balkan peninsula countries
The Romans were also affected and took police action, annexing much of Illyrian territory in the early 3rd century bce. This is stated by the Turkish Language Association as “the territory of Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece, and Thrace”. “The World Factbook: Romania.” Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018. Bulgaria's capital city is Sofia. Test and grow your knowledge of the Balkans here. The Republic of Kosovo has a population of approximately 1.9 million people and the official languages are Albanian and Serbian. Albania, or the Republic of Albania, has a total population of approximately 3 million people. It is located in the western part of the Balkan peninsula and features a long coastline facing the Adriatic Sea. Under the Celtic threat they established a coherent political entity, but this too was destroyed by Macedonia. (See also Balkanization.) Map is showing the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, an ancient region and since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991-92 the site of 10 nations plus the European portion of Turkey. We are witnessing the … Extending to the south from central Europe into the Mediterranean Sea, the Balkan Peninsula (colored dark gray in the map above) includes the countries of Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and the geographical/political region of European Turkey. The port city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, occupies a promontory jutting into the Adriatic Sea. The name of the region is the Balkan word in Turkish. The Thracians were advanced in metalworking and in horsemanship. Within the many mountain ranges of the Balkans are rivers large and small. We have included here many useful links, images, and brief artifact descriptions of countries that are part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Western Balkans include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. Area 257,400 square miles (666,700 square km). “The World Factbook: Serbia.” Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018. The modern nation state of Albania emerged in 1912 following the defeat of the Ottomans in the Balkan Wars. Rosenberg, Matt. Certain parts of the continent are under foreign, “neighborly” occupation. There’s also the Balkan Peninsula, but the countries aren’t confined to the peninsula. However, Moldova is politically and economically oriented more toward other onetime republics of the former Soviet Union than it is to the Balkan states. They intermingled with the Greeks and gave them the Dionysian and Orphean cults, which later became so important in classical Greek literature. Although Italy included the areas of Istria and Dalmatia within the greater Balkan Peninsula before the World War II, only a small area of Trieste is included inside the peninsula. Natural wonders and historic landmarks dot the territory, merging with unique culture, making it a popular destination with people from around the globe. Italy shares a small border with Slovenia, a Balkan country, on the region's western edge. These countries, successors to the Ottoman Empire, are called the Balkan States. In Balkan Europe, living is a constant amalgam of the new world and the old, leading most Balkanites to religion as a hope for a better future. The southern and coastal areas, however, have a Mediterranean type of climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, relatively rainy winters. These countries are Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia. (2002 est.) From untainted beaches to towering mountains, luxurious resorts to ancient buildings, tempting […] Shipka Pass in the Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria. But size is also an important determinant of the region’s character, for its area is large enough to have provided important bases of occupation for the Byzantine and Turkish civilizations. ", ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Moldova, located in the eastern region of the Balkans, has a population of about 3.4 million people, 75% of whom are ethnic Moldovans. Moldova is a parliamentary representative democratic republic and its official language is Moldovan, a variety of Romanian. Balkan Peninsula, southeasternmost peninsula of Europe, c.200,000 sq mi (518,000 sq km), bounded by the Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Ionian Sea, and Adriatic Sea. Like most other Balkan states, Macedonia is a parliamentary representative democratic republic. Its northern boundary is often given as the Danube, Sava and Kupa Rivers. The main countries in the Balkans are Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, and North Macedonia. There is a regional term often used when talking about the Balkan Peninsula and this is the Western Balkans. This region in recent years has also become to be known as “Southeast Europe.” The Balkan peninsula lies east of Italy, separated from it by the Adriatic Sea.The Balkans are bordered by parts of the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea in west and by the Aegean Sea in south. The region has a mixed scenery with many tall mountain ranges, as well as deep forests, plains and rivers. A large swath of Europe’s landscape is occupied by the Balkan Peninsula, one of the continent’s oldest and largest settlements. An overview of the region’s physical and human geography and of the history can be found in the article Europe. Balkans, also called Balkan Peninsula, easternmost of Europe’s three great southern peninsulas. The peculiar nature identified with “Balkanization”—that is, fragmentation of ethnic groups—derives in part from the compartmentalization brought about by the mountainous relief. “The World Factbook: Kosovo.” Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018. Nevertheless, the area is home to an abundance of breath-taking coastlines, dazzling landscapes, unique architecture, and lots of history as it is a territory with a communist and socialist past. Pop. The official language is Serbian, a standardized variety of Serbo-Croatian. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Illyrians, ethnically akin to the Thracians, originally inhabited a large area from the Istrian peninsula to northern Greece and as far inland as the Morava River. the countries in the Balkan Peninsula: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, and the European part of Turkey. The Balkan Peninsula has a combined area of about 470,000 km (181,000 sq mi) (slightly smaller than Spain). This region is bordered by the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea, the Adriatic Sea, and the Ionian Sea. It is about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) wide in the north and stretches about 650 miles (1,050 kilometers) to its southern point, Cape Taínaron, in Greece. Serbia's population is about 83% Serbs, and there are approximately 7 million people living there today. Serbia is a parliamentary democracy and its capital city is Belgrade. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Cultura RM Exclusive/Quim Roser/Getty Images. Some Balkan states are also considered "Slavic states" as they are typically defined as Slavic-speaking communities. Former Head, Research Unit in South East European Studies, University of Bradford, England. These include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. There are, however, some features of Balkan history that have remained consistent. The countries of the Balkan Peninsula are ravaged by wars and political upheavals throughout the twentieth century, from the Balkan Wars of the century’s second decade through the ethnic conflicts of the last. Illyrian society, like that of the Thracians, was organized around tribal groups who often fought wars with one another and with outsiders. Balkans, or Balkan Peninsula, easternmost of Europe’s three great southern peninsulas. Increasingly in the early 21st century, another pair of definitional terms has gained currency: South East (also styled South-East, Southeast, South-Eastern, or Southeastern) Europe, which has been employed to describe the region in broad terms (though, again, without universal agreement on its component states) and the Western Balkans, which are usually said to comprise Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Geographers and politicians divide the Balkan peninsula in a variety of ways due to a complicated history. This article covers the history of the region as first defined above from antiquity to the early 21st century. Test and grow your knowledge of the Balkans here. “The World Factbook: North Macedonia.” Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018. Keep in mind that some countries do not recognize Kosovo as an independent country. The Balkans, or the Balkan Peninsula, is a group of nations located in southeastern Europe among the Balkan Mountains. In the north, the weather is similar to that of central Europe, with warm summers and cold winters. At times the peninsula has been divided along north-south lines, and at other times the divisions have been east-west; what constitutes the Balkans has varied with time as have the forces operating within the area. Romania is a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, and its capital city is Bucharest. These include: These mountains play a big role in the region's climate. Maps of the Balkan Peninsula. “The World Factbook: Montenegro.” Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018. Turkey, too, is sometimes numbered among Balkan countries, as a result of Anatolia’s presence on the peninsula, and the Ottoman Turks cast a long shadow of political dominance over the region for centuries (earning it the sobriquet “Turkey in Europe” or “European Turkey”). Common title in upper margin of some 1:1,000,000-scale sheets: Europe, scale 1:1,000,000 -- International map, Europe 1:1,000,000. If you were to travel north of the Balkans, you would pass through Austria, Hungary, and Ukraine. The Balkans are usually characterized as comprising Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia —with all or part of each of those countries located within the peninsula. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. There are approximately 2 million people living in the Republic of North Macedonia. About 64% is Macedonian and 25% is Albanian. The official language is Macedonian, a south Slavic language closely related to Bulgarian. In our opinion, the best time to travel to the Balkans is in the The Balkan countries are Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, and Greece. Relief shown by spot heights; relief also shown by contours and gradient tints on some sheets. Most Important Things to Know About the Country of Georgia, Yugoslavia Officially Becomes Serbia and Montenegro. The country known as Bosnia and Herzegovina is located east of Albania and its capital city is Sarajevo. The capital city is Chisinau. There is not universal agreement on the region’s components. The 11 countries lying on the Balkan Peninsula are called the Balkan states or just the Balkans. During the 4th century bce they were pushed southward by Celtic invasions, and thereafter their territory did not extend much farther north than the Drin River. “Europe: Physical Geography.” National Geographic, 9 Oct. 2012. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The Balkan Peninsula of Southeast Europe was the first in the continent to incorporate the practice of agriculture brought over from Mesopotamia some 5,000 years ago. The Balkans are washed by the Adriatic Sea in the west, the Ionian Sea in the southwest, and the Black Sea in the east. The Balkans are usually characterized as comprising Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia—with all or part of each of those countries located within the peninsula. Bosnia and Herzegovina is ethnically diverse and comprised of three major ethnic groups: Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats. This causes a lot of different problems. Thirty years have passed since the end of the Cold War, and yet the Old Continent has not fully united. Some Balkan countries such as Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Macedonia were once part of Yugoslavia. The Balkan Peninsula therefore includes most of Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, continental Greece (including the Peloponnesus), Bulgaria, European Turkey, and SE Romania. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/where-are-the-balkan-states-4070249. “The World Factbook: Croatia.” Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018. Some Balkan countries such as Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Macedonia were once part of Yugoslavia. The government of this country is a parliamentary representative democratic republic. Rosenberg, Matt. The northern boundary is always defined by the Danube, Sava, and Kupa Rivers. Other maps that use a strictly geographical approach include the entire Balkan Peninsula as Balkan. The Bulgarians, North Macedonians, and Slovenes speak their own Slavic languages, while the Slavs of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro all speak dialects of Serbo-Croatian. "The Balkans." The 610,000 people living in tiny Montenegro speak the official language Montenegrin. Ethnicity is varied here, with 45% Montenegrin and 29% Serbian. The capital city is Podgorica and the political structure is a parliamentary representative democratic republic. The Balkans is … Maps of the Balkans often define the countries listed above as Balkan using a combination of geographic, political, social, and cultural factors. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The German geographer Zeune used the term Balkan peninsula to identify the eastern Europe peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean . The Balkan Peninsula is a region consisting of 11 different countries. Not all of Europe is free and democratic. One of the largest countries in the Balkans, Serbia is … In between, repressive Communist regimes in many countries create a … There is not universal agreement on the region’s components. Here are the countries we have visited in the Balkan Peninsula. An Illyrian kingdom based in modern-day Shkodër, Albania, remained an important factor until its liquidation by Roman armies in 168 bce. “The World Factbook: Albania.” Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018. Corrections? The European portion of Turkey is also on the Balkan Peninsula. "The Balkans." Depths shown by gradient tints and soundings on some sheets. If you want to learn more, then you are welcome to come to the Center for Cultural Resources (CCR) in the IUS library. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, Economic collapse and nationalist resurgence, Balkan Peninsula - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Balkans - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Witness the juxtaposition of archaic and modern lifestyle practices in the Balkan countries, Explore the Balkans' natural resources and agriculture, mountainous interior, and rich cultural diversity. Thereafter the Illyrians were known mainly as pirates who disturbed the trade of many Greek settlements on the Adriatic coast. The name "Western Balkans" describes the countries on the western edge of the region, along the Adriatic coast. These blue rivers are commonly noted for their beauty but they are also full of life and home to an impressive variety of freshwater animals. The most numerous of the groups is the South Slavs, who form the majority of the population in Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. More often than not, Slovenia is included as a member of the Balkans because of its long historical ties with its neighbours to the southeast and because of its former incorporation in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes and federal Yugoslavia. Slovenia's capital city is Ljubljana. Serbia. This region lies on the southeastern edge of the European continent. The northern and central parts of the Balkans have a central European climate, characterized by cold winters, warm summers, and well-distributed rainfall. In the north, clear geographic delimitation of the Balkans becomes difficult because the Pannonian Basin of the Great Alfold (Great Hungarian Plain) extends from central Europe into parts of Croatia, Serbia, and Romania. About 2.1 million people live in Slovenia under a parliamentary representative democratic republic government. About 83% of inhabitants are Slovenian. The official language is Slovene, known as Slovenian in English. There are approximately 7 million people living in the Republic of Bulgaria today and they speak the official language of Bulgarian, a Slavic language related to Macedonian. Subjection to Eastern imperial forces isolated most Balkan societies from Western developments for almost two millennia and created feudal characteristics that persisted until World War I. The region has a combined area of 550,000 km² and an approximate population of 55 million people. Countries [] Unlike the geographical definition of the region, the Balkans is defined politically by the borders of the states making up the area. Croatia, located on the western edge of the Balkan peninsula along the Adriatic Sea, is a parliamentary representative democratic republic. This government is a parliamentary representative democracy. This article is an outline and needs more content. The Balkan Peninsula is a large piece of land in southeastern Europe . What Are the Countries That Make up the Arab States? Extending to the south from central Europe into the Mediterranean Sea, the Balkan Peninsula (colored dark gray in the map above) includes the countries of Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and the geographical/political region of European Turkey.