PPT Slide
Notes:
FOR MORE THAN 1600 YEARS, DIFFERENT PEOPLES INFLUENCED THE BALKANS. BALKAN IS TURKISH FOR “MOUNTAINS” AND EVEN TODAY THERE IS A BALKAN MOUNTAIN RANGE IN BULGARIA.
FROM 600 TO 700 AD, SLAVS SETTLED AND CONTINUE TO DOMINATE MUCH OF THE BALKANS. SLAVS SHARE A LINGUISTIC TRADITION AND MIGRATED FROM LANDS NORTH OF THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS.
IN THE 12TH TO 16TH CENTURIES OTTOMAN TURKS CONTROLLED MOST OF THE REGION AND THEIR CULTURAL INFLUENCE REMAINS.
MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN MIXED WITH FERTILE VALLEYS, POOR LINES OF COMMUNICATIONS, AND RELUCTANCE TO MIX WITH OTHER GROUPS ALLOWED ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS TO RETAIN THEIR RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL IDENTITIES.