The Albanians : an ethnic history from prehistoric times to the present / by Edwin E. Jacques. [print]

Includes bibliographies and index.

-- Introduction: Who Are the Albanians? -- Archeological Reconstruction of Prehistoric Life in Albania -- Linguistic Ancestry of the Albanian Language and People -- Traditions About Albania in Our Earliest Chronicles -- The Early Historical Kingdoms in Albania (1280-323 B.C.) -- Dissolution of the Albanian Kingdoms and Their Subjugation by Rome (323-168 B.C.) -- The Roman Period (168 B.C.-A.D. 395) -- The Byzantine Period (395-489) -- Occupation of Albania by the Goths (489-535) -- Byzantine Rule Once Again (535-861) -- The Bulgarian Period (861-1014) -- Byzantine Rule Yet Again (1014-1204) -- Norman Rule in Albania (1081-1204) -- Quarreling Feudal Families Vulnerable to the Ottoman Turks -- The Ottoman Turkish Threat -- Gradual Capitulation of Feudal Families to the Ottoman Turks -- Temporary Successes of Skanderberg (1443-1468) -- Final Capitulation of Albania to the Turks (1503) -- Albania's Peculiar Handicaps in Facing Turkish Occupation -- The Turkish Government of Occupied Albania -- Reasons for the Adoption of Islam by Albanian Christians -- Revolutionary and Diplomatic Efforts for Albanian Independence -- Albania's Nonviolent Revolution: Its Cultural Renaissance -- Declaration of Albanian Independence at Vlora (28 November 1912) -- Grounds for Confidence in Albania's Eventual Nationhood -- The Fourteen Successive Ineffective Governments (1912-1925) -- The Fourteen-Year National Government of Ahmet Zogu (1925-1939) -- The Fascist Occupation and the Rise of Marxism (1939-1944) -- The Stalinist Government of Enver Hoxha (1944-1985) -- The Reform Government of Ramiz Alia (1985-1992) -- The Democratic Government of Sali Berisha (1992-).

Many Albanians, who are descended from the Illyrians and Pelasgians, trace their roots to Achilles and other heroes of the siege of Troy, and claim Alexander the Great as their own. During twelve consecutive periods of foreign domination, the ethnic identity of the Albanians has been constantly threatened, first by the Eastern and Western empires of Christendom, then by the Ottoman Turks, and most recently by Soviet and Chinese communists. Present-day Albania is located between the former Yugoslavia and Greece on the western shore of the Balkan peninsula, and is the least known European country. As the last Turkish province in Europe it was tightly closed to foreigners over the centuries, and until recently the country was even more isolated by its postwar Communist regime. Historically described as mysterious and xenophobic, the people and the country are both little known to most westerners-but are destined to enter the world's consciousness situated as they are in the midst of explosive Balkan conflicts. With the employment of Albanian, French, Italian and many other documentary sources, the roots of Albanian civilization, the struggle of the Albanians to maintain their cultural and linguistic integrity, the impact of foreign influence on the country, and its recent move toward democracy are all detailed here. --From publisher's description.

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