Austria's democratic identity exists only after a turbulent history of political, economic and cultural change. The entity's transformation from a monarchical and stratified society under the Habsburg Empire into an egalitarian polity did not come without a struggle that had important ramifications for all of Europe. In this comprehensive historical dictionary, Dr. Paula Sutter Fichtner explores the major themes and intricacies of Austria's history. Fichtner's wide-ranging text covers the country's Habsburg and pre-Habsburg legacy, its political and cultural elite, its component provinces, and its leading cities, and includes a chronology, introduction, and bibliography. The often dramatic quality of Austria's history ensures that the Historical Dictionary of Austria will be popular with any reader.