In many countries of the world, Islam has entered in different ways: in some countries through the migration of Muslims, in others through the conquest of regions, and in some through economic interactions, among other means.
In fact, the religion of Islam, with its true and divine teachings, has always been the best option for humanity at any time and in any place. Therefore, in many parts of the Islamic world, it has been key to the success of societies.
Accordingly, the arrival of Islam happened as a result of the conquest of Albania by the Ottoman empire at the end of the 14th century.
The Ottomans brought Islam to Albania through their government and military, and through various policies and tax incentives, trade networks, and transnational religious ties. During the first few centuries of Ottoman rule, the spread of Islam in Albania was slow and mainly intensified during the 17th and 18th centuries, due in part to the further integration of Ottoman society and military, political-geographical factors, and the collapse of church structures.
In fact, this was one of the most important developments in the history of Albania; Because the Albanians in Albania changed from a Christian population (Catholic and Orthodox) to a predominantly Sunni Muslim population; Of course, this was while the Christian minorities maintained ethnic Albanians in certain areas. The resulting situation in which Sunni Islam had the most followers in the ethno-linguistic region of Albania; But other religions were also present in a regional patch. It had a major influence in shaping the political development of Albania in the late Ottoman period. Regardless of the religious changes, the trend towards Islam also created other social and cultural developments that shaped and influenced the Albanian culture and Albanians.
General introduction to Albania
This mountainous country, which is located next to the Adriatic Sea and the southwest of the Balkan Peninsula, had pursued a policy of isolationism for many years.
Albania, with an area of 28,748 square kilometers and a population of 3.5 million people, is the most coherent Islamic country in Europe, and more than 70% of the country’s people are Muslim, with the majority being Bektashi, and 20% of the people follow the Orthodox sect and the remaining 10% are Catholic.
After more than 5 decades of terrible communist dictatorship and 15-year transition period, Albania is still facing an unfavorable economic situation and is looking for new security umbrellas in the security and political fields.
During the period between the two world wars, relatively stable political and economic structures were established in Albania, and the country’s placement in the communist territory and the presence of a terrible dictator like Anwar Khoja put the fate of the flexible and peace-loving people of this region in the game. It was the construction of nearly one million mushroom trenches throughout Albania to defend the country against imaginary enemies whose reality was never known. In fact, the totalitarian thoughts of Anwar Khoja caused the religious, identity and cultural values of these people to be destroyed, and in addition to the unique isolation of the country in the international arena, Albania was also far away from the rapid process of global progress.
Albania is a country in the southeast of Europe. Its capital is Tirana. In the centuries before Christ, the land of Albania was part of the vast land called Illyria, whose name is derived from the name of the Illyrian tribe of the Indo-European tribes who migrated to the eastern regions of the Balkan Peninsula.
The native name of this country in the language of Albanians is Shqipëria, but internationally, this country is known as Albania.
