In Slav …and Wends, or Sorbs), and South Slavs (chiefly Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, Slovenes, Macedonians, and Montenegrins). Bulgarians, though of mixed origin like the Hungarians, speak a Slavic language and are often designated as South Slavs. (See Bulgar.) Read More
demography and history of
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In Bosnia and Herzegovina: Ethnic groups and religions …three groups share the same South Slav heritage. The major cultural difference between them is that of religious origin or affiliation—a difference that may be explained in part by the legacy of the Ottoman Empire, which allowed autonomous religious communities to coexist under its rule. Indeed, “Serb” and “Croat” referred… Read More
Kosovo
In Kosovo: History of Kosovo South Slav peoples, including the Serbs, settled throughout the peninsula from the 6th century ce forward. Meanwhile, an ethnically and linguistically distinct Albanian settlement already had begun to develop in the southwest, in what is now Albania. As Byzantine power waned, the Read More
Serbia
In Serbia: People of Serbia …and neighbouring Montenegro is of South Slavic origin. Slavic tribes entered the region from the north during the 5th to 7th century ce, encountering Illyrian-speaking peoples. Although the Slavs acculturated large numbers of Illyrians, many of the latter retained their distinctive language and customs in the complex hills and valleys… Read More
