Balkan nationalism

Balkan nationalism refers to the political and cultural movements by various ethnic groups in the Balkan Peninsula, aiming for self-determination and independence, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It arose from a desire to establish national identity and sovereignty amid the decline of empires like the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. The region's complex ethnic diversity often led to conflicts, as different national groups sought control over territories and tried to assert their language, culture, and historical narratives, ultimately contributing to tensions and wars in the area, particularly during the Balkan Wars and World War I.