Colonial rule of European regions and time spent by European regions under foreign rule

If Africans and Europeans don’t look at world history with balance and perspective, it sometimes creates deeply held myths, misinformation, uneducated inferiority complexes and uneducated superior complexes. One myth is that African regions have been perpetually behind, and always colonised; while European countries always won every military campaign they undertook and were never colonised. Some Africans believe this, Some Europeans, some Indians, some Chinese and some Americans. It depends on how much facts each individual was exposed to and also what they choose to believe in the face of evidence.

Romans:

This is how long some European regions were a colony of Rome, listed in alphabetical order:

* Albania - approx. 450 years

* Austria - approx. 400 years

* Belgium - approx. 500 years

* Bosnia - approx. 400 years

* Bulgaria - approx. 400 years

* Croatia - approx. 400 years

* Czech Republic - N/A

* England - approx. 400 years

* Greece - approx. 600 years

* Hungary - approx. 400 years

* Macedonia - approx. 500 years

* Moldova - approx. 200 years

* Netherlands - approx. 400 years

* Portugal - approx. 600 years

* Romania - approx. 200 years

* Serbia - approx. 400 years

* Slovakia - approx. 400 years

* Slovenia - approx. 400 years

* Spain - approx. 600 years

* Sardinia - approx. 700 years

* Switzerland - approx. 500 years

* Turkey - over a thousand years

* Wales - approx. 400 years

Note: The durations mentioned here are approximate and may vary depending on specific historical events and transitions.

Byzantine empire:

Time as a territory of Byzantium or under influence from the Byzantine Empire, listed in alphabetical order:

* Albania - approx. 500 years

* Bosnia - under influence for 900 years

* Bulgaria - several centuries

* Croatia - alternated between periods of Byztantine influence, independence, and Hungarian influence for 900 years.

* Greece - approx. 1,000 years

* Macedonia - approx. 1,000 years

* Moldova - alternated between periods of Byztantine influence, independence, Mongol influence, and Hungarian influence for 900 years.

* Romania - several centuries

* Serbia - several centuries

* Sardinia - approx. 2 centuries

The durations mentioned here are approximate; it’s all just a rough guide. Some regions had direct Byzantine rule, others had varying degrees of influence, interaction, or conflicts with the Byzantine Empire.

Visigothic kingdom: Portugal and Spain were under the Visigoths.

* Portugal: Portugal, known as Lusitania during Byzantine times, was not directly under Byzantine rule. It was part of the Visigothic Kingdom before the Muslim conquest and later became an independent kingdom.

* Spain: Spain, known as Hispania during Byzantine times, had limited Byzantine influence in certain regions, particularly in the southeast. Byzantine presence in Spain was primarily through military expeditions and attempts to regain control from the Visigoths, but it did not establish long-term Byzantine rule in the region.

Anglo Saxons:

* England: England, known as Britannia during Byzantine times, was not directly under Byzantine rule. It was part of various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and later the Kingdom of England.

* Wales: Wales, known as Britannia during Byzantine times, was not directly under Byzantine rule. It was part of various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and later the Kingdom of Gwynedd.

Avar Khaganate:

Hungary: The region corresponding to present-day Hungary, known as Pannonia during Byzantine times, was not directly under Byzantine rule. It was part of the Avar Khaganate, the Kingdom of Hungary, and later the Habsburg Monarchy.

Kingdom of Croatia:

* Bosnia: The area of present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, known as Bosnia during Byzantine times, came under Byzantine influence in the 6th century CE. However, it experienced frequent shifts in control between the Byzantines and various other powers, including the Kingdom of Croatia. Bosnia fell under Ottoman control in the late 15th century, ending Byzantine influence in the region.

* Croatia: Croatia, known as Dalmatia during Byzantine times, came under Byzantine rule in the 6th century CE. However, Byzantine control over Croatia was limited, and the region experienced a complex political landscape, including periods of independence, Croatian kingship, and Hungarian influence.

Carolingian Empire/ Holy Roman Empire:

* Belgium: Known as the Low Countries, including Flanders, it was part of various Frankish kingdoms and later the Holy Roman Empire.

* Netherlands: Known as Frisia during Byzantine times, it was part of various Frankish kingdoms and later the Holy Roman Empire.

* Slovenia: Known as Carantania during Byzantine times, was not directly under Byzantine rule. It was part of the Carolingian Empire and later the Holy Roman Empire.

* Switzerland: The region corresponding to present-day Switzerland, known as Raetia during Byzantine times, was not directly under Byzantine rule. It was part of various Germanic tribes and later the Holy Roman Empire.

Ostrogoth:

Austria: The region corresponding to present-day Austria, known as Noricum during Byzantine times, was not directly under Byzantine rule. It was part of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, Lombard Kingdom, and later the Carolingian Empire.

Morovian empire: Czech Republic and Slovakia, were a part of the Great Moravian Empire and later the Kingdom of Hungary.

Ottoman rule:

* Albania: approx. 527 years

* Bosnia and Herzegovina: approx. 415 years

* Bulgaria: approx. 482 years

* Croatia: approx. 173 years

* Cyprus: approx. 307 years

* Greece: approx. 377 years

* Hungary: N/A (experienced Ottoman invasions and control)

* Kosovo: approx. 457 years

* North Macedonia: approx. 520 years

* Moldova: approx. 328 years

* Montenegro: approx. 382 years

* Romania: Various periods of Ottoman influence and control

* Serbia: approx. 345 years

* Slovenia: N/A (experienced Ottoman incursions and influence)

Mongol rule:

The Mongol Empire had a significant impact on Europe after its expansion in the 13th century. The Mongol Empire did not establish long-term colonies in the traditional sense. Despite this, some parts of Europe came under Mongol rule or influence during this period. The Mongols ruled Russia for 240 years from 1240 to 1480. Russia has had various historic names: Kievan Rus, Novgorod Republic, Vladimir-Suzdal. The Mongol Empire established the Golden Horde, a successor state in the region, which exerted control over various Russian principalities. Mongol rule in Russia, known as the Mongol Yoke, lasted for over two centuries, from 1240 to 1480.

The Mongols ruled Belarus (Historic names: Principality of Polotsk) for 1 year from 1240 to 1241; Hungary for 1 from 1241 to 1242; Lithuania (Historic names: Grand Duchy of Lithuania) for 5 years from 1258 to 1263 and Poland for 1 year (1240-1241).

Mongol Empire was primarily centered in Asia and its rule over European territories was relatively short-lived. The Mongols focused more on conquest and establishing tributary relationships rather than long-term colonization. Therefore, the impact and duration of Mongol rule in Europe were limited compared to other empires like the Ottoman Empire.

It is essential to learn world history to gain perspective on the general experience of all humans, and also to debunk errors of thinking.