Although many villages are somewhat isolated in Slovakia, the country is also accessible
in many areas and in these areas the people have had profound cultural and historical
influences introduced by the Austrians, Hungarians, Czechs, and others. In fact,
the Slovaks and Czechs were united for much of history and the similarities between
these people and their cultures are still obvious, although differences abound.
In more recent times the culture has again changed due to political changes. Falling
under communist rule for much of the 1900s, the country sadly boasts Soviet-inspired
architecture. This rule also urbanized the people to a great degree and shifted
the focus of the economy from farming to industry. These changes meant a shift from
the mountains to the cities and lowlands, while drastically altering the lifestyle.
The lifestyle has continued to change since the fall of communism as Slovakia has
joined the European Union and has a growing economy. Despite the many changes though,
the Slovak culture is still rooted in the mountains as traditional foods, clothing,
architecture, and attitudes persevere.