Albania’s Flag

Overview

In this module, you will learn about Albania’s long and rich history. It is important to remember that the country of Albania and its current boundaries were not officially established until 1912. Therefore, much of what you will read and discover here provides more of a general history of the region where Albania is located. Though Albania was not recognized as country until 1912, the information detailed here is very much a part of the long history of this modern country and its people.

This page divides this complicated and unique history into three parts. Similar to how Western civilization history courses are divided into the antiquity of the Greeks and Romans, a medieval period and a modern period, Albania’s history has been divided into three major periods as well. In the first section, we cover the ancient period with a focus on the Greek and Roman conquests of the region. During this period, the land that is Albania today was called Illyria and Epirus, named after the the local tribes who inhabited the area. In the second part, we will learn about the region under the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. During this period, the region was ruled by the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine) before coming under the rule of the Ottoman Empire in the late-14th century (1388). This section will focus on life under imperial rule. In the third section, the focus will be on the Albanian people’s push for independence, the establishment of an independent Albania, the country’s complicated history during the Cold War, and the current desire to become a member of the European Union.

The three sections each emphasize different themes and can be used separately or together. In addition to the three historical sections, classroom activities related to the history of Albania and a practice quiz are listed at the bottom of this page before the further reading section. For the “Who Am I?” activity, be sure that students familiarize themselves with the images of famous figures contained throughout the history module.

Albania’s Location in the World

Albania
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Albania-map.png

Pre-History to Late Antiquity

The Middle Ages

Modern History

Key Terms (History)

Illyria: In classical and late antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by numerous tribes of people collectively known as the Illyrians. This region later becomes part of Albania.

Illyrians: a group of Indo-European-speaking people (tribes) who inhabited the western Balkan Peninsula in ancient times

King Gentius: an Illyrian king who belonged to the Labeatan dynasty. He ruled in 181–168 BC, being the last attested Illyrian king

Epirus Nova: The province of Epirus was a province of the Roman Empire, covering the region of Ancient Epirus (parts of southern Albania).

Byzantine Empire: was the continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire centered in Constantinople during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Kingdom of Albania (1272 AD): established by Charles of Anjou in the Albanian territories he conquered from the Byzantine Empire in 1271, with the help of the local Albanian nobility. The Kingdom of Albania was declared in late February 1272.

Ottoman Empire: was a Muslim-led imperial realm that spanned much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Central Europe between the early 16th and early 18th centuries. It ruled over Albania for over 400 years.

Skanderbeg: George Kastrioti, commonly known as Skanderbeg, was an Albanian feudal lord and military commander who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire in what is today Albania in the early-15th century. He is considered the Albanian national hero.

Pashas: Regional governors of the Ottoman Empire who ruled over regional territories, especially in Southeast Europe

Ali Pasha of Ioannina: an Albanian ruler who served as Ottoman pasha of the Pashalik of Yanina, a large part of western Rumelia. Under his rule from 1788-1822, the region acquired a high degree of autonomy and even managed to stay semi-independent.

Principality of Albania: The first recognized government of an independent Albania with the German prince William Wied as the ruler. This government lasted for only 6 months in 1914.

Ahmed Zog / Zogu: was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania’s youngest ever Prime Minister (1922–1924), then as president (1925–1928), and finally as king (1928–1939). He is also known as the first Muslim king in modern Europe.

Kingdom of Albania: was the official name of Albania between 1928 and 1939. Albania was declared a monarchy by the Constituent Assembly, and President Ahmet Bej Zogu was declared King Zog I. The kingdom was supported by the fascist regime in Italy.

Enver Hoxha: the ruler of Albania from 1944 until his death in 1985. He was considered a communist dictator who ruled with an oppressive regime.

Fourth Republic: This was the democratic government established after the collapse of the communist regime in 1991. This is the current government of Albania.

Albanian “Civil War” 1997: This was a period of civil unrest, sometimes called a civil war, in Albania after the sudden collapse of the government and economy in 1997.

Edi Rama: He became the Prime Minister of Albania in 2013 and is still in office (as of 2024). He is known for his projects of revitalization and “Westernization.”

Quiz

Now that you have familiarized yourself with Albania’s history, here is a practice quiz to test your knowledge. This quiz is a little on the tough side, but all the answers were contained in the history pages. If you answer a question incorrectly, the correct answer will be given once you submit your quiz:

https://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/History/Albanian-History-396894.html

Suggested Learning Activities

Albania between Empires

Romans
Byzantines
Ottomans

Divide the the class into three groups, assigning each group one of the empires listed. On a sheet of paper have the groups provide details and developments in Albanian history under each empire. Suggested topics for students to address are the time periods Albania was under each empire; major developments that happened, such as wars, revolts, and famous leaders/rulers; and have students trace religious developments under each empire, such as the introduction of new religions to the region.

Famous Figures Game

Using the portraits and photos of famous figures contained in the website link below, show students the image of the figure and have them guess the individual’s name. The answer for each follows the image. Additionally, once students identify the figure, they can write down or answer questions aloud explaining the main reason why the individual is considered a historic Albanian figure.

Who Am I? Famous Figures in Albanian History

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History