28.在现代　 in modern times

27.是一个独立的共和国　

be now an independent republic

26.成立一个单独的国家　 form a single state

25.组成联邦 form the Union

24.以… 结束　 end up with

23.老百姓 common people

22.上层阶级 the upper classes

21.其后几百年来

　in the next few hundred years

20.继续讲他们自己的语言

continue speaking their own language

19.一些本地人some of the native population