Transylvania, a historical region in central Romania, is part of the Dacian Kingdom (firstst–second centuries CE), Roman Dacia (second–thirrd centuries), the Hunnic Empire (fourth–fifth centuries), the Kingdom of the Gepids (fifth–sixth centuries), the Avar Khaganate (sixth–ninth centuries) and the ninth century First Bulgarian Empire.

During the late ninth century, western Transylvania is reached by the Hungarian conquerors and later it becomse part of the Kingdom of Hungary, formed in 1000 CE.

After the Battle of Mohács in 1526 it belongs to the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom, from which the Principality of Transylvania emerges.

During most of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the principality is a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire; however, the principality has dual suzerainty (Ottoman and Habsburg).

In 1690, the Habsburgs gai possession of Transylvania through the Hungarian crown.

After 1711, Habsburg control of Transylvania is consolidated, and Transylvanian princes are replaced with Habsburg imperial governors.

After the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, the separate status of Transylvania ceases; it is incorporated into the Kingdom of Hungary (Transleithania) as part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.

After the First World War, Transylvania becoms part of Romania.

In 194, Northern Transylvania reverts to Hungary as a result of the Second Vienna Award, but it is reclaimed by Romania after the end of the Second World War.Due to its varied history the population of Transylvania is ethnically, linguistically, culturally and religiously diverse.

From 1437 to 1848 political power in Transylvania is shared among the mostly Hungarian nobility, German burghers and the seats of the Székelys (a Hungarian ethnic group).

The population consists of Romanians, Hungarians (particularly Székelys) and Germans.

The majority of the present population is Romanian, but large minorities (mainly Hungarian and Roma) preserve their traditions.

However, as late as the communist era ethnic-minority relations remain an issue of international contention.

This abates (but does not not disappear) after the Revolution of 1989 restores democracy in Romania.

Transylvania retains a significant Hungarian-speaking minority, slightly less than half of which identify themselves as Székely.

Ethnic Germans in Transylvania (known as Saxons) comprise about one percent of the population; however, Austrian and German influences remain in the architecture and urban landscape of much of Transylvania.The region's history may be traced through the religions of its inhabitants.

Most Romanians in Transylvania belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church faith, but from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church also has substantial influence.

Hungarians primarily belong to the Roman Catholic or Reformed Churches; a smaller number are Unitarians.

Of the ethnic Germans in Transylvania, the Saxons have primarily been Lutheran since the Reformation; however, the Danube Swabians are Catholic.

The Baptist Union of Romania is the second-largest such body in Europe; Seventh-day Adventists are established, and other evangelical churches have been a growing presence since 1989.

No Muslim communities remain from the era of the Ottoman invasions.

As elsewhere, anti-Semitic twentieth century politics saw Transylvania's once sizable Jewish population greatly reduced by the Holocaust and emigration.