The Republic of Albania is a Balkan country, which situated in southeastern Europe Albania is surrounded by Montenegro in the northwest, Serbia in the north, the Republic of Macedonia in the east and Greece in the south. Albania has a coast on the Adriatic Sea in the west and coast on the Ionian Sea in the southwest.

Since 1990, Albania was accepted to the Council of Europe and has requested membership in NATO.

Albania's earlier inhabitants were part of the population, who occupied the coastline of most of the Mediterranean. The Proto-Hellenic tribes, who occupied modern day Greece, overran these inhabitants. The southern parts of this region are today the Republic of Macedonia and the south of present-day Albania.

Illyria: - There are so many disputed between historians the origin of the Illyrians. According to some of them, Illyrians descended from the pre-Indo-European Pelasgians, while most places them in the later wave of Indo-European invasions. Illyrians were excellent metal craftsmen and fierce warriors. So they established warlord-based kingdom that fought each other for most of their history. Illyrians attacked to the kingdom of the Molossians in Epirus, the kingdom of Macedon and the kingdom of Paionia during the 6th century.

Roman and Byzantine Rule: - Illyria was reorganized as a Roman province, Illyricum after conquered by the Roman Empire. After some time, Illyricum divided into the provinces of Dalmatia and Pannonia Later, the Byzantine Empire governed the region. The Bulgarian and Serbian Empires also ruled it.

Ottoman Rule: - During the Middle Ages, the name Albania was mostly applied to the region, which comprising now the country of Albania During 1443 to 1468 Gjergi kastrioti Sknderbeg became the leader of resistance against the invading Ottomans. After his death, resistance continued until 1478. The Ottomans conquered the territory after the fall of Kruje costle. Albania became part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912.

Balkan Wars: - In 1913, the Conference of Ambassadors was held in London. It was decided in this Conference that the Albanian land under Ottoman rule was to be divided between Serbia and Greece. But all the participants were not in favor so the creation of the self declared state of Albania was recognized, but more than a halt of his territories were given to Serbia and Greece.

The Ottomans were removed from Albania after the 2nd Balkan War and there was a possibility of the lands being absorbed by Serbia and the southern tip by Greece. Italy did not agree with this decision because it did not want Serbia to have an extended coastline and it angered Germany, who wanted to build a railway to the Orient. Germany discussed with Russian and Greece about this matter. At last, it was decided that the country should not be divided but consolidated into Principality of Albania under a German prince, William of Wied. But after 6 months, the Albanian people expelled the prince and Great Britain, France and Italy wanted to dived the territory from 1928, king Zog I ruled the country.

World War II: - On 7th of April 1939, Italy took control of Albania. Albanian communists and nationalists actively fought a partisan war against the invasions of Italy and Germany during Second World War, In November 1944; the communists achieved the control for the government under the leadership of Enver Hoxha. On 8th November 1941, the Communist Party was established with the help of Bolshevik communist parties.

Fall of Communism and democratic Albania: - In 1985, Hoxha died and Romiz Alia took his place. Alia tried hard to become follower of Hoxha, but due to great changes in Eastern Europe, it was not possible for him. The Albanian regime was under pressure from the US and Europe. Alia signed the United Nations Helsinki Agreement, which respected some human rights. His party won the election of 1991. But in 1992, general elections were held again and the new Democratic Party with 62% of the votes won it. So Alia resigned and Sali Berisha was the first post communist president elected. In the general elections of June 1996, the Democratic Party won and Berisha resigned as president. In 1998 and 1999 the country was flooded with refugees from neighboring Kosovo durnign the Kosovo War. In June 2002, Alfred Moisiu was elected. Parliamentary elections in July 2005 brought back to power Soli Berisha, Leader of the Democratic Party.

Education: - Education is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 13. After primary education, the students attend secondary schools. Albania has several universities like the University of Tirana, which established in 1957. Under Communist rule, education was also used to indoctrinate students with Communist beliefs. Before entering college, students were required to work for one year, after finishing their studies; another year of work and military training was required. After Communism collapsed reforms removed politics and ideology from schools, although schools received subsidies from the state.

Literature: - During the 16th to 20th centuries, Turkish and Greek Orthodox stories played a tremendous role in Albanian folklore. Tales were passed down through the generations in the form of heroic songs, legends and epics. This oral tradition helped the native language and national identity. The oldest famous document in the Albanian language in 1462. In the late 19th century, the brothers Naim and Sami Frasheri developed an underground Albanian literature. Many writers such as lyric poet Gjergi Fishta were strongly inspired by this nationalist movement. The outstanding example of great writers of that time was Fan Noli. Fan Noli was a Western educated orthodox bishop and leader of the country Noli was not only writing books and poems into Albanian. Under the Communist rule, the country's literature was deadened. After the collapse of Communism, literature was freed of most censorship. Ismail kadare is a very famous Albanian writer, who is an author of the novel The General of the Dead Army.

Art and Architecture: - During 5th to 15th centuries, Albania's art of painting was greatly influenced by Byzantine art, but it was greatly influenced by Italian art at the end of the 15th century. The paining of icons grew as a form of both public, or displayed, art and folk art. Vangjush Mijo and Androniqi Zenge were the outstanding examples of Albanian artistes of 20th century. Odhise Paskal was also a great artist of 20th century. Albanian folk arts include clothing decorated with delicate silver ornaments wood-crafted items for the home and woolen rugs. The oldest architectural monuments in Albania date from the 1st millennium BC and were constructed by the Illyrians. During the middle of the 1st millennium BC, the Greeks and Romans built structures in Albania.

Music and Dance: - Albanian folk music contains themes of honor, loyalty and courage. The most common musical instrument is the lahute, which is similar to the Slavic gusle. Thefta Tashko, Maria Paluca and Gjorgjija Filce were famous folk musicians of the 20th century. Moreover Kristi Kono and writer Fan Noli were great Alabanian music composers.

Theater and Film: - Emma was the first Albanian play, which was written in 1887 by Italo-Albanian, Anton Santori and dealt with themes of the Albanian diasporas. Under the rule of Communists, theater became a weapon of propaganda and new theaters and plays were encouraged.

EU Membership: - Albania became the member of European Union. In June 2006, Albania signed a stabilization and Association Agreement as a first step towards joining EU. EU ministers urged Albania to push ahead and they including some policies such as press freedom, property reforms, institution building, respect for ethnic minorities and observing international standards in municipal elections.

GDP: - Albania is one of the poorest European countries. Its per capita GDP is half than Bulgaria and about one tenth of the UK. In Albania its half of the population is engaged in agriculture and its some people were working in abroad. During the last decade the Albanian economy has succeeded to achieve rapid growth. Albania's principal trading partners are Italy, Greece; Albania's coastline on the Ionian Sea, mostly near the Greek tourist island of Corfu is becoming increasingly popular with tourists.

Currency: - The currency of Albania is Lek.

Population: - According to the 2005 estimate, the total population of Albania was about 31,30,000 and its population density was about 109 persons per sq. km.

Ethnic Groups: - Albania is a homogeneous country with only small minorities. Most of the population is ethnically Albanian, which are approximately 95% of the total population. The other group is a Greek minority, who are approximately 3% of the total population. Also a small member of ethnic Albanians live in Greece and are called Cam or Cham.

Religion: - Approximately 70% of the Albanian population is Muslim. Orthodox Christians are approximately 20% of the total population and Roman Catholics, who constructed in the north, who are approximately 10% of the total population. However, the communist Albanian government proclaimed Albania, the only officially Atheist country in the world, so a minority of Albanians are active practioners of religion.

The official language of Albania is Albanian. Albanian evolved from the extinct Illyrian language, it is the only modern representative of a distinct branch of the Indo-European language family Tosks and Ghegs speak different dialects of Albanian.