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World War One, 1914-1918, occurred between the three-partyAlliance
Germany and Austro-Hungary and the Antanta's powers,England,
France nand Russia. The Albanian state did not take part in
this war, but it had grave economic consequences for
thecountry. This endangered the existence of the Albanian
nationalstate. Both fighting blocs used Albanian territories
andtransformed them in 1916 into battlefields where
Austro-Hungarian and Bulgarian troops were deployed while
they were advancing inthe war against Serb-Montenegrins and
Italian forces in retreat.With the approval of both Powers
in 1914, Greece invaded Southern Albania, Italy invaded
Vlora, whereas in 1915, Antanta's Powerssigned with Italy
the secret London treaty.
London Secret Treaty signed betwen Antanta's powers and
Italy in1915. Referring to point 5 of this treaty, the
Albanian coastline from Buna's outfall in North, to Drini's
outfall in Southincluding Shengjin, would go to Serbia and
Montenegro, referringto point 6 Vlora and Sazan island would
go to Italy. Referring to point 7, Italy was not obliged to
go against the eventual wish of France, England and Russia
that the southern and northern partsof Albania be devided
among Montenegro, Serbia and Greece,whereas the autonomous
Albanian state be founded in CentralAlbania, under Italy's
protectorate. This treaty was rejected byLushnja Congress in
1920.
The Peace Conference 1919-1920 was organized by World War
Iwinning countries to dictate to the defeated states the
peaceconditions to redivide colonies and the spheres of
influence.Even though Albania adopted a neutral stand
regarding this worldconflict, the Conference planned its
division. It considered theclaims of the three neighbouring
monarchies which won against our country, Italy, Greece and
Yugoslavia and not the demands ofAlbanian delegation to
protect the independence and territorialintegrity of the
Albanian state, to reconsider the borders in its favour and
to include withim them those Albanian territories that were
separated.
The Lushnja Congress was held on January 28-31, 1920. A
nationalcongress, attended by 50 independent
representatives, whichturned down the anti-Albanian plans of
the Peace Conference anddeclared the defence at any cost of
the territorial integrity ofthe Albanian state and for the
complete independence of Albania.Along with the plans of the
peace conference, this congress alsorefuted the decision of
the Ambassadors Conference in 1913 whichhad placed the
Albanian state under the collective control of the big
European powers.
The World War 2, 1939-1945 burst from three states,
Germany,Italy and Japan. During this war, Germany and Italy
invaded anumber of West European countries, the Balkans and
in June 1941,Germany occupied the Soviet Union as well. The
Albanian peopletoo, with their National Liberation Army
consisting of up to 70thousand people, also took part in the
war alongside theantifascist coalition. The World War Two
ended with the victoryof the antifascist coalition. The
triumph over fascism in Albania led to the creation of the
People's Republic of Albania.
The Antifascist National Liberation War of the Albanian
peoplestarted with the people's resistance against fascist
aggressionon April 7, 1939 and ended on November 29, 1944.
During theantifascist national liberation war, the Albanian
people foughtagainst Italy and Germany, which occupied our
country one afterthe other. In 1939-1941 period, the
antifascist resistance wasled by communist groups and later
by the Communist Party.
Albanian constitution is first endorsed in the People's
Assembly, and afterwards it is known on November 28, 1998 by
the President of Albania's Republic.
The ancient name of Albanians was Arber and their living
placewas called Arberi. This denomination dates back to the
secondsentury mentioned by the Greek geographer Ptolemy.In
the Middle Ages the version Arban was also known, whichwas
the Albanian ethnic name at that time. This is proved by
thefact that Albanians who emigrated to Greece (14th
century)maintained this name in the form of "arvanit",
whereas those whoemigrated to Italy (15-16th century) and to
Dalmatia (18thcentury) maintained it in the form of "arberesh"
The Albanian territory was inhabited since ancient
times.Traces of the the old stone era (late and middle
Paleolithicperiod, 100 000-10 000 years ago) have been
discovered in theXare and in the cave of Saint Marine in
Sarande.
The era of the new stone (Neolithic period 6 000-2 000B.C.)
is testified by a range of habitations of the old Neolithic
period (Vlushe in Skrapar, Blazen in mat, Podgori and
Vashtemi in in Korce, middle Neolithic period (Cakran in
Mallkaster, Dunavecin Korce, Kolsh in Kukes) and of the late
Neolithic period,(Maliq in Korce, Kamnik ne
Kolonje).Albanians are descendants of Illyrians. Illyria was
founded as an autochthonous ethnos deriving from the ancient
population which may be identified with Pelasgians who came
over from the Balkans peninsula by the end of neolithic
period and the beginning of Bronze Era (end of 3rd millenium
B.C.) and united with the Indo-european population.The
ethnic features of the new population born due to their
symbioses and union are formed during the middle Broze
period.The special Illyrian tribes, payones and thesprotes,
arementioned in the poems "Iliade" and "Odysseus".
The authentic Illyrian cities were foundedin 4-5th
centuryB.C.. They stretched not only along the coast but
deeper intoland too. It is mentioned here Scodra, (Shkodra),
Lisi (Lezha),Bylis, Amantia, Antipatrea (Berati), Antigonea
etc. Archeologicexcavations prove that in 4th century B.C.
in Illyria started theurbanization and in 3th century B.C.
this process saw the flourishing period.More than seventy
Illyrian cities were razed to the groundin 2nd century B.C.
when Romans invaded Illyria.
The 2nd century up to early Middle Age A.D. marks a growthin
the number of cities. new cities were founded such
asGjirokastra, Kruja, Dibra, Saranda.
Art in Illyria started developing in 7th B.C. - 6th
A.D.century. the main centers were Illyrian cities of Bylis,
Amantia, Foinike, Butrot as well as the Helenic settlements
Durrahu,Apolonia, Oriku.Works of archaic art and ancient
classic art are bronzeheads of Apolon from Vlore, Menada of
Tetovo, dancer of Selce.Illyrian art assumed clear features
in 4th century B.C.preserving them until 1st century A.D.
during which the sculpture was the prevailing form.
Albanopoli, Illyrian city, center of albans tribe,
ismentioned for the first time by Ptolemy in the middle of
2ndcentury A.D. He gives the geographical coordinates of the
Albans' land respectively 46 degrees and 41 degrees 5'. It
is thought itwas situated where now lay the ruins of
Illyrian city ofZgerdhesh. Its name means the city of
Albans.
The ancient Byzantine culture in Albania spread among
richurban classes without changing the traditional Illyrian
cultureof the low class. The characteristics of this culture
are thedevelopment of former Illyrian cities, part of which
weretransformed into bishopric centers, the paleochristian
buildingsof cult, basilicas, baptistery, etc. whose ruins
discoveredlately, prove art and construction
development.Besides the characteristic monumental view, they
wereornamented by mozaics and architectonic sculptures. The
mostfamous were the Basilicas of Tepe in Elbasan, Bylis,
Mesapik andArapaj in Durres. Silversmith's trade, trimming
of metallicornament and ceramics which did not have much
artistic values were also developed.
From the Antropological point of view, Albanians' prevailing
features are Adriatic ones such as broad and short headwith
its rear part flat, long face with broad upper part,
theoutstanding nose and concave back, with their stature
abovemedium.
Construction architecture of Islamic cult was born inAlbania
in 14th century with the establishing of Ottomanrule. The
buildings reflecting this architecture were themosques,
masjid, vault mexhite (coins belonging to ottoman empire
period) etc. Mosques in Albanian big cities had
monumentalcharacter.
Construction architecture of christian cult started in
4thcentury (paleochristian period). It flourished by the end
of5th century and first half of 6th century, at the time
ofByzantine emperors of Illyrian origin Anastas and Istinian.
Thisis proved by the rich architectural sculptures found in
Durres, in the ruins of several churches of Bylis, Lezhe,
Butrint etc.
The Byzantine architecture dates up to 9th century with the
old architectural type, among which basilicas of Durres.
Albanian mediaeval architecture goes through an
importantperiod in the 12-15th centuries. From this period
are preservedmonuments included in the Byzantine and
roman-gothic architecture Some of those are the churches of
Shirgh, cathedral ofSaint Stephan in Shkoder, Cape Rodon
Church.
The ancient Byzantine culture in Albania dates from
5-6thcenturies A.D. It was accompanied by spreading of
christianitywhich caused a good part of the Illyrian cities
transform intobishopric centers . Bylis was an important
center of that period. This period was characterized by
constructions of paleochristiancult buildings,
basilicas,baptistries etc. Floors in mosaicand rich
architectonic sculptures ornamnted inside werecharacteristic
to these constructions.
Source: Albanian Government
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