# HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY #### ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY ### ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY The main regions of Hungary in the Carpathian Basin at the turn of the first millennium were the following: Transdanubia, the Great Plain, the region east of the river Tisza, the Northern mountain range and Transylvania. Geographical conditions had not been changed since ancient times, except for changes to the surface. In the case of ancient settlements, there is a 3-6 metres filling, in case of medieval settlements there is a 1-2 metres filling. In the Middle Ages there were more watery regions in the Great Plain than today. According to historical sources the Hungarians crossed the river Dnyeper in about 837 and occupied the steppe of Etelköz before 860. The extremely cold winter of 892-893, which was mentioned even in Eastern Franc year-books, had its influence on the Conquest. Following this a dry period set in which grew milder with the turn of the millennium. In all probability, the Hungarian people came to the Carpathian Basin through the valleys and passes of the Eastern and Southern Carpathians. The ancient vegetation of the Carpathian Basin can be reconstructed with the help of pollen analysis and the examination of dried seeds. The influence of extensive farming and vast deforestation is observed only from the late Middle Ages. Vegetation zones from the Great Plain towards the Carpathians are similar to those from the Ukraine towards the north-east: dry steppe, scrubby, grassy steppe, woody steppe, bread-leafed forests, then pinewoods. This facilitated the passage of the travellers to this territory. The typical plants of flood areas are the groves of willows and poplars, elms, ash trees, oaks, tall forests, reedy swamps and peat-bogs. Saliferous territories were found only in negligible numbers. These flora populations remained basically untouched until the 18th century. The oak forests, rich in game made for excellent hunting and masting places. By widespread clearing, grassy meadows and pastures were created. The next layer of vegetation is the region of oak forests (they can be found in the territory between the Danube and the Tisza even today). Greens and ancient wastes of fertile, loessy ridges of hills were broken for cultivation. On hilly territories, above 250 metres, there is the living space of closed oak forests and birch trees. In the mountains we can find the zone of closed oak-beech wood, higher up the zone of silver fir-beech wood, although these were not occupied by the conquering Hungarians. The Hungarian people entering the Carpathian Basin between 895-900 have enjoyed a continuous history with a sovereign state for 1100 years now. The domestic names of Hungary (for example: Magoria, Magor, Magerorzag) can only be found in written sources dated from Hungary. The majority of the names used abroad originate from the Onogur name of people, such as Hungaria, Hongrie, Hungarlandt, Ongaria, Ongrie, Ungaria, Ungern, Ungheria, Ungria, Ungrie, Vngern Land, Unkuriya. Sometimes - in the usual manner of early medieval times - it was called by the names of former states that used to have some connections to this territory. For example: Avaria, Celtica, Hunia, Pannonia, Scithia, Turkia. The medieval borders of Hungary were settled at the turn of the 11th-12th centuries: they were the eastern spurs of the Alps, the rivers Lajta and Morva, the Northern, Eastern and Southern Carpathians, the rivers Danube and Sava. The geographical conditions of the territory are quite favourable. It is rich in rivers abounding in water and suitable for boats. The surface is rather varied: with huge lowlands, swamps, hills, mountains and basins. In the climate of the country, continental and mediterranian influences are mixed. As a result, the fauna and flora are equally various. The plains are covered with groves, forests and wastes, on the hills and mountains there are huge forests, in higher region alpine plants can be found. The territory was rich in birds, fish and games (including some species, which are now extinct: sterlet, bear, wolf, bison, chamois). The country was rich in natural sources. Precious and non-ferrous metals were produced in mining towns of Upper- and Lower-Hungary, and ore mines of the Eastern Carpathians and Transylvania. The most important seasoning and preservative of the Middle Ages, salt, was mined in Transylvania. The emerging Hungarian state was at the meeting point of two great cultures: Western Latin and Eastern Greek Christianity. In the long run, the western pattern had the stronger influence on the country. Its eastern border was at the same time the border of Western Christianity. The influence of western-type Christianity on Hungary is shown by the structure of the state, culture and the adoption of the Latin alphabet. From the beginning there were various ethnic groups in the country, and the first king of the Hungarians, St Stephen, assumed responsibility for them. He took care of these groups and entrusted them to the care of his successors. The fate of early medieval Hungary is an organic part of the development of European history. In conformity with the level of economic development, people were engaged in self-sufficient farming in the country. Although there was commodity production and circulation of money, agriculture and handicraft industry had not yet separated then. |