Slovak lands[1] or Slovakian lands[2] (Slovak: Slovenská zem or shortly Slovensko; Hungarian: Tótország;[3]Polish: Ziemia Słowacka[4] or shortly Słowaczyzna[5]) is the historical denomination for the whole of the Slovak-inhabited territories in Central Europe. It more or less corresponds to modern Slovakia and the adjacent territories in which autochthonous Slovak minorities live.[6]
Terminology
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The term Slovak lands describes Slovak ethnic territory[7] claimed from the 5th century when Slavs inhabited these lands.[8] The Slovaks called their country 'Slovensko' (Slovakia) – the term appears in written documents from as early as the fifteenth century.[9][10]
History
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The first known Slavic entities on the territory of Slovakia were the Samo's Empire in the 7th century, the Principality of Nitra founded sometime in the 8th century and Great Moravia in the 9th and early 10th centuries. The Slovak lands for 1000 years were an important part of the Kingdom of Hungary. During the 17th century many Germans settled into these areas.[11]