ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of Albania

Albania is a little country in Europe, surrounded by other countries like Greece, Serbia and Montenegro. A long time ago, people called Illyrians lived there. They were warriors who liked to fight and protect their land.

Over time, other people like the Romans and the Byzantines came to Albania and tried to take control of it. But the Albanians wouldn't give up easily. They fought and resisted, often winning battles against larger armies.

In the 15th century, a man named Skanderbeg became a hero to the Albanian people. He led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire, which had taken over most of the Balkans. Skanderbeg's army was made up of Albanian fighters, and they managed to hold off the Ottoman forces for a long time. Even though Skanderbeg eventually died, he inspired generations of Albanians to fight for their independence.

In the 20th century, Albania became a socialist country, meaning that the government controlled everything and there was no private property. This was led by a man named Enver Hoxha. Under Hoxha's rule, Albania closed its borders, avoided talking to other countries and made it illegal to practice any religion.

In 1990, after Hoxha died, Albanians started to have more freedom. They were able to vote for their own leaders, and they could practice their religion again. Since then, Albania has been getting better and better, with people living better lives and making progress in technology, business, and culture. Today, Albania is a nice place to live, and Albanians are proud of their history of resilience and fighting for their rights.