of Belgium are closely related to those speaking Germanic languages in other countries. The French or Walloon speaking peoples are associated with the populations of France and Luxembourg. The Belgae, a Celtic people, were overrun by the Franks, a Germanic stock. | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium] | [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium] | ||
== Population Statistics == | === Population Statistics === | ||
The population of Belgium passed the half million mark in AD 1100. It increased steadily and reached 1.3 million in 1350 when the plague reduced the population by about one third. In the 16th century the Dutch revolted against Spanish rule and many Belgians left for the Netherlands, resulting in a stagnant population in Belgium. With the Industrial Revolution population began to pick up and had reached 3.25 million by 1800. By 1900 it had jumped to 6.8 million, and today includes 10.2 million inhabitants. Ethnic groups include Flemish (Dutch) 58%, Walloon (French) 32%, Italian (2%), German (1%), Polish, Spanish, African and others. Over 900,000 foreigners currently reside in Belgium, mostly from southern Europe and Africa. | The population of Belgium passed the half million mark in AD 1100. It increased steadily and reached 1.3 million in 1350 when the plague reduced the population by about one third. In the 16th century the Dutch revolted against Spanish rule and many Belgians left for the Netherlands, resulting in a stagnant population in Belgium. With the Industrial Revolution population began to pick up and had reached 3.25 million by 1800. By 1900 it had jumped to 6.8 million, and today includes 10.2 million inhabitants. Ethnic groups include Flemish (Dutch) 58%, Walloon (French) 32%, Italian (2%), German (1%), Polish, Spanish, African and others. Over 900,000 foreigners currently reside in Belgium, mostly from southern Europe and Africa. | ||
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The capital is Brussels (pop. 950,500), which is officially bilingual. Other important cities include Antwerp (pop. 453,000), Ghent (225,500), Charleroi (205,000), and Liege (189,500). The metropolitan areas of each of these cities is much larger. | The capital is Brussels (pop. 950,500), which is officially bilingual. Other important cities include Antwerp (pop. 453,000), Ghent (225,500), Charleroi (205,000), and Liege (189,500). The metropolitan areas of each of these cities is much larger. | ||
===Timeline=== | |||
==Timeline== | |||
1568 - 1648 - The Eighty Years' War divided the Low Countries into the northern United Provinces Federated Netherlands and the Southern Netherlands the Royal Netherlands. The latter were ruled successively by the Spanish and the Austrian Habsburgs and comprised most of modern Belgium<br> | 1568 - 1648 - The Eighty Years' War divided the Low Countries into the northern United Provinces Federated Netherlands and the Southern Netherlands the Royal Netherlands. The latter were ruled successively by the Spanish and the Austrian Habsburgs and comprised most of modern Belgium<br> | ||
1815 - The reunification of the Low Countries as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands occurred at the dissolution of the First French Empire<br> | 1815 - The reunification of the Low Countries as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands occurred at the dissolution of the First French Empire<br> | ||
1898 - French was originally the single official language until Dutch recognition became official in 1898<br> | 1898 - French was originally the single official language until Dutch recognition became official in 1898<br> | ||
1914 - Germany invaded as part of the Schlieffen Plan to attack France, and much of the Western Front fighting of World War I occurred in western parts of the country<br> | 1914 - Germany invaded as part of the Schlieffen Plan to attack France, and much of the Western Front fighting of World War I occurred in western parts of the country<br> | ||
1940 - German forces again invaded the country and 40,690 Belgians, over half of them Jews, were killed during the subsequent occupation and The Holocaust | 1940 - German forces again invaded the country and 40,690 Belgians, over half of them Jews, were killed during the subsequent occupation and The Holocaust<br> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
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