BelgiqueWalking+Tour

=// Belgium Is full of history and we are here to tell you about some of these facts! //= Language**:French,Dutch,German,Flemish
 * Capital: Brussels,Belgium

**Religion**:75% Roman Catholic 25% Protestant
INVENTORS: There were many famous Belgian inventors that invented very important things to this day.
 * Belgian born engineer, Jean Joseph Etienne Lenoir invented and patented a double-acting, electric spark-ignition internal combustion engine fueled by coal gas.


 * Gerardus Mercator invented the Mercator map projection. This is still used as a map navigation tool.


 * Adolphe Sax invented the saxophone. Without him, there might not be an important jazz instrument.


 * Modern medicine began in 1543 with the publication of the first complete textbook of human anatomy, “Do Humanis Corporis Fabrica” by Belgian physician Andreas Vesalius.

INDEPENDENCE: In August 1830, the Belgian Revolution broke out. The Belgians wanted to break away from the Dutch. The real political forced behind this were the Catholic clergy, which was against the Protestant Dutch King, William I. They fought for eight years but in 1839 a treaty was signed between the 2 countries. Belgium became an independent state with a liberal Constitution. Luxemberg did not join Belgium yet.

EARLY MIDDLE AGES: After the Roman Empire collapsed in Belgium in the 5th century, German tribes invaded Belgium. One tribe, Franks, eventually managed to install a new kingdom under the rule of the Merovingian Dynasty. Clovis I was the best known of the dynasty. He ruled from north France, but his empire also was part of Belgium. During the eleventh and twelfth century, the Rheno-Mosan or Mosan Art movement came across Belgium. One masterpiece is called “shrine of the three kings at Cologne Cathedral” by Renier de Huy. In the thirteenth and fourteenth century, gothic buildings started to arrive. Gothic architecture is a style of architecture which flourished during the late medieval times.

Geography: Belgium is located in western Europe near Germany, Luxembourg, France,and The Netherlands. It borders the north sea. Area:30,528 sq km Land:30,278 sq km Water:250 sq km

Area comparative:about the size of Maryland



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