Albania

The history of the Albanian people is traced back to the Illyrians and because these people were not well documented it is speculated to be around 3000 BC that their culture arose aroundwhat is now presently central Albania. The Illyrian empire became a prosperous and formidable power in the region, but did not remain so for long because the Macedonian empire were able to overthrow the Illyrians and take control.

This started a chain of takeover by multiple empires throughout the centuries continuing on form the Macedonians, to the Romans, and then the Byzantine and then finally the Ottoman Empire which remained in control of the land and the Albanian people until the beginning of the 20th century. Throughout the majority of the Ottoman rule the Albanians remained rebellious with leader Skanderberg holding off the Ottoman Empire for 25 years in three different sieges back in the 15th century. After the Renaisssance period the Ottoman Empire came back with full force into Albania, converting the people from their Christian roots to Islam which remains to be the predominating religion of the country today. The rebellious Albanian people however demanded their freedom from the Ottoman Empire sparking the First Balkan War and attained independence from the Ottoman's November 28, 1912.