| The just recently declared independence | | | | The history of Kosovo's struggle to |
| of the enclave of Kosovo has refocused | | | | independence is quite complicated. As a |
| attention on the various territories of | | | | province within Yugoslavia, Kosovo was |
| the former Yugoslavia and Albania, and | | | | first formed in 1945 as the Autonomous |
| the various languages spoken in the | | | | Kosovo-Metohian Area to protect |
| region. | | | | Yugoslavia's Albanian minority largely |
| At the heart of current events is | | | | localize in the region. |
| Kosovo, though a series of wars apart | | | | The history of Kosovo however dates back |
| from the Kosovo war were fought in the | | | | to antiquity when according to Authur |
| former Yugoslavia in the 1990's. | | | | Evans, Kosovo was known as Dardania |
| Kosovo's days old declaration of | | | | which is derived from the Albanian word |
| independence is strongly rejected by | | | | dardh?eaning pear; after the Illyrian |
| Serbia and by its patron, Russia. | | | | tribe known as the Dardani. |
| Geographically, Kosovo borders Serbia to | | | | The key differentiator between Albanians |
| the north, Montenegro to the east, and | | | | is their adherence to Islam. This is |
| Albania and the Republic of Macedonia to | | | | connected historically to the Ottoman |
| the south. | | | | conquest of Kosovo. |
| Kosovo has a population numbering two | | | | The conquest was a significant |
| million. The population is primarily | | | | achievement for the Ottoman Turks as the |
| Albanians, though populations of | | | | minerals resources in the Kosovo region |
| Serbians, Turks, Romani , Goranis, | | | | proved a needed asset to the Ottoman |
| Bosniaks, and other ethnic communities | | | | empire. The establishment of Ottoman |
| also reside there. Priatina is the | | | | hegemony in Kosova initiated a new era |
| capital and largest city. | | | | culturally and religiously. The |
| With approximately more than 90% of the | | | | religious makeup of the region was |
| population of Kosovo being ethnic | | | | complicated with the existing Catholic |
| Albanians, the Albanian language is | | | | population in a delicate if not |
| recognized as an official language along | | | | unfavorable relationship with the new |
| with Serbian. Other languages including | | | | Turkish regime. |
| Turkish, Romani, and Bosnian are also | | | | The beleaguered status of the Catholic |
| spoken. | | | | Church led to increasing oppression of |
| In addition, to Albania and Kosovo, | | | | its members. Religiously selective |
| Albanian is also spoke in Italy, the | | | | taxation as well as threats to national |
| Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, | | | | assimilation by absorption into the |
| Greece, Turkey, and by immigrant | | | | Serbian Orthodox Church led to a mass |
| communities in many countries throughout | | | | conversion of Albanians into Islam |
| Europe, as well as in communities in | | | | further cementing the cultural, |
| Egypt, Russia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, | | | | religious, and linguistic differences |
| United States, and Australia. | | | | that continue today. |