With the Poles and the Czechs the Slovaks belong to the group of the Western Slavs. They were the first among them to become Christianized. Already in 828 the first Christian church was built in Nitra, while 14 Czech tribal chiefs were baptized in 84 5 in Regensburg. Poland later accepted Christianity in 966, and St. Vladimir became a Christian in Kievan Russia in 989. Besides their centuries old existence, the Slovaks distinguish themselves from their neighbors by two socio-cultural criteria, na mely language and character. Both of them have been crystallized from a process of multinational interaction which has been characteristic of Central Europe since its beginnings. In that geographical area, Slovakia forms an ellipse, enclosed between the Carpathian Mountains in the North and the Danube and Tisza rivers in the South. In the course of history, this territory has been part of various consecutive state formations. Yet, Slovakia, in terms of culture and geography, has endured all thos e changes.