|REconomy:|N Rich resources of several minerals, among others iron ore, bauxite and coal form the basis for big aluminium- and steelworks.
In the valleys of Sava and Drina cereals, potatoes and sugar beets are grown.
About 50% of the nation is forested which is the base for an extensive forest industry.
|RHistory:|N Bosnia was a part of the Roman Empire. In the 7th century the original population was forced away by Slaves and during the following centuries Bosnia belonged to a number of nations.
From 1376 to 1463 Bosnia experienced a period of prosperity as a sovereign kingdom.
This kingdom was conquered by the Turks.
During the 19th century several uprisings were made but none successful. In 1878 the Berlin-congress decided that Bosnia and Herzegovina still would be under Turkish sovereignty, but should be administrated by Austro-Hungaria. 1908 Austro-Hungaria gained formal sovereignty.
Especially the Serbs were against this, which led to extensive political instability, which culminated when a Serb assassinated the Austro-Hungarian successor to the throne Frans Ferdinand at Sarajevo June 28th 1914. This assassination was the starting shot of the World War One.
After World War One Bosnia and Herzegovina was a province of the newfounded kingdom of Yugoslavia.
In World War Two the king was dethrowned and a federation of republics declared. Bosnia and Herzegovina formed one of these republics.
In 1991 the parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared sovereignty, which was passed in a referendum in 1992.
Ethnic Serbs opposed independency and spurred violent clashes and bombings. This violence has developed to a fullscale civil war between all three ethnic groups.
Several cease-fires have been broken and UN-forces have not yet been able to stop the fighting which have led to the death of thousands of civilians.
