Belgium
The History of Belgium
The region of modern Belgium was originally inhabited by Celtic tribes before its conquest
by Roman forces under Julius Caesar. Following the fall of Rome, Germanic Franks dominated the territory and established a lasting linguistic division between the northern and southern areas. Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the region flourished as a wealthy epicenter for the European textile trade. Because of its strategic location, the territory was repeatedly contested and ruled by Burgundian, Spanish, Austrian, and French empires. The Battle of Waterloo occurred on Belgian soil in 1815 and resulted in the region being merged into the Netherlands. Differences in religion and language triggered the Belgian Revolution of 1830 and led to an official declaration of independence. The newly formed nation established a constitutional parliamentary monarchy and chose to maintain a policy of strict neutrality. Despite this neutral stance, the nation suffered immense destruction during German military occupations in both world wars. In the post-war era, the country abandoned neutrality to help found the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union. Today, the capital city of Brussels serves as the official administrative heart of European governance.
