Balkan history

The Balkans, a region in Southeast Europe, has a complex history shaped by diverse peoples, empires, and frequent conflicts. Historically, it was part of the Ottoman Empire for centuries, which influenced its culture and divisions. In the 19th and 20th centuries, nationalist movements led to independence and wars, including the Balkan Wars and conflicts during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. The region's ethnic, religious, and political diversity has often been a source of tension, but also cultural richness. Today, the Balkans continues to evolve, striving for stability and integration into European institutions.