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Definition: Silesia from Collins English Dictionary

n

1 a region of central Europe around the upper and middle Oder valley: mostly annexed by Prussia in 1742 but became almost wholly Polish in 1945; rich coal and iron-ore deposits Polish name: Śląsk Czech name: Slezsko German name: Schlesien

Silesia

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(sĭlē'zhӘ, –shӘ, sī–), Czech Slezsko , Ger. Schlesien , Pol. Śląsk , region of E central Europe, extending along both banks of the Oder River and bounded in the south by the mountain ranges of the Sudetes—particularly the Krkonoše (Ger. Riesengebirge )—and the W Carpathians. Politically, almost all of Silesia is divided between Poland and the Czech Republic. The Polish portion comprises most of the former Prussian provinces of Upper Silesia and Lower Silesia, both of which were transferred to Polish administration at the Potsdam Conference of 1945; the Polish portion also includes those parts of Upper Silesia that were ceded by Germany to Poland after World War I and part of the former Austrian principality of Teschen . A second, much smaller part of Silesia belonged to Czechoslovakia since 1918, and became part of the Czech Republic with the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993. Except in the south, Silesia is largely an agricultural and forested lowland, drained by the Oder and its…
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Full text Article Silesia

From Philip's Encyclopedia
Historic region in E central Europe, now mostly lying in SW Poland, with the remainder in N Czech Republic and SE Germany. A former Polish province, it passed from Poland to Bohemia in the 14th century, became part of the Habsburg empire, and was seized by Prussia from Austria in 1742. In…
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Full text Article Silesia

From The Columbia Encyclopedia
(sĭlē'zhӘ, –shӘ, sī–), Czech Slezsko , Ger. Schlesien , Pol. Śląsk , region of E central Europe, extending along both banks of the Oder River and bounded in the south by the mountain ranges of the Sudetes—particularly the Krkonoše (Ger. Riesengebirge )—and the W Carpathians. Politically, almost all…
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Full text Article Silesia

From Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary
Historical region, E cen. Europe, lying mostly in SW Poland, with minor sections in adjoining areas of the Czech Republic and Germany. For centuries a part of Poland and at one time divided into many principalities; passed to Bohemia 14th cent. and came under Holy Roman Empire; suffered in Hussite…
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Full text Article Silesia

From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
Historic region, east-central Europe. It now lies mainly in southwestern Poland, with parts in Germany and the Czech Republic. It was originally a Polish province that became a possession of the Bohemian crown, and thus part of the Holy Roman Empire , in 1335. Because of succession disputes and the…
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Full text Article Silesia

From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
Region of Europe that has long been disputed because of its geographical position, mineral resources, and industrial potential; now in Poland and the Czech Republic with metallurgical industries and a coalfield in Polish Silesia. Dispute began in the 17th century with claims on the area by both…
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Full text Article Silesia

From The American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language
A region of central Europe primarily in southwest Poland and the northern Czech Republic. Settled by Slavic peoples c. ad 500, the region was long contested by various states and principalities. After World War I Silesia was partitioned among Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia. Much of the…
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Full text Article silesia

From The American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language
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Unlike the War of the Spanish Succession, this conflict did not involve the inheritance of the throne by a foreigner, but by a woman. Emperor Charles VI of Austria had succeeded his sonless brother Joseph in 1711, but Charles also was unable to sire a male child. For 20 years he planned to give his…
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Full text Article silesia

From Collins English Dictionary
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Full text Article silesia

From The Chambers Dictionary
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