Albania travel guide

Greek colonies emerged along what is now the Albanian coast from as early as the 7th century BCE, founding sites such as Apollonia, Epidamnos (now Durrës) and Buthrotum – which was excavated in the 1920s-1940s and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Romans advanced, conquering the territory in 168 BCE, and dividing it into the provinces of Roman Macedonia in the south and centre and Illyricum in the far north.

At the end of the 4th century AD Albania joined the Byzantine Empire, and, seeing their chances to invade, the region known as Arbanon came under attack from Huns and Visigoths, and Slavs began to migrate here over the next few centuries. Each new wave weakened the Byzantine grip. Arbanon gained autonomy in the 1100s, although it was the Sicilians who first used the name Albania, when they occupied Crete and the Albanian coast in the 13th century and named it the “Kingdom of Albania.” The region swapped hands many times – back to the Byzantines, onto the Bulgarians, then the Serbians, and the names for the territory included Arbanon, Arberia and Arbër as different parts of the land became absorbed into empires, states, provinces and principalities. Christianity, which had been introduced to the region in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, began to cause its own rifts, as those who retained ties to Constantinople (mainly in the south) followed the Eastern Orthodox church, while those in the north looked to Rome and Catholicism.

The Ottoman Empire advanced into southern and central Albania in the 1300s and early 1400s, setting off a series of battles against the Albanians, Serbians and Hungarians, amongst others – but the Ottoman might eventually won in 1431 – and the region would remain largely under Ottoman rule for almost 500 years, despite revolts and sieges and what became known as the Ottoman-Albanian Wars. It also became a religious war, as the defending Albanians called on the Roman Catholic support in Italy, but Islam spread across the region and in turn opened up new trade alliances with the east. The Albanian territory became a powerful part of the Ottoman Empire, and many Albanians went on to become influential leaders, Pashas and Grand Viziers.

When the Ottoman Empire began to disintegrate in the 19th century, Albania was the last region to remain faithful – partly because they feared their lands would be occupied by neighbouring Balkan states. But the Albanian National Awakening grew in strength, and the uprisings and revolts led to the First Balkan War in 1912 – which resulted in Albania being occupied by Serbia, as they had feared. When the London Conference intervened to redefine Balkan borders, over half of the ethnic Albanians found themselves out of what was now Albania, living between Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Greece – a division which would have tragic consequences throughout the century. The short-lived Principality of Albania, established in 1914, saw religious recognition and the creation of sovereign laws as the new country moved away from Constantinople’s influence – but WW1 saw the countries invaded and divided yet again, this time between France, Italy, Serbia, Montenegro and Austria-Hungary. Foreign negotiators, treaties and “Peace Conferences” discussed ownership of the land amongst themselves, using Albania as a bargaining tool and carving up its territory.

With the help of the Yugoslavs, Ahmed Bey Zogu gained power in 1924, and was granted total power over the nation, which he exercised through the military. He soon adopted the title King Zog, and his Kingdom of Albania lasted until Mussolini’s forces invaded at the start of WW2. Albania’s communist resistance was lead by Enver Hoxha in response to the fascist threats from both Italy and Nazi Germany, who occupied the territory from 1943. This led to Albania’s Communist Revolution in 1943, as the communists defeated the fascist as well as other rival Albanian parties, and Hoxha became Prime Minister. Albania quickly became a fully socialist state, with land redistribution, the exile of the elite, and isolation from Western influence. Anyone from the opposition was imprisoned, executed or exiled to state-run farms; it is estimated that anywhere from 5,000-25,000 people were killed under the regime, which lasted until 1992. Isolationism meant that there was an incredible amount of self-reliance as Albania began to produce all its own commodities, but Albanians were not permitted to travel abroad, and religion was banned. Hoxha died in 1985, but his legacy was continued by Ramiz Alla – with some easing of restrictions, and the beginning of links with the outside world.

Albania became a democracy in 1992, but having been cut off for so long, and with no experience of capitalism, the rest of the decade saw major unrest as well as the emigration of many Albanians seeking opportunities overseas. As the country opens its doors ever wider to foreign influence – including tourism – the lives of everyday Albanians stand a chance of becoming more prosperous, stable and easy. The question is whether Albania can retain its unique character and culture as this tiny nation is flooded by Western influences.