The Balkan Peninsula

[Greek Stud]

Wow, there's great interesting topics coming up in this thread!

(1) Tito of Yugoslavia: How he ruled and his relations with Stalin of the Soviet Union.

(2) The history of Illyria

(3) Balkanization and who is considered to be a part of it.
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(1) Communism basically threw Romania, Yugoslavia, Moldova and Bulgaria down hill. Worst than when the Illyrians and Dacians were conquered by Rome. I think the future of this area is going to surprise the world within the next decade.

Romania was lucky enough to lead its own revolt against its oppressors; but I can not be so sure that the ruling couple (who I cannot seem to remember their names) was leading their nation in the wrong direction. The Romanians were the first nation to speak against the Soviet Block for Czechoslovakia. Whether or not it was good or bad, Romania has a promising future. I believe this couple was the only Soviet Block leaders assassinated during the Cold War.

I wonder if Tito may have been more successful had he worked together with Stalin. The two leaders were very much alike. Even when they argued, Stalin writes in his journal entries of how he laughs at Tito's ways.
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(2)

On Illyria, I just want to mention that ethnic Illyrians not only governed parts of Illyria; but in Byzantine times they held high positions as well. Although Greeks held a strong majority of governmental seats, one of the major ethnic groups in Byzantine government was Illyrian.

I liked the entry on Illyria. Illyria and Dacia are real cool culture groups.
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(3)

Balkanization is where Southeastern Europe is headed. Thats why in today's world its hard to distinguish between which nations are Balkan culturally and which ones are geographically on the Balkan Peninsula. Politically speaking, policy that involved the Balkan Peninsula actually cut Greece out of the picture and we are right at the foot of it.

More appropriately, Southeastern Europe shares a cultural trend. And even broader is the idea of Eastern Europe.

Eastern Europe
1. Poland
2. Lithuania
3. Latvia
4. Estonia
5. Belarus
6. Ukraine
7. Russia
8. Czech
9. Slovakia
10. Austria
11. Hungary
12. Slovenia
13. Croatia
14. Serbia (& Montenegro)
15. Bosnia (Herzegovina)
16. Montenegro (Serbia)
17. Albania
18. Moldova
19. Romania (Transylvania)
20. Bulgaria
21. F.Y.R.Macedonia
22. Hellenic Republic (Greece)
23. Turkey
24. Georgia
25. Armenia
26. Azerbaijan
27. Cyprus

Southeast Europe
1. Slovenia
2. Croatia
3. Serbia (& Montenegro)
4. Hungary
5. Romania (Transylvania)
6. Moldova
7. Bulgaria
8. Montenegro (Serbia)
9. Albania
10. F.Y.R.Macedonia
11. Hellenic Republic
12. Turkey
13. Cyprus

Balkans
The region takes its name from the "Balkan" mountain range in Bulgaria (from a Turkish word meaning "a chain of wooded mountains"). On a larger scale, one long continuous chain of mountains crosses the region in the form of a reversed letter S, from the Carpathians south to the Balkan range proper, before it marches away east into Anatolian Turkey. On the west coast, an offshoot of the Dinaric Alps follows the coast south through Dalmatia and Albania, crosses Greece and continues into the sea in the form of various islands. The word was based on Turkish balakan 'stone, cliff', which confirms the pure 'technical' meaning of the term. The mountain range that runs across Bulgaria from west to east (Stara Planina) is still commonly known as the Balkan Mountains.

The Balkans are sometimes referred to as the "Balkan Peninsula" as they are surrounded by water on three sides: the Black Sea to the east and branches of the Mediterranean Sea to the south and west (including the Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean and Marmara seas). While it is not geographically a peninsula as it has no isthmus to connect it to the mainland of Europe, this name is nonetheless commonly used to denote the wider region.
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[fing0lfin]

I think that Balkan doesn't mean "a chain of wooded mountains". It means 'big khan' bal- means big and kan means khan(kan).

 

[Mirc]

19. Romania (Transylvania)

You mean Romania is a part of Transylvania? Or that Transylvania is another name for Romania? Either way it's not true. Transylvania is a region from Romania. It's like saying "19. USA (California)" or "19. Germany (Bayern)".
Why didn't you say just Romania?

 

[Greek Stud]

By listing it as:

19. Romania (Transylvania)

I'm trying to link the Romanian culture to its Dacian, Saxon, and Hungarian relatives. Romanians have a strong and historical past. If the Greeks were not Massacred in Pontus and Anatolia I would have listed them as:

22. Hellenic Republic (Thrace, Anatolia, Pontus and Bythinia)

I have a great respect for Romanian history and its people and culture. Listing it as so was not to be offensive. Most people who have no idea what Romania is or what their culture is like do know the name: Transylvania. And Transylvania has historic relevance to the Dacians (who most people don't know are the Romanians) and to the Ottoman Era Romanians and to Modern-Day Romanians. I know Transylvania and Moldova are linked to Romania and if it were up to me they would both be in Romania-but I have no crowns to put my words in the international community.

Kosovo is historically Serbian just like Transylvania is historically Romanian.

 

[Mirc]

I understand. Sorry for that, just that too many people are saying Transylvania shouldn't be in Romania so I feel "offended" when I hear something like that.
I totally agree with you.
And still in our days, Moldavian Republic has 86% Romanian population and the "Moldavian language" is like an "Australian language". It's just Romanian with very little pronounciation differences. I don't think there's any Moldavian who doesn't understand me or any Moldavian person I can't understand.
The Dacian history is really very interesting and it's very strange how the Dacians assimilated the Latin language in just 100 years of occupation, and how the only Dacian words remaining in Romanian are in a number of about 200, so almost nothing, and they all sound almost the same (like, just for an example, "barza", "varza", "viezure", "vrabie", it's clear that they sound so resembleling). Also strange that after becoming Latin people, the inhabitants of these lands kept their Latinity for 1700 years, being surrounded by Slavs, Hungarians and Turks.

I liked the entry on Illyria. Illyria and Dacia are real cool culture groups.

My thoughts exactly, but I think I am a little biased.

 

[Kosez]

I'm from former Yugoslavia. I can tell you something about Tito.

Many still wonder if he was true genius, or just at the right time on the right place. He was born on the border of Slovenia and Croatia, he was to become member of workers class. But he didn't liked that idea much, he joined Yugoslavian Communist Party. He was in Russia at the start of WWII. Some time after German take over of Yugoslavia he became leader of Communist party, and after Tito-Subasic Treaty he became official leader of Yugoslavian resistance, aknowledged by Anglo-Americans and Russians.

After the war Communist party came into power and Tito was subsequently leader of the whole country. At the end of the decade he decided to broke close connections to Stalin, and Yugoslavia started inventing its own political and economic system, which was extraordinarily successful in 60's and 70's, but started to deteriorate after his death, because of debt crisis from late 70's and bad governing of central bank.

60's and 70's were the golden age of Tito's Yugoslavia, no nationalism, no unemployment, relatively good economic growth. How did he manage to surpress nationalism? He didn't do it alone, much more important factor was Communist party, which (following Marx's ideas) was formed not on national level but on ideological level and would let hear none of the nationalistic BS.

Nationalism is very politically dependent, after Tito's death, politicians like Milosevic and Tudman, used it for their own selfish reasons, and they suceeded. Unfortunately. They should burn in hell for that. Too bad hell doesn't exist.

Well anyways, Tito was said to be a ladies man, (tons of mistreses), was an ideological inovator (nonaligned), good diplomat, loved by his nations, but fell somethimes under influence of his advisers and secret services. Tito was a great man, but by my opinion he owes his success to communism and leading communists, many of them were really smart people (but many just people who would kill for power). Yugoslavia has survived communism much better than any other communist country. Unfortunately everything was destroyed after it's fell apart.

 

[Che Guava]

THanks Kosez, that answers a lot of questions...

 

[Azkonus]

Ok, I know now it is a little bit old news but just want your opinion,

Two weeks ago, National Bank of Greece acquired Turkish Finans Bank for 2.8 billion euro. What do you think about it and the effects for the economy in Balkans?

 

[deo]

Whoa! there's not war going one here! Great

I live there too BTW.

 

[Sideral]

Ok, I know now it is a little bit old news but just want your opinion,

Two weeks ago, National Bank of Greece acquired Turkish Finans Bank for 2.8 billion euro. What do you think about it and the effects for the economy in Balkans?

Greek companies are heavily investing in the Balkan countries. Although I am not a Finances specialist, I think that economic ties strengthen international ties as well. Some of the "friendship dialogues" between Greeks and Turks in the last decade took place between not only politicians but businessmen as well.

 

[Sideral]

Dig for ancient pyramid in Bosnia

Archaeologists have begun digging for what they think might be a pyramid hidden beneath a hill in Bosnia.

Known as Visocica, the 650m (2,120ft) triangular mound, overlooking Visoko, has long been shrouded in local legend.

The Bosnian archaeologist leading the project says it resembles pyramid sites he has studied in Latin America.

Initial excavations have revealed a narrow entrance to what could be an underground network of tunnels.

On Friday, a team of rescue workers from a local coal mine, followed by archaeologists and geologists examined the tunnel, thought to be 2.4 miles (3.8km) long. The team found two intersections with other tunnels leading off to the left and right. Their conclusion was that it had to be man-made. "This is definitely not a natural formation," said geologist Nadja Nukic. Satellite photographs and thermal imaging revealed two other, smaller pyramid-shaped hills in the Visoko Valley, which archaeologists believe the tunnels could lead to.

Cashing in
Workers also discovered a paved entrance plateau and large stone blocks that could be part of a pyramid's outer surface. Semir Osmanagic, the project leader, initially made the suggestion the Visocica hill could be a pyramid. If he is correct, it would be the first pyramid discovered in Europe.

He has already named the three hills the pyramids of the Sun, Moon and Dragon. Locals have begun to trade on the excitement, selling pyramid souvenirs to tourists and visitors. The work will continue for around six months, with the first results expected in the next three weeks. Two experts from Egypt are also due to join the team in mid-May.

Medieval fortress
According to anthropologists there is evidence of 7,000-year-old human settlements in the valley. German archaeologists also recently found 24,000 Neolithic artefacts one metre below ground. Mr Osmanagic says the hill is a classic example of cultures building on the top of other cultures. The town was Bosnia's capital during the Middle Ages, and a medieval fortress used by Bosnian kings sits atop Visocica. The fortress was built over an old Roman Empire observation post, which in turn was constructed over the ruins of an ancient settlement.

 

[Azkonus]

Whoa! there's not war going one here! Great

Economic war just kidding

I live there too BTW.

I took this as you live in Greece. My brother went to Thessaloniki for a business trip a week ago, I said how is the city? he replied
'-Thessaloniki; same as Izmir.'
I also read about this before in the net so it didn't suprise me much.
Could you confirm this, have you ever been here too?

Greek companies are heavily investing in the Balkan countries. Although I am not a Finances specialist, I think that economic ties strengthen international ties as well. Some of the "friendship dialogues" between Greeks and Turks in the last decade took place between not only politicians but businessmen as well.

So can we say Greek economic pistons are running good nowadays, and since the internal market is full they invest in Balkan countries, or is it just the finance sector?

Do you think joint operations for tourism is possible? Do you think a tourist who visits Bulgaria actually wants to visit Greece,Turkey, Albania..etc, too but could not find a good option for that.

And to all:
Lastly, I am looking to pictures of cities in Balkans, I can not see many skyscrapers, why do you think is that?

 

[atreas]

Lastly, I am looking to pictures of cities in Balkans, I can not see many skyscrapers, why do you think is that?

Do you think it would be so difficult to build some? In fact, in Greece it is forbidden to have buildings above a certain height, for many reasons. One of them is that, in most Greek cities, you don't need a modern skyscraper as a landmark; there is already another monument after some milleniums of history - for example, Athens has Parthenon. It would be a real stupidness to have a skyscraper hiding Parthenon, don't you think?

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Maybe because it is not one of the richest areas around. True, Greece might be rich enough to build them... but maybe there's a terrain problem (like in Paris), though it would be strange if all greek cities had this problem .

 

[deo]

I took this as you live in Greece.

No, i live in Kosovo

 

[Azkonus]

Do you think it would be so difficult to build some? In fact, in Greece it is forbidden to have buildings above a certain height, for many reasons. One of them is that, in most Greek cities, you don't need a modern skyscraper as a landmark; there is already another monument after some milleniums of history - for example, Athens has Parthenon. It would be a real stupidness to have a skyscraper hiding Parthenon, don't you think?

I thought this way too, but I didn't know that there is a law against that. Since you can create a financial district like U.S. did in Manhattan, or Germans did in Frankfurt, it really can be done in a small area.

Maybe because it is not one of the richest areas around. True, Greece might be rich enough to build them... but maybe there's a terrain problem (like in Paris), though it would be strange if all greek cities had this problem.

Exactly you can always find a city without monuments, (But if there is a law against it you can not do anything, anyway). Paris?

No, i live in Kosovo

Then tell us about Kosovo, Prefably about its beautiful girls and night life.
About night life I really don't know about it but eager to learn, but I know you have wonderful girls

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Paris?

That must be a relatively newly built neighbourhood. I remember a bit from the "We built this city" documentary on Discovery about Paris, and how the marsh-terrain it was built upon cannot sustain the weight of a skyscrapper and that in "i-don't-remember-what-period" they were forced to abandon some projects when they found this out.
But it can't be the WHOLE area, it was probably talking about the majority or the central area of the city.

 

[Mirc]

but I know you have wonderful girls

All girls here are wonderful! Another good aspect! Believe me, I visited a lot of the Balcans (Romania, Serbia, Greece, Croatia, stayed 1 night in Macedonia and Bulgaria).

 

[Kyriakos]

There are no scyscrapers here because of the high seismic activity. The tallest buildings in this city ussually have little more than ten floors, which in my view is not interesting at all.
Anyway here is a pic of part of it:

 

[atreas]

There are no scyscrapers here because of the high seismic activity. The tallest buildings in this city ussually have little more than ten floors, which in my view is not interesting at all.
Anyway here is a pic of part of it:

Come on, you forgot the communication tower. It has a very nice view from there.

But seismic activity isn't the main reason (Japan has bigger problem than Greece, but has tons of skyscrapers). The main problem is that, due to the building regulations (even without the height restriction), it would require a HUGE area to build a skyscraper. Not to mention the extremely high probability to discover something ancient underneath (the building would never finish) and the bad soil in the big Greek cities. That leaves only some small cities, but noone would build a skyscraper in a comparatively small city (it's nonsense).