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HISTORY OF THE BALKANS

"The history of Serbia is a history of two different countries. East and west, Future and Past, Europe and Asia , Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire were meeting on this part of Balkans thorough history. Permanent conflict between these two Serbias must be finished successfully in 20th century, and our choice is - future!"
(Zoran Djindjic, Serbian opposition leader and the Prime Minister of first Serbian democratic goverment, assasinated on March 12th, 2003)

In order to fully realise the nature of the Serbian nonviolent conflict during the last decade of the 20th century, it is crucial to understand both history of the region and the position of the Serbs in the Balkan penninsula.

CANVAS history classroom offers you a fast way to learn more about the history of the region.

1196-1355

In the early 7th century Slavs migrate over the Carpathian Mountains into the Balkan peninsula, then part of the Roman Empire.

By the 10th century, the Slavic tribes in the area have become three distinct groups: Croatians, Slovenians and Serbians.

In the mid 14th century, Serbia, under King Dusan 'the Mighty', expands southwards into modern-day Albania, Macedonia and Greece.

Kosovo becomes the heartland of Serb political and cultural identity.

1389-1459

Serbia is defeated by an Ottoman army at Kosovo Polje.

This event becomes a turning point in Serbian nationalist identity, although in fact Serbia remains largely independent for another 70 years.

In 1459 the Ottoman Empire completes the conquest of Serbia.

The Austria-Hungary Empire to the north establishes Vojvodina and Krajina as a homeland for Serbians fleeing Turkish rule.

Albanians begin trickling into the region.

1878

The Treaty of Berlin drastically redraws political boundaries in the Balkans.

Serbia regains independence, although Kosovo, now largely populated by ethnic Albanians, remains under Ottoman rule.

1914

In the early 20th century the Ottoman Empire begins to crumble, prompting a wave of nationalism throughout the Balkans.

In 1912, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece and Bulgaria form an alliance and drive the Turks out of the Balkans. Albania gains independence in the process.

Kosovar Albanians begin emigrating to Albania and Turkey as Serbians begin to trickle back into the area. One year later the Serbs turn against Bulgaria and occupy Kosovo and Macedonia.

In 1914, the heir to the Hapsburg Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, travels to the area to try to stop the unrest and put a check on Serb expansionism. He was assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serb nationalist on the 525th anniversary of the battle of Kosovo Polje, an event that triggers World War I.

1918

After the defeat of Austria-Hungary in World War I, the Treaty of Versailles redraws Balkan political boundaries yet again.

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes is created.

In 1929 King Alexander I changes the name of the state to Yugoslavia -- land of the southern Slavs.

The Serb-dominated government causes great resentment among Croats and other ethnic groups, and Alexander is assassinated in 1934.

1945

After occupation by Germany and Italy during World War II, Yugoslavia becomes a socialist state under Josip Tito.

He deals with nationalist tensions by creating a federation of six nominally equal republics: Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Macedonia, with Kosovo and Vojvodina existing as autonomous provinces within Serbia.

But after Tito's death in 1980, Slobodan Milosevic and other politicians begin an orchestrated campaign to foment nationalist hysteria, focused on alleged "genocide" of Serbs in Kosovo by the Albanian majority.

In 1989, Milosevic, now president of Serbia, strips Kosovo of its autonomous status.

1992

As the Eastern Bloc crumbles, nationalism replaces communism as the dominant force in the Balkans.

In 1991 Slovenia and Croatia declare independence, followed in 1992 by Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Yugoslavia erupts into civil war. Thousands are killed and millions are displaced in "ethnic cleansing" operations.

The war in Croatia and Bosnia was ended in 1995. Croatia expelled Serbs out and Bosnia was divided in two parts - one Serbian and other Muslim-Croatian, as it remained today.