With the formation of the Hungarian state a thousand years ago, a distinctive entity emerged in the heart of Europe, in the Carpathian Basin, marked by its unique language, customs, history, and politics. The political and legal structure of the Hungarian state is inseparable from the history and cultural values of the Hungarian people. Over the past thousand years, various historical periods, peoples who enriched Hungarian culture, different political systems, and changes in language and music have all merged organically, forming the Hungarian state as we know it today.
This volume attempts to disentangle and make these layers visible individually. To achieve this, it rigorously examines Hungary's legal system, politics, language, music, and the everyday lives of Hungarian citizens, aiming to uncover the essential elements hidden beneath these layers. The work spans across historical eras and seeks to continue and expand upon the efforts of Gyula Szekfű and his collaborators, who undertook a similar endeavor at the end of the Dual Monarchy, enriched with the knowledge gained since. In this effort, renowned Hungarian and foreign contemporary authors share their high-quality studies, presenting what is essential to know about the Hungarian state.
