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Is Albanian a race or ethnicity?
The Albanians (/ælˈbɛɪniənz/; Albanian: Shqiptarët pronounced [ʃcipˈtaɾət]) are an ethnic group native to the Balkan Peninsula and are identified by a common Albanian ancestry, culture, history and language.
What did Albania used to be called?
A short-lived monarchical state known as the Principality of Albania (1914–1925) was succeeded by an even shorter-lived first Albanian Republic (1925–1928). Another monarchy, the Kingdom of Albania (1928–1939), replaced the republic. The country endured occupation by Italy just prior to World War II.
What races live in Albania?
Albania recognizes nine ethnic or cultural minorities, which are the Aromanian, Greek, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Serb, Roma, Egyptian, Bosnian and Bulgarian peoples. Additional minorities are the Gorani and Jews.
Is Albanian an ethnic minority?
Albanians are the largest minority in North Macedonia. Albanians live mainly in western areas of the country and in Skopje. The majority of Albanians are Muslims, but there are some followers of the Bektashi dervish religion, Roman Catholics and Orthodox Albanians.
What is the Albanian minority in Greece?
The Albanian minority in Greece can be divided into two groups: those living in villages and settlements near the Albanian border and the largely assimilated Arvanites who populated much of central and southern Greece in the late Middle Ages.
Where did the Albanians settle in Europe?
Smaller populations such as the Arbanasi settled Southern Croatia and pockets of Southern Ukraine in the 18th century. The Shkumbin River roughly demarcates the Albanian language between Gheg and Tosk dialects. Christianity in Albania was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome until the 8th century AD.
Studies in genetic anthropology show that the Albanians share similar ancestry to many other Europeans, and especially other peoples of the Balkans. The Albanians are also one of Europe’s populations that has most common ancestors within their own ethnic group even though they share ancestors with other ethnic groups.
Where do most Albanians live in the Balkans?
Albania and Balkans. Approximately 7 million Albanians are to be found within the Balkan Peninsula with about half this number residing in Albania and the other divided between Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, Greece and to a much smaller extent Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Slovenia.