Albania

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Republic of Albania (Albanian: Republika e Shqipërisë, IPA [ɾɛˈpubliˌka ɛ ˌʃcipəˈɾiːs]) is a Balkan country in Southeastern Europe. It borders Montenegro on the north, the Serbian province of Kosovo on the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia on the east, and Greece on the south. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west and a coast on the Ionian Sea to the southwest. Despite having a troubled history, the country has been classified as an emerging democracy since the 1990s. Albania has played a relevant role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the European Union.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Prehistory 1.2 Pelasgians 1.3 Illyrians 1.4 Roman and Byzantine rule 1.5 Ottoman rule 1.6 Effects of the Balkan Wars 1.7 Monarchy, King Zog I 1.8 The Second World War 1.9 Totalitarian state 1.10 The rise of democracy 2 Administrative subdivisions 3 Geography 4 Demographics 5 Economy 6 Notes and references 7 See also 8 External links

[edit] History

Main article: History of Albania

[edit] Prehistory

Most scholars consider that Albanians are direct descendants of, and get their name from, an Illyrian tribe that was named Albanoi, which was located in modern-day Albania.^[2] Other scholars (mainly Greeks) dispute this, while others claim that Albanians and Illyrians are descendants of the ancient Pelasgians, making their history go back at least four thousand years before BCE.^{[citation needed]} Their presence can be traced back to the formulation of their political structure in the seventh and sixth centuries BCE. Excellent metal craftsmen and fierce warriors, the Illyrians formed warlord-based kingdoms that fought amongst themselves for most of their history. Only during the sixth century BCE did the Illyrians venture significant raids against their immediate neighbours: the kingdom of Molossians in Epirus, the kingdom of Macedon, and the Thraco-Illyrian kingdom of Paionia.

The lands that are today inhabited by Albanians were first populated in the Paleolithic Age (Stone Age), over one hundred thousand years ago. The first zones that were initially settled were those with adequate geographical conditions. In Albania, the earliest settlements have been discovered in the Gajtan cavern (Shkodra), in Konispol, at Mount Dajti, and at Xara (Saranda)^{[citation needed]}. Primitive peoples lived in secluded groups, mainly in dry caves that would also protect from the wind. They used stones and bones as their tools. Places such as caverns and terrain close to rivers were used. In any case, the tools from this age were simple and created primarily from stone. Paleolithic peoples fed on collected products from plants and hunted wild animals. Because of the harsh conditions that they lived in, they had a lifespan of approximately 21 to 30 years, with higher youth mortality than today. The fight against harsh living conditions led to strengthened connections among the members of each group and in a change of organization of primitive peoples. At the end of the Paleolithic Age, the primitives transformed into a grouping among bloodlines where the origins were traced to the mother. Thus a matriarchal society developed, which became common in later periods in the Neolithic age (New Stone Age).^{[citation needed]}

The inhabitation of Albanian lands increased in the Neolithic age. People began to abandon caverns and settle in open areas. Neolithic people were more prone to build their settlements in open fields or next to rivers. A large number of such settlements are discovered in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and the Republic of Macedonia.

Part of a series of articles on Albanians Albanian culture Literature · Modern art Music · Sport · Cuisine By region or country Albania · Macedonia · Montenegro Serbia (Kosovo · South · Belgrade) Romania · United States Çamëria · Greece · Italy Bulgaria Varieties of Albanian Albanian · Gheg · Tosk Arvanitika · Arbëresh (Italy) History of Albanians Origins · History · Illyrians Persecution of Albanians Exodus v • d • e

Aboriginals gradually developed stable settlements and started an agricultural economy. They knew how to plant barley and millet. This was associated with the development of matriarchy and this epoch saw the beginning of paired marriages.^[3]

[edit] Pelasgians

The Bronze Age is characterized with shifting demographics. Stockbreeding people came from the east around the mid 3000s BC to the early 2000s BC. They mixed with the indigenous peoples and thus created the Indo-European peoples of the Balkans. This population is believed to be the ancient Pelasgians, which have been mentioned frequently by ancient writers such as Homer, Herodotus, and Thucydides. The Pelasgians are known as the most ancient inhabitants of the Balkan Peninsula, living before Illyrian or Greek times. From their first appearance in the region, the Pelasgians adopted a matriarchal system. Several different opinions arise when their ethnicity is analyzed. A theory dating back to the seventeenth century, and most popular during the Albanian Rilindja (Rebirth) in the nineteenth century, has attempted to connect the Pelasgian language with Albanian. The most active supporter of this theory was Austrian linguist Hahn. Today, however, Albanian is universally classified as an Indo-European (i.e. non-indigenous) language by linguists.

The differentiation of populations by ethnicity began during the Bronze Age. Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian in the fifth century BC, writes about the Pelasgians that continued to live in Greece. According to him, the language of the Pelasgians was different from Greek, but later assimilated into Greeks.They dealt with agriculture and the sea and were excellent builders. The Pelasgians built the wall around the Acropolis of Athens and were rewarded with lands in Attica by the Athenians.

[edit] Illyrians

The Illyrians created and developed their culture, language and anthropological features in the western part of the Balkans, where ancient writers mention them in their works. The regions that the Illyrians inhabited are considerably expansive. They include the entire western peninsula, north to central Europe, south to the Ambracian Gulf (Preveza, Greece), and east around the Lyhind Lake (Ohrid Lake). Other Illyrian tribes also migrated and developed in Italy. Among them were the Messapii and Iapyges. The name 'Illyria' is mentioned in works since the fifth century BC while some tribe names are mentioned as early as the twelfth century BC by Homer. The ethnic formation of the Illyrians, however, is much older.

The beginning of Illyrian origins in by the fifteenth century BC, from the mid-Bronze Age, when Illyrian ethnic features began to form. By the Iron Age, the Illyrians were fully distinct and had inherited their developing anthropological features and language from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. The old theory that the Illyrians came from Central Europe during the seventh to ninth centuries has been disproved and disbanded by studies performed following World War II. The fact that graves with urns, characteristic of Central Europe, are not found in Illyrian settlements severely damage the theory. Central European influence on the Illyrians is a result of cultural exchanges and movement of artisans.^[4]

[edit] Roman and Byzantine rule

After being conquered by the Roman Empire, Illyria was reorganized as a Roman province. Illyricum was later divided into the provinces of Dalmatia and Pannonia, the lands comprising modern-day Albania mostly being included in the former. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire governed the region. It was also ruled by the Bulgarian and the Serbian Empire at various points in the Middle Ages.

[edit] Ottoman rule

In the Middle Ages, the name Albania (see Origin and history of the name Albania) began to be increasingly applied to the region now comprising the nation of Albania. From 1443 to 1468 Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg led a successful resistance against the invading Ottomans. After the death of Skanderbeg, resistance continued until 1478, although with only moderate success. The loyalties and alliances created and nurtured by Skanderbeg faltered and fell apart, and the Ottomans conquered the territory of Albania shortly after the fall of Kruje's castle. Albania then became part of the Ottoman Empire. Following this, many Albanians fled to neighboring Italy, mostly to Calabria and Sicily. The majority of the Albanian population that remained converted to Islam. They would remain a part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912.

[edit] Effects of the Balkan Wars

After the Second Balkan War, the Ottomans were removed from Albania and there was a possibility of some of the lands being absorbed by Serbia and the southern tip by Greece. This decision angered the Italians, who did not want Serbia to have an extended coastline, and it also angered the Austro-Hungarians, who did not want a powerful Serbia on their southern border. Despite Serbian, Montenegrin, and Greek occupation forces on the ground, and under immense pressure from Austria-Hungary, it was decided that the country should not be divided but instead consolidated into the Principality of Albania. From 1925, the country was ruled by President Ahmet Zogu. After ruling Albania for a few years, in 1928 he declared himself King Zog I, the first Albanian monarch.

[edit] Monarchy, King Zog I

After the Albanian government changed hands for a few years, Ahmet Zogu came to power. After ruling Albania for a few years, he declared himself "King Zog, the First Albanian Monarch." He brought stability to the country after 450 years of the Ottoman rule. He styled himself as an European king, married Hungarian princess Geraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Apponyi, and introduced the European style of life to the Albanian people after centuries of living an eastern lifestyle^{[citation needed]}. His reign ended when the communists took power after the Second World War. After the fall of the communist government, his son Leka, Crown Prince of Albania and the royal family returned to Albania on June 28 2002.

[edit] The Second World War

Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939, meeting little resistance, and took control of the country. During this time, the Italians annexed parts of Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Northern Greece to the country. This led to an ironic situation for the nationalists: although the country was occupied, the dream of an Ethnic Albania was realized. Albanian communists and nationalists actively fought a partisan war against the Italian and German invasions in World War II. The socialists (most often called communists) took over after World War II. In November 1944, the communists gained control of the government under the leader of the resistance, Enver Hoxha. The Communist Party was created on November 8, 1941 with the help of Bolshevik Communist Parties, under the guidance of the Yugoslav Communist Party.

[edit] Totalitarian state

For the many decades under his totalitarian domination, Hoxha created and destroyed relationships with Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union, and China. Towards the end of the Hoxha era, Albania was isolated, first from the capitalist West (Western Europe, North America and Australasia) and later even from the communist East. Enver Hoxha died in 1985. There are statistics which shows that during this period were executed about 6000 Albanian citizens for political crimes. About one tenth of those were females.

[edit] The rise of democracy

The first massive anti-communist protests took place in July 1990. Shortly afterwards, the communist regime under Ramiz Alia carried out some cosmetic changes in the economy. At the end of 1990, after strong student protests and independent syndicated movements, the regime accepted a multiparty system. The first pluralist general elections were held on March 31, 1991 and saw the Communist Party (PPSH) win the majority. Democratic parties accused the government of manipulation and called for new elections, which were held on March 22, 1992 and resulted in a democratic coalition (composed of the Democratic Party, the Social-Democrats, and the Republican Party) coming to power.

In the general elections of June 1996 the Democratic Party tried to win an absolute majority and manipulated the results^{[citation needed]}, winning over 85% of parliamentary seats. In 1997 widespread riots erupted after the International Monetary Fund forced the state to liberalise banking practices. Many citizens naive to the workings of a market economy put their entire savings into pyramid schemes. In a short while, $2 billion (80% of the country's GDP) had been moved into the hands of just a few pyramid scheme owners, causing severe economic troubles and civic unrest. Police stations and military bases were looted of millions of Kalashnikovs and other weapons. Anarchy prevailed,^[5] and militia and even less-organized armed citizens controlled many cities. Even American military advisors left the country for their own safety. The government of Aleksander Meksi resigned and a government of national unity was built. In response to the anarchy^{[citation needed]}, the Socialist Party won the early elections of 1997 and Berisha resigned the Presidency.

However, stability was far from being restored in the years after the 1997 riots. The power feuds raging inside the Socialist Party led to a series of short-lived Socialist governments. The country was flooded with refugees from neighboring Kosovo in 1998 and 1999 during the Kosovo War. In June 2002, a compromise candidate, Alfred Moisiu, a former general, was elected to succeed President Rexhep Meidani. Parliamentary elections in July 2005 brought Sali Berisha, as leader of the Democratic Party, back to power, mostly owing to Socialist infighting and a series of corruption scandals plaguing the government of Fatos Nano.^{[citation needed]}

The Euro-Atlantic integration of Albania has been the ultimate goal of the post-communist governments. Albania's EU membership bid, along with the rest of the Western Balkans, has been set as a priority by the European Commission. On 2006 Albania signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement the EU, thus completing the first major step towards joining the bloc^{[citation needed]}. Albania, along with Croatia and Macedonia, is also expected to receive an invitation to join NATO in 2008.^{[citation needed]}

The workforce of Albania has continued to migrate to Greece, Italy, Germany, other parts of Europe, and North America. However, the migration flux is slowly decreasing, as more and more opportunities are emerging in Albania itself.

[edit] Administrative subdivisions

Main articles: Counties of Albania and Districts of Albania

Albania is divided into twelve counties (Albanian: official qark/qarku, but often prefekturë/prefektura), sometimes translated as prefecture). Each county is subdivided into several districts:

	County	Districts	Capital
1	Berat	Berat, Kuçovë, Skrapar	Berat
2	Dibër	Bulqizë, Dibër, Mat	Peshkopi
3	Durrës	Durrës, Krujë	Durrës
4	Elbasan	Elbasan, Gramsh, Librazhd, Peqin	Elbasan
5	Fier	Fier, Lushnjë, Mallakastër	Fier
6	Gjirokastër	Gjirokastër, Përmet, Tepelenë	Gjirokastër
7	Korçë	Devoll, Kolonjë, Korçë, Pogradec	Korçë
8	Kukës	Has, Kukës, Tropojë	Kukës
9	Lezhë	Kurbin, Lezhë, Mirditë	Lezhë
10	Shkodër	Malësi e Madhe, Pukë, Shkodër	Shkodër
11	Tirana	Kavajë, Tirana	Tirana
12	Vlorë	Delvinë, Sarandë, Vlorë	Vlorë

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of Albania

Albania has a total area of 28,750 square kilometers. Its coastline is 362 kilometres long and stretches on the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. The lowlands of the west face the Adriatic Sea. The 70% of the country that is mountainous is rugged and often inaccessible. The highest mountain is Korab situated in the district of Dibra, reaching up to 2,753 metres (9,032 ft).

The country has a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. Besides the capital city of Tirana, which has 800,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are Durrës, Elbasan, Shkodër, Gjirokastër, Vlorë, Korçë and Kukës.

In Albanian grammar, a word can have indefinite and definite forms, and this also applies to city names: both Tiranë and Tirana, Shkodër and Shkodra are used.

[edit] Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Albania

The 95% of the population is comprised of ethnic Albanians who are mostly Atheists or Agnostics (see Religion in Albania). The 5% minorities include Greeks, Serbs, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Bulgarians, Roma (Gypsies), Egyptians (Balkans), Vlach, Bosniaks and Italians. The dominant language is Albanian, with two main dialects, Gheg and Tosk. Many Albanians are also fluent in English, Greek and Italian.

As a part of the Ottoman Empire, Albania became a mostly Muslim territory. During the totalitarian regime, religion was officially banned, and Albania was proclaimed as the first and only Atheist state in the world. Today, with the freedom of religion and worship, Albania contains numerous religions and denominations; however, within a nonreligious majority that amounts to 75% of the total population.^[6][7][8][9] Other main religions of the world also have some small representation in Albania. Religious fanaticism has never been a problem,^[10] with people from different religious groups living in peace. Interreligious marriage is very common, and an immensely strong sense of Albanian identity has tended to bind Albanians of all religious practices together.^[11]

[edit] Economy

Main article: Economy of Albania

Since the fall of communism in 1990, Albania has launched economic programs towards a more open-market economy^{[citation needed]}. The democratically elected government that assumed office in April 1992 launched an ambitious economic reform program to halt economic deterioration and put the country on the path toward a market economy^{[citation needed]}. Key elements included price and exchange system liberalisation, fiscal consolidation, monetary restraint, and a firm income policy^{[citation needed]}. These were complemented by a comprehensive package of structural reforms, including privatisation, enterprise, and financial sector reform, and creation of the legal framework for a market economy and private sector activity. Most prices were liberalised and are now approaching levels typical of the region^{[citation needed]}. Most agriculture, state housing, and small industry were privatised, along with transportation, services, and small and medium-sized enterprises^{[citation needed]}. After severe economic contraction following 1989, the economy slowly rebounded, finally surpassing its 1989 levels by the end of the 1990s. GDP per capita. Since prices have also risen, however, economic hardship has continued for much of the population. In 1995, Albania began privatizing large state enterprises. Since 2000, Albania has experienced a more rapid expansion of its economy.^{[citation needed]}

Following the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement in June/July 2006, EU ministers urged Albania to push ahead with reforms, focusing on press freedom, property rights, institution building, respect for ethnic minorities and observing international standards in municipal elections.

Albania's coastline on the Ionian Sea, especially near the Greek tourist island of Corfu, is becoming increasingly popular with tourists due to its relatively unspoiled nature and its beaches. The tourism industry is growing rapidly.

[edit] Notes and references

This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain.

[edit] See also

History of Albania Culture of Albania Albanian literature Religion in Albania

Communications in Albania Transport in Albania Education in Albania Public holidays in Albania

Foreign relations of Albania Military of Albania Butrint National Park Norman Wisdom

Lists

• List of Albania-related articles
• List of Albanians
• List of Albanian writers
• List of Albanian-Americans

[edit] External links

Find more information on Albania by searching Wikipedia's sister projects
	Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary
	Textbooks from Wikibooks
	Quotations from Wikiquote
	Source texts from Wikisource
	Images and media from Commons
	News stories from Wikinews
	Learning resources from Wikiversity

• National Tourism Organization Albania's official website for travel & tourism information.
• VIVAlbania, hospitality and ecotourism in Albania
• OPIC Guide on Albania
• CIA statistics
• Presidency of Albania
• The Albanian Parliament
• Albanian Institute of Statistics
• Department of Information
• Links to governmental sites
• Albanian city of Kruje

Geographic locale

v • d • e  Countries of Europe Albania · Andorra · Armenia2 · Austria · Azerbaijan1 · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus2 · Czech Republic · Denmark3 · Estonia · Finland · France3 · Georgia1 · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan1 · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Republic of Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands3 · Norway3 · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia1 · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain3 · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey1 · Ukraine · United Kingdom3 · Vatican City 1 Has majority of its territory in Asia.  2 Entirely in Asia but having socio-political connections with Europe.  3 Has dependencies or similar territories outside Europe. v • d • e Countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea  Albania  Algeria  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Croatia  Cyprus  Egypt  France  Greece  Israel  Italy  Lebanon  Libya  Malta  Monaco  Montenegro  Morocco  Slovenia  Spain  Syria  Tunisia  Turkey For dependent and other territories, see Dependent territory and List of unrecognized countries. ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. See templates for deletion to help reach a consensus on what to do. › }} v • d • e Countries bordering the Adriatic Sea Albania · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Croatia · Italy · Montenegro · Slovenia

International membership

v • d • e  Members of the Council of Europe Albania · Andorra · Armenia · Austria · Azerbaijan · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Republic of Macedonia1 · Romania · Russia · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey · Ukraine · United Kingdom 1 Otherwise known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) v • d • e European Union (EU) members and candidates Members Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Netherlands · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · United Kingdom Candidates Croatia (status) · Republic of Macedonia1 (status) · Turkey (status) Potential candidates Albania (status) · Bosnia and Herzegovina (status) · Montenegro (status) · Serbia (status)  · Ukraine (status) 1 Referred to by the EU as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. v • d • e Members of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Kosovo1 Republic of Macedonia Moldova Montenegro Serbia 1 A province of Serbia; currently a UN-administered territory. v • d • e Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)  Albania  Armenia  Azerbaijan  Bulgaria  Georgia  Greece  Moldova  Romania  Russia  Serbia  Turkey  Ukraine v • d • e Member states and observers of La Francophonie Members Albania · Andorra · Belgium · Benin · Bulgaria · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cambodia · Cameroon · Canada (New Brunswick • Quebec) · Cape Verde · Central African Republic · Chad · Cyprus1 · Comoros · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Republic of the Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Dominica · Egypt · Equatorial Guinea · Republic of Macedonia2 · France (including French Guiana • Martinique • St. Pierre and Miquelon) · Gabon · Ghana1 · Greece · Guadeloupe · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Haiti · Laos · Luxembourg · Lebanon · Madagascar · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Moldova · Monaco · Morocco · Niger · Romania · Rwanda · St. Lucia · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Switzerland · Togo · Tunisia · Vanuatu · Vietnam Observers Armenia · Austria · Croatia · Czech Republic · Georgia · Hungary · Lithuania · Mozambique · Poland · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Ukraine 1 Associate member.    2 Also known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. v • d • e Members and observers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Members Afghanistan · Albania · Algeria · Azerbaijan · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Benin · Burkina Faso · Brunei · Cameroon · Chad · Comoros · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Gabon · Gambia · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Indonesia · Iran · Iraq · Jordan · Kuwait · Kazakhstan · Kyrgyzstan · Lebanon · Libya · Maldives · Malaysia · Mali · Mauritania · Morocco · Mozambique · Niger · Nigeria · Oman · Pakistan · Palestine · Qatar · Saudi Arabia · Senegal · Sierra Leone · Somalia · Sudan · Suriname · Syria · Tajikistan · Turkey · Tunisia · Togo · Turkmenistan · Uganda · Uzbekistan · United Arab Emirates · Yemen Observers Countries Bosnia and Herzegovina · Central African Republic · Russia · Thailand · Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Muslim communities Moro National Liberation Front International organizations Economic Cooperation Organization · African Union · League of Arab States · Non-Aligned Movement · United Nations