Romanian history dates back to ancient times, with the region inhabited by the Dacians, who were conquered by the Roman Empire in 106 AD. This led to the establishment of Dacia as a Roman province, influencing the culture and language of the area. After the Roman withdrawal in 271 AD, various tribes, including the Goths and Huns, invaded the territory. In the Middle Ages, the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia emerged, eventually uniting in 1859 to form modern Romania. The country gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877 and became a kingdom. Romania faced significant challenges during the 20th century, including both World Wars and communist rule, before transitioning to democracy in 1989.