Croatia
Croatia is a country on the continent of Europe
Brief History
Not much is known about the earliest inhabitants of Croatia, except that they farmed with stone tools. In 1000 BC, the area was settled by Illyrian tribes. Then in the 4th century BC, Greeks conquered parts of present-day Croatia. Following this, the Romans gradually took over Croatia, and by 12 AD, they ruled the entire country. In the early part of the 7th century AD, Slavic people called the Croats migrated to the area. They formed two Croatian states. In the 9th Century, Croatia converted to Christianity and became a part of the western Catholic Church based in Rome. During the Middle Ages, trade flourished in Croatia and towns grew. In 1091, King Ladislaus of Hungary became ruler of Hungary. The two countries later developed an official union that lasted until World War I. During this war, the area became a part of Yugoslavia. During WWII, Croatia faced many hardships under German and Italian rule. In the 1990s, communism collapsed throughout Eastern Europe. In 1991 Croatia voted for independence from Yugoslavia, which resulted in a Civil War. The Croats and Serbians fought for many years until, in 1995, the Dayton Peace agreement was signed.
National Flag
The National flag of Croatia consists of three vertical stripes of red, white, and blue, with the Croatian coat of arms in the center. The colors of the flag were inspired by the flag of imperial Russia.
Geography
Croatia is located in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It is bordered by Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia in the east, Slovenia in the west, Hungary in the north, and Montenegro and the Adriatic sea in the south. The land is geographically diverse, with low mountains and highlands, plains, and islands.
World Land Mass Ranking: 127th
Highest Mountain: Dinara, 1,913 m (6,276 ft)
Longest River: Magdalena River, 1,528 km (949 mi)
Main Languages
Croatian
Croatia Population: 4.1 million (as of 2019)
Capital City: Zagreb
Capital City Population: 806,341 (as of 2019)
Climate
Croatia is divided into two main climate regions–Mediterranian and Continental. The coast is hot, dry, and sunny during the summer and wet and mild during the winter. In the interior of Croatia, winters can be pretty cold and snowy, and summers are usually hot.
Key People
Cuisine
Croatian food is varied and complex due to its many influences throughout history. The Cuisine of Croatia has Italian, Austrian, Hungarian, and Turkish influences. Common ingredients used in Croatian dishes include pasta, seafood, herbs and spices, and vegetables. The cuisine also varies by region. Black Risotto is a famous Croatian dish made with cuttlefish or squid, which dyes the risotto black and gives it an intense seafood flavor.
The picture is a picture of white truffles from Istria.
Sports
Despite being a small country, sport is very important to Croatian culture. The most popular sport in Croatia is football, which is played and enjoyed by all age groups. Other sports popular in Croatia include handball, water polo, and basketball. In the Croatian interior, ice hockey and alpine skiing are common. Water sports, especially sailing and beach handball, are popular along the coast.
The picture is a picture of handball player Ivano Balić.
Culture
The culture of Croatia has been influenced over time by the diverse history of the area. Croats show a strong sense of national pride after centuries of conflict. The literary tradition of Croatia dates back to about 1100, and since then, novels and poetry have been an essential part of Croatian culture. Other art forms, including sculpture, architecture, painting, and photography, are integral parts of the nation’s culture. Croatia has a predominantly Roman Catholic population, and the country observes Catholic holidays.
The picture is a picture of Trakošćan Castle.
Croatia is a beautiful country with wonderful people.
Download questions about Croatia here: Croatia (answers are on this page)
Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on Croatia. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets
For further reading and more info on the Croatia visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Croatia
10 facts about Croatia
1. Croatia is home to the world’s smallest town, called Hum.
2. The Croatian waterfront is known as the Dalmatian Coast.
3. Over 10% of Croatia is made up of national parks.
4. The Marten is the national animal of Croatia.
5. The official currency of Croatia is the kuna.
6. There are ten UNESCO world heritage sites in Croatia.
7. It is believed that the necktie was invented in Croatia.
8. The life expectancy in Croatia is 78 years.
9. The national flower of Croatia is the iris.
10. Croatia has 1246 islands, isles and islets.
Q&A Corner
