History 260BK - Balkan Histories in Mod Times

The Balkans, Winston Churchill famously said, "produce more history than they can consume." This course offers an introduction to the complex histories of this little-known yet diverse and fascinating part of Europe that has been subject to many myths. Starting in the eighteenth century, we will focus on the emergence of modern Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Albania and end our journey in the late twentieth century. Using a broad range of primary and secondary sources we will study historical themes such as Habsburg and Ottoman imperial rule, religion, nationalism, identity politics, social and economic transformation, ethnic conflict, and European integration.