Austria - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
168
Austria - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781787022386 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Kuperard |
| Publication date: | 09/01/2017 |
| Series: | Culture Smart! , #87 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 168 |
| File size: | 4 MB |
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CHAPTER 1
LAND & PEOPLE
Austria is a small, landlocked country whose influence has far exceeded its size. The impact of Austrian musicians, artists, and thinkers on European culture has been profound, and its cultural life, even now, draws tourists from far and wide. Its magnificent mountain setting is famous for winter sports. Beautiful in all seasons, and with an enviable quality of life, it is a highly desirable country in which to live and work.
Austria has worked hard to find a role in the modern world. The collapse of Communism in Europe has allowed it once again to engage with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Eight million people live in Austria today. Who are they? What has shaped them, and how do they differ from their German and other neighbors?
GEOGRAPHICAL SNAPSHOT
Austria has a strategic location in the Alps, at the crossroads of Central Europe, with many easily traversable passes and valleys. It covers an area of 32,340 sq. miles (83,871 sq. km), and shares borderswith Germany and Czechia to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Liechtenstein and Switzerland to the west. Since 1945 most of its eastern and southern neighbors have suffered from civil unrest, sometimes erupting in revolution. Because of the boundary changes imposed by international agreements, some German-speaking groups found themselves in a minority in another country, for example in South Tyrol (Northern Italy), Czechia, and Hungary. And Austria today, a German-speaking country, still has minorities of Slovenes and Croats. Vienna and the surrounding regions still enjoy a pan-European attitude to the world, embracing the cultures of former Habsburg lands. If you visit an Austrian town or city today you will hear a multitude of languages, as well as German spoken with many a foreign intonation.
The greater part of Austria is mountainous. Toward the northern and eastern margins the terrain is mostly gently sloping or flat. The magnificent Eastern Alps dominate the landscape of the south and west, with the Grossglockner being the highest point at 12,461 feet (3,798 meters). In both the extreme west and east, Austria shares a lake with one or more of its neighbors: in the west is the Bodensee, or Lake Constance, as it is better known by English-speaking visitors, and in the east is the Neusiedlersee. The former is deep and frequently tempestuous; the latter is shallow and peaceful. Occasionally, as in the winter of 2005–6, the Neusiedlersee freezes over completely and becomes Europe's largest ice rink. It is also a nature reserve and bird sanctuary.
A major feature of the Austrian landscape is its many rivers, most of which flow into the Danube River. The flow from these mountain streams and rivers varies with the seasons, and the level of the Danube rises considerably. During the past three decades much work has been undertaken to control the river and harness its energy by way of hydroelectric power stations and dams. The Danube is a major transport route between eastern and western Europe, now fully open again since the end of the Balkan wars, allowing river traffic to travel freely from the North Sea to the Black Sea.
The Danube is also the setting of some magnificent scenery. The area of the Wachau is renowned for its beautiful castles and ruins, and also for the production of wine. Here is the site of the Nibelungen stories, and also the discovery in 1908 of the Willendorf Venus, an icon of prehistoric art dating from around 24,000 BCE.
The glorious Alpine scenery is a major attraction for tourists. The abundant ski slopes make the west and south a winter sports venue for visitors from all over the world, and the successes of Austrian Alpine skiers in Olympic and World Cup events also play a significant role. Tourism is a major industry in Austria, in both winter and summer seasons. The western areas of the Tyrol and Salzkammergut attract visitors throughout the year. The clever strategic planning of both small and major music festivals also draws tourists at all times.
There is now a growing debate among politicians and the public at large over the demands and effects of tourism and transportation on the mountain terrain. There are visible signs of forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution, and this issue has become a major topic for discussion in the European Union.
The historically cold winters, with frequent snow and rain, coupled with the steep slopes and poor soil of the Alpine region, have caused a migration of population to the eastern lowlands. This is where Austria's industry and wealth are concentrated, with a distinct emphasis on development and cooperation with its eastern and southern neighbors.
A great deal of the countryside remains as unspoiled woodland, and agriculture is still a significant part of the economy, with the emphasis on good quality and organic produce. Austria is resisting introducing genetically modified crops, and has the strictest wine laws in the world. However, modern technology has meant that fewer people are involved in farming, although most farms are small, with many diversifying into tourism.
The recent enlargement of the European Union after the fall of the East European Communist regimes has renewed Austrian energy, thus helping it to develop industrial, financial, diplomatic, and cultural links with its neighboring countries, and Vienna is once again becoming an important international center.
CLIMATE
Austria's climate is temperate. The summers are moderate, with occasional showers, and temperatures can be high, with plenty of sunshine. There are cold winters with fog, rain, and snow in the lowlands and snow on the mountains. Very different climatic and weather conditions occur over quite short distances in the deep Alpine valleys. As a visitor, don't take risks: always be sure to seek and follow local advice and opinion, particularly in mountainous regions.
The southeast of the country lies south of the main Alpine ranges and here in the lower valleys and around the lakes the summers may, at times, experience almost Mediterranean heat and dryness. The lakes of southern Austria boast warm water temperatures in the summer months.
In the east and north the weather can be changeable at all times of the year. The summer months are frequently very hot, but rainfall in this season is more likely to be heavy and thundery, and of short duration.
Temperatures range from 14°F (-10°C) in the mountains and 21°F (6°C) in the lowlands in winter, although recent experience has shown temperatures much lower than this. Summer temperatures range from 68°F (20°C) in the mountains to 86°F (30°C) in the east and south.
A BRIEF HISTORY
The Alps and the rivers that flowed down the slopes attracted people from the beginning of time. Evidence of settlement of the Danube area in the late Paleolithic Age, some 24,000 years ago, came with the discovery of a small carved stone fertility figure, known to the world as the Venus of Willendorf.
In 1991 the sensational discovery of a mummified male body (Ötzi), dating from the Stone Age, was made in the glacial ice of the Ötztal Alps.
Austrian history can be said to start with the Celts. This is a collective term for a multitude of tribes found in central and western Europe during the late Bronze Age (c. 1200 to 700 BCE). They were mainly farmers and cattle breeders who lived in unfortified settlements. We know that there was a vigorous civilization at Hallstatt, in central Austria, where numerous weapons and ornaments have been found in graves. Over time developments in technology led to the replacement of bronze with iron. The farmers discovered salt, and began to trade with tribes to the south across the Alps, and along river routes to what is now Bavaria. The Celtic kingdom of Noricum was at first a launching pad for attacks on the Roman Empire, then an ally, and was finally incorporated into the Empire in 16 BCE. A museum dedicated to the Celts was opened in 1970 in Hallein.
Gradually the Celts were replaced by Teutonic tribes, and in the second century CE the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius marched north to repulse the marauding Germanic hordes, and established Vindobona (Vienna) as a military camp on the Danube to protect the Empire from the northern tribes.
The Babenberg Dynasty
The name "Austria" is first mentioned in a document signed by the Holy Roman Emperor Otto III on November 1, 996, and refers to Ostarrichi, which certifies the donation of the estate "Niuuanhova" (Neuhofen an der Ybbs), in regione vulgari vocabulo Ostarrichi ("in a region popularly called Ostarrichi"). It appears to have been the name for the territory ruled by the Babenbergs, which in the eleventh and twelfth centuries became Austria.
The Babenberg family originally came from Bamberg, a town in Upper Franconia on the Main River. Although their ancestry is somewhat vague, by the eleventh century they had become nobles in a number of Bavarian territories. During the 270 years of their rule the Babenbergs managed to create and consolidate the power of the Duchy of Austria. They were skillful rulers, adept at what was later to become a typically Austrian form of aggrandizement, namely the selection of suitable marriage partners from families of equal status. The Duchy grew territorially as the Babenbergs first defended and then expanded their territories from the Bohemians and the Magyars, frequently making advantageous marriages with prominent families from the east and south. This strategy was later emulated by the Habsburg family.
The Babenberg dynasty, often associated with the Germanic saga of the Nibelungen, founded their seat in the Danube basin, creating a powerful fortress at Klosterneuburg. They also established many leading monasteries, such as Melk, Gottweig, and Heiligenkreuz, as centers of learning and trade. Here the first writings in German were made. This was a time of creative poetic achievement that found expression not only in the Nibelungen saga but also through the music and lyrics of the Minnesingers (courtly minstrels), such as Walter von der Vogelweide.
Duke Leopold V, who had quarreled with him, captured Richard the Lionheart, King of England, on his return from the Third Crusade in 1192 and imprisoned him in the fortress of Dürnstein on the Danube. The huge ransom paid for his release was used to build new frontier fortifications.
Vienna developed into a vibrant trading center under Babenberg rule, and the Danube became an important transport route. The death of the last male ruler, Friedrich II, in 1246 marked the end of the House of Babenberg and their lands were seized by Otakar of Bohemia. Although the country entered a period of great uncertainty, the national identity of an Austrian people had been established. The Austrian character was coming together, molded from a variety of tribes, races, and languages.
The Habsburg Dynasty
In 1278 Otakar himself was defeated at the Battle of Jedenspeigen by Rudolf of Habsburg, and so began the six-hundred-year reign of this imperial dynasty. The Habsburgs took their name from Habichtsburg Castle, overlooking the Aare River in Switzerland. During the following centuries, by means of clever marriages and treaties but certainly not warfare, the Habsburgs were able to extend their power, dominions, and wealth. They became successive Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.
In 1519 the young Charles I, Habsburg King of Spain, was crowned Holy Roman Emperor as Charles V at Aachen, and became the most powerful monarch in Europe. His reign was dominated by wars — with France for possession of Italy, and within Germany against the Protestant princes. In 1556 he abdicated and retired to live in a monastery. The Empire was divided between the Habsburg Houses of Austria and Spain. European history owes much to the Habsburgs, and several rulers made significant contributions to European political, religious, philosophical, and cultural development. With the acquisition of new territories, the Habsburgs ruled much of central Europe, including Hungary, Bohemia, and Croatia, parts of Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, and Ukraine, as well as the Netherlands, Spain, and vast overseas possessions.
In 1571, when the tolerant and cultured Emperor Maximilian II granted his subjects religious freedom, many Austrians turned to Protestantism. However when, in 1576, Emperor Rudolf II embraced the Counter-Reformation, much of the country reverted, with a little coercion, to Catholicism. The attempt to impose Catholicism on the Protestant areas of Europe led to the Thirty Years' War, which started in 1618 and devastated much of Central Europe.
Peace was finally achieved in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia. For much of the rest of the century Austria was preoccupied with halting the advance of the Ottoman Empire into Europe. Vienna nearly capitulated to a Turkish siege in 1683, but was rescued by the combined Christian forces of German and Polish–Lithuanian armies. Austrian forces under the command of Prince Eugene of Savoy subsequently swept the Turks to the southeastern edge of Europe.
In 1740, Maria Theresa ascended the throne and ruled for forty years. This period is generally acknowledged as the era in which Austria developed into a modern state. During her reign control was centralized, a civil service was established, the army and economy were reformed, and a system of public education was introduced. Maria Theresa was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dynasty and together with her son Joseph she established Austria, and especially Vienna, as the musical capital of the world. Joseph's enlightened attitude saw an end to the despotic rule of the Church and censorship.
Progress was halted by events elsewhere in Europe. Revolution broke out in France and Joseph despaired for his sister, Marie Antoinette, its ill-fated Queen. In the harrowing years that followed the Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte seized control of the French state and embarked upon the conquest of Europe. Austria was overrun by French forces at the battles of Ulm and Austerlitz in 1805. By the terms of the Treaty of Pressburg, certain Austrian territories were ceded to French allies. The treaty marked the end of the Holy Roman Empire, and the last Holy Roman Emperor, Francis II, became instead Francis I, hereditary Emperor of Austria.
The struggle against the French continued, however, and the Tyrolean innkeeper and patriot Andreas Hofer led a people's rebellion against the joint Franco–Bavarian army occupying Innsbruck to inflict, in August 1809, the first defeat of Napoleon on land. The European conflict continued until Napoleon's final defeat at the battle of Waterloo and the territorial settlement of Europe by the victorious powers — Austria, England, Prussia, and Russia — at the Congress of Vienna in 1815.
Austria, under its brilliant foreign minister Prince Klemens von Metternich, dominated the newly created German Federation, which consisted of thirty-nine German states and free cities, and made gains in Italy (acquiring Venetia and recovering Lombardy). These, however, would soon be lost.
Peace did not last long. The seeds of discontent planted by the French throughout Europe erupted in the upheavals of the 1848 revolutions. A combination of forces — the ambitions of a reinvigorated Prussia to lead a united Germany, and the rise of nationalism among the subject peoples of the Habsburg Empire — culminated in the eventual defeat of Austria by Prussia in 1866. This left the Empire mortally wounded and led to the formation of the dual monarchy of Austria–Hungary in 1867 under Emperor Franz Josef I. A period of prosperity followed, but Austria's territories in the Balkans were causing serious problems. International treaties and alliances between the competing powers drove Europe toward disaster, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Emperor's nephew and heir to the throne, in Sarajevo in June 1914 by a Serbian nationalist led to Austria–Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia, and ultimately to the First World War.
Franz Joseph reigned longer than any other Habsburg emperor, and died in 1916 at the age ofeighty-six. Habsburg rule ended in 1918 with the abdication of Emperor Karl I, who was exiled to Switzerland, and the proclamation of a republic.
The First Austrian Republic
The treaties of Versailles and Saint-Germain left Austria as an impoverished Germanic state with about seven million inhabitants. The dissolution of the Habsburg Empire gave birth to political despair, confusion, and economic disaster. In 1919, Austria's traditional sources of agricultural produce were suddenly and abruptly removed, leading to mass starvation and rising inflation. The newly formed League of Nations arranged a large loan to prevent total economic collapse, but this in turn caused increasing hardship and unemployment.
The internal political situation remained fragile, due to the intense rivalry between Socialist Vienna and the conservative provinces. Austria was in desperate search of a role and function. The differing political groupings were tearing the country apart. Scapegoats were demanded.
(Continues…)
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Table of Contents
Map of Austria,
Introduction,
Key Facts,
Chapter 1: LAND AND PEOPLE,
Chapter 2: VALUES AND ATTITUDES,
Chapter 3: CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS,
Chapter 4: MAKING FRIENDS,
Chapter 5: THE AUSTRIANS AT HOME,
Chapter 6: TIME OUT,
Chapter 7: TRAVEL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY,
Chapter 8: BUSINESS BRIEFING,
Chapter 9: COMMUNICATING,
Appendix: Some Famous Austrians,
Further Reading,
Acknowledgments,