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Bucharest - History |
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BUCHAREST, Romania
Bucharest began as a fort on the Dîmbovi ta River, but its location on the trade routes across the Walachian Plain between the Danube River and the Carpathian Mountains stimulated further growth. In the 17th century it became the capital of the state of Walachia. After the foundation of the state of Romania in 1859, it became the capital of the new country. Between that time and World War I, the city grew in size, but the most rapid period of expansion took place following the war. It was during this period that the city took on its present appearance. Romania sided with Germany during World War II, and Bucharest was damaged by Allied air raids. After the war the centre of the city was rebuilt, and new industrial and residential districts were laid out. In 1947, when the Communists came to power, Bucharest became the capital of the new Socialist republic. A disastrous earthquake on March 4, 1977, destroyed many of the poorly constructed buildings in the centre of the city and killed about 1,500 people. A major effort was made to reconstruct the damaged areas. After the fall of Romania's Communist government in February 1990, Bucharest became the capital of the new republic. Population (1989 estimate), 2,194,583. |
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