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Revision as of 22:09, 11 October 2005 by 217.73.101.30 (talk) (→Physical Anthropology)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)- Albania was also the name of an unrelated ancient state in the Caucasus – see Caucasian Albania.
| Republika e Shqipërisë | |
|---|---|
Flag of Albania
Flag
Coat of arms
| |
| Motto: (Not verified): Feja e Shqiptarit eshte Shqiptaria (Translated: Albanians place their faith in Albania) | |
| Anthem: Hymni i Flamurit (Rreth Flamurit Të Për Bashkuar) English: Hymn to the Flag (The Flag That United Us In The Struggle) | |
 | |
| Capital | Tirana (Tiranë) |
| Largest city | Tirana |
| Official languages | Albanian |
| Government | Republic |
| Independence | |
| • Water (%) | 4.7% |
| Population | |
| • 2003 estimate | 3,582,205 (126th) |
| • n/a census | n/a |
| GDP (PPP) | 2003 estimate |
| • Total | $15.7 billion (112th) |
| • Per capita | $4,400 (130th) |
| Currency | Lek (Lk) (ALL) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 |
| Calling code | 355 |
| ISO 3166 code | AL |
| Internet TLD | .al |
Albania is a Mediterranean country in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Montenegro in the north, Serbia (Kosovo) in the north-east, the Republic of Macedonia in the east, and Greece in the south, has a coast on the Adriatic Sea in the west, and a coast on the Ionian Sea in the southwest. The country is an emerging democracy and is formally named the Republic of Albania (Albanian: Republika e Shqipërisë).
Origin and history of the name
- Main Article: Origin and history of the name Albania
One of the first written evidences of the use of the word "Albanoi" as the name of an Illyrian tribe in what is now north-central Albania goes back to the AD 130, in a work of Claudius Ptolemaeus (Ptolemy). Albanopolis of the Albani is a place located on the map of Ptolemy and also named on an ancient family epitaph at Scupi, which has been identified with the Zgërdhesh hill-fort near Kruja in northern Albania. Arbanon is likely to be the name of a district – the plain of the Mat has been suggested – rather than particular place. An indication of movement from higher altitudes in a much earlier period has been detected in the distribution of place-names ending in -esh that appears to derive from the Latin -enisis or -esis, between the Shkumbin and the Mat, with a concentration between Elbasan and Kruja.
The term Albanoi may have been slowly spread to other Illyrian tribes until its usage became universal among all the Albanian people. According to the Albanian scholar Faïk bey Konitza, the term "Albania" did not displace "Illyria" completely until the end of the fourteenth century. The word "Alba" or "Arba" seems to be connected with the town Arba (modern Rab, Croatia), in prehistoric times inhabited by the Illyrian Liburnians, first mentioned in 360 BC.
The derivation of the name Albania is of considerable antiquity, dating back perhaps to the pre-Celtic alb (hill), from whence Alps, or possibly from the Indo-European albh (white), from whence albino and Albion. Approximately a millennium after, some Byzantine writers use the words "Albanon" and "Arbanon" to indicate the region of Kruja. Under the Angiò, in the 13th century, the names "Albania" and "Albanenses" indicate the whole country and all the population, as it is demonstrated by the works of many ancient Albanian writers such as Budi, Blanco and Bogdano. We first learn of the ancestors of the modern Albanians in their native land as the Arbanites of Arbanon in Anna Comnena's account (Alexiad, IV) of the troubles in that region caused in the reign of her father Alexius I Comneus (1081-1118) by the Normans. In the History written in 1079-1080, Byzantine historian Michael Attaliates was first to refer to the Albanoi as having taken part in a revolt against Constantinople in 1043 and to the Arbanitai as subjects of the duke of Dyrrachium. Their descendants in Greece and Italy have been called in different ways with the passing of the years: Arbërór (in Arvanitic) or more commonly Arvanites (in Greek), Arbënuer, Arbënor, Arbëneshë, Arbëreshë. There seems to be no doubt that the root Alb- or Arb- is earlier than Shqip-, from which the modern name of the state (Shqipëria) derives, a name which appears only in the time of the Turkish invasions. The Albanian name of the country, Shqipëria, translates into English as "Land of the Eagles", hence the two-headed bird on the national flag and emblem, and because of the large presence of these animals in the mountainous zones of Albania.
History
Main article: History of Albania
In the area that is today Albania, human activity has been present since the beginning of human history. The earlier inhabitants were probably part of the pre-Indo-European populace that occupied the coastline of most parts of the Mediterranean. Their physical remains are scarce though, and concentrated on the coastal region. Soon, these first inhabitants were overrun by the Proto-Hellenic tribes that gradually occupied modern-day Greece, southern parts of what is now the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the south of present-day Albania. This process was completed over the second millennium BC and did not really affect northern or central Albania, an area that at the time presented the image of a political vacuum (in essence a historical paradox). Historians do not agree over the origin of the Illyrians. Some of them maintain that the Illyrians descended from the pre-Indo-European Pelasgians, while most scholars place them in the later wave of Indo-European invasions. Their presence can be traced back to 900 BC, their political structure was formulated in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. Excellent metal craftsmen and fierce warriors, the Illyrians formed warlord based kingdoms that fought amongst themselves for most of their history. Only during the 6th century did the Illyrians venture significant raids against their immediate neighbours, the Greek kingdom of the Mollosoi in northern Epirus (present-day southern Albania), the kingdom of Macedonia and the semi-barbaric kingdom of Paionia. Probably their most important success was the slaughter of Perdikkas, king of Macedonia. Unfortunately for the Illyrians, Perdikkas was succeeded by Philippos II, father of Alexander the Great who effectively terminated the Illyrian aggression. In reality though, the Illyrians were mostly peaceful traders of agricultural products and metal works. The Illyrian culture was influenced by the Greek culture (mainly the south Illyrian tribes). Albania is also the site of several ancient Greek colonies.
After being conquered by a number of nations, mainly the Roman and Byzantine Empires, Illyria lost most of its original population and finally became a part of the Ottoman Empire in 1478 after years of resistance under the leadership of Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu, the Albanian National Hero.
After the First Balkan War, Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, becoming a principality. From 1928 on, the country was ruled by King Zog I until 1938 when it became a puppet of Italy.
The communists took over after World War II, in November 1944, under the leader of the resistance, Enver Hoxha. From 1945 until 1990 Albania had one of the most repressive governments in Europe. The communist party was created in 1941 with the direction of Bolshevik Communist Parties. All those who opposed it were eliminated. Enver Hoxha became the leader of this party. For many decades of his domination, Hoxha created and destroyed relationships with Belgrade, Moscow, and China, always in his personal interests. The country was isolated, first from the West (Western Europe, North America and Australasia) and later even from the communist East.
In 1985, Enver Hoxha died and Ramiz Alia took his place. Initially, Alia tried to follow in Hoxha's footsteps, but in Eastern Europe the changes had already started: Mikhail Gorbachev had appeared in the Soviet Union with new policies (Glasnost and perestroika). The totalitarian regime was pressured by the US and Europe and the hate of its own people. After Nicolae Ceauşescu (the communist leader of Romania) was executed in a revolution, Alia knew he would be next if changes were not made. He signed the Helsinki Agreement (which was signed by other countries in 1975) that respected some human rights. He also allowed pluralism, and even though his party won the election of 1991 it was clear that the change would not be stopped. In 1992 the general elections were won by the Democratic Party with 62% of the votes.
In the general elections of June 1996 the Democratic Party tried to win an absolute majority and manipulated the results. In 1997 the fraud of the pyramid schemes shocked the entire government and riots started. Many cities were controlled by militia and armed citizens. This anarchy and rebellion caused the socialist party to win the early elections of 1997.
Since 1990 Albania has been oriented towards the West, was accepted in the Council of Europe and has requested membership in NATO. The working force of Albania has continued to emigrate to Greece, Italy, Europe and North America. Corruption in the government is becoming more and more obvious. The politics have not fulfilled the people's hope for a short and not too painful transition.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Albania
The head of state is the president, who is elected by the Kuvendi, or the Assembly of the Republic of Albania every 4 years. The main part of the Assembly's 140 members is elected every 4 years. 100 of the parliament's members are chosen by the people with a direct vote, while the other 40 members are chosen using a proportional system. The head of government is the Prime Minister who is assisted by a council of ministers. The Council of Ministers is selected by the Prime Minister (A process called "forming the government") and then approved by a simple majority (71 votes) in the Assembly.
Administrative divisions
Main articles: Districts of Albania and Counties of Albania
Albania is divided into 12 qark (county or prefecture), which are further divided into 36 rrethe (districts). The capital city, Tiranë, has a special status. The districts are:
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See also: List of cities in Albania (Note: some cities have the same name as the district they are in).
Geography
Main article: Geography of Albania
Albania consists of mostly hilly and mountainous terrain, the highest mountain, Korab in the district of Dibra reaching up to 2,753 m. The country mostly has a land climate, with cold winters and hot summers.
Besides capital city Tirana, with 520,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are Durrës, Elbasan, Shkodër, Gjirokastër, Vlorë and Korçë. In Albanian grammar a word can have indefinite and definite forms, and this also applies to city names: so both Tiranë and Tirana, Shkodër and Shkodra are used.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Albania
Albania is one of Europe's poorest countries, with half of the economically-active population still engaged in agriculture and a fifth said to be working abroad. The country has to deal with a high unemployment rate, corruption up to high government levels and organised crime.
The country has almost no exports, and imports many goods from Greece and Italy. Money for imports comes from financial aid and from the money that refugees working abroad bring to Albania. This is a good status quo business for both Greece and Italy.
Albania's coastline on the Ionian Sea, near the Greek tourist island of Corfu, is becoming increasingly popular with foreign visitors due to its relatively unspoilt nature and good beaches. However, the tourist industry is still in its infancy.
Growth in GNP per Capita: (n/a)
20% Poorest: (n/a)
20% Richest: (n/a)
Aid per Capita: 52 US$
External Debt: 41.3 % of GDP
Defence Expenditure: (n/a)
Labour Force in Agriculture: 55 %
Children in Labour Force: 1 % of children aged 10-14 work
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Albania
Most of the population is Albanian (95% CIA World Factbook Feb 2005). The remaining 5% comprises a mixture of other peoples, notably Greeks and Macedonians. The numbers of both minorities are disputed; the Albanian government claims that the Greek minority comprises only 1% of the population, while a local Greek organisation claims a figure as high as 12%. The Macedonian minority is estimated to number between 150,000 and 350,000 people.
The national language is Albanian, although Greek is also spoken by the Greek minority in the south of the country. In the area of Gorë in the Kukës district, around the village of Shishtavec, a Slavic language called Gorani is spoken - the only area in the world where this language is spoken.
Since the Ottoman era, the majority of Albanians have been Muslims, comprising about 70% of the population. The remainder comprise Christians of the Albanian Orthodox (20%) and Catholic (10%) denominations.
However, these figures are disputed as they are projections based on 1939 statistics. They do not account for atheists or agnostics (whose numbers may have increased during the communist era) and those that have, after the fall of communism, converted to various Christian churches. Religious fanaticism has never been a serious problem with people from different religions living in peace and even getting married without any problem. 20% of the Muslim population belong to the Bektashi sect, a faith originating in Turkey, which came to Albania through the Ottoman Janissaries.
Physical Anthropology
The kingdom of Albania, lying directly south of Montenegro, contains a population of roughly 3,2 million people; another 1,7 million at least live outside the borders of their own country, mostly in Yugoslavia, although there are large colonies in Greece and in Rumania, as well as in the United States. They are divided into two distinct ethnic groups, each with its own variety and dialects of the Albanian language, its own costume, and its own particular pattern of culture. These are the Toscs in the south, and in the north and on the plain of Kossovo, the Ghegs'.
Almost all of the Ghegs are light-skinned, with the von Luschan #3 and 7 most frequently represented. Freckling, common in Montenegro, is rare here; what little there is is confined almost entirely to the tribes nearest Old Montenegro, and here it reaches but 5 per cent. The head hair is usually brunet, with black or near black reaching 40 per cent, and dark to medium brown 45 per cent. Light brown or blond hair, which is almost always on the golden or slightly rufous side, accounts for the other 15 per cent.
Most Bostonians, who possibly see fifty to one hundred Toscs in a week, are unaware of their presence, while they have definite ideas, formed upon first sight, as to who is an Italian, an Armenian, or a Jew.
It is my opinion that the Toscs, in pigmentation as well as in bodily and facial characters, resemble the southern and central French very closely; that they and the French form the two ends of the Alpine racial area in Europe, the center of which is largely taken up by the Dinaric amalgam. == Culture == Main article: Culture of Albania
Miscellaneous topics
- Albanian National Portal, latest news from kosovo, albania and macedonia. (in Albanian)
- List of Albania-related articles
- List of Albanians
- Albanian mythology
- List of sovereign states
- Communications in Albania
- Education in Albania
- Foreign relations of Albania
- Military of Albania
- Transportation in Albania
- Public holidays in Albania
- List of Albanian-Americans
- Albanian Literature
External links
- Albanian Presentation by TanMarket.com
- Albania Profile by TanMarket.com
- Albanian Etymological Dictionary
- CIA - The World Factbook -- Albania - CIA's Factbook on Albania
- General information on Albanians
- More links of the Albanian government
- Albania Pictures
- OPIC Guide on Albania
- Travel guide to Albania
- Guide to Gjirokaster
- ALBoZONE - History, Literature, Pictures, Multimedia
- Discussion Forum for albanians (English/Albanian)
- Albanian Literature
Official government websites
- Albanian Canadian League Information Service - ACLIS (Albanian and English)
- TanPortal Albanian Social Economic (Albanian)
- Albanian Canadian League - ACL (Albanian and English)
- Department of Information (Albanian and English)
- The Albanian Parliament (Albanian, English and French)
- Presidency of Albania (Albanian and English)
- Albanian Institute of Statistics (Albanian and English)
- Bank of Albania
