This document provides an overview of Romania, including its: 1) Capital (Bucharest), official language (Romanian), national day (December 1st), and currency (Romanian leu). 2) Brief history, from earliest human remains dating back 42,000 years, to being part of the Roman Empire and the emergence of an independent kingdom in the 19th century. 3) Transition to a democratic government and market economy after the fall of communism in 1989, and joining NATO and the EU in the 2000s. 4) Important sights to see across the country, from landmarks in Bucharest to castles, mountains, rivers, and the Black Sea coast.

1. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This presentation reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

4. Capital: Bucharest Official language: Romanian Republic National day: 1 st of December Currency: Romanian leu (RON) Area: 238,391 km2 Population: 21.524.042

5. History The oldest modern human remains in Europe were discovered in the “Cave with Bones” in present day in Romania. The remains are approximately 42,000 years old and as Europe’s oldest remains of “Homo sapiens” they may represent the first people who had entered the continent.

6. The earliest written evidence of people living in the territory of the present-day Romania comes from Herodotus in book IV of his “Histories” written 440 BCE. Herein he writes that the tribal confederation of the Getae were defeated by the Persian Emperor Darius the Great during his campaign against the Scythians.

7. Dacians, widely accepted as part of the Getae, were a branch of Thracians that inhabited Dacia (corresponding to Romania, Moldova and Northern Bulgaria). The Dacian kingdom reached its maximum expansion during King Burebista, around 82 BC.

8. The Dacians were eventually defeated by the Roman Empire under Emperor Traian. The Romans heavily colonized the province, brought with them Vulgar Latin and started a period of intense romanization (giving birth to Romanian language and Romanian people).

9. After centuries of social, political and military turmoil, the Kingdom of Romania emerged when the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia were united under Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza in 1859. Independence from the Ottoman Empire was declared on May 9, 1877.

10. At the end of World War I Transylvania, Bukovina and Bessarabia united with the Kingdom of Romania. Greater Romania emerged into an era of progression and prosperity that would continue until World War II.

11. By the end of the World War II, many north-eastern areas of Romania's territories were occupied by the Soviet Union, and Romania forcibly became a socialist republic and a member of the Warsaw Pact.

12. With the fall of the Iron Curtain and the 1989 Revolution, Romania began to transition towards democracy and a capitalist market economy.

13. After a decade of post-revolution economic problems, extensive reforms fostered economic recovery and Romania joined NATO on 29 March 2004 and the European Union on 1 January 2007.

14. Sightseeing Romania

15. House of Parliament Bucharest

16. The Arch of Triumph Bucharest

17. The Athenaeum Bucharest

18. The Council Tower Sibiu

19. Peles Castle Sinaia

20. The Medieval Festival in Sighisoara

21. The Dome Timisoara

22. Brasov, a medieval city

23. Bran Castle

24. Carpathians Mountains

25. Toaca Peak (1900 m) – Durau Carpathians Mountains

26. Olt River

27. ‘ The Sphinx’ Bucegi Mountains

28. Balea Lake

29. Slanic Moldova resort

30. Moeciu

31. Poiana Brasov resort

32. Retezat Mountains Bucura Lake

33. The Black Sea

34. Sturgeon on the Danube

35. Swans from Danube Delta

36. Gura Portitei in the Danube Delta

37. Water lilies

38. Putna Monastery

39. Barsana Monastery

40. Wheat field

41. Countryside

42. Realized by the pupils of School number 1, Bicaz, Romania, for the Comenius Project “How schoolchildren can contribute to keeping our planet green and clean”