HISTORY OF ALBANIA
Albania,[b] officially the Republic of Albania,[c] is a country in Southeast Europe. It
is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean
Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the
northeast, North Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south. With an area of
28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi), it has a varied range of climatic, geological, hydrological
and morphological conditions. Albania's landscapes range from rugged snow-
capped mountains in the Albanian Alps and
the Korab, Skanderbeg, Pindus and Ceraunian Mountains, to fertile lowland plains
extending from the Adriatic and Ionian seacoasts. Tirana is the capital and largest
city in the country, followed by Durrës, Vlorë, and Shkodër.
Albania was inhabited by several Illyrian tribes, among them
the Ardiaei, Bylliones, Dassaretii, Enchele, and Taulantians, with
the Chaonians settled in the southwest. Several colonies were founded by the
Ancient Greeks along the Albanian coast, most notably Apollonia. The Illyrians were
the dominant power in Albania before the rise of Macedon.[8] Following the Illyrian
Wars, Albania was integrated into the Roman Empire and remained in the Byzantine
Empire after its partition. During the Middle Ages, several Albanian
principalities emerged, most notably the Principality of Arbanon, Kingdom of
Albania, Principality of Albania and Albania Veneta. In the 15th century, Albania
became a center of resistance against Ottoman expansion under the leadership
of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg, whose military campaigns repelled Ottoman
advances for over two decades. Although incorporated into the Ottoman Empire,
Albania retained distinct cultural and social identities throughout four centuries of
foreign rule, culminating in the Albanian Renaissance in the 19th century.
Albania declared independence in 1912, followed by a turbulent 20th century
marked by monarchy, foreign occupation during both World Wars, and a
repressive communist regime under Enver Hoxha.[9]
Since its independence in 1912, Albania has undergone diverse political evolution,
transitioning from a monarchy to a communist regime before becoming
a sovereign parliamentary constitutional republic. Governed by
a constitution prioritising the separation of powers, the country's political structure
includes a parliament, a ceremonial president, a functional prime minister and a
hierarchy of courts. Albania is a developing country with an upper-middle
income economy driven by the service sector, with manufacturing and tourism,
which attracted over 11 million visitors in 2024, also playing significant roles.
[10]
After the dissolution of its communist system the country shifted from centralised
planning to an open market economy. Albanian citizens have universal health
care access and free primary and secondary education. The country is an official
candidate for membership in the European Union and has been negotiating
accession since 2022.
