LaBonte, 1

John LaBonte
Cultural Geography
Mrs. Bullock
27 January 2017
Romania and Hungary
Romania and Hungary are both countries in Eastern Europe. Romania means land of the
Romans and the citizens of Romania speak a Latin dialect, while Hungarians speak a Uralic
language. While there are some similarities between the two neighboring countries, the
differences outweigh them.
First of all, they have vastly different origins. Hungary is descended from the Magyar
tribes from the East, who invaded Central Europe in AD 896. This is why they speak a Uralic
dialect, rather than one of the more common eastern languages. Romania on the other hand was
descended from the last of the Roman soldiers, which explains why they speak a language
closely related to Latin.
Secondly, their territory and landscapes differ. Hungarys terrain is relatively flat. In fact,
most of Hungary is made up of the Great Hungarian Plain, which is a basin of the Carpathian
Mountains. Because the land is flat and has major rivers running through it, Hungary is known
for its agriculture. Romania however, is mostly mountainous and is known for its textiles, timber,
and mining.
Finally, both countries have disputed over sections of the same land. Before WW1,
Hungary used to control a mountainous region called Transylvania. Transylvania is a mystery
to the Western world because of its forested hills and gloomy castles. After the war, Romania
received the land, and this is why Hungarians are the biggest minority in Romania.

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In conclusion, although Romania and Hungary are next to each other, they are vastly
different from each other. First, they differ in origins. While Hungary is descended from the
Magyar tribes, Romania hails from the last of the Roman soldiers. Secondly, their terrain is
completely different. Romania is mostly mountainous while most of Hungary is in the basin of
the Carpathian Mountains. Finally, they both have controlled the same land.