Against The Empire (1032-1520). Switzerland was a loose union of relatively united cantons as part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1032. But when Emperor Rudolf of Hapsburg tried to assert control over the region in the late 13th century, the Swiss rebelled. Three Alemanni communities (the Forest Cantons) signed an Everlasting Alliance in 1291, agreeing to defend each other from outside attack—which they did in a series of sporadic territorial struggles with the Hapsburg empire over the next 350 years. The Swiss consider the alliance to be the beginning of the Swiss Confederation. However, the union of culturally distinct states made for uneasy cooperation. The Swabian War (1499-1500) against the empire brought the alliance virtual independence from the Hapsburgs, but internal struggles over cultural and religious differences continued.
Reformation To Revolution (1520-1800). With no strong central government to settle religious squabbles among cantons, Switzerland was divided by the Protestant Reformation. Zürich’s Huldrych Zwingli and Geneva’s John Calvin instituted Protestant reforms, but the rural cantons remained loyal to the Catholic Church. When religious differences between the urban Protestant cantons and the rural Catholic cantons escalated into full-fledged battle in the mid-16th century, the Confederation intervened, granting Protestants freedom but prohibiting them from imposing their faith on others. The Swiss remained neutral during the Thirty Years’ War, escaping the devastation wrought on the rest of Europe. The Peace of Westphalia, which ended the war in 1648, officially granted the neutral Confederation independence from the Hapsburg empire—which it had, at that point, been unofficially enjoying for 150 years. Swiss independence was fairly short-lived: Napoleon Bonaparte invaded in 1798 and established the Helvetic Republic. After Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo in 1815, Swiss neutrality was officially recognized again in the Treaty of Vienna.
Neutrality And Diplomacy (1815-2002). Switzerland then turned its attention to domestic issues. Industrial growth brought prosperity, but religious differences continued to fuel tension. A short, 25-day civil war broke out in 1847. The Protestants were victorious, and the country enacted a new constitution modeled on the United States Constitution. Once it stabilized, Switzerland established a reputation for resolving international conflicts. The Geneva Convention of 1864 established international laws for conduct during war, and Geneva became the headquarters for the International Red Cross .
The country’s neutrality was tested in World War I, when French- and German-speaking areas of Switzerland claimed different cultural loyalties. In 1920, the Allies chose Geneva as the headquarters of the League of Nations, solidifying Switzerland’s reputation as a center for international mediation. During World War II , both sides viewed Switzerland (and its banks) as neutral territory. As the rest of Europe cleared the rubble of two global wars, Switzerland nurtured its already robust economy: Zürich emerged as a center for banking and insurance, while Geneva solidified its position as the world’s diplomatic headquarters. Although Switzerland joined the United Nations in 2002, it remains isolationist, declining membership in the NATO and the EU.
Since WWII, Switzerland has remained fiercely independent, and has also become increasingly wealthy and liberal. The Swiss elected Ruth Dreifuss as both their first female and first Jewish president in 1998, and they maintain one of the world’s most stringent ecological policies to protect their Alpine environment. Under the Swiss constitution, the Confederation incorporates the 26 cantons and its legislature, the Federal Assembly. The executive branch consists of a group of seven members, the Bundesrat (Federal Council). The Bundesrat chooses a president from among its ranks. The president holds office for one year, though the post is more symbolic than functional.
Demographics. Switzerland is a culturally diverse nation, with people of German origin making up 65% of the population, French 18%, Italian 10%, and Romansch 1%. Other minorities, mostly foreign workers from Eastern Europe, make up the remaining 6% of the population.
Language. Switzerland has four official languages: German , spoken throughout central and eastern Switzerland; French, spoken in the west; Italian, spoken in the Ticino region ; and Romansch, a colloquial form of Latin, which is used in the isolated valleys of Graubünden . German speakers beware: Schwyzerdütsch (Swiss German) is unlike any other German or Austrian dialect and is nearly unintelligible to a speaker of Hochdeutsch (High German). If you want to pick it up, start with the basic practical terms that are nearly the same in all dialects, such as the days of the week. The Swiss will appreciate any effort you make to speak their language, so take a breath and practice saying “ Grüezi ” (hello). See Phrasebook: French , Phrasebook: German , and Phrasebook: Italian .
Customs And Etiquette. The Swiss are punctual and mind their manners. Say hello and goodbye to shopkeepers and proprietors of bars and cafés, and always shake hands when being introduced. At mealtimes, keep both hands above the table, but elbows off. In general, the Swiss cut soft food, including salads, potatoes and fruit, with a fork instead of a knife. Wasting food is not appreciated, so finish all the food on the plate. When done, put the silverware in the lower right-hand corner of the plate, pointing towards the center. The Swiss consider chewing gum or cleaning your nails in public impolite.
Literature. The Geneva-born Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78) is today best known for his Social Contract (1762), which helped inspire the 1789 French Revolution. J. J. Bodmer (1698-1783) and J. J. Breitinger (1701-76) advocated writing literature in the Swiss-German language. Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825-98) was an influential poet whose writings united Romanticism and Realism. Switzerland has also produced several respected modern playwrights: critics laud Max Frisch (1911-91) for his exploration of the space between the narrator and the audience and his thoughtful treatment of Nazi Germany in works like Andorra (1961). In the same year, Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921-90) won renown for his tragicomic portrayal of human corruptibility in The Physicists.
Science And Mathematics. Carl Jung (1875-1961), whose psychiatric practice in Zürich informed his famous Psychology of the Unconscious (1912), is considered to be the founder of analytical psychology. In mathematics, Leonhard Euler (1707-83) made important contributions to calculus and graph theory. His teacher, Johann Bernoulli (1667-1748), was the father of Daniel Bernoulli (1700-1782), who applied mathematics to mechanics.
Visual Arts. Switzerland has long been a center of artistic experimentation. Paul Klee (1879-1940), one of Switzerland’s most famous painters, helped shape the abstract art movement. In 1916, Zürich became the birthplace of the Dada movement, which rejected traditional aesthetic ideals and attempted to make people reconsider social values. For a glimpse into Switzerland’s lively modern art scene, visit Zürich’s Kunsthaus .
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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