A Brief Historical Excursion on Albania

Renata Tokrri
University of Tirana

Abstract

To fully understand the secular soul of Albania, or the lack of devotion and religious spirit, as some scholars define it, it is extremely important to know its painful history, little known in the international arena. This history is made up of centuries-old struggles to achieve freedom, especially in recent centuries in which invaders, aggressors and winners have implanted their own cultures, customs and religions, often stripping them not only of individual conscience, but also of national identity. An important aspect is the fact that in five centuries of invasion by the Ottoman Empire there was a progressive Islamization of the people. The Ottoman administration used many mechanisms, one of which was taxation as a means of conversion from Christians to Muslims. However, the reasons that led Albania to bend to the religion of the invader are still today the subject of debate between Christians and Muslims.

Presentation