Professional paper
ALBANIA FROM THE MIDDLE AGES UNTIL TODAY
Zef Mirdita
; Croatian Institute of History, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The author of this article critically reviews Peter Bartl's »Albanien vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart« The author feels the book is written on the basis of a thorough knowledge of the sources and literature available. The author accepts Bartl's assertion that Albania ceased to be an integral part of Europe when it fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. One effect of this was the islamicization of a great part of its population, resulting in the disintegration of Albanian ethno-geographical structure. However, though Bartl argues that the Byzantine and Turkish period in Albanian history lasted until 1878 (Prizren League), the author of this article would move that date forward to November 28, 1929, when Albania declared independence. None the less, the author agrees with Bartl's claim that the Prizren League of 1878 was imbued with an Islamic spirit, an important point which is not mentioned in Albanian historiography.
The author does not agree with Bartl's interpretation of Albanian ethnogenesis. Namely, Bartl bases his views on the obsolete presumptions of G. Stadtmuller. The author believes that the issue of ethnogenesis has to be viewed in terms of restriction, and not, as Bartl believes, in terms of extension. Another problem with Bartl's book is the brief treatment of the slogan: »The faith of Albanians is Albanianism.« This slogan has to be interpreted in far broader terms than those which its author, Pashko Vasa, meant. Another weakness is Bartl's interpretation of the fall of Stylian Fan Noli's »Red episcopate« The author contends that it cannot be interpreted as result of his recognition of the USSR, but due to a panhelenistic and panislamic conspiracy. Because Noli created an independent Albanian Orthodox Church, he was not favourably looked upon by the Greek Orthodox hierarchy or the SPC and the panislamists; this is evident from the conspiracies organized by both anti-Albanian elements. It is also regretful that Bartl did not discuss at all Salia Beriša's joining of Albania to the Islamic Conference in 1992, an event the west did not look upon favourably.
Inspite of the criticisms the author makes about Bard's book, the author still believes in the importance and value of the work. The book begins with the second century BC and goes up to 1994, the year the trial of the last communist leader of Albania, Ramiza Alije, was held. It is the author's opinion that Bartl's book has come at the right time, and will be of much help to anyone who is interested in the history of the area or wants to understand the nature of current events there.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
213980
URI
Publication date:
5.5.1997.
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