History

      Switzerland became the country it is today in 1848 but up until that point it took Switzerland several years to combine all the parts of the country to create one. The geography of the region is a major part of the history of the country. The mountains were influential in the past because they were routes of communication and trade, however; they also kept invaders outside of the country and Switzerland was able to create their own government.
      Switzerland has a variety of urban and rural areas because of where people settled and how they decided to settle. In some areas towns were created because of trade but many areas stayed rural which is the reason Switzerland was known as a farm country. Switzerland did not change their agricultural way of life until the 1920's when it became more industrial. By the arrival of the middle ages the land was heavily divided. The rural areas became democratic because they were a close knit group that needed support. The urban areas had interest groups that made rules and regulations. 
      Switzerland was split into different sections that eventually became one. The center of the country consisted of 3 cantons, which were the original provinces of the country. The cantons expanded to 13 different provinces and many other regions became allies with confederation of cantons. Some of the groups were conquered by the cantons and had to join the country by default. 
      The Swiss do not fight their battles; they believe in staying neutral and continue to believe in neutrality today. Switzerland has been able to keep battles out their own country and to stop battles between countries that they stand between because they refuse to be in the middle of conflict. The Swiss find importance in keeping allies rather than enemies because they do not have resources and at times it has been almost impossible to live off the land. Trading with major neighbors has been helpful through history and continues to be helpful currently. 


Important dates/brief history:

1291AD: The first Swiss confederation is formed between rural communities in Switzerland.

1300AD: Switzerland becomes an important trade route between Asia and Northern Europe. Many of the noble families of Switzerland begin to prosper under these conditions by levying a road tax on traders wishing to pass through Switzerland.

1499AD: The Swabian wars lead to independence from the German empire. The first parliament is formed in Switzerland where representatives from different confederates met to consult and later vote political issues

1500-1800AD: The Reformation saw the spread of Protestantism from Germany south into Switzerland. Many Swiss cantons accept Protestantism.

1536AD: The famous Christian reformist thinker Jean Calvin moves to Geneva from France.

1798: The French army under the command of Napoleon invades Switzerland. Napoleon unifies the autonomous cantons of Switzerland and centralises power. This is unpopular among the Swiss who revolt forcing the French army to leave Switzerland in 1802

1848: Switzerland becomes a unified federal state with a constitution.

1920: Joined the league of nations in Geneva under the condition they could excluded from the military requirements

2002: Finally decided to join the United Nations and involved in international affairs while committing to neutrality