GEOGRAPHY
Serbia is located in the geographical area known as the Balkans which consists of Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia, Greece, Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Turkey. It is a landlocked country through which the Danube, Sava, and Morava rivers run. Serbia’s capital is Belgrade which translates to “White Fortress” in Serbo-Croatian. The capital was built at the site of Singidunum, an ancient fortress from the Stone Age made of white stone after which the capital is named.
Allcock, J. B., Poulsen, T. M., & Lampe, J. R. (2018, February 01).
history - Ottoman Empire
Slavic tribes entered the geographical area between 5th and 7th centuries CE. Raška was the first political state to be created around 850 CE by Vlastimir. This state was stabilized in 1168 by Stefan Nemanja. The Nemanja dynasty saw the defeat of the Byzantine Empire in the area which was not revived until 1261. Between 1331-1355, the Nemanjic state saw its Golden Age and largest reach. Shortly after Dušan’s death in 1355, the Ottoman Empire gained hold of the area.
Serbians rose up against the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1787 during the war between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian and Austrio-Hungarian alliance. When Russia and Tsar Alexander I withdrew from the area in 1812 the Turks returned. In 1830, the Ottoman Empire granted the Serbian church independence. After another war against the Turks in 1877, the Treaty of Berlin allotted more territory to Serbia. Ten years of war broke out with start of the Balkan Wars in 1912 and lasting through World War I. Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro formed the Balkan League in 1912 and declared war against the Ottoman Empire. |
History - WWI and WWII
Upon the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in 1914 by Serbian nationalists, Serbia refused to allow Austria to conduct an investigation and World War I ensued. The war ended in 1918 when Belgrade was captured.
In 1918, Serbia was part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. By the 1920s, Serbia was part of Yugoslavia, meaning "Land of the South Slavs," which consisted of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. After World War II, Josip Broz Tito gave these republics more autonomy by promoting nationalism until his death in 1980 which coincided with the beginning of the collapse of communism around Eastern Europe. He also united these republics under Yugoslavia. Communist leader Slobodan Milošević attempted to create a "Greater Serbia" of ethnic Serbs which led to a civil war and multiple secession in the 1990s. The secession of the province Kosovo caused NATO and the UN to get involved through means of bombing the area. In 2006 Serbia was recognized as an independent nation.
In 1918, Serbia was part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. By the 1920s, Serbia was part of Yugoslavia, meaning "Land of the South Slavs," which consisted of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. After World War II, Josip Broz Tito gave these republics more autonomy by promoting nationalism until his death in 1980 which coincided with the beginning of the collapse of communism around Eastern Europe. He also united these republics under Yugoslavia. Communist leader Slobodan Milošević attempted to create a "Greater Serbia" of ethnic Serbs which led to a civil war and multiple secession in the 1990s. The secession of the province Kosovo caused NATO and the UN to get involved through means of bombing the area. In 2006 Serbia was recognized as an independent nation.
"If you’re not smashed to bits,
If you’re still in one piece and get up in one piece,
You can start playing."
-from Before You Play by Serbian poet Vasko Popa
If you’re still in one piece and get up in one piece,
You can start playing."
-from Before You Play by Serbian poet Vasko Popa
population
Serbia has a population of 7,111,024 citizens not including Kosovo which seceded in 2008. Most of the population is of South Slavic descent.
Serbia's population is estimated to decrease by 15 or more percent by 2050.
- East Slavic: Belarusians, Russians, and Ukrainians
- South Slavic: Bosnians, Bulgarians, Croats, Serbs, Slovenes, Macedonians, and Montenegrins
- West Slavic: Czechs, Poles, Slovaks, and Wends
Serbia's population is estimated to decrease by 15 or more percent by 2050.
Allcock, J. B., Poulsen, T. M., & Lampe, J. R. (2018, February 01).
politics
After World War II, Yugoslavia functioned as a communist federation and until its breakup in 1992. During that time it only permitted the political party of the League of Community Yugoslavia to rule. Between 1991 and 1992, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia declared their independence. After 1992, only Serbia and Montenegro remained federated as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia under socialist rule. Vojvodina and Kosovo were provinces of Serbia that existed from 1945-1990 until their secession. In 1989 Serbia attempted to reassert control over these provinces which led to a 77-day bombing by NATO in 1999.
Serbia remained a communist federation under Slobodan Milošević until he was overthrown in 2000 and a democratic government was instated. It was not until 2006 that Serbia was recognized as an independent nation separate from Montenegro. Serbia's government is currently a parliamentary republic.
Serbia remained a communist federation under Slobodan Milošević until he was overthrown in 2000 and a democratic government was instated. It was not until 2006 that Serbia was recognized as an independent nation separate from Montenegro. Serbia's government is currently a parliamentary republic.
ECONOMY
Serbia's economy was greatly damaged by Milošević's rule, the NATO bombing, civil war, and international economic sanctions. In the 1990s, two-thirds of Serbia's companies were declared bankrupt. As of 2015, Serbia's GDP still had not recovered from these events. Following Milošević's ousting, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia attempted to reform and stabilize the market. Serbia is currently working towards European Union membership.
Allcock, J. B., Poulsen, T. M., & Lampe, J. R. (2018, February 01).
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Allcock, J. B., Poulsen, T. M., & Lampe, J. R. (2018, February 01).
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religion
During the rule of the Ottoman Empire, Islam was the dominant religion in the area. In 4th century CE, the "Theodosian Line" was established to segment the Roman Empire into West (converted to Roman Catholicism) and East (Orthodox). Orthodoxy came about in 1054 as a schism of Christianity which was first introduced to the area in the 10th century. The Serbian Orthodox church was declared in 1219 marking the separation from the Bulgarian church. The Glagolitic alphabet (replaced by the Cyrillic alphabet in the 12th century) was created by monks Cyril and Methodius in the 9th century.
This script is what marks the Serbian language as distinct from Croatian and the surrounding areas.
This script is what marks the Serbian language as distinct from Croatian and the surrounding areas.
Allcock, J. B., Poulsen, T. M., & Lampe, J. R. (2018, February 01).
Hamblin, Winter 2018