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Albania is one of those countries or areas in the world that has been ruled by a number of empires and other countries due to its location. Situated next to Greece and along the Adriatic Sea, it has been a strategic land mass during many international conflicts. 

The land was first settled by a tribe of people called the Illyrians in about 2000 BC. The Romans were one of the first empires to conquer the land and Albania was part of first the Roman Empire and then later the Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire. In the 1300s, the Ottoman Empire took control. Much of the country's population converted to Islam during this time.
At one time during the communist era, religion was banned and became an atheist country. It is now allowed again and as a consequence they are very tolerant of other religions. Not many actually practice.
70% are Muslim, the rest Eastern Orthodox or Catholic.
In the mid-1400s the Albanians managed to gain independence from the Ottomans for a short time under the leadership of national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu. However, the Ottoman's soon took back control.

The Albanians fought for their independence several times over the course of history.
Their big one is independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 and celebrate their Independence Day on 28 November.

During World War II, Albania was occupied by both Germany and Italy. After the war the communist party took over. The country would remain under communist rule for the next 40 plus years until it would finally have democratic elections in 1992. The first democratic elected president of Albania was Sali Berisha.
The country would like to join the European Union, or the EU, but as of 2019 still has a number of conditions it needs to meet and had entered negotiations.Läs mer