Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

User:Elbasan101

2010-09-05T18:24:06Z

Elbasan101:

LLB graduate...now contemplating what to do...

mostly re-wording articles

Religion in Albania

2010-09-05T17:33:46Z

Elbasan101: This is incorrect since that is not the official postion of the Albanian govt which the counsel represents

[[File:Durrësi.JPG|right|thumb|260px|A mosque in [[Durrës]]]]

The most common religions practiced in [[Albania]] include [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm | title = Albania | work = International Religious Freedom Report 2009 | date = 26 October 2009 | publisher = [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] | accessdate = 7 November 2009}}</ref>

The country does not have a history of [[religious extremism]] and takes pride in the harmony that exists across religious traditions and practices. Religious [[pragmatism]] continued as a distinctive trait of Albanian society and [[interreligious marriage]] has been very common throughout the centuries, in some places even the rule. There is a strong unifying cultural identity which has been solidified historically by the common experience of struggling to protect their culture in the face of various outside conquerors.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rfp-europe.eu/index.cfm?id=126900 | title = Albanian religious leaders celebrate religious harmony | work = [[Religions for peace]] | publisher = [[European Council of Religious Leaders]] | accessdate = 8 November 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PDACK058.pdf | title = Fostering Religious Harmony in Albania | publisher = [[USAID]] | date = 30 June 2007 | format = [[PDF]] | accessdate = 8 November 2009}}</ref> In 1967 religious practices were officially [[State atheism#Socialist People's Republic of Albania|banned in Albania]], and after the fall of state communism, in 1991 religious activities restarted to take place.

A [[Pew Research Center]] demographic study from 2009 put the percentage of [[Islam in Albania|Muslims in Albania]] at 79.9%.<ref>{{cite web | editor-last = Miller | editor-first = Tracy | month = October | year = 2009 | publisher = [[Pew Research Center]] | title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population | format = [[Portable Document Format|PDF]] | url = http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf | accessdate = 8 October 2009}}</ref> The CIA World Factbook gives a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html 2009 CIA World Factbook]</ref>

==History==
===Antiquity===
{{See also|Paleo-Balkanic religion}}
The mythology and religion of the [[Illyrians]] is only known through mention of Illyrian deities on [[Roman Empire]] period monuments, some with ''[[interpretatio Romana]]''.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilkes|1995|p=245}}: "...Illyrian deities are named on monuments of the Roman era, some in equation with gods of the classical pantheon (see figure 34)."</ref> There appears to be no single most prominent Illyrian god and there would have been much variation between individual [[Illyrian tribes]]. According to John Wilkes, the Illyrians did not develop a uniform cosmology on which to center their religious practices.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilkes|1995|p=244}}: "Unlike Celts, Dacians, Thracians or Scythians, there is no indication that Illyrians developed a uniform cosmology on which their religious practice was centred. An etymology of the Illyrian name linked with serpent would, if it is true, fit with the many representations of..."</ref>

[[Christianity]] was imposed in urban centers in the region of Albania (at the time composed mostly [[Epirus Nova]] and part of south [[Illyricum]]) during the later period of [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] invasion and reached the region relatively early. The steady growth of the Christian community in [[Dyrrhachium]] (the Roman name for Epidamnus) led to the creation of a local bishopric in 58 AD. Later, episcopal seats were established in [[Apollonia]], Buthrotum (modern Butrint), and Scodra (modern [[Shkodra]]).

In the 2nd to the 4th centuries the main language to spread the Christian religion was Latin,<ref>Lloshi p.92</ref> whereas in the 4th to the 5th centuries it was [[Greek language|Greek]] in [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] and [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] and [[Latin language|Latin]] in [[Praevalitana]] and [[Dardania]].<ref>Lloshi p.93-94</ref>

===Middle Ages===
Since the first and second century AD, Christianity had become the established religion in [[Byzantium]], supplanting pagan polytheism and eclipsing for the most part the humanistic world outlook and institutions inherited from the Greek and Roman civilizations. But, though the country was in the fold of Byzantium, Christians in the region remained under the jurisdiction of the Roman pope until [[732]]. In that year the iconoclast Byzantine emperor [[Leo III]], angered by archbishops of the region because they had supported Rome in the Iconoclastic Controversy, detached the church of the province from the Roman pope and placed it under the patriarch of Constantinople. When the Christian church split in 1054 between the East and Rome,the region of southern Albania retained its ties to [[Constantinople]] while the north reverted to the jurisdiction of Rome. This split in marked the first significant religious fragmentation in the region.

The Albanians first appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late 11th century. At this point, they are already fully Christianized.Christianity was later overshadowed by [[Islam]], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turkish rule from the 15th century until year 1912.

==== Catholicism ====
{{Main|Roman Catholicism in Albania}}
Albania once numbered eighteen episcopal Sees, some of them having uninterrupted activity from the dawn of the Christian faith until today. The country was the last Roman Catholic bridgehead in the [[Balkans]].

For four centuries, the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] Albanians defended their faith, aided by [[Franciscan]] missionaries, beginning in the middle of the seventeenth century, when persecution by Ottoman Turkish lords in Albania started to result in the conversion of many villages to the Islamic faith, particularly among the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] population. [[File:ALB 20070713 img 1247.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Catholic church of [[Saint Paul]], [[Tirana]]]]

The College of Propaganda at Rome played a significant role in the religious and moral support of the Albanian Catholics. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the College contributed in educating young clerics appointed to service on Albanian missions, as well as to the financial support of the churches. Work was done by the [[Austria]]n Government at the time, which offered significant financial aid in its role as Protector of the Christian community under [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule.

Church legislation of the Albanians was reformed by [[Clement XI]], who convoked a general ecclesiastical visitation, held in 1763 by the [[Archbishop of Antivari]], by the end of which a national synod was held. The decrees formulated by the Synod were printed by the College of Propaganda in 1705, and renewed in 1803. In 1872, [[Pius IX]] convoked a second national synod at [[Shkodër]], for the revival of the popular and ecclesiastical life. Owing to Austrian interest in Albania, the institution of the Catholic bishops of Albania was obtained through a civil decree released by the Vilajet of [[Berat]].

Albania was divided ecclesiastically into several archiepiscopal provinces:
*Antivari
Since 1878 part of the principality of [[Montenegro]].
Since 1886, without suffragan, separated from [[Shkodër|Scutari]], with which it had been united in 1867 on equal terms.
*Scutari, with the suffragan ''Sees of Alessio, Pulati, Sappa'' and (since 1888) the Abbatia millius of St. Alexander of Orosci.
*[[Durrës|Durazzo]]
*Uskup.

The last two archiepiscopal provinces did not have any suffragans, and depended directly on the [[Holy See]]. A seminary, founded in 1858 by Archbishop Topich of Scutari, was destroyed by the [[Ottomans]], but was later re-established on [[Austrian Empire|Austrian]] territory and placed under imperial protection.

==== Orthodox Christianity ====
{{Main|Orthodoxy in Albania}}
[[Image:Church in Korçë.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Orthodox church in Korçë, Albania]]
[[Image:Labova e Kryqit3.jpg|thumb|left|250px|12th century Orthodox Church in Labova e Kryqit, [[Albania]]]]

Metropolitan Theofan [[Fan Noli]] established the Albanian Orthodox Mission under the [[United States|American]] diocese.

Although [[Orthodox Christianity]] has existed in Albania since the 2nd century AD, and the Orthodox historically constituted 20% of the population of Albania, the first Orthodox liturgy in the Albanian language was celebrated not in Albania, but in [[Massachusetts]]. Subsequently, when the [[Orthodox Church]] was allowed no official existence in communist Albania, Albanian Orthodoxy survived in exile in Boston (1960–1989). It is a curious history that closely entwines Albanian Orthodoxy with the Bay State.

Between 1890 and 1920, approximately 25,000 Albanians, the majority of them Orthodox Christians from southeastern Albania, emigrated to the United States, settling in and around [[Boston]]. Like many other Orthodox immigrants, they were predominantly young, illiterate, male peasants. Like so many other [[Balkan]] immigrants, a large number (almost 10,000) returned to their homeland after [[World War I]].

Since the 2nd century AD, the liturgical services, schools and activities of the Orthodox Church in Albania had been conducted in [[Greek language|Greek]]. Those Albanian Orthodox, who, in the fashion of 19th century Balkan nationalism, sought to recreate their church as an ''Albanian'' rather than ''Greek'' body, were frequently excommunicated by the Greek-speaking hierarchy. Considering that identity during the Ottoman centuries was gauged exclusively through ecclesiastical affiliations, religious questions in the post-[[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] period loomed large in the burgeoning national and cultural identities. After the loss of its [[ecumenical]] status in 1870 with the establishment of the [[Bulgarian exarchate]], the Greek Church did not desire further schisms within its ranks. Indeed, so strong was the rivalry of [[Greece]] with Orthodox Albanians who opted for separate cultural activities, that many of the latter category such as [[Papa Kristo Negovani]], a priest educated in Greek schools, [[Sotir Ollani]], [[Petro Nini Luarasi]], [[Nuci Naco]] and others were murdered for their patriotic efforts.

Patriotic fervor ran high in Albanian immigrant communities in North America. When, in 1906, a Greek priest from an independent Greek parish in [[Hudson, Massachusetts]], refused to bury an Albanian nationalist, an outraged Albanian community petitioned the missionary diocese to assist them in establishing a separate Albanian-language parish within the missionary diocese. [[Fan Noli]], an ardent Albanian nationalist and former parish cantor, was subsequently ordained in February 1908 by a sympathetic Metropolitan Platon to serve this new Albanian parish. Noli went on to organize five additional Albanian parishes, mainly in Massachusetts, as an ''Albanian Orthodox Mission in America'' under the auspices of the American diocese.
Noli later emigrated to Albania, served as the Albanian delegate to the [[League of Nations]], was consecrated [[Bishop]] and Primate of the independent Orthodox Church in Albania in 1923, and even served briefly as Prime Minister of Albania (came in power with the so called ''The Revolution of 1924'') but was overthrown in a coup by [[Ahmet Zogu]] on the same year. After years in exile in [[Germany]], Noli returned to the United States in 1932, studied at [[Harvard]], translated [[Shakespeare]] into Albanian and Orthodox Scriptures and services into English, and led the Albanian Orthodox community in this country until his death in 1965.

==== Islam ====
{{Main|Islam in Albania}}
[[File:07Tirana Et'hem beu Mosque03.jpg|right|thumb|[[Et'hem Bey Mosque]] in [[Tirana]]]]
One of the major legacies of nearly five centuries of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule was that the majority of Albanians, according to Ottoman data, had converted to [[Islam]]. Therefore, the nation emerged as a Muslim-majority country after Albania's independence in November 1912.

In the North, the spread of Islam was slower due to Roman Catholic Church resistance and the mountainous terrain contributed to curb Muslim influence. In the center and south, however, Catholicism was not strong and by the end of the seventeenth century the region had largely adopted the religion of the growing Albanian Muslim elite. The existence of an Albanian Muslim class of [[pasha]]s and [[beys]] who played an increasingly important role in Ottoman political and economic life became an attractive option career for most Albanians.

In the 20th century, the Muslim clergy, following suit with the Catholic and Orthodox clergy, was first weakened during monarchy years and afterwards eradicated during the 1940s and 1950s, under the state policy of obliterating all organized religion from Albanian territories.

The Muslims of Albania during the Ottoman invasion were divided into two main communities: those associated with [[Sunni]] Islam and those associated with the [[Bektashi]] [[Shiism]], a mystic [[Dervish]] order that came to Albania through the Albanian Janissaries that served in the Ottoman army and who practiced Albanian pagan rites under a nominal Islamic cover. After the Bektashis were banned in Turkey in 1925 by [[Atatürk]], the order moved its headquarters to [[Tirana]] and the Albanian government subsequently recognized it as a body independent from Sunnism. Sunni Muslims were estimated to represent approximately 50% of the country's population before 1939, while Bektashi represented another 20%. There is also a relatively minority of the [[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community]]. Muslim populations have been particularly strong in eastern Albania and [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]].

Sunni Muslims have historically lived in the cities of Albania, while Bektashis mainly in remote areas, whereas [[Orthodox Christians]] mainly in the south, and [[Roman Catholics]] in the north of the country. However, this division does not apply nowadays.

On December 1992 Albania became full member of the [[Organization of the Islamic Conference]].

===Independence===
During the 20th century after Independence (1912) the [[democracy|democratic]], [[monarchy|monarchic]] and later the [[totalitarian state|totalitarian]] regimes followed a systematic [[State atheism|dereligionization]] of the nation and the national culture. Albania never had an official state religion either as a republic or as a kingdom after its restoration in 1912.<ref>{{cite book | first = Stavro | last = Skendi | authorlink = Stavro Skendi | title = Albania | publisher = Frederick A. Praeger | year = 1956 | page = 287 | volume = 46 | series = Praeger publications in Russian history and world communism}}</ref> Religious tolerance in Albania was born of national expediency and a general lack of religious convictions.<ref>{{cite book | first1 = John | last1 = Hutchinson | first2 = Anthony D | last2 = Smith | title = Nationalism: Critical Concepts in Political Science}}</ref>

===Monarchy===

Originally under the monarchy, institutions of all confessions were put under state control. In 1923, following the government program, the Albanian Muslim congress convened at [[Tirana]] decided to break with the [[Caliphate]], established a new form of prayer (standing, instead of the traditional salah ritual), banished polygamy and did away with the mandatory use of veil (hijab) by women in public, which had been forced on the urban population by the Ottomans during the occupation.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,727115,00.html | title = Albania | work = [[TIME]] | date = 14 April 1923}}</ref>

In 1929 the Albanian Orthodox Church was declared autocephalous.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,881789,00.html | title = Swiss Laws, Greek Patriarch | work = [[TIME]] | date = 15 April 1929}}</ref>

A year later, in 1930, the first official religious census was carried out. Reiterating conventional Ottoman data from a century earlier which previously covered double the new state's territory and population, 50% of the population was grouped as Sunni Muslim, 20% as Orthodox Christian, 20% as Bektashi Muslim and 10% as Catholic Christian.

The monarchy was determined that religion should no longer be a foreign-oriented master dividing the Albanians, but a nationalized servant uniting them. It was at this time that newspaper editorials began to disparage the almost universal adoption of Muslim and Christian names, suggesting instead that children be given neutral Albanian names.

Official slogans began to appear everywhere. "Religion separates, patriotism unites." "We are no longer Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic, we are all Albanians." "Our religion is Albanism." The national hymn characterized neither Muhammad nor Jesus Christ, but King Zogu as "Shpëtimtari i Atdheut" (Savior of the Fatherland). The hymn to the flag honored the soldier dying for his country as a "Saint." Increasingly the mosque and the church were expected to function as servants of the state, the patriotic clergy of all faiths preaching the gospel of Albanism.

Monarchy stipulated that the state should be neutral, with no official religion and that the free exercise of religion should be extended to all faiths. Neither in government nor in the school system should favor be shown to any one faith over another. Albanism was substituted for religion, and officials and schoolteachers were called "apostles" and "missionaries." Albania's sacred symbols were no longer the cross and the crescent, but the Flag and the King. Hymns idealizing the nation, Skanderbeg, war heroes, the king and the flag predominated in public-school music classes to the exclusion of virtually every other theme.

The first reading lesson in elementary schools introduced a patriotic catechism beginning with this sentence, "I am an Albanian. My country is Albania." Then there follows in poetic form, "But man himself, what does he love in life?" "He loves his country." "Where does he live with hope? Where does he want to die?" "In his country." "Where may he be happy, and live with honor?" "In Albania."<ref>{{cite book | first = Edwin | last = Jacques | title = The Albanians, an ethnic history from prehistoric times to the present}}</ref>

===Totalitarian regime===
The [[Agrarian Reform Law]] of August 1945 nationalized most property of religious institutions, including the estates of monasteries, orders, and dioceses. Many clergy and believers were tried, tortured, and executed. All foreign Roman Catholic priests, monks, and nuns were expelled in 1946.<ref name="country-data.com">http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-186.html</ref>

Religious communities or branches that had their headquarters outside the country, such as the [[Jesuit]] and [[Franciscan]] orders, were henceforth ordered to terminate their activities in Albania. Religious institutions were forbidden to have anything to do with the education of the young, because that had been made the exclusive province of the state. All religious communities were prohibited from owning real estate and from operating philanthropic and welfare institutions and hospitals.
Although there were tactical variations in Hoxha's approach to each of the major denominations, his overarching objective was the eventual destruction of all organized religion in Albania. Between 1945 and 1953, the number of priests was reduced drastically and the number of Roman Catholic churches was decreased from 253 to 100, and all Catholics were stigmatized as fascists.<ref name="country-data.com"/>

The campaign against religion peaked in the 1960s. Beginning in 1967 the Albanian authorities began a violent campaign to try to eliminate religious life in Albania. Despite complaints, even by [[Party of Labour of Albania|APL]] members, all churches, mosques, monasteries, and other religious institutions were either closed down or converted into warhouses, gymnasiums, or workshops by the end of 1967.<ref>http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-170.html</ref> By May 1967, religious institutions had been forced to relinquish all 2,169 churches, mosques, cloisters, and shrines in Albania, many of which were converted into cultural centers for young people. As the literary monthly Nendori reported the event, the youth had thus "created the first atheist nation in the world."<ref name="country-data.com"/>

The clergy were publicly vilified and humiliated, their vestments taken and desecrated. More than 200 clerics of various faiths were imprisoned, others were forced to seek work in either industry or agriculture, and some were executed or starved to death. The cloister of the Franciscan order in Shkodër was set on fire, which resulted in the death of four elderly monks.<ref name="country-data.com"/>

Article 37 of the [[Albanian Constitution]] of 1976 stipulated, "The State recognizes no religion, and supports atheistic propaganda in order to implant a scientific materialistic world outlook in people",<ref>{{cite web | url = http://bjoerna.dk/dokumentation/Albanian-Constitution-1976.htm#C.%20Education,%20Science,%20Culture | work = The constitution of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania | title = Education, science, culture | month = March | year = 2005 | publisher = Bjoern Anderse }}</ref> and the penal code of 1977 imposed prison sentences of three to ten years for "religious propaganda and the production, distribution, or storage of religious literature." A new decree that in effect targeted Albanians with Christian names stipulated that citizens whose names did not conform to "the political, ideological, or moral standards of the state" were to change them. It was also decreed that towns and villages with religious names must be renamed. Hoxha's brutal antireligious campaign succeeded in eradicating formal worship, but some Albanians continued to practice their faith clandestinely, risking severe punishment. Individuals caught with Bibles, icons, or other religious objects faced long prison sentences. Religious weddings were prohibited.<ref>http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-184.html</ref> Parents were afraid to pass on their faith, for fear that their children would tell others. Officials tried to entrap practicing Christians and Muslims during religious fasts, such as Lent and Ramadan, by distributing dairy products and other forbidden foods in school and at work, and then publicly denouncing those who refused the food, and clergy who conducted secret services were incarcerated.<ref name="country-data.com"/>

The article was interpreted as violating The [[United Nations Charter]] (chapter 9, article 55) which declares that [[religious freedom]] is an inalienable human right. The first time that the question of religious oppression in Albania came before the United Nations' [[Commission on Human Rights]] at Geneva was as late as 7 March 1983. A delegation from Denmark got its protest over Albania's violation of religious liberty placed on the agenda of the thirty-ninth meeting of the commission, item 25, reading, "Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief." There was little consequence at first, but on 20 July 1984 a member of the [[Danish Parliament]] inserted an article in one of Denmark's major newspapers protesting the violation of religious freedom in Albania.

After the death of [[Enver Hoxha]] in 1985, his successor, [[Ramiz Alia]], adopted a relatively tolerant stance toward religious practice, referring to it as "a personal and family matter." Émigré clergymen were permitted to reenter the country in 1988 and officiate at religious services. Mother Teresa, an ethnic Albanian, visited Tiranë in 1989, where she was received by the foreign minister and by Hoxha's widow. In December 1990, the ban on religious observance was officially lifted, in time to allow thousands of Christians to attend Christmas services.<ref>http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-187.html</ref>

===Jews and Judaism===
{{main|History of the Jews in Albania}}

The history of the [[Jews]] in Albania dates back at least 1,300 years. Albanian Jews, predominantly [[Sephardi Jews|Sephardi]], have in modern times only constituted a very small percentage of the population.

In 1673 the charismatic Jewish prophet [[Sabbatai Zevi]] was exiled by the Turkish sultan to the Albanian port of [[Ulqin]], now in [[Montenegro]] dying there some years later.<ref name="Publisher C. Hurst page 141">A dictionary of Albanian religion, mythology and folk culture by Robert Elsie Edition illustrated Publisher C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2001 ISBN 1850655707, 9781850655701 page 141</ref>

During [[World War II]], Albania would be one of the very few countries in Europe to see an increase in its Jewish population. During the [[Communism|communist]] [[dictatorship]] of [[Enver Hoxha]], the [[Socialist People's Republic of Albania]] would ban all religions, including [[Judaism]], in adherence to the doctrine of [[state atheism]]. In the post-Communist era, these policies have been abandoned and the freedom of religion is permitted, although the number of practicing Jews in Albania is today very small, with many Jews having made [[aliyah]] to [[Israel]].

== Current status of religious freedom ==
{{Main|Freedom of religion in Albania}}
{{Mergeto|Freedom of religion in Albania|date=March 2008}}
===Constitution===
The [[Albanian Constitution|Constitution]] provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice. According to the Albanian Constitution, there is no [[official religion]] and all religions are equal;<ref name="servat.unibe.ch">http://servat.unibe.ch/icl/al00000_.html</ref> however, the predominant religious communities (Bektashi, Sunni Muslim, Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians) enjoy a greater degree of official recognition (e.g., national holidays) and social status based on their historical presence in the country. All registered religious groups have the right to hold bank accounts and to own property and buildings. No restriction is imposed on families regarding the way they raise their children with respect to religious practices. The generally amicable relationship among religions in society contributed to religious freedom.
The Ministry of Education has the right to approve the curricula of religious schools to ensure their compliance with national education standards, and the State Committee on Cults oversees implementation. There are also 68 vocational training centers administered by religious communities.

Government policy and practice contributed to the generally free practice of religion. The government is [[secular]]<ref name="servat.unibe.ch"/> and the Ministry of Education asserts that public schools in the country are secular and that the law prohibits ideological and religious [[indoctrination]]. Religion is not taught in [[Public school (government funded)|public schools]].

===Foreign missionaries===
Foreign religious missionaries who have come to Albania since 1991 include [[Catholics]], [[Evangelicals]] and [[Mormons]] who come mainly from the [[USA]], [[Muslims]] from [[Arab countries]] and [[Turkey]], [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'ís]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Hindus]], and many others freely carry out religious activities. According to the State Committee on Cults, {{As of|2002|lc=on}} there were 31 Christian Societies representing more than 45 different organizations, about 17 different Islamic Societies and Groups and 500 to 600 other Christian and Bahá'í missionaries. The largest foreign missionary groups were [[United States|American]], [[United Kingdom|British]], [[Italy|Italian]], [[Arab]] and [[Greece|Greek]].

===Places of worship===
According to recent{{When|date=November 2009}} statistics from the religious communities in Albania, there are 1119 churches and 638 mosques in the country. The Roman Catholic mission declared 694 Catholic churches. The Christian Orthodox community, 425 Orthodox churches. The Muslim community, 568 mosques,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.korrieri.com/index.php?k=1&i=15799 | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20050523030433/http://www.korrieri.com/index.php?k=1&i=15799 | archivedate = 23 May 2005 | work = [[Korrieri]] | title = Kultet: Gjysma e xhamive, pa leje | language = Albanian | date = 20 May 2005}}</ref> and 70 Bektashi tekkes.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.tiranaobserver.com.al/al/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6374&Itemid=26 | title = Tirana Observer Report - August 16, 2008}}{{Dead link|date=November 2009}}</ref>

===Incidents===
[[File:Fier Qender.jpg|right|thumb|Mosque in [[Fier]].]]

While there is no law restricting the demonstration of religious affiliation in public schools, there have been instances when students were not allowed to do so in practice. In December 2003, a male Muslim student was prohibited from having his [[diploma]] photograph taken because he had a beard. The student was eventually permitted to graduate through the intervention of the Office of the [[Ombudsman]] (a government institution tasked with investigating citizens' charges of human rights violations and protecting their fundamental freedoms).{{Citation needed|date=March 2007}}

In 2002, some [[Bektashi]] communities outside of Tirana experienced intimidation, vandalism, and threats of violence. Subsequently, the Albanian authorities identified those responsible (non-Albanian citizens) and expelled them for immigration laws violations. There were no new reports of vandalism during the period covered by this report. Bektashi leaders believe that foreign religious influences seeking to undermine the country's efforts to maintain religious tolerance and freedom were at the root of these incidents. Other religious leaders have expressed similar concerns about the potentially divisive role played by non-citizen religious extremists.<ref name="state.gov-2004">{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35434.htm | work = International Religious Freedom Report 2004 | title = Albania | publisher = [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] | date = 15 September 2004}}</ref>

The General Secretary of the Islamic Community of Albania, Sali Tivari, was shot and killed at the Community's headquarters in January 2003. The General [[Prosecutor]]'s Office returned the case to the authorities for further investigation and it has remained unsolved by the end of the period covered by this report.<ref name="state.gov-2004" />

In October 2003, police arrested Kastriot Myftari, author of the book "Albanian National Islamism" on charges of inciting [[religious hatred]] against Islam. The book contained the author's opinions on Islam and how the religion has impacted upon Albanian life. According to the [[prosecutor]]'s office, several statements in the book demeaned Islam. The prosecutor had asked the [[court]] for 6 months [[imprisonment]] for the author. In June, the court acquitted Myftari of all charges.<ref name="state.gov-2004" />

During year 2004, representatives of the [[Orthodox Church]] expressed concerns that churches, crosses, and other buildings were targets of [[vandalism]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51536.htm | title = Albania | work = International Religious Freedom Report 2005 | publisher = [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] | date = 8 November 2005}}</ref>

In November 2005 a speech<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.president.al/english/pub/info.asp?id=1089 | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070712211636/http://www.president.al/english/pub/info.asp?id=1089 | archivedate = 12 July 2007 | title = The Lecture of President Moisiu at the Oxford Forum "The Inter-religious tolerance in the tradition of the Albanian people." | date = 9 November 2005 | work = President of the Republic of Albania}}</ref> from Albania's president in London, aroused public protests from [[The Muslim Forum of Albania]] that accused the president of insulting Islam.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.forumimusliman.org/english/pershtyp7.html | publisher = [[The Muslim Forum of Albania]] | title = Su: The President of Albania, Alfred Moisiu, insults the Muslims | date = 11 November 2005}}</ref>

In April 2008, a novel from the Socialist MP, Ben Blushi was condemned by a number of Muslim NGO's<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.forumimusliman.org/english/blushi.html | publisher = [[The Muslim Forum of Albania]] | title = The Muslim Forum and other Muslim associations are annoyed by the racism and islamophobia of Ben Blushi | date = 28 April 2008}}</ref> as racist and Islamophobic. According to the NGO's the author shows signs of racism against the Turks, [[Romani people]] and Albanian Muslims in the novel, and portrays the prophet Muhammed in a very disrespectful way.

==Outside perception==

Documents made public recently by the US government reveal that during the Cold War the West as well as the USSR often referred to Albania as a "Muslim" country in spite of the officially secular stance of the Albanian government.<ref name="servat.unibe.ch"/><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite journal | first = Gëzim | last = Alpion | title = Western Media and the European "Other": Images of Albania in the British Press in the New Millennium | journal = Albanian Journal of Politics | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | pages = 4–25 | year = 2005 | month = September | url = http://ajp.alpsa.org/archives/issue11/alpion.pdf | format = [[PDF]]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Christianity in Albania]]
*[[History of the Jews in Albania]]
*[[Islam in Albania]]
*[[Orthodoxy in Albania]]
*[[Roman Catholicism in Albania]]

==References==
{{loc}}
{{reflist|2}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book | last = Wilkes | first = J.J. | title = The Illyrians | year = 1995 | isbn = 0631198075 | publisher = [[Wiley-Blackwell]] | ref = harv}}
* {{cite book
|last=Lloshi
|first=Xhevat
|last2=
|first2=
|last3=
|first3=.
|year=2008
|title=Rreth Alfabetit te Shqipes
|publisher=Logos
|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=9_gXTda0HS8C&pg=PA191&dq=gjuha+letrare+dhe+gjuha+standarde&hl=en&ei=QAIFTNfqAcH-8AaswL3UDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q6wEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
}}

==External links==
* [http://ateistet.org/ Albanian Atheists]
* [http://vargmal.org/ Pagan & Atheist Forums]
* [http://forumishqiptar.com/forumdisplay.php?f=42 Atheist Forum]
* [http://albkristian.com/ Albanian Protestants]
* [http://www.udhetimi.com/ Christian Portal]
* [http://forumikatolik.net/ Catholic Youth Forum]
* [http://www.kishakatolikeshkoder.com/ Kisha Katolike Shkodër, Shkodra Catholic Church]
* [http://www.kisha-katolike-gjakove.com/ Famullia Gjakovë, Gjakova Catholic Church]
* [http://jetakatolike.com/new/ Magazine "Jeta katolike"]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/country/al.html Catholic Church in Albania]
* [http://www.albanianorthodox.org/ Albanian Orthodox Forum]
* [http://www.orthodoxalbania.org/ Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania]
* [http://www.eparchiapiana.it/SelfSiteinfo.asp?idPag=0&page=1 Arbëresh Christian Eparchy]
* [http://www.bektashi.net/ The Bektashi Community]
* [http://www.myftinia-shkoder.org/ Myftinia Shkodër, Mufti of Shkodra City]
* [http://www.forumimusliman.org/english/ The Muslim Forum of Albania]
* [http://www.dritaislame.com/ Newspaper "Drita Islame"]
* [http://www.revfamilja.org/ Magazine "Familja"]

{{Religion in Europe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Religion In Albania}}
[[Category:Religion in Albania| ]]
[[Category:Religion in Europe|Albania]]
[[Category:Albanian society]]
[[Category:Albanian culture]]

[[cs:Náboženství v Albánii]]
[[de:Religion in Albanien]]
[[mk:Религија во Албанија]]
[[sq:Feja në trevat shqiptare]]
[[tr:Arnavutluk'ta din]]

Lists of Albanians

2010-09-05T17:27:01Z

Elbasan101: /* Religious figures */ and

{{Albanians}}
This is a '''list of historical and living [[Albanians]]''' (of Albania or the Albanian [[diaspora]]) who are famous or notable, sorted by occupation and name

==Prominent Albanians==
Prominent Albanians include [[Gjergj Kastrioti]], [[Nobel Prize]] winner [[Mother Teresa]], the writer [[Ismail Kadare]], the painter [[Ibrahim Kodra]], the composer [[Simon Gjoni]], the Olympic athlete [[Klodiana Shala]], and [[Pope Clement XI]]. Other well known individuals include the prime minister of the [[Ottoman Empire]] [[Ferhat Pasha]] and [[Mehemet Ali (Egypt)|Mehemet Ali]] the [[viceroy]] of [[Egypt]]. A more detailed list includes:
{{div col|4}}
* [[Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg]] - national [[Albanians|Albanian]] hero and victor against the Ottoman Empire.
* [[Mother Teresa]]<ref name="spink">Spink, Kathryn (1997). ''Mother Teresa: A Complete Authorized Biography''. New York. HarperCollins, pp.16. [[Special:Booksources/0062508253|ISBN 0-06-250825-3]].</ref><ref>[http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20031019_madre-teresa_en.html Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)]</ref> - [[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner and [[beatified]] [[nun]]
* [[Pope Clement XI]] - Pope
* [[Lorik Cana]] - soccer player
* [[Hasan Prishtina]] - Ottoman Politician and Leader against the Ottoman invasion, Albanian independence
* [[Vasile Lupu]] "the Wolf" 16th century Prince of Moldovia of Albanian origin
* [[Ali Ahmeti]] - Supreme commander and representative of the National Liberation Arms
* [[Elyesa Bazna]] - real name Iliaz Bazna, alias [[Cicero]], WWII spy of the Germans. Born in Kosovo of Albanian parents
* [[Ghica family]] - Rulers of Moldova and Wallachia from 1659-1842
* [[Köprülü family]] including 6 [[Grand Viziers]] and other high officials of the [[Ottoman Empire]], their rule also known as [[Köprülü Era]]
* [[Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani]] - An important and influential Islamic scholar of the 20th Century
* [[Abdul Qader Arnaoot]] - An important and influential Islamic scholar of the 20th century; he specialised in the fields of [[hadith]] and [[fiqh]]
* [[Muhammad Ali Pasha]] - was Wali of Egypt and Sudan, and is regarded as the "founder of modern [[Egypt]]"
* [[Fan Stilian Noli]] - Albanian-American writer, scholar, diplomat, politician, and founder of the Albanian Orthodox Church, who served as prime minister and regent of Albania in 1924
* [[Luke Burbank]] - Host of ''[[Too Beautiful to Live]]''
* [[Faik Konica]]- one of the greatest figures of Albanian culture in the early decades of the twentieth century.
* [[Alexander Moissi]] - Albanian stage actor
* [[Ismail Kadare]] - writer, winner of the inaugural [[Man Booker International Prize]]
* [[Paul Kurti]] - Albanian-Canadian filmmaker, winner of 2009 [[YOBI.tv|YobiFilm Awards]] grand prize
* [[Kara DioGuardi]] - Albanian-American songwriter, judge of ''[[American Idol]]''
* [[Inva Mula]] - Opera soprano
* [[Regis Philbin]] - Albanian-American television personality
* [[James Belushi|Jim]] and [[John Belushi]] - Albanian-American actors, comedians and musicians
* [[Eliza Dushku]]- Albanian-American Actress
* [[Masiela Lusha]] - Albanian-American Actress
* [[Patrick Nuo]] - Albanian-Swiss Singer
* [[Tie Domi]] - Albanian-Canadian NHL hockey player (retired)
* [[Tony Dovolani]] - Albanian professional dancer from [[Dancing with the Stars]]
* [[Anna Oxa]]- Albanian-Itaian singer. Part Albanian on her father's side and part Italian on her mother's side.
{{div col end}}

== Artists ==
{{div col|4}}
* [[Bekim Fehmiu]] - actor
* [[Arta Dobroshi]] - actress
* [[James Belushi|James (Jim) Belushi]]- American Actor
* [[Tony Dovolani]] - Dancing With The Stars
* [[John Belushi]] - American Actor
* [[Ledina Çelo]] - model, singer
* [[Eliza Dushku]] - American actress
* [[Agim Kaba]] - actor
* [[Tinka Kurti]] - actress
* [[Marie Logoreci]] - actress, singer, director
* [[Masiela Lusha]] - actress
* [[Peter Malota]] - actor
* [[Aleksander Moisiu]] - actor
* [[Enver Petrovci]] - actor
* [[Kadri Roshi]] - actor
* [[Onufri]] - Painter
* [[Abdurrahim Buza]] - painter
* [[Kolë Idromeno]] - painter, sculptor, photographer, architect, and engineer
* [[Ibrahim Kodra]] - painter
* [[Burim Myftiu]] - photographer
* [[Gjon Mili]] - photographer
* [[Vangjush Mio]] - painter
* [[Sadik Kaceli]] - painter
* [[John Kukuzelis]] - Byzantine composer born in Durrës, Albania
* [[Enver Gjokaj]] - American actor
{{div col end}}

== Doctors, psychologists, biologists, medical researchers ==
* [[Petrika Troja]] - microbiologist
* [[Ferid Murad]] - medical researcher [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine|Nobel laureate]]

== Entrepreneurs, business people, organisation executives ==
* [[Ekrem Bardha]] - businessman
* [[Behxhet Pacolli]] - businessman

==Filmmakers, theatre directors, movie directors, choreographers==
* [[Stan Dragoti]] - film director
* [[Marie Logoreci]] - director, actress, singer

==Historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, linguists, folklorists==
* [[Marin Barleti]] - historian
* [[Bernard Bilota]] (1843–1918) - Arbëresh folklorist and poet
* [[Gjon Buzuku]] - translator, author of the first book written in Albanian (1555)
* [[Eqrem Çabej]] - the most prominent Albanian linguist
* [[Zef Skiroi]] - Arberesh folklorist, poet, publicist

==Military personalities==
{{div col|4}}
* [[Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg]] - national [[Albanians|Albanian]] hero.
* [[Hasan Prishtina]] - Ottoman Politician and Leader against the Ottoman invasion, Albanian independence.
* [[Adem Jashari]] - commander of Kosovo Liberation Army
* [[Rahim Ademi]] - General, Croatian Army, of Albanian origin
* [[Isa Boletini]] - Albanian nationalist
* [[Kara Mahmud Bushati]]- Pasha of the [[Pashalik of Shkodra]]
* [[Agim Çeku]] - General, Prime Minister of Kosovo
* [[Lekë Dukagjini]] - General of Albanian army, Prince of Albania
* [[Muhamet Xhemajli]] - commander of [[UCPMB]]
* [[Ded Gjo Luli]] - flagbearer of the Malësori army during the Battle of Deçiq
* [[Spiro Moisiu]] - Commander General of the [[Albanian National Liberation Army]] during [[World War II]]
* [[Franz Nopcsa]] - pre-WWI nationalist for Albanian independence
* [[Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt|Ibrahim Pasha]] - general of Egypt
* [[Ali Pasha|Ali Pashë]] - military ruler
* [[Qemal Stafa]] - World War II communist and [[People's Hero of Albania]]
* [[Hashim Thaçi]] - political leader of Kosovo Liberation Army
{{div col end}}

== Musicians, singers, composers, conductors, dancers, models ==
{{div col|4}}
* [[James Belushi]] - actor, musician
* [[Anita Bitri]] - pop singer and violinist
* [[Pirro Çako]] - singer (tenor, soprano), composer
* [[Ledina Çelo]] - singer, model
* [[Tish Daia]] - composer
* [[Kara DioGuardi]] - singer, songwriter
* [[Shkelzen Doli]] - Violinist
* [[Luiz Ejlli]] - singer
* [[Eli Fara]] - singer
* [[Adrian Gaxha]] - singer
* [[Simon Gjoni]] - composer
* [[Tonin Harapi]] - composer
* [[Feim Ibrahimi]] - composer
* [[Ermonela Jaho]] - opera singer
* [[Preng Jakova]] - composer
* [[Leonora Jakupi]] - singer
* [[Altin Kaftira]] - danseur
* [[Akil Mark Koci]] - composer
* [[Elsa Lila]] - singer
* [[Marie Logoreci]] - singer, director, actress
* [[Marie Logoreci]] - Rapper
* [[Inva Mula]] - soprano
* [[Malësori]] - singer
* [[Frederik Ndoci]] - singer
* [[Nexhmije Pagarusha]] - singer
* [[Tedi Papavrami]] - violinist
* [[Anjeza Shahini]] - singer
* [[Çesk Zadeja]] - composer
* [[Dafina Zeqiri]] - singer
* [[Miriam Cani]] - singer
* [[Noizy]] - rapper
* [[Getoar Selimi|Tingulli 3nt]] - rapp group
* [[Genta Ismajli]] - singer
* [[Arta Bajrami]] - singer

{{div col end}}

== Politicians, activists, diplomats ==
{{div col|4}}
* [[Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg]] - national [[Albanians|Albanian]] hero.
* [[Hashim Thaçi]] - [[Kosovo Liberation Army]] (KLA) founder
* [[Hasan Prishtina]] - Ottoman Politician and Leader against the Ottoman invasion, Albanian independence.
* [[Ramiz Alia]] - Communist leader 1985-1992, President 1991-1992
* [[Fejzi Alizoti]] - Politician of Albania in the early 20th century
* [[Ibrahim Rugova]] - Politician of Kosovo
* [[Bajram Curri]] - national hero of Albania
* [[Izet Dibra]] - former Mayor of Tirana 1927-1928
* [[Joseph DioGuardi]] - Congressman in the USA
* [[Mit'hat Frashëri]] (a.k.a. Midhat Frashari; 1880–1949) - freedom fighter (Albanian Balli Kombetare leader), writer
* [[Skënder Gjinushi]] - Politician of Albania
* [[Luigj Gurakuqi]] - Important figure in the Albanian National Movement
* [[Azem Hajdari]] - Politician of Albania (assassinated in 1998)
* [[Ramush Haradinaj]] - [[Kosovo]]'s former prime minister, leader of Kosovo's opposition
* [[Nexhmije Hoxha]] - Chairwoman of Secretariat of the (Communist) Albanian Women's League(1946-1952).
* [[Vasil Laçi]], national hero of Albania, who tried to kill [[Victor Emmanuel III]], king of fascist Italy.
* [[Enver Hoxha]] - Secretary of the Communist Party of Albania (1945-1985)
* [[Kastriot Islami]] - Politician in Albania
* [[Ali Kelmendi]] - [[Kosovar Albanian]] Communist
* [[Elez Koci]] - Independence Activist for Albania
* [[Bajram Kosumi]] - Prime Minister of Kosovo
* [[Francesco Crispi]] - Italian Nationalist
* [[Eqrem Libohova]] - Albanian WWII Nazi figure
* [[Ded Gjo Luli]] - Nationalist for Albania
* [[Pandeli Majko]] - Politician in Albania
* [[Nazmi Mehmeti]] - Community leader, New Zealand.
* [[Rexhep Meidani]] - former President of Albania
* [[Aleksander Meksi]] - former Prime Minister of Albania
* [[Alfred Moisiu]] - former President of Albania
* [[Sulejman Pasha]] - founder of [[Tirana]]
* [[Essad Pasha]] - Politician in the early 20th century in Albania
* [[Gramoz Pashko]] - former Deputy Prime Minister of Albania, economist
* [[Turhan Pasha Përmeti]] - Politician in the early 20th century in Albania
* [[Hasan Prishtina]] - Prime Minister, nationalist in the early 20th century in Albania
* [[Ismail Qemali]] - Nationalist of Albania, founder of the modern Albanian state.
* [[Bozidar Kalmeta]] Croatian politician
* [[Edi Rama]] - mayor of [[Tirana]]
* [[Bajram Rexhepi]] - [[Kosovo]]'s former Prime Minister
* [[Ibrahim Rugova]] - [[Kosovo]]'s President
* [[Fatmir Sejdiu]] - President of Kosovo
* [[Mehmet Shehu]] - Communist Politician of Albania
* [[Eqerem Spahia]] - Politician of Albania
* [[Veton Surroi]] - Politician of Albania, Publicist
* [[Hashim Thaçi]] - [[Kosovo]]'s Prime Minister
* [[Jozefina Topalli]] - Politician, head of the current Albanian Parliament
* [[Shefqet Verlaci]] - Politician of Albania
* [[Azem Vllasi]] - Communist in former Yugoslavia
* [[Koçi Xoxe]] - former Defence and Interior Minister of Albania
{{div col end}}

==Monarchs and royalty==
* [[Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg]] - national [[Albanians|Albanian]] hero.
* [[Ahmet Zogu]] - King of Albania
* [[Lekë Dukagjini]] - Prince of Albanian, General of Albanian army.
* [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Mehmet Ali]] - [[viceroy]] of [[Egypt]] (ethnic Albanian)
* [[Tewfik Pasha]] - Khedive of Egypt
* [[Vasile Lupu]] - Prince of Moldavia
* [[Dora d'Istria]] - A.K.A. Elena Gjika was a Princess/ Albanian Romantic writer and feminist.

==Prime Ministers of the Ottoman Empire==
{{div col|4}}
* [[Ahmet Pasha Dukagjini]]
* [[Ahmet Izzet Pasha]]
* [[Ajaz Mehmet Pasha Vlora]]
* [[Ajvas-zade Halil Pasha]]
* [[Amzhazade Hysein Pasha]]
* [[Arnavuat (Semiz) Ahmet Pasha]]
* [[Bajazit Pasha]]
* [[Bijikli Ali Pasha]]
* [[Damad Ferid Pasha]]
* [[Davud Pasha]]
* [[Fehmi Bince-Arnaut]]
* [[Giritli-Mustafa Nail Pasha]]
* [[Hadim Hasan Pasha]]
* [[Haxhi-Ahcas Mehmet Pasha]]
* [[Haxhi-Halil Pasha]]
* [[Ibrahim Pasha Parga]]
* [[Is'hak Pasha]]
* [[Jemishxi Hasan Pasha]]
* [[Kadi Ali Pasha]]
* [[Kara Ahmet Pasha Dukagjini]]
* [[Kara Murat Pasha]]
* [[Kemankush Kara Mustafa Pasha]]
* [[Koxha Sinan Pasha]]
* [[Köpryly Fayil Ahmet Pasha]]
* [[Köpryly Zade Mustafa Pasha]]
* [[Lufti Pasha Shkodra]]
* [[Mehmet Ferid Pasha Vlora]]
* [[Mehmet Pasha Qypërliu]]
* [[Memish Pasha]]
* [[Merre Hysein Pasha]]
* [[Mustafa Pasha Bajrakatari]]
* [[Nasuh Pasha]]
* [[Numan Pasha Qypërliu]]
* [[Nexhip Bej Basha]]
* [[Ohërli Hasan-Hysein Pasha]]
* [[Rrustem Pasha]]
* [[Said Halim Pasha]]
* [[Sener Mecihan aka Kasabali Pasha]]
* [[Sinan Pasha]]
* [[Tabani Jassi Mehmet Pasha]]
* [[Tarhonxhu Ahmet Pasha]]
* [[Xhivan-kapuxubashi sultan-Zade Semin Mehmet Pasha]]
* [[Zurnazen Mustafa Pasha]]
{{div col end}}

== Religious figures ==
* [[Fan S. Noli]] - Albanian Orthodox religious leader, poet
* [[Giuseppe Albani]] - Roman Catholic Cardinal
* [[Gregory IV of Athens]] - Former Archbishops of Athens
* [[Mother Teresa]] - Roman Catholic nun
* [[Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani]] - was an important, influential Islamic scholar
* [[Pope Clement XI]] - Pope
* [[Shejh Abdulakder Arnauti]] - was an important, influential Islamic scholar

== Scientists, matheamaticians, engineers (non-medical) ==
* [[Fatos Kongoli]] - mathematician, writer
* [[Laura Mersini]] - cosmologist

== Sports ==
{{div col|4}}
* [[Lee Elia]] - baseball player, coach and manager
* [[Aaron Palushaj]] - professional hockey player
* [[Tie Domi]] - Hockey Player
* [[Ermal Kuqo]] - Baketball Player
* [[Xhavit Bajrami]] - kick boxer
* [[Elvir Muriqi]] - Boxer
* [[Luan Krasniqi]] - Boxer
* [[Azem Maksutaj]] - Kickboxer
* [[Jimmy Marku]] - Strongman
* [[Lorik Cana]] - Soccer player
* [[Sidni Hoxha]] - Swimmer
* [[Erkand Qerimaj]] - Weight Lifter
* [[Pavlina Evro]] - Athlete
* [[Alma Qeramixhi]] - Athlete
{{div col end}}

== Writers (authors, journalists, poets), publicists, publishers ==
{{div col|4}}
* [[Pjetër Budi]] (1566–1622) - author of religious works
* [[Frang Bardhi]] (1606–1643) - author
* [[Nicola Chetta]] (ca. 1740 – 1803) - poet
* [[Nezim Frakulla]] (1680–1760) - poet
* [[Jul Variboba]] (a.k.a. Giulio Variboba; 1742–1788) - poet
* [[Jeronim de Rada]] (1814–1903) - poet
* [[Pashko Vasa]] (a.k.a. Wassa Effendi; 1825–1892) - poet
* [[Dora d'Istria]] (1829–1888) - writer, publicist
* [[Bernard Bilota]] (1843–1918) - Arberesh poet and folklorist
* [[Zef Serembe]] (a.k.a. Giuseppe Serembe; 1844–1901) - poet
* [[Abdyl Frashëri]] (1839–1892) - poet
* [[Naim Frashëri]] (1846–1900) - poet
* [[Sami Frashëri]] (1850–1904) - poet
* [[Filip Shiroka]] (1859–1935) - poet
* [[Ndre Mjeda]] (1866–1937) - poet
* [[Andon Zako Çajupi]] (1866–1930) - poet and dramatist
* [[Gjergj Fishta]] (1871–1940) - writer and poet
* [[Aleksander Stavre Drenova]] (a.k.a. Asdreni; 1872–1947) - poet
* [[Mehmet Akif Ersoy]] (1873-1936) - poet
* [[Faik Konica]] (1875-1942) - writer
* [[Mit'hat Frashëri]] (1880–1949) - writer and freedom fighter
* [[Fan S. Noli]] (1882–1965) - poet, religious leader
* [[Antonio Gramsci]] (1891-1973) - writer, philosopher
* [[Millosh Gjergj Nikolla]] (a.k.a. Migjeni; 1911–1938) - poet
* [[Ernesto Sabato]] (born 1911) - writer from Argentina
* [[Musine Kokalari]] (1917-1983)- writer
* [[Vorea Ujko]] (a.k.a. Domenico Bellizzi; 1918–1989) - poet
* [[Dritëro Agolli]] (born 1931) - poet, writer
* [[Karmel Kandreva]] (1931-1982)- Arberesh writer
* [[Din Mehmeti]] (born 1932) - poet
* [[Ismail Kadare]] (born 1936) - writer and poet
* [[Teodor Laço]] (born 1936) - writer
* [[Rexhep Qosja]] (born 1936) - poet and literary critic
* [[Rifat Kukaj]] (1938-2005) - writer
* [[Ali Podrimja]] (born 1942) - poet
* [[Teki Dervishi]] (born 1943) - poet, novelist and playwright
* [[Fatos Kongoli]] (born 1944) - writer, mathematician
* [[Eqrem Basha]] (born 1948) - poet
* [[Flora Brovina]] (born 1949) - poet
* [[Ilir Kadia]] (born 1957) - writer, journalist
* [[Krenar Gashi]] (born 1982) - journalist, writer, publicist
* [[Xhevdet Bajraj]] (born 1960) - poet
* [[Veton Surroi]] (born 1961) - publicist, politician
* [[Gjeke Marinaj]] (born 1965) - Albanian-American poet
* [[Irma Kurti]] (born 1966) - poetess, text-writer
* [[Veli Karahoda]] (born 1968) - novelist, poet, essayist
* [[Zef Skiroi]] - Arberesh poet, publicist, folklorist
* [[Hasan Zyko Kamberi]] - poet
{{div col end}}

== Other ==
* [[Hava Rexha]] - was the oldest woman in Albania and maybe in the world

== See also ==
* [[List of people of Albanian origin]]
* [[List of Albanian-Americans]]
* [[Albania]]
* [[List of people by nationality]]

==References==
{{Refimprove|date=December 2007}}
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Albanian people| ]]
[[Category:Lists of Albanian people| ]]
[[Category:Lists of people by nationality|Albanians]]

[[ja:アルバニア人の一覧]]
[[sq:Lista e personaliteteve shqiptare]]
[[sr:Списак познатих Албанаца]]

User:Elbasan101

2010-09-05T17:21:20Z

Elbasan101:

LLB graduate with flying colours...now contemplating what to do...

mostly re-wording articles

User talk:Elbasan101

2010-09-05T17:16:19Z

Elbasan101: /* Welcome. */

<div class="usermessage"><div class="plainlinks">'''If you leave a message here, I will respond here, unless you ask for a response on your talk page.''' '''</div></div>
{{message
| bgcolor = #f8eaba
| border-color = #c0c090
}}
{{talkheader}}

== Welcome! ==

[[Image:Chocolate chip cookies.jpg|thumb|300px|Some cookies to welcome you! [[File:Face-smile.svg|25px]]]] [[Wikipedia:Welcoming committee/Welcome to Wikipedia|Welcome to Wikipedia]], Elbasan101! I {{#if: Marek69|am [[User:Marek69|Marek69]] and|}} have been editing Wikipedia for quite some time. I just wanted to say hi and welcome you to Wikipedia! If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a message on {{#if: Marek69|[[User talk:Marek69|my talk page]]|my talk page}} or by typing ''{{tl|helpme}}'' at the bottom of this page. I love to help new users, so don't be afraid to leave a message! {{#if:| {{{2}}}|}} I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are some pages that you might find helpful:
* [[Wikipedia:Introduction|Introduction]]
* [[Wikipedia:Five pillars|The five pillars of Wikipedia]]
* [[Wikipedia:How to edit a page|How to edit a page]]
* [[Help:Contents|Help pages]]
* [[Wikipedia:Article development|How to write a great article]]
I hope you enjoy editing here and being a [[Wikipedia:Wikipedians|Wikipedian]]! Also, when you post on [[Wikipedia:Talk page|talk pages]] you should [[Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages|sign your name]] on talk pages using four tildes (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>); that should automatically produce your username and the date after your post.
If you need help, check out [[Wikipedia:Questions]], ask me on {{#if: Marek69|[[User talk:Marek69|my talk page]]|my talk page}}, or place {{tl|helpme}} on your talk page and ask your question there. Again, welcome! {{#if:| {{{3}}}|}}

[[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 19:54, 5 April 2010 (UTC)

== Religion ==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&diff=prev&oldid=355121116] Ki pake kujdes dhe mos hiq pjesa me references. Please use the talkpage to explain your edits before removing npov referenced data.--[[User:ZjarriRrethues|'''— ''ZjarriRrethues'' —''']] [[User_talk:ZjarriRrethues|talk]] 11:12, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

: E hoqa se materjali nuk e shpjegon qysh arriten ne conclusion qe shqiptartet nuk praktikojne fene

same would apply to adding rather shoddy pieces of work from a unregistered account. Also I would go as far to suggest that that the "source" is not npov, or at the very least that particular article. The article is not sourced itself no data is provided, there is a lack information how the report gained its info.
::Whether or not you agree with it, the statement is sourced. We can therefore state that ''according to this source (whose credibility is hotly disputed)'', etc etc. Understand? [[User:DragonflySixtyseven|DS]] ([[User talk:DragonflySixtyseven|talk]]) 23:26, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

The statement is almost the same statement repeated to fit in the article. The actual source (US State Dept) makes sweeping remarks that have no basis. To say that majority is non-religious needs to be backed up. How did they arrive to this conclusion? Did they carry out some kind of survey? Did they work with some organization? etc etc This primary sourcing needs to be established, US state dept is not a primary source.

This is currently being discussed here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Albania#Religion_for_the_umptinth_time.21
--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101#top|talk]]) 00:14, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

== Welcome. ==

Mireseerdhe dhe degjoje Zjarrin, pasi e kemi flori djale. Do shihemi shpesh. --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 02:32, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

: Mos me keqkupto nuk du te bej sherr. Patjeter do degjoj argumente te ndryshem, edhe do perpeqem te bashkpunjome sebashku :)--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101#top|talk]]) 11:58, 12 April 2010 (UTC)

::Ke deshire qe te bashkepunojme per te shkruar kete artikull [[Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Albania#National_Autocephalous_Albanian_Church]]? --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 14:14, 12 April 2010 (UTC)

:::Gjithashtu, konsidero te shtosh emrin tend ketu [[Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albania]]. Pershendetje! --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 14:58, 12 April 2010 (UTC)

Hey man been out for a while, studying!! E shtova emrin tek projekt Albania. A po shkruan artikullin po prap?

== um ok? ==

if ur albanian why would u put emphasis on the muslim shit. i know only serbs and greeks do that. and please u should have left my line where a lot of albanians are non-religious.

Wikipedia:WikiProject Albania/Members

2010-09-05T17:13:50Z

Elbasan101:

Please feel free to add your name to this list if you would like to join the project and make contributions to the Albania WikiProject.

Inactive participants displayed in small font.

{{div col|2}}
#{{User|ABXDataLogic}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|ado254}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Aeternus}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Aigest}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Albanian222}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Alblefter}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|Italy}}
#{{User|Albopedian}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Anna Comnena}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Armend}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|Kosovo}}
#{{User|Balkanian`s word}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Besajone}} {{flagicon|Kosovo}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|CapedCamish}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Cradel}} {{flagicon|Kosovo}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|CrnaGora}} {{flagicon|Montenegro}}
#{{User|Donikanuhiu}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Donnix}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Dori}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Eagleal}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Elias101}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Eu6}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Gaius Claudius Nero}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|Getoar}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Gr8opinionater}} {{flagicon|England}}
#{{User|Hajenso}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|Heroeswithmetaphors}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Igiann}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|Greece}}
#{{User|ikullolli}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|I Pakapshem}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|JacobS}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|John Carter}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|Kedadi}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|Kosovo}}
#{{User|Korabi}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Kosovar}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Liliboy}} {{flagicon|Kosovo}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Lontech}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|MARSELIMADHE}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|NOAH}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|ObserverFromAbove}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Oltianruci}} {{flagicon|England}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|SailorMerkury}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Piasoft}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Presidentman}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|Prevalis}} {{flagicon|Montenegro}}
#{{User|Spyenson}} {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Sulmues}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Taulant23}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|TinaTrendelina}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|UberCryxic}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|Univlora}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Vinie007}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|Netherlands}}
#{{User|Visar arifaj}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|ZjarriRrethues}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Elbasan101}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|United Kingdom}}
{{div col end}}

<noinclude>(Inactive = no edits of any kind in the last 6 months.)</noinclude>

Wikipedia:WikiProject Albania/Members

2010-09-05T17:13:15Z

Elbasan101:

Please feel free to add your name to this list if you would like to join the project and make contributions to the Albania WikiProject.

Inactive participants displayed in small font.

{{div col|2}}
#{{User|ABXDataLogic}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|ado254}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Aeternus}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Aigest}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Albanian222}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Alblefter}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|Italy}}
#{{User|Albopedian}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Anna Comnena}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Armend}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|Kosovo}}
#{{User|Balkanian`s word}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Besajone}} {{flagicon|Kosovo}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|CapedCamish}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Cradel}} {{flagicon|Kosovo}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|CrnaGora}} {{flagicon|Montenegro}}
#{{User|Donikanuhiu}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Donnix}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Dori}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Eagleal}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Elias101}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Eu6}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Gaius Claudius Nero}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|Getoar}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Gr8opinionater}} {{flagicon|England}}
#{{User|Hajenso}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|Heroeswithmetaphors}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Igiann}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|Greece}}
#{{User|ikullolli}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|I Pakapshem}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|JacobS}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|John Carter}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|Kedadi}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|Kosovo}}
#{{User|Korabi}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Kosovar}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Liliboy}} {{flagicon|Kosovo}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Lontech}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|MARSELIMADHE}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|NOAH}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|ObserverFromAbove}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Oltianruci}} {{flagicon|England}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|SailorMerkury}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Piasoft}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Presidentman}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|Prevalis}} {{flagicon|Montenegro}}
#{{User|Spyenson}} {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Sulmues}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Taulant23}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|TinaTrendelina}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|UberCryxic}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|USA}}
#{{User|Univlora}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Vinie007}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flagicon|Netherlands}}
#{{User|Visar arifaj}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|ZjarriRrethues}} {{flagicon|Albania}}
#{{User|Elbasan101}} {{flagicon|Albania}} {{flag|United Kingdom}}
{{div col end}}

<noinclude>(Inactive = no edits of any kind in the last 6 months.)</noinclude>

Albanians

2010-09-05T17:06:10Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion */ This is incorrect since that is not the official postion of the Albanian govt which the counsel represents.

{{About|Albanians as an ethnic group|demographic information|Demographics of Albania}}
{{Infobox Ethnic group
|group = Albanians Shqiptarë
|flag = [[File:Flag of Albania.svg|100px|border|link=Flag of Albania]]
|image = [[File:Albanians.png|300px|link=List of Albanians]]
|caption = <div style="background-color:#fee8ab; padding: 5px">{{nowrap|[[Skanderbeg]] • [[Lekë Dukagjini]] • [[Pope Clement XI]] • [[Ali Pasha]]}} {{nowrap|[[Muhammad Ali of Egypt]] • [[Abdyl Frashëri]] • [[Migjeni]] • [[Fan Noli]]}} {{nowrap|[[Dora d'Istria]] • [[Ismail Kadare]] • [[Mother Teresa]] • [[Eliza Dushku]]}}</div>
|pop = approx. '''7.8 Million'''
|popplace = {{flagicon|Albania}}'''[[Albania]]''' '''approx. 3,115,000 (est.)'''
|region1 = '''Balkans:'''
|pop1 = '''6 Million'''
|ref1 =
|region2 = {{flag|Kosovo}}
|pop2 = 1,587,000
|ref2 = {{lower|<ref>See [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kv.html] {{sh icon}} [http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/kosovo/SoE/popullat.htm UN estimate], Kosovo’s population estimates range from 1.9 to 2.4 million. The last two population census conducted in 1981 and 1991 estimated Kosovo’s population at 1.6 and 1.9 million respectively, but the 1991 census probably under-counted Albanians. The latest estimate in 2001 by OSCE puts the number at 2.4 Million. The World Factbook gives an estimate of 1,804,838 persons living in Kosovo for the year 2009, 88% of thema are Albanians. (see {{CIA World Factbook link|kv|Kosovo}}).</ref>}}
|region3 = {{flag|Turkey}}
|pop3 = 500,000 {{smallsup|1}}
|ref3 = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/default.aspx?aType=SonDakika&Kategori=yasam&ArticleID=873452&Date=07.06.2008&ver=16|title=Türkiye'deki Kürtlerin sayısı!|date=6 June 2008|accessdate=17 August 2010|language=Turkish}}</ref>}}
|region4 = {{flag|Macedonia}}
|pop4 = 506,083
|ref4 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.stat.gov.mk/pdf/kniga_13.pdf 2002 Macedonian Census]</ref>}}
|region5 = {{flag|Greece}}
|pop5 = 274,390
|ref5 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.eliamep.gr/en/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/migration-and-migration-policy-in-greece-critical-review-and-policy-recommendations.pdf Migration and Migration Policy in Greece.] Critical Review and Policy Recommendations. Anna Triandafyllidou. Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). Data taken from Greek ministry of Interiors. p. 5 "the total number of Albanian citizens residing in Greece, including 185,000 co-ethnics holding special identity cards"</ref>}}
|region6 = {{flag|Serbia}}
|pop6 = 61,647
|ref6 = {{lower|<ref name="popis2002">{{Sr icon}} {{PDFlink|[http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/axd/Zip/VJN3.pdf Official Results of Serbian Census 2003–Population]|441 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]}}, pp. 12-13</ref>}}
|region7 = {{flag|Montenegro}}
|pop7 = 33,600
|ref7 = {{lower|<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mj.html CIA Monenegro]</ref>}}
|region8 = {{flag|Croatia}}
|pop8 = 15,082
|ref8 =
|region9 = {{flag|Romania}}
|pop9 = 10,000
|ref9 = {{lower|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.divers.ro/albanezi_date_demografice_ro|title=Date demografice|accessdate=18 August 2010|language=Romanian}}</ref>}}
|region10 = {{flag|Slovenia}}
|pop10 = 6,186
|ref10 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.stat.si/popis2002/en/rezultati/rezultati_red.asp?ter=SLO&st=7 Population by ethnic affiliation in Slovenia]</ref>}}
|region11 = '''Rest of Europe:'''
|pop11 = '''1,426,788+'''
|ref11 =
|region12 = {{flag|Italy}}
|pop12 = 700,000
|ref12 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.istat.it/salastampa/comunicati/non_calendario/20090226_00/testo_integrale_20090226.pdf]</ref><ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=aae Ethnologue]</ref>}}
|region13 = {{flag|Germany}}
|pop13 = 320,000 {{smallsup|2}}
|ref13 =
|region14 = {{flag|Switzerland}}
|pop14 = 200,000
|ref14 = {{lower|<ref name="albsuisse">[http://www.schweiz-albanien.ch/fileadmin/Dokumente/Informationen/090808_albsuissealbanerch.pdf Die Albaner in der Schweiz: Geschichtliches – Albaner in der Schweiz seit 1431]</ref><ref name="albsuisse2">[http://www.infowilplus.ch/_iu_write/artikel/2007/KW_21/Region/Artikel_8116/ Im Namen aller Albaner eine Moschee?]</ref> }}
|region15 = {{flag|Netherlands}}
|pop15 = 96.000
|ref15 = <ref>http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/bevolking/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2008/2008-2411-wm.htm</ref>
|region16 = {{flag|Sweden}}
|pop16 = 60,000
|ref16 =
|region17 = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|pop17 = 30,000
|ref17 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/albanians-taking-over-london-vice-605315.html Total Population of Albanians in the United Kingdom]</ref>}}
|region18 = {{flag|Norway}}
|pop18 = 10,000
|ref18 =
|region19 = {{flag|Denmark}}
|pop19 = 8,000
|ref19 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.dst.dk National statistics of Denmark]</ref>}}
|region20 = {{flag|Belgium}}
|pop20 = 2,788
|ref20 = {{lower|<ref>[http://statbel.fgov.be/nl/modules/publications/statistiques/bevolking/Bevolking_nat_geslacht_leeftijdsgroepen.jsp Official Belgian Population Statistics]</ref>}}
|region21 = '''Northern America:'''
|pop21 = '''217,553+'''
|ref21 =
|region22 = {{flag|United States}}
|pop22 = 201,118
|ref22 = {{lower|<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-context=dt&-ds_name=D&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=ACS_2008_1YR_G2000_B04003&-tree_id=403&-redoLog=false&-all_geo_types=N&-geo_id=D&-search_results=01000US&-format=&-_lang=en&-SubjectID=14595646 US Census Bureau]</ref>}}
|region23 = {{flag|Canada}}
|pop23 = 16,435
|ref23 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=97-562-XCB2006015&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=0&IPS=97-562-XCB2006015&METH=0&ORDER=&PID=92341&PTYPE=88971&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=&StartRow=&SUB=&Temporal=2006&Theme=80&VID=&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= Canadian Census of 2006]</ref>}}
|languages = [[Albanian language|Albanian]] ([[Gheg Albanian|Gheg]], [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]], [[Arvanitika]], [[Arbëresh language|Arbëresh]], [[Cham Albanian dialect|Cham]])
|religions = Predominantly [[Islam|Muslim]] and a significant [[Christianity|Christian]] minority; in Albania with a majority professing [[non-religious]]
|footnotes = {{smallsup|1}} Albanians are not recognized as a minority in Turkey. However approximately 500,000 people are reported to profess an Albanian identity. A more accurate number is hard to obtain, as most of Albanians living in Turkey do not speak Albanian, and some of them have only partial Albanian ancestry.
 
{{smallsup|2}} The total number of Albanian immigrants is obscure due to difficulties with identifying them as Albanians from Kosovo or Albania, and because some of them are illegal<ref name="janes">[http://www.janes.com/security/law_enforcement/news/ipi/ipi0268.shtml The Albanian connection]</ref>.
}}
{{Albanians}}
'''Albanians''' ({{lang-sq|Shqiptarë}}) are a people from southeast Europe who live in [[Albania]], [[Kosovo]] and neighboring countries. They speak the [[Albanian language]]. Roughly half of Albanians live in [[Albania]], with other large groups residing in [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}}, the [[Republic of Macedonia]] and [[Montenegro]]. There are Albanian communities in a number of other countries, including [[Turkey]], [[Greece]], [[Serbia]] and [[Italy]].

==Ethnonym==
{{See|Albania (toponym)}}
{{See|Shqiptar}}

While the exonym ''Albania'' for the general region inhabited by the Albanians does hark back to Classical Antiquity, and possibly to an [[Illyrians|Illyrian tribe]], the name was lost within the Albanian language, the Albanian endonym being ''shqiptar'', from the term for the Albanian language, ''shqip'', a derivation of the verb ''shqiptoj'' "to speak clearly". This theory pertains to Hahn and it holds that perhaps the word is ultimately a loan from Latin ''excipio''.<ref>Robert Elsie, ''A dictionary of Albanian religion, mythology and folk culture'', C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2001, ISBN 9781850655701, p. 79.</ref> Thus, the Albanian endonym, like ''[[Slav (ethnonym)|Slav]]'' [[Endonym#Tendencies_in_the_development_of_exonyms|and others]], is in origin a term for "those who speak [intelligibly, the same language]". However another plausible theory has been advanced by Maximilian Lambertz to explain the endonym as derived from the Albanian noun ''shqype'' or ''shqiponjë'' (eagle), which, according to Albanian [[folk etymology]], denoted a bird [[totem]] dating from the times of [[Skanderbeg]], as displayed on the [[Albanian flag]].<ref name="ej2-s">{{ cite encyclopedia | title=ALBANCI | encyclopedia =[[Enciklopedija Jugoslavije]] 2nd ed. | volume=Supplement | pages=1 | publisher=[[JLZ]] | location=[[Zagreb]] | date=1984 }}</ref>

In the 2nd century AD, [[Ptolemy]], the geographer and astronomer from [[Alexandria]], drafted a map that shows the city of [[Albanopolis]] ([[Greek language|Greek]],"''Ἀλβανόπολις''")<ref>Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854)William Smith, LLD, Ed.,Ptolemy is the earliest writer in whose works the name of the Albanians has been distinctly recognised. He mentions (3.13.23) a tribe called ALBANI (Ἀλβανοί) and a town ALBANOPOLIS (Ἀλβανόπολις), in the region lying to the E. of the Ionian sea; and from the names of places with which Albanopolis is connected, it appears clearly to have been in the S. part of the Illyrian territory, and in modern Albania. There are no means of forming a conjecture how the name of this obscure tribe came to be extended to so considerable a nation.</ref> (located Northeast of [[Durrës]]). Ptolemy also mentions the Illyrian tribe named ''Albanoi'', who lived around this city.

In ''History'' written in 1079-1080, the Byzantine historian [[Michael Attaliates]] referred to the ''Albanoi'' as having taken part in a revolt against [[Constantinople]] in 1043 and to the ''Arbanitai'' as subjects of the duke of [[Durrës|Dyrrachium]]. It is disputed, however, whether that refers to Albanians in an ethnic sense.<ref name="oxbyz">{{cite encyclopedia | last=Pritsak | first=Omeljan | title=Albanians | encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]] | volume=1 | pages=52–53 | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | location=New York/Oxford | year=1991 }}</ref>. The first reference to a ''{{lang|la|lingua albanesca}}'' dates to the later 13th century (around 1285)<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/87039/Earlies-Reference-to-the-Existance-of-the-Albanian-Language Robert Elsie, ''The earliest reference to the existence of the Albanian Language'']</ref>.

The Albanians are and have been referred to by other terms as well. Some of them are:
*[[Arbëreshë|Arbër]], [[Arbëreshë|Arbën]], [[Arbëreshë]]; the old native term denoting ancient and medieval Albanians and sharing the same root with the latter. At the time the country was called Arbër ([[Gheg]]: Arbën) and Arbëria ([[Gheg]]: Arbënia). This term is still used for the Albanians that migrated to Italy during the Middle Ages.
*[[Arnauts]] (ارناود); old term used mainly from Turks and by extension by European authors during the Ottoman Empire. A derivate of the Turkish ''Arvanid'' (اروانيد), which derives from the Greek ''Arvanites''.
*[[Skipetar]]s; the historical rendering of the ethnonym ''Shqiptar'' (or ''Shqyptar'' by French, Austrian and German authors) in use from the 18th century (but probably earlier) to the present, the literal translation of which is ''subject of the eagle''. The term ''Šiptari'' is a derivation used by Yugoslavs which the Albanians consider derogatory, preferring ''Albanci'' instead.

==History==
{{See|Origin of the Albanians|History of Albania|History of Kosovo}}
[[File:13001350ALBANIANMIGRATIONS.png|thumb|left|Population movements, 14th century.]]
===Albanians in the Middle Ages===
What is possibly the earliest written reference to the Albanians is that to be found in an old Bulgarian text compiled around the beginning of the eleventh century. It was discovered in a Serbian manuscript dated 1628 and was first published in 1934 by Radoslav Grujic. This fragment of a legend from the time of [[Tsar Samuel]] endeavours, in a catechismal 'question and answer' form, to explain the origins of peoples and languages. It divides the world into seventy-two languages and three religious categories: Orthodox, half-believers (i.e. non-Orthodox Christians) and non-believers. The Albanians find their place among the nations of half-believers. If we accept the dating of Grujic, which is based primarily upon the contents of the text as a whole, this would be the earliest written document referring to the Albanians as a people or language group.<ref>Extract from: ''Grujic, Radoslav'': Legenda iz vremena Cara Samuila o poreklu naroda. in: Glasnik skopskog naucnog drustva, Skopje, 13 (1934), p. 198 200. Translated from the Old Church Slavonic by Robert Elsie. First published in R. Elsie: Early Albania, a Reader of Historical Texts, 11th - 17th Centuries, Wiesbaden 2003, p. 3.'' [http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts15/AH1000.html Albanian History]</ref>

<blockquote>
''It can be seen that there are various languages on earth. Of them, there are five Orthodox languages: Bulgarian, Greek, Syrian, Iberian (Georgian) and Russian. Three of these have Orthodox alphabets: Greek, Bulgarian and Iberian. There are twelve languages of half-believers: Alamanians, Franks, Magyars (Hungarians), Indians, Jacobites, Armenians, Saxons, Lechs (Poles), '''Arbanasi''' (Albanians), Croatians, Hizi, Germans.''
</blockquote>

The Albanians appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late 11th century. At this point, they are already fully Christianized. Very little evidence of pre-Christian Albanian culture survives, and [[Albanian mythology]] and folklore, as it presents itself, is notoriously syncretized from various sources, showing in particular Greek influence.<ref>[[Mircea Eliade]], Charles J. Adams, ''The Encyclopedia of religion'', Macmillan, 1987, ISBN 9780029097007, p. 179.</ref>{{Request quotation|date=August 2010}}

Regarding the classification of the [[Albanian language]], it forms a separate branch of Indo-European, belonging to the [[Centum-Satem isogloss|Satem]]<ref>''[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]]''</ref> group, and its late attestation, the first records dating to the 15th century, makes it difficult for [[historical linguistics]] to make confident statements on its genesis.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}

===Albanians under the Ottoman Empire===
The [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] supremacy in the [[Balkan]] region began in 1385 with the [[Battle of Savra]] but was briefly interrupted in the 15th century, when [[Skanderbeg|Gjergj Kastrioti]], an Albanian warrior known as [[Skanderbeg]], allied with some Albanian chiefs, formed the [[League of Lezhe]] and fought-off Turkish rule from 1443-1478 (although Kastrioti died in 1468). Kastrioti's strongholds included [[Kruja]], [[Shkodra]], [[Durres]], [[Lezha]], [[Petrela]], [[Koxhaxhik]] and [[Berat]].

Upon the Ottomans' return, a large number of Albanians fled to Italy, Greece and [[Egypt]] and maintained their [[Arbëresh]] identity.

===National Awakening of Albania===
{{See|National awakening and the birth of Albania}}
By the 1870s, the [[Sublime Porte]]'s reforms aimed at checking the Ottoman Empire's disintegration had clearly failed. The image of the "Turkish yoke" had become fixed in the nationalist mythologies and psyches of the empire's Balkan peoples, and their march toward independence quickened. The Albanians, because of the higher degree of Islamic influence, their internal social divisions, and the fear that they would lose their Albanian-populated lands to the emerging Balkan states--[[Serbia]], [[Montenegro]], [[Bulgaria]], and [[Greece]] were the last of the Balkan peoples to desire division from the Ottoman Empire.<ref name="Birth of Albania">{{cite web | author= Raymond Zickel and Walter R. Iwaskiw, editors. date= 1994 | title= "NATIONAL AWAKENING AND THE BIRTH OF ALBANIA, mut.us/albania/index.htm] | accessdate=9 April 2008 }}</ref>

==Distribution==
===Balkans===
Approximately 6,5 million Albanians are to be found within the Balkan peninsula with only about half this number residing in Albania and the other divided between [[Kosovo]], [[Montenegro]], the [[Republic of Macedonia]], [[Greece]] and to a much smaller extent [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Croatia]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]] and [[Slovenia]].

====Albania====
{{Main|Demographics of Albania}}
An estimated 3.2 million Albanians live in [[Albania]], amounting to 98.6% of the country's total population, making Albania one of the ethnically most homogenous states of Europe.<ref>Christoph Pan, Beate Sibylle Pfeil,''Minderheitenrechte in Europa. Handbuch der europäischen Volksgruppen'' (2002).[http://www.living-diversity.eu/Introduction.html], English translation 2004. see also [[ethnic groups in Europe by country]].</ref>{{Dead link|date=March 2010}}

====Former Yugoslavia====
{{Main|Albanians in Kosovo|Albanians in Central Serbia|Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia|Albanians in Montenegro}}
An estimated 2.5 million Albanians live in the territory of [[Former Yugoslavia]], the greater part (close to two million) in [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}}.

Rights to use the [[Albanian language]] in education and government were given and guaranteed by the 1974 Constitution of [[SFRY]] and were widely utilized in Macedonia and in Montenegro before [[Dissolution of Yugoslavia]]<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=OTW9XKUmrxsC&pg=PA237&dq=Kosovo+1990#v=onepage&q=tito&f=false Civil resistance in Kosovo] By Howard Clark, pg. 12</ref>.

====Greece====
{{Main|Albanians in Greece}}
[[Image:Tosk Albanians.jpg|thumb|right|200px|left|Tosk Albanians wearing traditional costumes from southern Albania.]]

Due to different waves of migration, Albanians and groups of Albanian descent are generally divided into three distinct groups.

The first group is that of [[Arvanites]] and [[Albanian-speakers of Western Thrace]], who retain a distinct ethnic identity, but self-identify nationally as Greeks. The [[Arvanites]] are descended from Tosk Albanians that migrated to Greece during the Middle Ages. They are Greek Orthodox Christians, and though they traditionally speak a dialect of Tosk Albanian known as [[Arvanitika]], they have fully assimilated into the Greek nation and do not identify with the modern Albanian nation. They reportedly resent the designation "Albanians".<ref>GHM (1995).</ref> [[Arvanitika]] is in a state of attrition due to [[language shift]] towards [[Greek]] and large-scale internal migration to the cities and subsequent intermingling of the population during the 20th century.

The second group is that of the [[Cham Albanians]] and their descendents, in [[Epirus (periphery)|Epirus]], in northwestern Greece. [[Islam|Muslim]] Chams were [[Expulsion of Cham Albanians|expelled]] from Epirus during [[World War II]], by an [[EDES|anti-communist resistance group]], as a result of their participation in a [[EAM-ELAS|communist resistance group]] and the [[Axis-Cham Albanian collaboration|collaboration]] with the [[Axis occupation of Greece during World War II|Axis occupation]].

Alongside these two indigenous groups, about 10 percent of the population of Albania entered Greece after the fall of Communism, forming the [[Albanian immigrants in Greece|third community of Albanian origin]] in Greece, the largest single expatriate group in the country today and the country's largest population group after the ethnic [[Greeks|Greek]] majority. Their numbers are thought to range between 200,000 and 500,000.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

===Diaspora===
{{Main|Albanian diaspora}}
{{Citations missing|section|date=November 2009}}

The largest Albanian diasporic communities outside of the Balkans are found in [[Turkey]] (about 1.3 million, 13% of Albanians, 1.7% of host population), [[Arbëreshë people|Italy]] (260,000), the [[Albanian American|United States]] (201,118; 0.09% of the total US population), [[Albanians in Switzerland|Switzerland]] (320,000; about 2.5% of the total Swiss population), and [[Germany]] (over 300,000).

====Europe====
{{See|Albanians in Germany|Albanians in Italy|Albanians in Sweden|Albanians in Switzerland}}
Approximately 3 million are dispersed throughout the rest of Europe, most of these in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and France.

Italy has a historical Albanian minority known as the [[Arbëreshë]] which are scattered across [[Southern Italy]], but the majority of Italo-Albanians have arrived since 1991 to surpass that of the older populations of Arbëreshë.

====Turkey====
According to a 2008 report prepared for the National Security Council of Turkey by academics of three Turkish universities in eastern Anatolia, there were approximately 1,300,000 people of Albanian descent living in Turkey.<ref>Milliyet, Türkiyedeki Kürtlerin Sayısı. 2008-06-06.</ref> A part of these people have assimilated to the culture of Turkey, and consider themselves more Turkish than Albanian. Nonetheless, more than 500,000 families of Albanian descents still recognize their ancestry like their languages, culture and traditions.

====Americas====
{{See|Albanian Americans}}
According to data from the 2008 Census of the United States Government, there are 201,118 Americans of full or partial Albanian descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-context=dt&-ds_name=ACS_2008_1YR_G00_&-_geoSkip=0&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=ACS_2008_1YR_G2000_C04003&-tree_id=403&-_skip=0&-redoLog=false&-all_geo_types=N&-geo_id=01000US&-search_results=01000US&-_showChild=Y&-format=&-_lang=en&-_toggle=ACS_2008_1YR_G2000_C04003&-SubjectID=14595646,|title=TOTAL ANCESTRY CATEGORIES TALLIED FOR PEOPLE WITH ONE OR MORE ANCESTRY CATEGORIES REPORTED|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2010-08-17}}</ref>

====Asia and Oceania====
In [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] 22,000 in total. Albanians are also known to reside in China, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan and Singapore, but the numbers are generally small. 200,000 in all these countries. Albanians have been present in [[Arab world|Arab]] countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria for about 5 centuries as a legacy of [[Ottoman Turk]]ish rule.

====Africa====
In [[Egypt]] there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly Tosk speakers. Many are descendants of the soldiers of [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Mehmet Ali]]. A large part of the former nobility of Egypt was Albanian in origin. A small community also resides in [[South Africa]].

==Language==
{{Main|Albanian language}}

The Albanian language forms a separate branch of [[Indo-European]] languages family tree. A traditional view links the origin of Albanian with Illyrian, though this theory is broadly contested and challenged<ref>Hans Henrich Hock, Brian D. Joseph: [http://books.google.com/books?id=oGH-RCW1fzsC&pg=PA54&dq=albanian+illyrian+language+linguistic&lr=#v=onepage&q=albanian%20illyrian%20language%20linguistic&f=false Language history, language change, and language relationship], pp. 54</ref>.

Unattested prior to the second half of the 15th century, the Albanian language is one of the youngest languages of Europe in terms of [[List of languages by first written accounts|first written account]].

Albanian in a revised form of the [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]] dialect is the [[official language]] of [[Albania]] and [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}}; and is official in the municipalities where there are more than 20% ethnic Albanian inhabitants in the [[Republic of Macedonia]]. It is also an official language of [[Montenegro]] where it is spoken in the municipalities with ethnic Albanian populations.

==Religion==
{{See also|Religion in Albania|Islam in Albania|Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania|Catholicism in Albania}}
The Albanians first appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late 11th century.<ref>Comnena, Anna. The Alexiad, Book IV.</ref> At this point, they were already fully Christianized. Christianity was later overtaken by [[Islam]], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turkish rule from the 15th century until year 1912. [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox Christianity]] and [[Roman Catholicism]] continued to be practiced with less frequency.

During the 20th century the [[monarchy]] and later the [[totalitarian state]] followed a systematic [[State atheism|secularization]] of the nation and the national culture. This policy was chiefly applied within the borders of the current Albanian state. It produced a secular majority in the population. All forms of [[Christianity]], [[Islam]] and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional [[Pagan]] practices in the rural areas, which were seen as identifying with the national culture. The current Albanian state has revived some pagan festivals, such as the lunar [[Spring Day|Spring]] festival ({{lang-sq|Dita e Verës}}) held yearly on March 14 in the city of [[Elbasan]]. It is a national holiday.

There are also [[Albanian Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christians]], predominantly in Southern Albania, bordering [[Greece]], and [[Albanian Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] is the main religion among those Albanians living predominantly in northern Albania, bordering the [[Republic of Montenegro]]. After 1992 an influx of foreign missionaries has brought more religious diversity with groups such as [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Mormons]], [[Hindus]], [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]], a variety of [[Christian]] denominations and others. This rich blend of religions has however rarely caused religious strife. People of different religions freely intermarry. For part of its history, Albania has also had a Jewish community. Some of the members of the Jewish community were saved by a group of Albanians during the Nazi occupation.<ref>[http://www.juedisches-archiv-chfrank.de/kehilot/albania/alban-resc.htm Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from Holocaust]". "The Jews of Albania". California: Brunswick Press, 1997. Retrieved on 29 January 2007.</ref> Many left for Israel circa 1990-1992 after borders were open due to fall of communist regime in Albania.

==Culture==
{{See|Culture of Albania|Albanian folklore|Albanian literature}}

[[Albanian music]] displays a variety of influences. Albanian folk music traditions differ by region, with major stylistic differences between the traditional music of the [[Ghegs]] in the north and [[Tosks]] in the south. Modern popular music has developed around the centers of [[Korca]], [[Shkodër]] and [[Tirana]]. Since the 1920s, some composers such as [[Fan S. Noli]] have also produced works of Albanian [[classical music]].

==Notable Albanians==
{{main|List of Albanians}}
* [[Skanderbeg]]
* [[Francesco Crispi]]
* [[Sadik Kaceli]]
* [[Jim Belushi]]
* [[Eliza Dushku]]
* [[Mother Teresa]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Albania-ethnique1898.jpg|Albanians in 1898.
Image:EthnicAlbania1911.jpg|Albanians in 1911.
Image:Albania minorities.png|Traditional presence of non Albanian communities in Albania.
Image:AlbaniansOutsideAlbania.png|Albanians outside Albania.
Image:Albanians in Europe.jpg|Albanians in Europe.
File:Presence of Albanians in "Greater Albania".png|Presence of Albanians in neighboring countries.
</gallery>

==See also==

*''[[Albanoi]]''
* [[Demographics of Albania]]
* [[Cham Albanians]]
* [[Arvanites]]
* [[Albanian diaspora]]
* [[Mandritsa]]
* [[Arbëreshë]]
* [[Albanian-American]]
* [[List of Albanians]]
* [[List of Albanian-Americans]]

==Notes and references==

'''Notes:'''

{| class="references-small" style="margin-left:13px; line-height:150%"
|align="right" valign="top"|a.  
|{{note|status}}{{Kosovo-note}}
|}

'''References:'''
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*[[Edith Durham]]. ''[http://www.peacelink.nu/Boker/Durham/Durham.html The Burden of the Balkans]'' (1905)

==External links==
*[http://www.arnavutum.com Albanians in Turkey]
*[http://www.albca.com/aclis Albanian Canadian League Information Service (ACLIS)]
*[http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr77.html Albanians in the Balkans] [[U.S. Institute of Peace]] Report, November 2001
*[http://www.scribd.com/doc/11444724/Books-about-Albania-and-the-Albanian-people Books about Albania and the Albanian people] ''(scribd.com)'' Reference of books (and some journal articles) about Albania and the Albanian people; their history, language, origin, culture, literature, etc. Public domain books, fully accessible online.

{{Ethnic Albanians}}
{{Ethnic groups in Albania}}

[[Category:Albanian people|*]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Europe]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Albania]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Kosovo]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in the Republic of Macedonia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Montenegro]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Serbia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Russia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Greece]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Italy]]
[[Category:Indo-European peoples]]
[[Category:Muslim communities]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in the Balkans]]

[[ar:ألبان]]
[[an:Albaneses]]
[[az:Albanlar]]
[[be:Албанцы]]
[[bs:Albanci]]
[[bg:Албанци]]
[[ca:Albanesos]]
[[cv:Албансем]]
[[cs:Albánci]]
[[cy:Albaniaid]]
[[de:Albaner]]
[[et:Albaanlased]]
[[eo:Albanoj]]
[[fr:Albanais (peuple)]]
[[ko:알바니아인]]
[[hr:Albanci]]
[[it:Albanesi]]
[[lv:Albāņi]]
[[lt:Albanai]]
[[hu:Albánok]]
[[mk:Албанци]]
[[nl:Albanezen]]
[[ja:アルバニア人]]
[[no:Albanere]]
[[pl:Albańczycy]]
[[pt:Albaneses]]
[[ro:Albanezi]]
[[ru:Албанцы]]
[[sq:Shqiptarët]]
[[sk:Albánci]]
[[sl:Albanci]]
[[sr:Албанци]]
[[sh:Albanci]]
[[fi:Albaanit]]
[[sv:Albaner]]
[[tr:Arnavutlar]]
[[uk:Албанці]]
[[zh:阿爾巴尼亞人]]

Islam in Albania

2010-09-05T16:59:48Z

Elbasan101: The statistics provided are not official data provided by the Albanian govt which the counsel represents.

[[File:Skadar-mosque.jpg|right|thumb|Mosque in [[Shkodër]].]]
{{islam by country}}
{{Albanians}}
During the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule, according to Ottoman data, the majority of Albanians were of Muslim affiliation ([[Sunni]] and [[Bektashi]] [[Shiism]]). However, decades of [[state atheism]] which ended in 1991 brought a decline in religious practice in all traditions.

[[File:07Tirana Et'hem beu Mosque01.jpg|thumb|230px|left|Et'hem Bey Mosque in [[Tirana]], the oldest mosque in Albania.]]

A recent [[Pew Research Center]] demographic study put the percentage of [[Muslim]]s in Albania at 79.9%,<ref>{{Citation | editor-last = Miller | editor-first = Tracy | month = October | year = 2009 | publisher = [[Pew Research Center]] | title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population | format = [[Portable Document Format|PDF]] | url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf | accessdate = 2009-10-08 }}</ref>.

==History==
===Ottoman period===
[[Islam]] came to [[Albania]] through the Ottoman rule in the 14th century and had to confront with [[Christianity]]. In the North, the spread of Islam was slower due to Roman [[Catholic Church]]'s resistance and the mountainous terrain which contributed to curb Muslim influence. In the center and south, however, by the end of the seventeenth century the urban centers had largely adopted the religion of the growing Albanian Muslim elite. The existence of an Albanian Muslim class of [[pasha]]s and [[beys]] who played an increasingly important role in Ottoman political and economic life became an attractive option career for most Albanians.

The Muslims of Albania during were divided into two main communities: those associated with [[Sunni]] Islam and those associated with the [[Bektashi]] [[Shiism]], a mystic [[Dervish]] order that came to Albania during the Ottoman period, primarily during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Bektashi sect is considered heretical by most mainstream Muslims. Historically Sunni Islam found its strongest base in northern and central Albania, while Bektashis were found primarily in the Tosk lands of the south.

===Independence===
[[File:Fier Qender.jpg|right|thumb|Mosque in [[Fier]].]]
The country won its independence from the [[Ottoman Empire]] in 1912. Following the National Renaissance tenets and the general lack of religious convictions <ref>John Hutchinson, Anthony D. Smith, "Nationalism: Critical Concepts in Political Science"</ref>, during the 20th century, the [[democracy|democratic]], [[monarchy|monarchic]] and later the [[totalitarian state|totalitarian]] regimes followed a systematic [[State atheism|dereligionization]] of the nation and the national culture. Due to this policy, as all other faiths in the country, Islam underwent radical changes.

In 1923, following the government program, the Albanian Muslim congress convened at [[Tirana]] decided to break with the [[Caliphate]], established a new form of prayer (standing, instead of the traditional salah ritual), banished polygamy and the mandatory use of veil (hijab) by women in public, practices forced on the urban population by the Ottomans.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,727115,00.html Albania dispatch], [[Time magazine]], April 14, 1923</ref>

The Muslim clergy, following suit with the Catholic and Orthodox clergy, was totally eradicated during the communist regime of [[Enver Hoxha]] who declared Albania the only non-religious country of the world banning all forms of religious practice in the public in 1967.

Today Albania is the only entirely European member of the [[Organisation of the Islamic Conference]].<ref>[http://www.oic-un.org/about_oic.html Official website of the OIC]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Islam by country]]
*[[Religion in Albania]]

==References==
{{loc}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.forumimusliman.org/english The Muslim Forum of Albania]
* [http://www.aiitc.org Albanian Institute of Islamic Thought & Civilization]
* [http://www.bektashi.net The Bektashi Community]
* [http://www.muslumanarnavutluk.com/default.asp?lng=2 Muslim Albania]

{{Islam in Europe}}

[[Category:Religion in Albania]]
[[Category:Islam in Albania]]
[[Category:Ottoman Albania]]

[[ar:الإسلام في ألبانيا]]
[[de:Islam in Albanien]]
[[fa:اسلام در آلبانی]]
[[id:Islam di Albania]]
[[ms:Islam di Albania]]

User talk:Elbasan101

2010-04-12T11:58:24Z

Elbasan101: /* Welcome. */

Albanians

2010-04-12T11:54:15Z

Elbasan101: Undid revision 355442771 by IllusionFinal (talk)vandalism and bpov

{{About|Albanians as an ethnic group|demographic information|Demographics of Albania}}
</blockquote>
{{Infobox Ethnic group
|group = Albanians Shqiptarë
|image = [[File:Gjergj Kastrioti 140x190.jpg|75px]][[File:Dupré - Ali Pasha 140x190.jpg|75px]] 
[[File:MotherTeresa 090.jpg|75px]][[File:Ismail Kadare-poet.jpg|75px]] [[File:ModernEgypt, Muhammad Ali by Auguste Couder, BAP 17996 140x190.jpg|75px]][[File:Leke Dukagjini 140x190.jpg|75px]]
|caption = ''Notable Albanians'': [[Skanderbeg]]{{·}}[[Ali Pasha]] [[Mother Teresa]] {{·}} [[Ismail Kadare]] [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt]]{{·}}[[Lekë Dukagjini]]
|pop = approximately 8 million
|region1 = {{flag|Albania}}
|pop1 = approx. 3,000,000|ref1 ={{lower|<ref name=instat>{{cite web|url=http://www.instat.gov.al/|title=Albania National Institute of Statistics official web site}}</ref>}}
|region2 = {{flag|Kosovo}}{{ref label|status|a|}}
|pop2 = 1,587,000
|ref2 = {{lower|<ref>See [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kv.html] {{sh icon}} [http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/kosovo/SoE/popullat.htm UN estimate], Kosovo’s population estimates range from 1.9 to 2.4 million. The last two population census conducted in 1981 and 1991 estimated Kosovo’s population at 1.6 and 1.9 million respectively, but the 1991 census probably under-counted Albanians. The latest estimate in 2001 by OSCE puts the number at 2.4 Million. The World Factbook gives an estimate of 1,804,838 persons living in Kosovo for the year 2009, 88% of thema are Albanians. (see {{CIA World Factbook link|kv|Kosovo}}).</ref>}}
|region3 = {{flag|Italy}}
|pop3 = 700,000
|ref3 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.istat.it/salastampa/comunicati/non_calendario/20090226_00/testo_integrale_20090226.pdf]</ref><ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=aae Ethnologue]</ref>}}
|region4 = {{flag|Macedonia}}
|pop4 = 500,083
|ref4 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.stat.gov.mk/pdf/kniga_13.pdf 2002 Macedonian Census]</ref>}}
|region5 = {{flag|Turkey}}
|pop5 = 500,000 {{smallsup|1}}
|ref5 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.milliyet.com.tr/default.aspx?aType=SonDakika&Kategori=yasam&ArticleID=873452&Date=07.06.2008&ver=16]</ref>}}
|region6 = {{flag|Greece}}
|pop6 = 274,390
|ref6 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.eliamep.gr/en/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/migration-and-migration-policy-in-greece-critical-review-and-policy-recommendations.pdf Migration and Migration Policy in Greece.] Critical Review and Policy Recommendations. Anna Triandafyllidou. Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). Data taken from Greek ministry of Interiors. p. 5 "the total number of Albanian citizens residing in Greece, including 185,000 co-ethnics holding special identity cards"</ref>}}
|region7 = {{flag|Germany}}
|pop7 = 320,000 {{smallsup|2}}
|ref7 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.hans-peter-bartels.de/pdf/267.pdf?title=BT-Plenarprotokoll_05.06.2008_-_Ausschnitt_Bartels_-_Kosovo Deutscher Bundestag - 16. Wahlperiode - 166. Sitzung. Berlin, Donnerstag, den 5. Juni 2008]</ref>}}
|region8 = {{flag|Switzerland}}
|pop8 = 200,000
|ref8 = {{lower|<ref name="albsuisse">[http://www.schweiz-albanien.ch/fileadmin/Dokumente/Informationen/090808_albsuissealbanerch.pdf Die Albaner in der Schweiz: Geschichtliches – Albaner in der Schweiz seit 1431]</ref><ref name="albsuisse2">[http://www.infowilplus.ch/_iu_write/artikel/2007/KW_21/Region/Artikel_8116/ Im Namen aller Albaner eine Moschee?]</ref> }}
|region9 = {{flag|United States}}
|pop9 = 113,661
|ref9 = {{lower|<ref>US Census Bureau, [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_PCT018&-SubjectID=14595646 Census 2000, Table: Ancestry for People with one or more Ancestry Categories Reported]</ref>
}}
|region10 = {{flag|Serbia}}
|pop10 = 61,647
|ref10 = {{lower|<ref name="popis2002">{{Sr icon}} {{PDFlink|[http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/axd/Zip/VJN3.pdf Official Results of Serbian Census 2003–Population]|441 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]}}, pp. 12-13</ref>}}
|region11 = {{flag|Sweden}}
|pop11 = 60,000
|ref11 = {{lower|{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}}}
|region12 = {{flag|Montenegro}}
|pop12 = 33,600
|ref12 = {{lower|<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mj.html CIA Monenegro]</ref>}}
|region13 = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|pop13 = 30,000
|ref13 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/albanians-taking-over-london-vice-605315.html Total Population of Albanians in the United Kingdom]</ref>}}
|region14 = {{flag|Canada}}
|pop14 = 16,435
|ref14 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=97-562-XCB2006015&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=0&IPS=97-562-XCB2006015&METH=0&ORDER=&PID=92341&PTYPE=88971&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=&StartRow=&SUB=&Temporal=2006&Theme=80&VID=&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= Canadian Census of 2006]</ref>}}
|region15 = {{flag|Croatia}}
|pop15 = 15,082
|ref15 = {{lower|{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}}}
|region16 = {{flag|Norway}}
|pop16 = 10,000
|ref16 = {{lower|{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}}}
|region17 = {{flag|Denmark}}
|pop17 = 8,000
|ref17 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.dst.dk National statistics of Denmark]</ref>}}
|region18 = {{flag|Slovenia}}
|pop18 = 6,186
|ref18 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.stat.si/popis2002/en/rezultati/rezultati_red.asp?ter=SLO&st=7 Population by ethnic affiliation in Slovenia]</ref>}}
|region19 = {{flag|Belgium}}
|pop19 = 2,788
|ref19 = {{lower|<ref>[http://statbel.fgov.be/nl/modules/publications/statistiques/bevolking/Bevolking_nat_geslacht_leeftijdsgroepen.jsp Official Belgian Population Statistics]</ref>}}
|region20 = {{flag|Netherlands}}
|pop20 = 96.000
|ref20 = <ref>http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/bevolking/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2008/2008-2411-wm.htm</ref>
|languages = [[Albanian language|Albanian]] ([[Gheg Albanian|Gheg]], [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]], [[Arvanitika]], [[Arbëresh language|Arbëresh]], [[Cham Albanian dialect|Cham]])
|religions = Predominantly [[Islam|Muslim]] and a significant [[Christianity|Christian]] minority; in Albania with a large minority professing [[non-religious]]
|footnotes={{smallsup|1}} Albanians are not recognized as a minority in Turkey. However approximately 500,000 people are reported to profess an Albanian identity. A more accurate number is hard to obtain, as most of Albanians living in Turkey do not speak Albanian, and some of them have only partial Albanian ancestry. 
 
{{smallsup|2}} The total number of Albanian immigrants is obscure due to difficulties with identifying them as Albanians from Kosovo or Albania, and because some of them are illegal<ref name="janes">[http://www.janes.com/security/law_enforcement/news/ipi/ipi0268.shtml The Albanian connection]</ref>.

}}

'''Albanians''' ({{lang-sq|Shqiptarë}}) are a people from southeast Europe who live in [[Albania]] and neighboring countries. They speak the [[Albanian language]]. Roughly half of Albanians live in [[Albania]], with other large groups residing in [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}}, the [[Republic of Macedonia]] and [[Montenegro]]. There are Albanian communities in a number of other countries, including [[Turkey]], [[Greece]], [[Serbia]] and [[Italy]].

==Ethnonym==
{{See|Albania (toponym)}}
{{See|Shqiptar}}

While the exonym ''Albania'' for the general region inhabited by the Albanians does hark back to Classical Antiquity, and possibly to an [[Illyrians|Illyrian tribe]], the name was lost within the Albanian language, the Albanian endonym being ''shqiptar'', from the term for the Albanian language, ''shqip'', a derivation of the verb ''shqiptoj'' "to speak clearly". This theory pertains to Hahn and it holds that perhaps the word is ultimately a loan from Latin ''excipio''.<ref>Robert Elsie, ''A dictionary of Albanian religion, mythology and folk culture'', C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2001, ISBN 9781850655701, p. 79.</ref> Thus, the Albanian endonym, like ''[[Slav (ethnonym)|Slav]]'' [[Endonym#Tendencies_in_the_development_of_exonyms|and others]], is in origin a term for "those who speak [intelligibly, the same language]". However another plausible theory has been advanced by Maximilian Lambertz to explain the endonym as derived from the Albanian noun ''shqype'' or ''shqiponjë'' (eagle), which, according to Albanian [[folk etymology]], denoted a bird [[totem]] dating from the times of [[Skanderbeg]], as displayed on the [[Albanian flag]].<ref name="ej2-s">{{ cite encyclopedia | title=ALBANCI | encyclopedia =[[Enciklopedija Jugoslavije]] 2nd ed. | volume=Supplement | pages=1 | publisher=[[JLZ]] | location=[[Zagreb]] | date=1984 }}</ref>

In the 2nd century AD, [[Ptolemy]], the geographer and astronomer from [[Alexandria]], drafted a map that shows the city of [[Albanopolis]] ([[Greek language|Greek]],"''Ἀλβανόπολις''")<ref>Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854)William Smith, LLD, Ed.,Ptolemy is the earliest writer in whose works the name of the Albanians has been distinctly recognised. He mentions (3.13.23) a tribe called ALBANI (Ἀλβανοί) and a town ALBANOPOLIS (Ἀλβανόπολις), in the region lying to the E. of the Ionian sea; and from the names of places with which Albanopolis is connected, it appears clearly to have been in the S. part of the Illyrian territory, and in modern Albania. There are no means of forming a conjecture how the name of this obscure tribe came to be extended to so considerable a nation. </ref> (located Northeast of [[Durrës]]). Ptolemy also mentions the Illyrian tribe named ''Albanoi'', who lived around this city.

In ''History'' written in 1079-1080, the Byzantine historian [[Michael Attaliates]] referred to the ''Albanoi'' as having taken part in a revolt against [[Constantinople]] in 1043 and to the ''Arbanitai'' as subjects of the duke of [[Durrës|Dyrrachium]]. It is disputed, however, whether that refers to Albanians in an ethnic sense.<ref name="oxbyz">{{cite encyclopedia | last=Pritsak | first=Omeljan | title=Albanians | encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]] | volume=1 | pages=52–53 | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | location=New York/Oxford | year=1991 }}</ref>. The first reference to a ''{{lang|la|lingua albanesca}}'' dates to the later 13th century (around 1285)<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/87039/Earlies-Reference-to-the-Existance-of-the-Albanian-Language Robert Elsie, ''The earliest reference to the existence of the Albanian Language'']</ref>.

The Albanians are and have been referred to by other terms as well. Some of them are:
*[[Arbëreshë|Arbër]], [[Arbëreshë|Arbën]], [[Arbëreshë]]; the old native term denoting ancient and medieval Albanians and sharing the same root with the latter. At the time the country was called Arbër ([[Gheg]]: Arbën) and Arbëria ([[Gheg]]: Arbënia). This term is still used for the Albanians that migrated to Italy during the Middle Ages.
*[[Arnauts]] (ارناود); old term used mainly from Turks and by extension by European authors during the Ottoman Empire. A derivate of the Turkish ''Arvanid'' (اروانيد), which derives from the Greek ''Arvanites''.
*[[Skipetar]]s; the historical rendering of the ethnonym ''Shqiptar'' (or ''Shqyptar'' by French, Austrian and German authors) in use from the 18th century (but probably earlier) to the present, the literal translation of which is ''subject of the eagle''. The term ''Šiptari'' is a derivation used by Yugoslavs which the Albanians consider derogatory, preferring ''Albanci'' instead.

==History==
{{See|Origin of the Albanians|History of Albania|History of Kosovo}}
[[File:13001350ALBANIANMIGRATIONS.png|thumb|Population movements, 14th century.]]
[[Image:Albanian Fest.jpg|thumb|"Albanian fest" 1856, by [[Jean-Léon Gérôme]].]]
What is possibly the earliest written reference to the Albanians is that to be found in an old Bulgarian text compiled around the beginning of the eleventh century. It was discovered in a Serbian manuscript dated 1628 and was first published in 1934 by Radoslav Grujic. This fragment of a legend from the time of [[Tsar Samuel]] endeavours, in a catechismal 'question and answer' form, to explain the origins of peoples and languages. It divides the world into seventy-two languages and three religious categories: Orthodox, half-believers (i.e. non-Orthodox Christians) and non-believers. The Albanians find their place among the nations of half-believers. If we accept the dating of Grujic, which is based primarily upon the contents of the text as a whole, this would be the earliest written document referring to the Albanians as a people or language group.
:''It can be seen that there are various languages on earth. Of them, there are five Orthodox languages: Bulgarian, Greek, Syrian (likely mistaken for Serbian), Iberian (Georgian) and Russian. Three of these have Orthodox alphabets: Greek, Bulgarian and Iberian. There are twelve languages of half-believers: Alamanians, Franks, Magyars (Hungarians), Indians, Jacobites, Armenians, Saxons, Lechs (Poles), '''Arbanasi''' (Albanians), Croatians, Hizi, Germans.''<ref>Extract from: ''Grujic, Radoslav'': Legenda iz vremena Cara Samuila o poreklu naroda. in: Glasnik skopskog naucnog drustva, Skopje, 13 (1934), p. 198 200. Translated from the Old Church Slavonic by Robert Elsie. First published in R. Elsie: Early Albania, a Reader of Historical Texts, 11th - 17th Centuries, Wiesbaden 2003, p. 3.'' [http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts15/AH1000.html Albanian History]</ref>
The Albanians appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late 11th century. At this point, they are already fully Christianized. Very little evidence of pre-Christian Albanian culture survives, and Albanian mythology and folklore as it presents itself is notoriously syncretized from various sources, showing in particular Greek influence.<ref>[[Mircea Eliade]], Charles J. Adams, ''The Encyclopedia of religion'', Macmillan, 1987, ISBN 9780029097007, p. 179.</ref>

Regarding the classification of the [[Albanian language]], it forms a separate branch of Indo-European, belonging to the [[Centum-Satem isogloss|Satem]]<ref>''[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]]''</ref> group, and its late attestation, the first records dating to the 15th century, makes it difficult for [[historical linguistics]] to make confident statements on its genesis.

[[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] supremacy in the [[Balkan]] region began in 1385 with the [[Battle of Savra]] but was briefly interrupted in the 15th century, when [[Skanderbeg|Gjergj Kastrioti]], an Albanian warrior known as [[Skanderbeg]], allied with some Albanian chiefs formed the [[League of Lezhe]] and fought-off Turkish rule from 1443-1478 (although '''Kastrioti''' died in 1468). Kastrioti's strongholds included [[Kruja]], [[Shkodra]], [[Durres]], [[Lezha]], [[Petrela]], [[Koxhaxhik]] and [[Berat]].
Upon the Ottomans' return, a large number of Albanians fled to Italy, Greece and [[Egypt]] and maintained their [[Arbëresh]] identity.

{{See|National awakening and the birth of Albania}}
By the 1870s, the [[Sublime Porte]]'s reforms aimed at checking the Ottoman Empire's disintegration had clearly failed. The image of the "Turkish yoke" had become fixed in the nationalist mythologies and psyches of the empire's Balkan peoples, and their march toward independence quickened. The Albanians, because of the higher degree of Islamic influence, their internal social divisions, and the fear that they would lose their Albanian-populated lands to the emerging Balkan states--[[Serbia]], [[Montenegro]], [[Bulgaria]], and [[Greece]] were the last of the Balkan peoples to desire division from the Ottoman Empire.<ref name="Birth of Albania">{{cite web | author= Raymond Zickel and Walter R. Iwaskiw, editors. date= 1994 | title= "NATIONAL AWAKENING AND THE BIRTH OF ALBANIA, mut.us/albania/index.htm] | accessdate=9 April 2008 }}</ref>

==Distribution==
===Balkans===
Approximately 6,5 million Albanians are to be found within the Balkan peninsula with only about half this number residing in Albania and the other divided between [[Kosovo]], [[Montenegro]], the [[Republic of Macedonia]], [[Greece]] and to a much smaller extent [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Croatia]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]] and [[Slovenia]].

====Albania====
{{Main|Demographics of Albania}}
An estimated 3.2 million Albanians live in [[Albania]], amounting to 98.6% of the country's total population, making Albania one of the ethnically most homogenous states of Europe.<ref>Christoph Pan, Beate Sibylle Pfeil,''Minderheitenrechte in Europa. Handbuch der europäischen Volksgruppen'' (2002).[http://www.living-diversity.eu/Introduction.html], English translation 2004. see also [[ethnic groups in Europe by country]].</ref>{{Dead link|date=March 2010}}

====Former Yugoslavia====
An estimated 2.5 million Albanians live in the territory of [[Former Yugoslavia]], the greater part (close to two million) in [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}}.

Rights to use the [[Albanian language]] in education and government were given and guaranteed by the 1974 Constitution of [[SFRY]] and were widely utilized in Macedonia and in Montenegro before [[Dissolution of Yugoslavia]]<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=OTW9XKUmrxsC&pg=PA237&dq=Kosovo+1990#v=onepage&q=tito&f=false Civil resistance in Kosovo] By Howard Clark, pg. 12</ref>.

====Greece====
{{Main|Albanians in Greece}}
[[Image:Tosk Albanians.jpg|thumb|right|200px|left|Tosk Albanians wearing traditional costumes from southern Albania.]]

Due to different waves of migration, Albanians and groups of Albanian descent are generally divided into three distinct groups.

The first group is that of [[Arvanites]] and [[Albanian-speakers of Western Thrace]], who retain a distinct ethnic identity, but self-identify nationally as Greeks. The [[Arvanites]] are descended from Tosk Albanians that migrated to Greece during the Middle Ages. They are Greek Orthodox Christians, and though they speak a dialect of Tosk Albanian known as [[Arvanitika]], they have fully assimilated into the Greek nation and do not identify with the modern Albanian nation

The second group is that of the [[Cham Albanians]] and their descendents, in [[Epirus (periphery)|Epirus]], in northwestern Greece. [[Islam|Muslim]] Chams were [[Expulsion of Cham Albanians|expelled]] from Epirus during [[World War II]], by an [[EDES|anti-communist resistance group]], as a result of their participation in a [[EAM-ELAS|communist resistance group]] and the [[Axis-Cham Albanian collaboration|collaboration]] with the [[Axis occupation of Greece during World War II|Axis occupation]].

Alongside these two indigenous groups, about 10 percent of the population of Albania entered Greece after the fall of Communism, forming the [[Albanian immigrants in Greece|third community of Albanian origin]] in Greece, the largest single expatriate group in the country today and the country's largest population group after the ethnic [[Greeks|Greek]] majority. Their numbers are thought to range between 200,000 and 500,000.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

===Diaspora===
{{Main|Albanian diaspora}}
{{Citations missing|date=November 2009}}

The largest Albanian diasporic communities outside of the Balkans are found in [[Turkey]] (about 1.3 million, 13% of Albanians, 1.7% of host population),
[[Italy]] (1.44 million,3.7% of host population),
the [[United States]] (1.14 million, 0.5% of host population),
[[Switzerland]] (0.35 million, 5% of host population),
and [[Germany]] (0.40-1.0 million, 0.8% of host population).

====Europe====
{{See|Albanians in Germany|Albanians in Italy|Albanians in Sweden|Albanians in Switzerland}}
Approximately 3 million are dispersed throughout the rest of Europe, most of these in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and France.

Italy has a historical Albanian minority known as the [[Arbëreshë]] are scattered across [[Southern Italy]], but the majority of Italo-Albanians have arrived since 1991 to surpass that of the older populations of Arbëreshë.

====Turkey====
According to a 2008 report prepared for the National Security Council of Turkey by academics of three Turkish universities in eastern Anatolia, there were approximately 5,000,000 Albanians living in Turkey.<ref>Milliyet, Türkiyedeki Kürtlerin Sayısı. 2008-06-06.</ref> Most of these people have assimilated to the culture of Turkey, and consider themselves more Turkish then Albanian. Nonetheless, some families of Albanian decent still recognize their ancestry.

====Americas====
{{See|Albanian Americans}}
In the United States the number reaches 113,661 according to the latest [http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf 2000 US Census] which is published in 2004.

====Asia and Oceania====
In [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] 22,000 in total. Albanians are also known to reside in China, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan and Singapore, but the numbers are generally small.200,000 in all these countries. Albanians have been present in [[Arab world|Arab]] countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria for about 5 centuries as a legacy of [[Ottoman Turk]]ish rule.

====Africa====
In [[Egypt]] there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly Tosk speakers. Many are descendants of the soldiers of [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Mehmet Ali]]. A large part of the former nobility of Egypt was Albanian in origin. A small community also resides in [[South Africa]].

==Language==
{{Main|Albanian language}}

The Albanian language forms a separate branch of [[Indo-European]] languages family tree. A traditional view links the origin of Albanian with Illyrian, though this theory is broadly contested and challenged<ref>Hans Henrich Hock, Brian D. Joseph: [http://books.google.com/books?id=oGH-RCW1fzsC&pg=PA54&dq=albanian+illyrian+language+linguistic&lr=#v=onepage&q=albanian%20illyrian%20language%20linguistic&f=false Language history, language change, and language relationship], pp. 54</ref>.

Unattested prior to the second half of the 15th century, the Albanian language is one of the youngest languages of Europe in terms of [[List of languages by first written accounts|first written account]].

Albanian in a revised form of the [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]] dialect is the [[official language]] of [[Albania]] and [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}}; and is official in the municipalities where there are more than 20% ethnic Albanian inhabitants in the [[Republic of Macedonia]]. It is also an official language of [[Montenegro]] where it is spoken in the municipalities with ethnic Albanian populations.

==Religion==
{{See also|Religion in Albania|Islam in Albania|Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania|Catholicism in Albania}}
The Albanians first appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late 11th century.<ref>Comnena, Anna. The Alexiad, Book IV.</ref> At this point, they were already fully Christianized.Christianity was later overtaken by [[Islam]], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turkish rule from the 15th century until year 1912. [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox Christianity]] and [[Roman Catholicism]] continued to be practiced with less frequency.

During the 20th century the [[monarchy]] and later the [[totalitarian state]] followed a systematic [[State atheism|secularization]] of the nation and the national culture. This policy was chiefly applied within the borders of the current Albanian state. It produced a secular majority in the population. All forms of [[Christianity]], [[Islam]] and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional [[Pagan]] practices in the rural areas, which were seen as identifying with the national culture. The current Albanian state has revived some pagan festivals, such as the lunar [[Spring Day|Spring]] festival ({{lang-sq|Dita e Verës}}) held yearly on March 14 in the city of [[Elbasan]]. It is a national holiday.

A recent [[Pew Research Center]] demographic study put the percentage of [[Muslim]]s in Albania at 79.9%.<ref>{{Citation | editor-last = Miller | editor-first = Tracy | month = October | year = 2009 | publisher = [[Pew Research Center]] | title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population | format = [[Portable Document Format|PDF]] | url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf | accessdate = 2009-10-08 }}</ref> Most of the Muslims in Albania are [[Sunni Muslim]]s and [[Bektashi|Bektashi Shi'a Muslims]]<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html Albania]. ''The World Factbook''.</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4385768.stm#albania Muslims in Europe: Country guide: Albania]. [[BBC]].</ref>. It is estimated that 97% of ethnic Albanians in the Republic of [[Kosovo]] are Muslims<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/109483.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2008 - Kosovo]</ref>.

There are also [[Albanian Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christians]], predominantly in Southern Albania, bordering [[Greece]], and [[Albanian Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] is the main religion among those Albanians living predominantly in northern Albania, bordering the [[Republic of Montenegro]]. After 1992 an influx of foreign missionaries has brought more religious diversity with groups such as [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Mormons]], [[Hindus]], [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]], a variety of [[Christian]] denominations and others. This rich blend of religions has however rarely caused religious strife. People of different religions freely intermarry. For part of its history, Albania has also had a Jewish community. Some of the members of the Jewish community were saved by a group of Albanians during the Nazi occupation.<ref>[http://www.juedisches-archiv-chfrank.de/kehilot/albania/alban-resc.htm Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from Holocaust]". "The Jews of Albania". California: Brunswick Press, 1997. Retrieved on 29 January 2007.</ref> Many left for Israel circa 1990-1992 after borders were open due to fall of communist regime in Albania.

==Culture==
{{See|Culture of Albania|Albanian folklore|Albanian literature}}

[[Albanian music]] displays a variety of influences. Albanian folk music traditions differ by region, with major stylistic differences between the traditional music of the [[Ghegs]] in the north and [[Tosks]] in the south. Modern popular music has developed around the centers of [[Korca]], [[Shkodër]] and [[Tirana]]. Since the 1920s, some composers such as [[Fan S. Noli]] have also produced works of Albanian [[classical music]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Albania-ethnique1898.jpg|Albanians in 1898.
Image:EthnicAlbania1911.jpg|Albanians in 1911.
Image:Albania minorities.png|Traditional presence of non Albanian communities in Albania.
Image:AlbaniansOutsideAlbania.png|Albanians outside Albania.
Image:Albanians in Europe.jpg|Albanians in Europe.
File:Presence of Albanians in "Greater Albania"-3.PNG|Presence of Albanians in neighboring countries.
</gallery>

==See also==

*''[[Albanoi]]''
* [[Demographics of Albania]]
* [[Cham Albanians]]
* [[Arvanites]]
* [[Albanian diaspora]]
* [[Mandritsa]]
* [[Arbëreshë]]
* [[Albanian-American]]
* [[List of Albanians]]
* [[List of Albanian-Americans]]

==Notes and references==

'''Notes:'''

{| class="references-small" style="margin-left:13px; line-height:150%"
|align="right" valign="top"|a.  
|{{note|status}}{{Kosovo-note}}
|}

'''References:'''
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*[[Edith Durham]]. ''[http://www.peacelink.nu/Boker/Durham/Durham.html The Burden of the Balkans]'' (1905)

==External links==
*[http://www.arnavutum.com Albanians in Turkey]
*[http://www.albca.com/aclis Albanian Canadian League Information Service (ACLIS)]
*[http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr77.html Albanians in the Balkans] [[U.S. Institute of Peace]] Report, November 2001
*[http://www.scribd.com/doc/11444724/Books-about-Albania-and-the-Albanian-people Books about Albania and the Albanian people] ''(scribd.com)'' Reference of books (and some journal articles) about Albania and the Albanian people; their history, language, origin, culture, literature, etc. Public domain books, fully accessible online.

{{Ethnic Albanians}}
{{Ethnic groups in Albania}}

[[Category:Albanian people|*]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Europe]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Albania]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Kosovo]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in the Republic of Macedonia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Montenegro]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Serbia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Russia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Greece]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Italy]]
[[Category:Indo-European peoples]]
[[Category:Muslim communities]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Balkans]]

[[ar:ألبان]]
[[an:Albaneses]]
[[az:Albanlar]]
[[be:Албанцы]]
[[bs:Albanci]]
[[bg:Албанци]]
[[ca:Albanesos]]
[[cv:Албансем]]
[[cs:Albánci]]
[[cy:Albaniaid]]
[[de:Albaner]]
[[et:Albaanlased]]
[[eo:Albanoj]]
[[fr:Albanais (peuple)]]
[[ko:알바니아인]]
[[hr:Albanci]]
[[it:Albanesi]]
[[lv:Albāņi]]
[[lt:Albanai]]
[[hu:Albánok]]
[[mk:Албанци]]
[[nl:Albanezen]]
[[ja:アルバニア人]]
[[no:Albanere]]
[[pl:Albańczycy]]
[[pt:Albaneses]]
[[ro:Albanezi]]
[[ru:Албанцы]]
[[sq:Shqiptarët]]
[[sk:Albánci]]
[[sl:Albanci]]
[[sr:Албанци]]
[[sh:Albanci]]
[[fi:Albaanit]]
[[sv:Albaner]]
[[tr:Arnavutlar]]
[[uk:Албанці]]
[[zh:阿爾巴尼亞人]]

Albanians

2010-04-12T11:53:16Z

Elbasan101: Undid revision 355442959 by IllusionFinal (talk)

{{About|Albanians as an ethnic group|demographic information|Demographics of Albania}}
</blockquote>
{{Infobox Ethnic group
|group = Albanians Shqiptarë
|image = [[File:Gjergj Kastrioti 140x190.jpg|75px]][[File:Dupré - Ali Pasha 140x190.jpg|75px]] 
[[File:MotherTeresa 090.jpg|75px]][[File:Ismail Kadare-poet.jpg|75px]] [[File:ModernEgypt, Muhammad Ali by Auguste Couder, BAP 17996 140x190.jpg|75px]][[File:Leke Dukagjini 140x190.jpg|75px]]
|caption = ''Notable Albanians'': [[Skanderbeg]]{{·}}[[Ali Pasha]] [[Mother Teresa]] {{·}} [[Ismail Kadare]] [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt]]{{·}}[[Lekë Dukagjini]]
|pop = approximately 8 million
|region1 = {{flag|Albania}}
|pop1 = approx. 3,000,000|ref1 ={{lower|<ref name=instat>{{cite web|url=http://www.instat.gov.al/|title=Albania National Institute of Statistics official web site}}</ref>}}
|region2 = {{flag|Kosovo}}{{ref label|status|a|}}
|pop2 = 1,587,000
|ref2 = {{lower|<ref>See [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kv.html] {{sh icon}} [http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/kosovo/SoE/popullat.htm UN estimate], Kosovo’s population estimates range from 1.9 to 2.4 million. The last two population census conducted in 1981 and 1991 estimated Kosovo’s population at 1.6 and 1.9 million respectively, but the 1991 census probably under-counted Albanians. The latest estimate in 2001 by OSCE puts the number at 2.4 Million. The World Factbook gives an estimate of 1,804,838 persons living in Kosovo for the year 2009, 88% of thema are Albanians. (see {{CIA World Factbook link|kv|Kosovo}}).</ref>}}
|region3 = {{flag|Italy}}
|pop3 = 700,000
|ref3 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.istat.it/salastampa/comunicati/non_calendario/20090226_00/testo_integrale_20090226.pdf]</ref><ref>[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=aae Ethnologue]</ref>}}
|region4 = {{flag|Macedonia}}
|pop4 = 500,083
|ref4 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.stat.gov.mk/pdf/kniga_13.pdf 2002 Macedonian Census]</ref>}}
|region5 = {{flag|Turkey}}
|pop5 = 500,000 {{smallsup|1}}
|ref5 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.milliyet.com.tr/default.aspx?aType=SonDakika&Kategori=yasam&ArticleID=873452&Date=07.06.2008&ver=16]</ref>}}
|region6 = {{flag|Greece}}
|pop6 = 274,390
|ref6 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.eliamep.gr/en/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/migration-and-migration-policy-in-greece-critical-review-and-policy-recommendations.pdf Migration and Migration Policy in Greece.] Critical Review and Policy Recommendations. Anna Triandafyllidou. Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). Data taken from Greek ministry of Interiors. p. 5 "the total number of Albanian citizens residing in Greece, including 185,000 co-ethnics holding special identity cards"</ref>}}
|region7 = {{flag|Germany}}
|pop7 = 320,000 {{smallsup|2}}
|ref7 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.hans-peter-bartels.de/pdf/267.pdf?title=BT-Plenarprotokoll_05.06.2008_-_Ausschnitt_Bartels_-_Kosovo Deutscher Bundestag - 16. Wahlperiode - 166. Sitzung. Berlin, Donnerstag, den 5. Juni 2008]</ref>}}
|region8 = {{flag|Switzerland}}
|pop8 = 200,000
|ref8 = {{lower|<ref name="albsuisse">[http://www.schweiz-albanien.ch/fileadmin/Dokumente/Informationen/090808_albsuissealbanerch.pdf Die Albaner in der Schweiz: Geschichtliches – Albaner in der Schweiz seit 1431]</ref><ref name="albsuisse2">[http://www.infowilplus.ch/_iu_write/artikel/2007/KW_21/Region/Artikel_8116/ Im Namen aller Albaner eine Moschee?]</ref> }}
|region9 = {{flag|United States}}
|pop9 = 113,661
|ref9 = {{lower|<ref>US Census Bureau, [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_PCT018&-SubjectID=14595646 Census 2000, Table: Ancestry for People with one or more Ancestry Categories Reported]</ref>
}}
|region10 = {{flag|Serbia}}
|pop10 = 61,647
|ref10 = {{lower|<ref name="popis2002">{{Sr icon}} {{PDFlink|[http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/axd/Zip/VJN3.pdf Official Results of Serbian Census 2003–Population]|441 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]}}, pp. 12-13</ref>}}
|region11 = {{flag|Sweden}}
|pop11 = 60,000
|ref11 = {{lower|{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}}}
|region12 = {{flag|Montenegro}}
|pop12 = 33,600
|ref12 = {{lower|<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mj.html CIA Monenegro]</ref>}}
|region13 = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|pop13 = 30,000
|ref13 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/albanians-taking-over-london-vice-605315.html Total Population of Albanians in the United Kingdom]</ref>}}
|region14 = {{flag|Canada}}
|pop14 = 16,435
|ref14 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/english/census06/data/topics/RetrieveProductTable.cfm?ALEVEL=3&APATH=3&CATNO=97-562-XCB2006015&DETAIL=0&DIM=&DS=99&FL=0&FREE=0&GAL=&GC=99&GK=NA&GRP=0&IPS=97-562-XCB2006015&METH=0&ORDER=&PID=92341&PTYPE=88971&RL=0&S=1&ShowAll=&StartRow=&SUB=&Temporal=2006&Theme=80&VID=&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF= Canadian Census of 2006]</ref>}}
|region15 = {{flag|Croatia}}
|pop15 = 15,082
|ref15 = {{lower|{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}}}
|region16 = {{flag|Norway}}
|pop16 = 10,000
|ref16 = {{lower|{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}}}
|region17 = {{flag|Denmark}}
|pop17 = 8,000
|ref17 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.dst.dk National statistics of Denmark]</ref>}}
|region18 = {{flag|Slovenia}}
|pop18 = 6,186
|ref18 = {{lower|<ref>[http://www.stat.si/popis2002/en/rezultati/rezultati_red.asp?ter=SLO&st=7 Population by ethnic affiliation in Slovenia]</ref>}}
|region19 = {{flag|Belgium}}
|pop19 = 2,788
|ref19 = {{lower|<ref>[http://statbel.fgov.be/nl/modules/publications/statistiques/bevolking/Bevolking_nat_geslacht_leeftijdsgroepen.jsp Official Belgian Population Statistics]</ref>}}
|region20 = {{flag|Netherlands}}
|pop20 = 96.000
|ref20 = <ref>http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/bevolking/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2008/2008-2411-wm.htm</ref>
|languages = [[Albanian language|Albanian]] ([[Gheg Albanian|Gheg]], [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]], [[Arvanitika]], [[Arbëresh language|Arbëresh]], [[Cham Albanian dialect|Cham]])
|religions = Predominantly [[Islam|Muslim]] and a significant [[Christianity|Christian]] minority; in Albania with a large minority professing [[non-religious]]
|footnotes={{smallsup|1}} Albanians are not recognized as a minority in Turkey. However approximately 500,000 people are reported to profess an Albanian identity. A more accurate number is hard to obtain, as most of Albanians living in Turkey do not speak Albanian, and some of them have only partial Albanian ancestry. 
 
{{smallsup|2}} The total number of Albanian immigrants is obscure due to difficulties with identifying them as Albanians from Kosovo or Albania, and because some of them are illegal<ref name="janes">[http://www.janes.com/security/law_enforcement/news/ipi/ipi0268.shtml The Albanian connection]</ref>.

}}

'''Albanians''' ({{lang-sq|Shqiptarë}}) are a people from southeast Europe who live in [[Albania]] and neighboring countries. They speak the [[Albanian language]]. Roughly half of Albanians live in [[Albania]], with other large groups residing in [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}}, the [[Republic of Macedonia]] and [[Montenegro]]. There are Albanian communities in a number of other countries, including [[Turkey]], [[Greece]], [[Serbia]] and [[Italy]].

==Ethnonym==
{{See|Albania (toponym)}}
{{See|Shqiptar}}

While the exonym ''Albania'' for the general region inhabited by the Albanians does hark back to Classical Antiquity, and possibly to an [[Illyrians|Illyrian tribe]], the name was lost within the Albanian language, the Albanian endonym being ''shqiptar'', from the term for the Albanian language, ''shqip'', a derivation of the verb ''shqiptoj'' "to speak clearly". This theory pertains to Hahn and it holds that perhaps the word is ultimately a loan from Latin ''excipio''.<ref>Robert Elsie, ''A dictionary of Albanian religion, mythology and folk culture'', C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2001, ISBN 9781850655701, p. 79.</ref> Thus, the Albanian endonym, like ''[[Slav (ethnonym)|Slav]]'' [[Endonym#Tendencies_in_the_development_of_exonyms|and others]], is in origin a term for "those who speak [intelligibly, the same language]". However another plausible theory has been advanced by Maximilian Lambertz to explain the endonym as derived from the Albanian noun ''shqype'' or ''shqiponjë'' (eagle), which, according to Albanian [[folk etymology]], denoted a bird [[totem]] dating from the times of [[Skanderbeg]], as displayed on the [[Albanian flag]].<ref name="ej2-s">{{ cite encyclopedia | title=ALBANCI | encyclopedia =[[Enciklopedija Jugoslavije]] 2nd ed. | volume=Supplement | pages=1 | publisher=[[JLZ]] | location=[[Zagreb]] | date=1984 }}</ref>

In the 2nd century AD, [[Ptolemy]], the geographer and astronomer from [[Alexandria]], drafted a map that shows the city of [[Albanopolis]] ([[Greek language|Greek]],"''Ἀλβανόπολις''")<ref>Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854)William Smith, LLD, Ed.,Ptolemy is the earliest writer in whose works the name of the Albanians has been distinctly recognised. He mentions (3.13.23) a tribe called ALBANI (Ἀλβανοί) and a town ALBANOPOLIS (Ἀλβανόπολις), in the region lying to the E. of the Ionian sea; and from the names of places with which Albanopolis is connected, it appears clearly to have been in the S. part of the Illyrian territory, and in modern Albania. There are no means of forming a conjecture how the name of this obscure tribe came to be extended to so considerable a nation. </ref> (located Northeast of [[Durrës]]). Ptolemy also mentions the Illyrian tribe named ''Albanoi'', who lived around this city.

In ''History'' written in 1079-1080, the Byzantine historian [[Michael Attaliates]] referred to the ''Albanoi'' as having taken part in a revolt against [[Constantinople]] in 1043 and to the ''Arbanitai'' as subjects of the duke of [[Durrës|Dyrrachium]]. It is disputed, however, whether that refers to Albanians in an ethnic sense.<ref name="oxbyz">{{cite encyclopedia | last=Pritsak | first=Omeljan | title=Albanians | encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]] | volume=1 | pages=52–53 | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | location=New York/Oxford | year=1991 }}</ref>. The first reference to a ''{{lang|la|lingua albanesca}}'' dates to the later 13th century (around 1285)<ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/87039/Earlies-Reference-to-the-Existance-of-the-Albanian-Language Robert Elsie, ''The earliest reference to the existence of the Albanian Language'']</ref>.

The Albanians are and have been referred to by other terms as well. Some of them are:
*[[Arbëreshë|Arbër]], [[Arbëreshë|Arbën]], [[Arbëreshë]]; the old native term denoting ancient and medieval Albanians and sharing the same root with the latter. At the time the country was called Arbër ([[Gheg]]: Arbën) and Arbëria ([[Gheg]]: Arbënia). This term is still used for the Albanians that migrated to Italy during the Middle Ages.
*[[Arnauts]] (ارناود); old term used mainly from Turks and by extension by European authors during the Ottoman Empire. A derivate of the Turkish ''Arvanid'' (اروانيد), which derives from the Greek ''Arvanites''.
*[[Skipetar]]s; the historical rendering of the ethnonym ''Shqiptar'' (or ''Shqyptar'' by French, Austrian and German authors) in use from the 18th century (but probably earlier) to the present, the literal translation of which is ''subject of the eagle''. The term ''Šiptari'' is a derivation used by Yugoslavs which the Albanians consider derogatory, preferring ''Albanci'' instead.

==History==
{{See|Origin of the Albanians|History of Albania|History of Kosovo}}
[[File:13001350ALBANIANMIGRATIONS.png|thumb|Population movements, 14th century.]]
[[Image:Albanian Fest.jpg|thumb|"Albanian fest" 1856, by [[Jean-Léon Gérôme]].]]
What is possibly the earliest written reference to the Albanians is that to be found in an old Bulgarian text compiled around the beginning of the eleventh century. It was discovered in a Serbian manuscript dated 1628 and was first published in 1934 by Radoslav Grujic. This fragment of a legend from the time of [[Tsar Samuel]] endeavours, in a catechismal 'question and answer' form, to explain the origins of peoples and languages. It divides the world into seventy-two languages and three religious categories: Orthodox, half-believers (i.e. non-Orthodox Christians) and non-believers. The Albanians find their place among the nations of half-believers. If we accept the dating of Grujic, which is based primarily upon the contents of the text as a whole, this would be the earliest written document referring to the Albanians as a people or language group.
:''It can be seen that there are various languages on earth. Of them, there are five Orthodox languages: Bulgarian, Greek, Syrian (likely mistaken for Serbian), Iberian (Georgian) and Russian. Three of these have Orthodox alphabets: Greek, Bulgarian and Iberian. There are twelve languages of half-believers: Alamanians, Franks, Magyars (Hungarians), Indians, Jacobites, Armenians, Saxons, Lechs (Poles), '''Arbanasi''' (Albanians), Croatians, Hizi, Germans.''<ref>Extract from: ''Grujic, Radoslav'': Legenda iz vremena Cara Samuila o poreklu naroda. in: Glasnik skopskog naucnog drustva, Skopje, 13 (1934), p. 198 200. Translated from the Old Church Slavonic by Robert Elsie. First published in R. Elsie: Early Albania, a Reader of Historical Texts, 11th - 17th Centuries, Wiesbaden 2003, p. 3.'' [http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts15/AH1000.html Albanian History]</ref>
The Albanians appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late 11th century. At this point, they are already fully Christianized. Very little evidence of pre-Christian Albanian culture survives, and Albanian mythology and folklore as it presents itself is notoriously syncretized from various sources, showing in particular Greek influence.<ref>[[Mircea Eliade]], Charles J. Adams, ''The Encyclopedia of religion'', Macmillan, 1987, ISBN 9780029097007, p. 179.</ref>

Regarding the classification of the [[Albanian language]], it forms a separate branch of Indo-European, belonging to the [[Centum-Satem isogloss|Satem]]<ref>''[[Encyclopaedia Britannica]]''</ref> group, and its late attestation, the first records dating to the 15th century, makes it difficult for [[historical linguistics]] to make confident statements on its genesis.

[[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] supremacy in the [[Balkan]] region began in 1385 with the [[Battle of Savra]] but was briefly interrupted in the 15th century, when [[Skanderbeg|Gjergj Kastrioti]], an Albanian warrior known as [[Skanderbeg]], allied with some Albanian chiefs formed the [[League of Lezhe]] and fought-off Turkish rule from 1443-1478 (although '''Kastrioti''' died in 1468). Kastrioti's strongholds included [[Kruja]], [[Shkodra]], [[Durres]], [[Lezha]], [[Petrela]], [[Koxhaxhik]] and [[Berat]].
Upon the Ottomans' return, a large number of Albanians fled to Italy, Greece and [[Egypt]] and maintained their [[Arbëresh]] identity.

{{See|National awakening and the birth of Albania}}
By the 1870s, the [[Sublime Porte]]'s reforms aimed at checking the Ottoman Empire's disintegration had clearly failed. The image of the "Turkish yoke" had become fixed in the nationalist mythologies and psyches of the empire's Balkan peoples, and their march toward independence quickened. The Albanians, because of the higher degree of Islamic influence, their internal social divisions, and the fear that they would lose their Albanian-populated lands to the emerging Balkan states--[[Serbia]], [[Montenegro]], [[Bulgaria]], and [[Greece]] were the last of the Balkan peoples to desire division from the Ottoman Empire.<ref name="Birth of Albania">{{cite web | author= Raymond Zickel and Walter R. Iwaskiw, editors. date= 1994 | title= "NATIONAL AWAKENING AND THE BIRTH OF ALBANIA, mut.us/albania/index.htm] | accessdate=9 April 2008 }}</ref>

==Distribution==
===Balkans===
Approximately 6,5 million Albanians are to be found within the Balkan peninsula with only about half this number residing in Albania and the other divided between [[Kosovo]], [[Montenegro]], the [[Republic of Macedonia]], [[Greece]] and to a much smaller extent [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Croatia]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]] and [[Slovenia]].

====Albania====
{{Main|Demographics of Albania}}
An estimated 3.2 million Albanians live in [[Albania]], amounting to 98.6% of the country's total population, making Albania one of the ethnically most homogenous states of Europe.<ref>Christoph Pan, Beate Sibylle Pfeil,''Minderheitenrechte in Europa. Handbuch der europäischen Volksgruppen'' (2002).[http://www.living-diversity.eu/Introduction.html], English translation 2004. see also [[ethnic groups in Europe by country]].</ref>{{Dead link|date=March 2010}}

====Former Yugoslavia====
An estimated 2.5 million Albanians live in the territory of [[Former Yugoslavia]], the greater part (close to two million) in [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}}.

Rights to use the [[Albanian language]] in education and government were given and guaranteed by the 1974 Constitution of [[SFRY]] and were widely utilized in Macedonia and in Montenegro before [[Dissolution of Yugoslavia]]<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=OTW9XKUmrxsC&pg=PA237&dq=Kosovo+1990#v=onepage&q=tito&f=false Civil resistance in Kosovo] By Howard Clark, pg. 12</ref>.

====Greece====
{{Main|Albanians in Greece}}
[[Image:Tosk Albanians.jpg|thumb|right|200px|left|Tosk Albanians wearing traditional costumes from southern Albania.]]

Due to different waves of migration, Albanians and groups of Albanian descent are generally divided into three distinct groups.

The first group is that of [[Arvanites]] and [[Albanian-speakers of Western Thrace]], who retain a distinct ethnic identity, but self-identify nationally as Greeks. The [[Arvanites]] are descended from Tosk Albanians that migrated to Greece during the Middle Ages. They are Greek Orthodox Christians, and though they speak a dialect of Tosk Albanian known as [[Arvanitika]], they have fully assimilated into the Greek nation and do not identify with the modern Albanian nation

The second group is that of the [[Cham Albanians]] and their descendents, in [[Epirus (periphery)|Epirus]], in northwestern Greece. [[Islam|Muslim]] Chams were [[Expulsion of Cham Albanians|expelled]] from Epirus during [[World War II]], by an [[EDES|anti-communist resistance group]], as a result of their participation in a [[EAM-ELAS|communist resistance group]] and the [[Axis-Cham Albanian collaboration|collaboration]] with the [[Axis occupation of Greece during World War II|Axis occupation]].

Alongside these two indigenous groups, about 10 percent of the population of Albania entered Greece after the fall of Communism, forming the [[Albanian immigrants in Greece|third community of Albanian origin]] in Greece, the largest single expatriate group in the country today and the country's largest population group after the ethnic [[Greeks|Greek]] majority. Their numbers are thought to range between 200,000 and 500,000.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

===Diaspora===
{{Main|Albanian diaspora}}
{{Citations missing|date=November 2009}}

The largest Albanian diasporic communities outside of the Balkans are found in [[Turkey]] (about 1.3 million, 13% of Albanians, 1.7% of host population),
[[Italy]] (1.44 million,3.7% of host population),
the [[United States]] (1.14 million, 0.5% of host population),
[[Switzerland]] (0.35 million, 5% of host population),
and [[Germany]] (0.40-1.0 million, 0.8% of host population).

====Europe====
{{See|Albanians in Germany|Albanians in Italy|Albanians in Sweden|Albanians in Switzerland}}
Approximately 3 million are dispersed throughout the rest of Europe, most of these in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and France.

Italy has a historical Albanian minority known as the [[Arbëreshë]] are scattered across [[Southern Italy]], but the majority of Italo-Albanians have arrived since 1991 to surpass that of the older populations of Arbëreshë.

====Turkey====
According to a 2008 report prepared for the National Security Council of Turkey by academics of three Turkish universities in eastern Anatolia, there were approximately 5,000,000 Albanians living in Turkey.<ref>Milliyet, Türkiyedeki Kürtlerin Sayısı. 2008-06-06.</ref> Most of these people have assimilated to the culture of Turkey, and consider themselves more Turkish then Albanian. Nonetheless, some families of Albanian decent still recognize their ancestry.

====Americas====
{{See|Albanian Americans}}
In the United States the number reaches 113,661 according to the latest [http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/c2kbr-35.pdf 2000 US Census] which is published in 2004.

====Asia and Oceania====
In [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] 22,000 in total. Albanians are also known to reside in China, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan and Singapore, but the numbers are generally small.200,000 in all these countries. Albanians have been present in [[Arab world|Arab]] countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria for about 5 centuries as a legacy of [[Ottoman Turk]]ish rule.

====Africa====
In [[Egypt]] there are 18,000 Albanians, mostly Tosk speakers. Many are descendants of the soldiers of [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Mehmet Ali]]. A large part of the former nobility of Egypt was Albanian in origin. A small community also resides in [[South Africa]].

==Language==
{{Main|Albanian language}}

The Albanian language forms a separate branch of [[Indo-European]] languages family tree. A traditional view links the origin of Albanian with Illyrian, though this theory is broadly contested and challenged<ref>Hans Henrich Hock, Brian D. Joseph: [http://books.google.com/books?id=oGH-RCW1fzsC&pg=PA54&dq=albanian+illyrian+language+linguistic&lr=#v=onepage&q=albanian%20illyrian%20language%20linguistic&f=false Language history, language change, and language relationship], pp. 54</ref>.

Unattested prior to the second half of the 15th century, the Albanian language is one of the youngest languages of Europe in terms of [[List of languages by first written accounts|first written account]].

Albanian in a revised form of the [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]] dialect is the [[official language]] of [[Albania]] and [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}}; and is official in the municipalities where there are more than 20% ethnic Albanian inhabitants in the [[Republic of Macedonia]]. It is also an official language of [[Montenegro]] where it is spoken in the municipalities with ethnic Albanian populations.

==Religion==
{{See also|Religion in Albania|Islam in Albania|Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania|Catholicism in Albania}}
The Albanians first appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late 11th century.<ref>Comnena, Anna. The Alexiad, Book IV.</ref> At this point, they were already fully Christianized.Christianity was later overtaken by [[Islam]], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turkish rule from the 15th century until year 1912. [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox Christianity]] and [[Roman Catholicism]] continued to be practiced with less frequency.

During the 20th century the [[monarchy]] and later the [[totalitarian state]] followed a systematic [[State atheism|secularization]] of the nation and the national culture. This policy was chiefly applied within the borders of the current Albanian state. It produced a secular majority in the population. All forms of [[Christianity]], [[Islam]] and other religious practices were prohibited except for old non-institutional [[Pagan]] practices in the rural areas, which were seen as identifying with the national culture. The current Albanian state has revived some pagan festivals, such as the lunar [[Spring Day|Spring]] festival ({{lang-sq|Dita e Verës}}) held yearly on March 14 in the city of [[Elbasan]]. It is a national holiday.

Most sources show that up to 3/4th of Albanians are non-religious. The CIA World Factbook gives a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.[75] According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% Christian. It is estimated that 97% of ethnic Albanians in the Republic of [[Kosovo]] are Muslims<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/109483.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2008 - Kosovo]</ref>.

There are also [[Albanian Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christians]], predominantly in Southern Albania, bordering [[Greece]], and [[Albanian Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] is the main religion among those Albanians living predominantly in northern Albania, bordering the [[Republic of Montenegro]]. After 1992 an influx of foreign missionaries has brought more religious diversity with groups such as [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], [[Mormons]], [[Hindus]], [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]], a variety of [[Christian]] denominations and others. This rich blend of religions has however rarely caused religious strife. People of different religions freely intermarry. For part of its history, Albania has also had a Jewish community. Some of the members of the Jewish community were saved by a group of Albanians during the Nazi occupation.<ref>[http://www.juedisches-archiv-chfrank.de/kehilot/albania/alban-resc.htm Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from Holocaust]". "The Jews of Albania". California: Brunswick Press, 1997. Retrieved on 29 January 2007.</ref> Many left for Israel circa 1990-1992 after borders were open due to fall of communist regime in Albania.

==Culture==
{{See|Culture of Albania|Albanian folklore|Albanian literature}}

[[Albanian music]] displays a variety of influences. Albanian folk music traditions differ by region, with major stylistic differences between the traditional music of the [[Ghegs]] in the north and [[Tosks]] in the south. Modern popular music has developed around the centers of [[Korca]], [[Shkodër]] and [[Tirana]]. Since the 1920s, some composers such as [[Fan S. Noli]] have also produced works of Albanian [[classical music]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Albania-ethnique1898.jpg|Albanians in 1898.
Image:EthnicAlbania1911.jpg|Albanians in 1911.
Image:Albania minorities.png|Traditional presence of non Albanian communities in Albania.
Image:AlbaniansOutsideAlbania.png|Albanians outside Albania.
Image:Albanians in Europe.jpg|Albanians in Europe.
File:Presence of Albanians in "Greater Albania"-3.PNG|Presence of Albanians in neighboring countries.
</gallery>

==See also==

*''[[Albanoi]]''
* [[Demographics of Albania]]
* [[Cham Albanians]]
* [[Arvanites]]
* [[Albanian diaspora]]
* [[Mandritsa]]
* [[Arbëreshë]]
* [[Albanian-American]]
* [[List of Albanians]]
* [[List of Albanian-Americans]]

==Notes and references==

'''Notes:'''

{| class="references-small" style="margin-left:13px; line-height:150%"
|align="right" valign="top"|a.  
|{{note|status}}{{Kosovo-note}}
|}

'''References:'''
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*[[Edith Durham]]. ''[http://www.peacelink.nu/Boker/Durham/Durham.html The Burden of the Balkans]'' (1905)

==External links==
*[http://www.arnavutum.com Albanians in Turkey]
*[http://www.albca.com/aclis Albanian Canadian League Information Service (ACLIS)]
*[http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr77.html Albanians in the Balkans] [[U.S. Institute of Peace]] Report, November 2001
*[http://www.scribd.com/doc/11444724/Books-about-Albania-and-the-Albanian-people Books about Albania and the Albanian people] ''(scribd.com)'' Reference of books (and some journal articles) about Albania and the Albanian people; their history, language, origin, culture, literature, etc. Public domain books, fully accessible online.

{{Ethnic Albanians}}
{{Ethnic groups in Albania}}

[[Category:Albanian people|*]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Europe]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Albania]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Kosovo]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in the Republic of Macedonia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Montenegro]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Serbia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Russia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Greece]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Italy]]
[[Category:Indo-European peoples]]
[[Category:Muslim communities]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Balkans]]

[[ar:ألبان]]
[[an:Albaneses]]
[[az:Albanlar]]
[[be:Албанцы]]
[[bs:Albanci]]
[[bg:Албанци]]
[[ca:Albanesos]]
[[cv:Албансем]]
[[cs:Albánci]]
[[cy:Albaniaid]]
[[de:Albaner]]
[[et:Albaanlased]]
[[eo:Albanoj]]
[[fr:Albanais (peuple)]]
[[ko:알바니아인]]
[[hr:Albanci]]
[[it:Albanesi]]
[[lv:Albāņi]]
[[lt:Albanai]]
[[hu:Albánok]]
[[mk:Албанци]]
[[nl:Albanezen]]
[[ja:アルバニア人]]
[[no:Albanere]]
[[pl:Albańczycy]]
[[pt:Albaneses]]
[[ro:Albanezi]]
[[ru:Албанцы]]
[[sq:Shqiptarët]]
[[sk:Albánci]]
[[sl:Albanci]]
[[sr:Албанци]]
[[sh:Albanci]]
[[fi:Albaanit]]
[[sv:Albaner]]
[[tr:Arnavutlar]]
[[uk:Албанці]]
[[zh:阿爾巴尼亞人]]

User talk:Elbasan101

2010-04-11T00:14:05Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion */

User talk:Elbasan101

2010-04-11T00:13:50Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion */

Regal (Hastings) Ltd v Gulliver

2010-04-10T23:00:42Z

Elbasan101: /* Facts */ wording

{{Infobox Court Case
| name = Regal (Hastings) Ltd v Gulliver
| court = House of Lords
| image = Weissenhorn Stadttheater.jpg
| date decided =
| full name =
| citations = [1942] [http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/1942/1.html UKHL 1], [1942] 1 All ER 378, [1967] 2 AC 134
| judges =
| prior actions =
| subsequent actions =
| opinions = Lord Russell, Lord Wright
| transcripts =
| keywords = [[Conflict of interest]], [[directors' duties]]
}}

'''''Regal (Hastings) Ltd v Gulliver''''' [1942] [http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/1942/1.html UKHL 1], is a leading English decision on the [[companies law]] rule against directors and officers from taking corporate opportunities in violation of their duty of loyalty. The Court held that a director is in breach of his duties if he takes advantage of an opportunity that the corporation would otherwise be interested in but was unable to take advantage. However the breach could have been resolved by ratification by the shareholders, which those involved neglected to do.

==Facts==
Regal owned a cinema in Hastings. They took out leases on two more, through a new subsidiary, to make the whole lot an attractive sale package. However, the landlord first wanted them to give personal guarantees. They did not want to do that. Instead the landlord said they could up share capital to £5,000. Regal itself put in £2,000, but could not afford more (though it could have got a loan). Four directors each put in £500, the Chairman, Mr Gulliver, got outside subscribers to put in £500 and the board asked the company solicitor, Mr Garten, to put in the last £500. They sold the business and made a profit of nearly £3 per share. But then the buyers brought an action against the directors, saying that this profit was in breach of their fiduciary duty to the company. They had not gained fully informed consent from the shareholders.

==Judgment==
The House of Lords, reversing the High Court and the Court of Appeal, held that the defendants had made their profits “by reason of the fact that they were directors of Regal and in the course of the execution of that office”. They therefore had to account for their profits to the company. The governing principle was succinctly stated by [[Frank Russell, Baron Russell of Killowen|Lord Russell of Killowen]],

<blockquote>“The rule of equity which insists on those who by use of a fiduciary position make a profit, being liable to account for that profit, in no way depends on fraud, or absence of bona fides; or upon questions or considerations as whether the property would or should otherwise have gone to the plaintiff, or whether he took a risk or acted as he did for the benefit of the plaintiff, or whether the plaintiff has in fact been damaged or benefited by his action. The liability arises from the mere fact of a profit having in the stated circumstances been made.”</blockquote>

[[Lord Wright]] said (at 157),

<blockquote>"The Court of Appeal held that, in the absence of any dishonest intention, or negligence, or breach of a specific duty to acquire the shares for the appellant company, the respondents as directors were entitled to buy the shares themselves. Once, it was said, they came to a bona fide decision that the appellant company could not provide the money to take up the shares, their obligation to refrain from acquiring those shares for themselves came to an end. With the greatest respect, I feel bound to regard such a conclusion as dead in the teeth of the wise and salutary rule so stringently enforced in the authorities. It is suggested that it would have been mere quixotic folly for the four respondents to let such an occasion pass when the appellant company could not avail itself of it; Lord King, L.C., faced that very position when he accepted that the person in the fiduciary position might be the only person in the world who could not avail himself of the opportunity."</blockquote>

==See also==
*''[[Guth v. Loft]]'', the Delaware decision that deviated from the strict approach.
*''[[Keech v Sandford]]'', the rule of equity that has been the bedrock of fiduciary duties for 280 years.
*''[[Ex parte James]]'' (1803) 32 ER 385

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/1942/1.html Full text of decision from BAILII.org]

[[Category:United Kingdom company case law]]
[[Category:House of Lords cases]]
[[Category:1942 in law]]
[[Category:1942 in the United Kingdom]]

Albania

2010-04-10T21:10:17Z

Elbasan101: /* Demographics */ Albanian is official language

{{About|the modern state}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''Republika e Shqipërisë''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Albania
|common_name = Albania
|national_motto = ''Feja e Shqiptarit është Shqiptaria'' (''The faith of Albanians is Albanism'')<ref>Understanding the war in Kosovo Authors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Editors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Publisher Routledge, 2003 ISBN 0-7146-5391-8, 9780714653914 page 188 link [http://books.google.com/books?id=VPPdgAZxU9IC&lpg=PA188&dq=albanian%20religion%20is%20albanism&lr=&pg=PA188#v=onepage&q=albanism&f=false]</ref> (''national'') ''Ti, Shqipëri, më jep nder, më jep emrin Shqiptar'' (''You Albania give me honor, you give me the name Albanian'') (''traditional'')
|national_anthem = ''[[Himni i Flamurit]]'' ("The Banner Hymn")
|image_flag = Flag of Albania.svg
|image_coat = Albania state emblem.svg
|symbol_type = Coat of arms
|image_map = Europe-Albania.svg
|map_caption = {{map caption|location_color=green|region=Europe|region_color=dark grey|legend=Location Albania Europe.png}}
|official_languages = [[Albanian language|Albanian]]1
|capital = [[Tirana]]
|latd=41 |latm=20 |latNS=N |longd=19 |longm=48 |longEW=E
|largest_city = [[Tirana]]
|government_type = [[Parliamentary republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[List of heads of state of Albania|President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Bamir Topi]]
|leader_title2 = [[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Sali Berisha]]
|area_rank = 139th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area_km2 = 28748
|area_sq_mi = 11100 
|percent_water = 4.7
|population_estimate = 3,639,453<ref name=instat/>
|population_estimate_year = 2009
|population_estimate_rank = 129th
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density_km2 = 126.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 327.8 
|population_density_rank = 63
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP = $21.864 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=914&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=71&pr.y=12 |title=Albania|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=1 October 2009}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 110th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $6,897<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 95th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal = $12.964 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank = 113th
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $4,089<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 94th
|Gini = 26.7
|Gini_year = 2005
|Gini_category = low
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.818
|HDI_rank = 70th
|HDI_category = high
|sovereignty_type = [[History of the Albanian state|Formation]]
|established_event1 = Independence from the [[Ottoman Empire]]
|established_date1 = 28 November 1912
|established_event2 = [[Constitution of Albania|Current Constitution]]
|established_date2 = 28 November 1998
|currency = [[Albanian lek|Lek]]
|currency_code = ALL
|country_code = AL
|time_zone = {{tz|CET}}
|time_zone_DST = {{tz|CEST}}
|demonym = Albanian
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.al]]
|calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Albania|355]]
|footnote1 = Greek, [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] and other regional languages are government-recognized minority languages.}}

'''Albania''' {{Audio-IPA|en-us-Albania.ogg|/ælˈbeɪniə/}} {{respell|al|BAY|nee-ə}} ({{lang-sq|Shqipëri/Shqipëria}}, [[Gheg Albanian]]: ''Shqipnia'' or ''Shqypnia''), officially the '''Republic of Albania''' ({{lang-sq|Republika e Shqipërisë}}, {{pronounced|ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs}}), is a country in [[Balkans|South Eastern Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Montenegro]] to the northwest, [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}} to the northeast, the [[Republic of Macedonia]] to the east and [[Greece]] to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the west, and on the [[Ionian Sea]] to the southwest. It is less than {{convert|72|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from Italy, across the [[Strait of Otranto]] which links the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the [[Ionian Sea]].

Albania is a member of the [[United Nations]], [[NATO]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]], [[Council of Europe]], [[World Trade Organisation]], [[Organisation of the Islamic Conference]] and one of the founding members of the [[Union for the Mediterranean]]. Albania has been a [[Accession of Albania to the European Union|potential candidate for accession to the European Union]] since January 2003, and it formally applied for [[EU member states|EU membership]] on 28 April 2009.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8023127.stm Albania applies for EU membership], BBC News, 28 April 2009. Retrieved on 29 April 2009</ref>

Albania is a [[parliamentary democracy]] and a [[transition economy]]. The Albanian [[capital (political)|capital]], [[Tirana]], is home to approximately 727,000 of the country's 3.6 million people, and it is also the financial capital of the country.<ref name=pop2007>[http://www.tirana.gov.al/common/images/Viti%202007.pdf Population stats] from tirana.gov.al {{sq icon}}</ref> [[Free-market]] reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, especially in the development of [[energy]] and transportation infrastructure.<ref>Reports: Poverty Decreases In Albania After Years Of Growth.Dow Jones Newswires, 201-938-5500.http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200904231403dowjonesdjonline000935&title=reports-poverty-decreases-in-albania-after-years-of-growth</ref><ref>Albania plans to build three hydropower plants.People's Daily</ref><ref>Strong GDP growth reduces poverty in Albania-study.Reuters.http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/04/23/afx6330798.html</ref>

==Etymology==
{{Main|Albania (toponym)}}
''Albania'' is the [[Medieval Latin]] name of the country which is called ''Shqipëri'' by its inhabitants. In [[Medieval Greek]], the country's name is ''Albania'' ({{lang-el|''Αλβανία''}}) besides variants ''Albanitia'', ''Arbanitia''.<ref>[[OED]]</ref>

The name may be derived from the [[Illyrian]] tribe of the Albani recorded by [[Ptolemy]], the geographer and astronomer from [[Alexandria]] who drafted a map in 150 AD<ref>Madrugearu A, Gordon M. The wars of the [[Balkan Peninsula]]. Rowman & Littlefield, 2007. p.146</ref> that shows the city of [[Albanopolis]]<ref>{{Barrington|49 & notes}}</ref> (located northeast of [[Durrës]]).

The name may have a continuation in the name of a medieval settlement called Albanon and Arbanon, although it is not certain this was the same place.<ref>The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, ISBN 0631198075, page 279,"We cannot be certain that the Arbanon of Anna Comnena is the same as Albanopolis of the Albani, a place located on the map of Ptolemy (3.12)"</ref> In his ''History'' written in 1079–1080, [[Byzantine]] historian [[Michael Attaliates]] was the first to refer to ''Albanoi'' as having taken part in a revolt against [[Constantinople]] in 1043 and to the ''Arbanitai'' as subjects of the Duke of [[Dyrrachium]].<ref>Robert Elsei. ''The Albanian lexicon of Arnold von Harff, Earliest reference to the existence of the Albanian language'', pp. 113–122.</ref> During the [[Middle Ages]], the Albanians called their country ''Arbër'' or ''Arbën'' and referred to themselves as [[Arbëresh]] or ''Arbnesh''.<ref>http://www.pinocacozza.it/ {{it icon}}{{sq icon}}</ref><ref>http://www.radio-arberesh.eu/ {{it icon}}</ref>

As early as the 16th century, a new name for their home evolved among Albanian people: ''Shqipëria'', popularly interpreted as "Land of the Eagles" or "Land of the Mountain Eagle" hence the two-headed bird on the national flag,<ref>Kristo Frasheri. ''History of Albania (A Brief Overview)''. Tirana, 1964.</ref> though most likely the origin lies in [[Skanderbeg]]'s use of the [[Byzantine]] double-headed eagle on his seals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fotw.us/flags/al.html#ori|title=Flags Of The World, Albania}}</ref><ref>Albanian Etymological Dictionary by Vladimir E. Orel, Brill 1998</ref>

Under the [[Ottoman Empire]] Albania was referred to officially as ''Arnavutluk'' and its inhabitants as [[arnauts]].<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Arnaut Arnaut] at the Free Dictionary</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Albania}}
[[File:Butrint, Albania.jpg|thumb|300|left|[[Butrint]], a [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Site.]]
[[File:Via Egnatia-en.jpg|thumb|left|Route of the [[Via Egnatia]].]]
===Antiquity===
{{Main|Illyria|Dalmatia (Roman province)|Illyricum (Roman province)|Moesia Superior}}
{{See|Illyrians|Thraco-Illyrian}}
The first recorded inhabitants in the territory of Albania were the [[Illyrians]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm|title=Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs September 2007}}</ref> an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] people that inhabited the area corresponding to northern and central Albania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9052237/Messapic-language|title=Encyclopedia Britannica – Messapic language}}</ref> The Illyrian tribes that resided in the region of modern Albania were the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Taulantii|Taulantii]]<ref>Appian, ''The Foreign Wars, III, 1.2''</ref> the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Parthini|Parthini]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Abri|Abri]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Cavii|Caviii]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Enchelei|Enchelei]],<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN 0631198075, Page 96,"... 25 Enchelei</ref> and [[List of Illyrian tribes|several others]]. In the westernmost parts of the territory of Albania there lived the [[Bryges]],<ref>The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996, ISBN-9780631198079, page 111.</ref> a [[Phrygia]]n people, and in the south were the [[Greeks|Greek]] [[Chaonians]].

Beginning in the 8th century BC, Greek colonies were established on the Illyrian coast. The most important were [[Apollonia (Illyria)|Apollonia]], [[Vlorë|Avlona]] (modern-day [[Vlorë]]), [[Epidamnos]] (modern-day [[Durrës]]), and [[Lissus]] (modern-day [[Lezhë]]). The rediscovered Greek city of [[Buthrotum]] (modern-day Butrint), a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]], is probably more significant today than it was when [[Julius Caesar]] used it as a provisions depot for his troops during his campaigns in the 1st century BC. At that time, it was considered an unimportant outpost, overshadowed by Apollonia and Epidamnos.<ref>An Inventory of Archaic and [[Classical antiquity|Classical]] Poleis by Mogens Herman, ISBN 0198140991, 2004, page 343, "Bouthroton (Bouthrotios)"</ref>

In the 4th century BC, the Illyrian king [[Bardyllis]] united several Illyrian tribes and engaged in conflict with [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedon]] to the southeast, but was defeated. Bardyllis was succeeded by [[Grabos]],<ref>Harding, p. 93. Grabos became the most powerful Illyrian king after the death of Bardylis in 358.</ref> then by [[Bardyllis II]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79">"The Journal of Hellenic Studies by Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies (London, England)", 1973, p. 79. Cleitus was evidently the son of Bardylis II the grandson of the very old Bardylis who had fallen in battle against Phillip II in 385 BC.</ref> and then by [[Cleitus the Illyrian]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79"/> who was defeated by [[Alexander the Great]]. Later on, in 229 BC, Queen [[Teuta]]<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, p. 120, ISBN 0631198075,page 129,"... mainly because no coins are known to have been issued by Illyrian rulers of a later period such as Agron, Teuta, Scerdilaidas, etc. ...</ref> of the [[Ardiaei]] clashed with the Romans and initiated the [[Illyrian Wars]], which resulted in defeat and in the end of Illyrian independence by 168 B.C., when King [[Gentius]] was defeated by a Roman army.

The lands comprising modern-day Albania were incorporated into the Roman empire as part of the province of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] above the river [[Drin (river)|Drin]], and Roman [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] (specifically as [[Epirus Nova]]) below it. The western part of the [[Via Egnatia]] ran inside modern Albania, ending at [[Dyrrachium]]. [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] was later divided into the provinces of [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]] and [[Pannonia]].

===Byzantine era===
When the [[Roman Empire]] was divided into East and West in 395, the territories of modern Albania became part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Beginning in the first decades of Byzantine rule (until 461), the region suffered devastating raids by [[Visigoths]], [[Huns]], and [[Ostrogoths]]. In the 6th and 7th centuries, the region was overrun by the Slavs.

The new administrative system of the themes, or military provinces created by the [[Byzantine Empire]], contributed to the eventual rise of feudalism in Albania, as peasant soldiers who served military lords became serfs on their landed estates. Among the leading families of the Albanian feudal nobility were the [[Karlo Thopia|Thopia]], [[Gjin Bua Shpata|Shpata]], [[Muzaka Principality of Berat|Muzaka]], [[Dukagjini]] and [[Kastrioti]]. The first three of these rose to become rulers of principalities were vassals of the [[Byzantine empire]], maintaining a partial local autonomy from the Byzantine empire. Many Albanians converted to the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Christian Church|Church]] at that period. During the [[Byzantine]] [[Era]] the [[Serbs]] had occupied almost all of Northern Albania and [[Kosovo]], and the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]] had gained control of the coastal regions of Albania.

The territory of Albania would remain under Byzantine and Bulgarian rule until the 14th century, when the Ottoman Turks began to make incursions into the Empire. The Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453, and by 1460 most former Byzantine territories were in the hands of the Turks. Albania was fully occupied by the [[Ottoman empire|Ottomans]] in 1478.

===Ottoman era===
[[File:Durrës, Pinargenti.jpg|thumb|left|[[Durrës]] in 1573]]
In the [[Middle Ages]], the name ''Arberia'' (see ''[[Origin and history of the name Albania]]'') began to be increasingly applied to the region now comprising the nation of Albania.

Beginning in the late-14th century, the Ottoman Turks expanded their empire from [[Anatolia]] to the [[Balkans]] (Rumelia). By the 15th century, the Ottomans ruled all of the Balkan Peninsula. Many Albanians had been recruited into the [[Janissary]], including the feudal heir [[Gjergj Kastrioti]] who was renamed [[Skanderbeg]] (Iskandar Bey) by his Turkish trainers at [[Edrine]]. After some Ottoman defeats at the hands of the [[Serbs]], Skanderbeg deserted and began a rebellion against the [[Ottoman Empire]]<ref name="autogenerated1">Library of Congress Country Study <http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/altoc.html> of Albania</ref>.

After deserting, [[Skanderbeg|Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg]] re-converted to [[Roman Catholicism]] and declared a [[religious war|holy war]] against the Ottoman Empire<ref name="autogenerated1"/>, which he led from 1443 to 1468. Under a red flag bearing Skanderbeg's heraldic emblem, an Albanian force of about 30,000 men at [[Krujë]] held off Ottoman campaigns against their lands for twenty-four years. Thrice the Albanians overcame sieges of Krujë (see [[Siege of Krujë]]) led by many Ottoman commanders, including the influential [[Iljaz Hoxha]] and his [[Albanian]] [[Janissary]] led by [[Hamza Kastrioti]]. However, Skanderbeg was unable to receive any of the help which had been promised him by the [[pope]]s. He died in 1468, leaving no worthy successor. After his death the rebellion continued, but without its former success. The loyalties and alliances created and nurtured by Skanderbeg faltered and fell apart, and the Ottomans reconquered the territory of Albania in 1478. Shortly after the fall of [[Kruje]]'s castle, some Albanians fled to neighboring Italy, giving rise to the modern [[Arbëreshë]] communities.

[[File:Early 16th century Ottoman volley gun.jpg|thumb|[[Military of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[volley gun]] with 9 barrels, early 16th century.]]
The Ottomans had urbanized the landscape creating new cities, [[Bazaars]], garrisons and [[Mosques]] throughout the Albanian regions. The majority of the remaining Albanian population converted to [[Islam]], with many joining the [[Sufi]] Order of the [[Bektashi]]. Converting from Christianity to Islam brought considerable advantages, including access to Ottoman trade networks, bureaucratic positions and the army. As a result many Albanians came to serve in the elite [[Janissary]] and the administrative [[Devşirme]] system. Among these were important historical figures, including [[Iljaz Hoxha]], [[Hamza Kastrioti]], [[Köprülü Mehmed Pasha]] (head of the [[Köprülü family]] of [[Grand Viziers]]), the [[Bushati]] family, [[Sulejman Pasha]], [[Ethem Pasha]], [[Nezim Frakulla]], [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena, [[Hasan Zyko Kamberi]], [[Ali-paša Šabanagić]], and [[Mehmet Ali]] ruler of [[Egypt]].<ref>Research Institute for European and American Studies. [http://www.rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=412&catid=22&Itemid=69 ''The Balkan Muslim Presence'']</ref> and [[Emin Pasha]].

[[File:Turkish guns 1750-1800.jpg|thumb|[[Ottoman weapons|Ottoman guns]], 1750–1800.]]
Many Albanians gained prominent positions in the Ottoman government, Albanians highly active during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[Era]] and leaders such as [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena is known to have aided the Bosnian Hero [[Husein Gradaščević]] on various occasions, no fewer than 42 [[Grand Viziers]] of the Empire were Albanian in origin, including [[Mehmet Akif Ersoy]] (1873–1936) an Albanian from [[Peć]] who composed the Turkish National Anthem in 1921, "İstiklâl Marşı" (The Independence March). As Hupchik states, "Albanians had little cause of unrest" and "if anything, grew important in Ottoman internal affairs", and sometimes persecuted Christians harshly on behalf of their Turkish allies.

Albania became pivotal for the Ottomans in the Balkans, although Albanians never rested, always having small rebellions wchich were put down by the Ottomans. As a cosequene of the continuous rebellions, the Albanians got the nickname "Arnauts" by the Ottomans, which meant "stubborn". Anyway, this period saw the rising of semi-autonomous [[Albanian Pashaliks|Albanian ruled Pashaliks]], and Albanians were also an important part of the Ottoman army and Ottoman administration like the case of [[Köprülü family]]. Albania would remain a part of the Ottoman Empire as the provinces of [[Shkodër Province, Ottoman Empire|Shkodra]], [[Monastir Province, Ottoman Empire|Manastir]] and [[Ioannina Province, Ottoman Empire|Yanya]] until 1912.

===20th century===
====1913 to 1928====
After five hundred years of Ottoman domination, an independent Albania was proclaimed on November 28, 1912.

The initial sparks of the first [[Balkan Wars|Balkan War in 1912]] were ignited by the Albanian uprising between 1908 and 1910 <ref>The Balkans (Nationalism, War and the Great Powers, 1804–1999) – by Misha Glenny</ref> which were directed at opposing the [[Young Turk]] policies of consolidation of the Ottoman Empire. Following the eventual weakening of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, [[Serbia]], Greece and [[Bulgaria]] declared war and sought to aggrandize their respective boundaries on the remaining territories of the Empire. Albania was thus invaded by Serbia in the north and Greece in the south, restricting the country to only a patch of land around the southern coastal city of [[Vlora]]. In 1912 Albania, still under foreign occupation declared its independence and with the aid of [[Austria-Hungary]], the Great Powers drew its present borders leaving more than half of the Albanian population outside the new country.

The border between Albania and its neighbours was delineated in 1913 following the dissolution of most of the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Balkans. The delineation of the new state's borders left a significant number of Albanian communities outside Albania. This population was largely divided between [[Montenegro]] and Serbia (which then included what is now the [[Republic of Macedonia]]). A substantial number of Albanians thus found themselves under Serbian rule. At the same time, an uprising in the country's south by local Greeks, led to the formation of an [[Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus|autonomous region]] inside its borders (1914). After a period of political instability caused during [[World War I]], the country adopted a republican form of government in 1920.<ref>{{cite book
|last=Young
|first= Antonia
|title=Albania
|publisher=Clio Press
|year=1997|isbn =1851092609}}</ref>

====1928 to 1946====
[[File:King Zog.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Zog of Albania|Ahmet Muhtar Bey Zogolli]]]]
Starting in 1928, but especially during the [[Great Depression]], the government of [[King Zog#Relations with Italy|King Zog]], which brought law and order to the country, began to cede Albania's sovereignty to Italy.
Despite some strong resistance, especially at [[Durrës]], Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939 and took control of the country, with the Italian [[Fascist]] dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] proclaiming Italy's figurehead King [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]] as King of Albania. The nation thus became one of the first to be occupied by the [[Axis Powers]] in [[World War II]].<ref>The Balkans by Misha Glenny page 418</ref> As [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] began his aggressions, Mussolini decided to occupy Albania as a means to compete with Hitler's territorial gains. Mussolini and the Italian Fascists saw Albania as a historical part of the [[Roman Empire]], and the occupation was intended to fulfill Mussolini's dream of creating an [[Italian Empire]]. During the Italian occupation, Albania's population was subject to a policy of forced [[Italianisation]] by the kingdom's Italian governors, in which the use of the Albanian language was discouraged in schools while the Italian language was promoted. At the same time, the colonization of Albania by Italians was encouraged.

Mussolini, in October 1940, used his Albanian base to launch an attack on Greece, which led to the defeat of the Italian forces and the Greek occupation of Southern Albania in what was seen by the Greeks as the liberation of [[Northern Epirus]]. While preparing for the [[Operation Barbarossa|Invasion of Russia]], Hitler decided to attack Greece in December 1940 to prevent a British attack on his southern flank.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Creveld |first=Martin van|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1972 |month=July–October |title=In the Shadow of Barbarossa: Germany and Albania, January–March 1941 |journal= |volume=7 |issue=3/4 |pages=22–230|id= |url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-0094(197207%2F10)7%3A3%2F4%3C221%3AITSOBG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-E |accessdate=12 September 2007 |quote=}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], the [[Albanian Communist Party|Party of Labour]] was created on 8 November 1941. With the intention of organizing a [[Albanian National Liberation Front|partisan resistance]], they called a general conference in Pezë on 16 September 1942 where the Albanian National Liberation Front was set up. The Front included nationalist groups, but it was dominated by communist partisans.

In December 1942, more Albanian nationalist groups were organized under Visar Kola. Albanians fought against the Italians while, during [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] occupation, Balli Kombëtar allied itself with the Germans and clashed with Albanian communists, which continued their fight against Germans and Balli Kombëtar at the same time.

With the collapse of the Mussolini government in line with the Allied invasion of Italy, Germany occupied Albania in September 1943, dropping paratroopers into Tirana before the Albanian guerrillas could take the capital. The [[German Army]] soon drove the guerrillas into the hills and to the south. The Nazi German government subsequently announced it would recognize the independence of a neutral Albania and set about organizing a new government, police and armed forces. Many Balli Kombëtar units cooperated with the Germans against the communists and several Balli Kombëtar leaders held positions in the German-sponsored regime.
The partisans entirely liberated Albania from German occupation on 28 November 1944. The Albanian partisans also liberated Kosovo, part of Montenegro, and southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. By November 1944, they had thrown out the Germans, one of the few [[East Europe]]an nations to do so without any assistance from [[Soviet]] troops. [[Enver Hoxha]] became the leader of the country by virtue of his position as Secretary General of the [[Albanian Communist Party]].


Albania was one of the European countries occupied by the [[Axis powers]] that ended World War II with a larger [[Jewish]] population than before the war.<ref>Sarner. ''Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from the Holocaust'', 1997.</ref><ref>"Muslim Family Who Hid 26 Jews in Albania from the Nazis Honored by ADL" [http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4963_52.htm Anti-Defamation League]</ref><ref>Escape Through the Balkans: the Autobiography of Irene Grunbaum (University of Nebraska Press, 1996)</ref><ref>[http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205725.pdf Shoah Research Center – Albania.]</ref> Some 1,200 Jewish residents and refugees from other [[Balkan]] countries were hidden by Albanian families during World War II, according to official records.<ref>Israeli Historians Study How Albanian Jews Escaped Holocaust http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356717,00.html</ref>

====Communist state====
{{Main|Socialist People's Republic of Albania}}
[[File:Brosen tirana hoxha mausol.jpg|thumb|left|The former Enver Hoxha Museum in Tirana]]

[[File:Tirana Square 1988.jpg|thumb|right|Tirana's Skanderbeg Square in 1988]]

Albania became an ally of the Soviet Union, but this came to an end in 1960 over the advent of [[de-Stalinization]]. A strong political alliance with China followed, leading to several billion dollars in aid, which was curtailed after 1974. China cut off aid in 1978 when Albania attacked its policies after the death of the Chinese ruler [[Mao Zedong]]. Large-scale purges of officials occurred during the 1970s.

[[Enver Hoxha]], a dictator who ruled Albania for four decades with an iron fist, died on 11 April 1985. Eventually the new regime introduced some liberalization, and granting the freedom to travel abroad in 1990. The new government made efforts to improve ties with the outside world. The elections of March 1991 left the former Communists in power, but a general strike and urban opposition led to the formation of a coalition cabinet that included non-Communists.<ref>Albania. World Almanac & Book of Facts, 2008, pp467–545, (AN 28820955)</ref>

===Recent history – 1992 to present===
{{Main|History of post-Communist Albania}}
{{See|Timeline of Albanian history from 1994}}
Albania's former Communists were routed in elections March 1992, causing economic collapse and social unrest. The [[blood feud]] has returned in rural areas after more than 40 years of being abolished by Albanian communists,<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1553480/Thousands-fear-as-blood-feuds-sweep-Albania.html Thousands fear as blood feuds sweep Albania]". Telegraph.co.uk. 3 June 2007.</ref> with nearly 10,000 Albanians being killed due to blood feuds since 1991.<ref>"[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/world/europe/10feuds.html?_r=1 In Albanian Feuds, Isolation Engulfs Families ]". The New York Times. 10 July 2008.</ref> Sali Berisha was elected as the first non-Communist president since World War II. The next crisis occurred in 1997, during his presidency, as [[1997 rebellion in Albania|riots ravaged the country]]. The state institutions collapsed and an [[EU]] military mission led by Italy was sent to stabilize the country. In summer 1997, Berisha was defeated in elections, winning just 25 seats out of a total of 156.
His return to power in the elections of 3 July 2005 ended eight years of Socialist Party rule. In 2009, Albania – along with [[Croatia]] – joined [[NATO]].

==Government, politics and armed forces==
{{Main|Politics of Albania}}

{{Politics of Albania}}

The Albanian republic is a parliamentary democracy established under a constitution renewed in 1998. Elections are now held every four years to a unicameral 140-seat chamber, the People's Assembly. In June 2002, a compromise candidate, [[Alfred Moisiu]], former [[Army General]], was elected to succeed President [[Rexhep Meidani]]. Parliamentary elections in July 2005 brought [[Sali Berisha]], as leader of the Democratic Party, back to power. The Euro-Atlantic integration of Albania has been the ultimate goal of the post-communist governments. Albania's [[European Union|EU]] membership bid has been set as a priority by the European Commission.

Albania, along with Croatia, joined NATO on 1 April 2009 becoming the 27th and 28th members of the alliance.<ref>BBC News. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7977332.stm "Nato welcomes Albania and Croatia"], "BBC News", 2 April 2009. Retrieved on 2 April 2009.</ref>

The workforce of Albania has continued to migrate to Greece, Italy, Germany, other parts of Europe, and North America. However, the migration flux is slowly decreasing, as more and more opportunities are emerging in Albania itself as its economy steadily develops.

===Executive branch===
The head of state in Albania is the [[List of Presidents of Albania|President]] of the Republic. The President is elected to a 5-year term by the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] by secret ballot, requiring a 50%+1 majority of the votes of all deputies. The next election will run in 2012. The current President of the Republic is [[Bamir Topi]].

The President has the power to guarantee observation of the constitution and all laws, act as commander in chief of the armed forces, exercise the duties of the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] when the Assembly is not in session, and appoint the Chairman of the Council of Ministers ([[prime minister]]).

Executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The Chairman of the Council (prime minister) is appointed by the president; ministers are nominated by the president on the basis of the prime minister's recommendation. The People's Assembly must give final approval of the composition of the Council. The Council is responsible for carrying out both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!align=left|[[List of Presidents of Albania|President]]
|[[Bamir Topi]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]] ||20 July 2007
|-
!align=left|[[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|[[Sali Berisha]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]]||9 September 2009
|}

===Legislative branch===
The [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] (''Kuvendi i Republikës së Shqipërisë'') is the lawmaking body in Albania. There are 140 deputies in the Assembly, which are elected through a [[party-list proportional representation]] system. The President of the Assembly (or Speaker) has two deputies and chairs the Assembly. There are 15 permanent commissions, or committees. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years.

The Assembly has the power to decide the direction of domestic and foreign policy; approve or amend the constitution; declare war on another state; ratify or annul international treaties; elect the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court and the Attorney General and his or her deputies; and control the activity of state radio and television, state news agency and other official information media.

===Armed forces===
{{Main|Military of Albania|}}
{{See also|Albanian Air Force|Albanian Naval Defense Forces|Albanian Joint Forces Command|Albanian Logistic Support Command}}

[[File:Patrol Boat Iliria.jpg|thumb|Albanian Navy warship ''Iliria'']]

The [[Military of Albania|Albanian Armed Forces]] (''Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë'') first formed after independence in 1912. Albania reduced the number of active troops from a 1988 number of 65,000<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1935630.stm Albania sells off its military hardware], BBC News, 2002</ref> to a 2009 number of 14,500<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/08/21/feature-03 |title=Albania to abolish conscription by 2010 |publisher=SETimes.com |date=21 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> with a small fleet of aircraft and sea vessels. In the 1990s, the country scrapped enormous amount of obsolete hardware, such as tanks and [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM systems]] from China.

Today, it consists of the General Staff Headquarters, the [[Albanian Joint Forces Command]], the [[Albanian Support Command]] and the [[Albanian Training and Doctrine Command]]. Increasing the military budget was one of the most important conditions for [[NATO]] integration. Military spending accounted for about 2.7% of GDP in 2008. Since February 2008, Albania participates officially in NATO's [[Operation Active Endeavor]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>[[NATO]], [http://www.nato.int/issues/active_endeavour/index.html]</ref> and received a NATO membership invitation on 3 April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Albania membership Nato|publisher=NATO|url=http://www.nato.int/issues/nato_albania/evolution.html}}</ref> Albania became a full member of NATO on 1 April 2009.

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Albania}}

[[File:Albania space.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite image of Albania.]]

[[File:Himarë-Albania6.JPG|thumb|Coastline in [[Himarë]]]]
[[File:Ksamil Islets.jpg|thumb|[[Ksamil]], little islands]]
Albania has a total area of 28,748 square [[kilometers]]. Its coastline is 362 kilometers long and extends along the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] and [[Ionian Sea]]s. The lowlands of the west face the Adriatic Sea. The 70% of the country that is mountainous is rugged and often inaccessible from the outside. The highest mountain is [[Mount Korab|Korab]] situated in the [[district of Dibër]], reaching up to {{convert|2753|m|ft|abbr=off|lk=off}}. The climate on the coast is typically [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] with mild, wet winters and warm, sunny, and rather dry summers. Inland conditions vary depending on altitude but the higher areas above 1,500 m/5,000 ft are rather cold and frequently snowy in winter; here cold conditions with lying snow may linger into spring. Besides the capital city of [[Tirana]], which has 800,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are [[Durrës]], [[Korçë]], [[Elbasan]], [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]], [[Gjirokastër]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Kukës]]. In Albanian grammar, a word can have indefinite and definite forms, and this also applies to city names: both ''Tiranë'' and ''Tirana'', ''Shkodër'' and ''Shkodra'' are used.

The three largest and deepest tectonic lakes of the [[Balkan Peninsula]] are partly located in Albania. [[Lake Shkodër]] in the country's northwest has a surface which can vary between {{convert|370|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|lk=off}} and 530 km2, out of which one third belongs to Albania and rest to Montenegro. The Albanian shoreline of the lake is {{convert|57|km|0|abbr=on}}. [[Ohrid Lake]] is situated in the country's southeast and is shared between Albania and Republic of Macedonia. It has a maximal depth of 289 meters and a variety of unique flora and fauna can be found there, including "living fossils" and many endemic species. Because of its natural and historical value, Ohrid Lake is under the protection of [[UNESCO]].

Over a third of the territory of Albania – about 10,000 square kilometers (2.5 million acres) – is forested and the country was very rich in flora. About 3.000 different species of plants grow in Albania, many of which are used for medicinal purposes. [[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Albania belongs to the [[Boreal Kingdom]] and is shared between the Adriatic and [[East Mediterranean]] provinces of the [[Mediterranean Region]] and the Illyrian province of the [[Circumboreal Region]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the [[European Environment Agency]], the territory of Albania can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Illyrian deciduous forests]], [[Pindus Mountains mixed forests]] and [[Dinaric Alps|Dinaric Alpine]] mixed forests. The forests are home to a wide range of mammals, including [[wolves]], [[bear]]s, [[wild boar]]s and [[chamois]]. [[Lynx]], [[wildcat]]s, [[pine marten]]s and [[polecat]]s are rare, but survive in some parts of the country.

==Climate==
''See also [[Geography of Albania#Climate|Climate of Albania]]''
[[File:Coastline in Albania.jpg|thumb|left|Coastline near [[Sarandë]]]]
[[File:Albania pasture.jpg|thumb|left|Albanian landscape]]
[[File:KorabMountain2.jpg|thumb|Korab chains]]

[[File:Ksrbay.jpg|thumb|[[Sarandë]] Bay]]
With its coastline facing the Adriatic and Ionian seas, its highlands backed upon the elevated Balkan landmass, and the entire country lying at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns during the winter and summer seasons, Albania has a high number of climatic regions for so small an area. The coastal lowlands have typically Mediterranean weather; the highlands have a Mediterranean continental climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather varies markedly from north to south.

The lowlands have mild winters, averaging about {{convert|7|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Summer temperatures average {{convert|24|°C|0|abbr=on}}. In the southern lowlands, temperatures average about {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} higher throughout the year. The difference is greater than {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} during the summer and somewhat less during the winter.

Inland temperatures are affected more by differences in elevation than by latitude or any other factor. Low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in [[Eastern Europe]] and the [[Balkan]]s. Northerly and northeasterly winds blow much of the time. Average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and [[river valley]]s are very high, but the nights are almost always cool.

Average [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is heavy, a result of the convergence of the prevailing airflow from the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and the continental air mass. Because they usually meet at the point where the terrain rises, the heaviest rain falls in the central uplands. Vertical currents initiated when the Mediterranean air is uplifted also cause frequent thunderstorms. Many of these storms are accompanied by high local winds and torrential downpours.

When the continental air mass is weak, Mediterranean winds drop their moisture farther inland. When there is a dominant continental air mass, cold air spills onto the lowland areas, which occurs most frequently in the winter. Because the season's lower temperatures damage olive trees and citrus fruits, groves and orchards are restricted to sheltered places with southern and western exposures, even in areas with high average winter temperatures.

Lowland rainfall averages from {{convert|1000|mm|in|1|sp=us}} to more than {{convert|1500|mm|in|1|sp=us}} annually, with the higher levels in the north. Nearly 95% of the rain falls in the winter.

Rainfall in the upland mountain ranges is heavier. Adequate records are not available, and estimates vary widely, but annual averages are probably about {{convert|1800|mm|in|1|sp=us}} and are as high as {{convert|2550|mm|in|1|sp=us}} in some northern areas. The western Albanian Alps (valley of Boga) are among the most wet areas in Europe, receiving some {{convert|3100|mm|2|abbr=on|lk=out}} of rain annually<ref>http://qendrim.forumotion.net/gjeografia-f61/tiparet-e-pergjithshme-te-klimes-t3725.htm</ref>. The seasonal variation is not quite as great in the coastal area.

The higher inland mountains receive less precipitation than the intermediate uplands. Terrain differences cause wide local variations, but the seasonal distribution is the most consistent of any area.

==Flora and fauna==

[[File:Lynx lynx poing.jpg|thumb|left|The [[lynx]] still survives in Albania]]

[[File:Steinadler Aquila chrysaetos closeup2 Richard Bartz.jpg|thumb|right|Golden eagle – the national symbol of Albania]]

Although a small country, Albania is distinguished for its rich biological diversity. The variation of geomorphology, climate and terrain create favorable conditions for a number of endemic and [[sub-endemic]] species with 27 endemic and 160 subendemic vascular plants present in the country. The total number of plants is over 3250 species, approximately 30% of the entire flora species found in Europe. Coastal regions and lowlands have typical Mediterranean [[macchia]] vegetation, whereas [[oak]] forests and vegetation are found on higher altitudes. Vast forests of [[European Black Pine|black pine]], [[beech]] and [[fir]] are found on higher mountains and alpine [[grasslands]] grow at altitudes above 1800 meters a.s.l.<ref name="cbd.int">http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/al/al-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf</ref>

There are around 760 vertebrate species found so far in Albania. Among these there are over 350 bird species, 330 freshwater and marine fish and 80 mammal species. There are some 91 globally threatened species found within the country, among which the [[Dalmatian pelican]], [[Pygmy cormorant]], and the [[European sea sturgeon]]. Rocky coastal regions in the south provide good habitats for the endangered [[Mediterranean monk seal]]. Some of the most significant bird species found in the country include the [[golden eagle]] – known as the national symbol of Albania – [[vulture]] species, [[capercaillie]] and numerous [[waterfowl]]. The Albanian forests still maintain significant communities of large mammals such as the [[brown bear]], [[gray wolf]], [[chamois]] and [[wild boar]].<ref name="cbd.int"/> The north and eastern mountains of the country are home to the last remaining Balkan lynx – a critically endangered population of the [[Eurasian lynx]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catsg.org/balkanlynx/20_blx-compendium/index.htm |title=The Balkan Lynx Conservation Compendium |publisher=Catsg.org |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Albania}}

Albania remains a poor country by Western European standards.<ref>[http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief]. [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] ([[Government of Australia|Australia]]), 1 August 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2009.</ref> Its GDP per capita (expressed in PPS—[[Purchasing power parity|Purchasing Power Standards]]) stood at 25 percent of the EU average in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-25062009-BP/EN/2-25062009-BP-EN.PDF|format=PDF|title=Albania's GDP per capita in PPS (2008) |publisher=Eurostat |accessdate=25 June 2009}}</ref> Still, Albania has shown potential for economic growth, as more and more businesses relocate there and consumer goods are becoming available from emerging market traders as part of the current massive global cost-cutting exercise. Albania and Cyprus are the only countries in Europe that recorded economic growth in the first quarter of 2009. In its latest report, the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) said Albania and Cyprus recorded increases of 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.<ref>Business: Albania, Cyprus register economic growth http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2009/05/15/roundup-bs-03</ref><ref>Strong economic growth potential puts Albania and Panama top of long term investment list http://www.propertywire.com/news/related-stories/albania-panama-long-term-investment-200807201344.html</ref> However, the country is still of low interest for major foreign investors due to frequent power shortages, occasional lack of water supplies and ubiquitous illegal activities.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2681449.stm Albania's Economy shakes off it's shackles], 23 January 2003, BBC News.</ref>

[[File:Mallakastra-oil.jpg|thumb|right|Oil pumps near [[Mallakastra]]]]

Albania and Croatia have discussed the possibility of jointly building a nuclear power plant at Lake [[Shkoder]], close to the border with Montenegro, a plan that has gathered criticism from the latter due to seismicity in the area.<ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/18259/ Albania, Croatia plan nuclear power plant.]</ref> In addition, there is some doubt whether Albania would be able to finance a project of such a scale with a total national budget of less than $ 5 billion.<ref name="CIA — The World Factbook">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html CIA – The World Factbook]</ref> However, in February 2009 Italian company [[Enel]] announced plans to build an 800 MW [[coal]]-fired power plant in Albania, to diversify electricity sources.<ref name="diversify">[http://www.allbusiness.com/energy-utilities/utilities-industry-electric-power/11935171-1.html Enel Albanian Joint Venture Introduces Coal In Albania's Power Mix], Business Monitor Online, 24 February 2009</ref> Nearly 100% of the electricity is generated by ageing hydroelectric power plants, which are becoming more ineffective due to increasing droughts.<ref name="diversify"/>

The country has some deposits of [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]], but produces only 6,425 barrels of oil per day.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2173rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=91#al CIA The World Factbook: Oil producers]</ref> Natural gas production, estimated at about 30 million cubic meters, is sufficient to meet consumer demands.<ref name="CIA — The World Factbook"/> Other natural resources include coal, [[bauxite]], [[copper]] and [[iron ore]].

[[Agriculture]] is the most significant sector, employing some 58% of the labor force and generating about 21% of GDP. Albania produces significant amounts of [[wheat]], [[maize|corn]], [[tobacco]], [[figs]] (13th largest producer in the world)<ref>[http://www.fao.org/es/ess/top/topproduction.html?lang=en&country=3&year=2005 Albania Country Profile], FAO</ref> and [[olives]].

==Science and technology==
{{Main|Science and technology}}

Expenditure for scientific research and Development in Albania does not exceed 0.18% of GDP, which marks the lowest level in Europe. Economic competitiveness and exports are low, with the economy still heavily skewed towards low technology.

From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.
Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated.<ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state of the art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research.

However in 2009 the government approved the "National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania" <ref>[http://www.dsdc.gov.al/dsdc/pub/national_strategy_of_science_technology_and_innovation_final_draft_381_1.pdf National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2009–2015</ref> covering the period 2009–2015. The document was coordinated by the Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and with UNESCO assistance.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

* to triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;
* to augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;
* to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technology based firms;
* to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;
* to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners. <ref> http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html </ref>

The Strategy is to be implemented in synergy with other sectoral strategies and taking into account Albania’s Higher Education Strategy adopted in 2008 and the National Strategy for Development and Integration (2007–2013). The latter underlines the importance of modernizing economic sectors such as the agro-food industry and tourism. It also underscores the strategic importance of energy, environmental and water resource management. Stakeholders have proposed prioritizing fields of research such as agriculture and food, information and communication technologies (ICTs), public health, Albanology and humanities, natural resources, biotechnology, biodiversity, defence and security.

The European Union (EU) has set clear objectives for research and innovation as part of its Lisbon Strategy for becoming the most competitive economy in the world. Like other Western Balkan countries aspiring to join the EU, Albania is trailing behind in the development process, having focused in recent years on laying the foundations for economic growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Genc Pollo acknowledges that ‘the high rates of socio-economic development required in the process of Albania’s membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (now a member) and EU accession necessitate strengthening the role of science, technology and innovation in our society.’

In August of 2009, the government approved the establishment of the Albanian Agency of Research, Technology and Innovation, to improve policy implementation.

In 2006, the Albanian government undertook a deep reform of the scientific research system. The Academy of Sciences was re-organized along the model of many other European countries; it now operates through a selected community of scientists and no longer administrates research institutes, these having been integrated into the higher education system. Two new faculties have been set up: the Faculty of Information Technology at the Polytechnic University of Tirana and the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food at the Agricultural University of Tirana. The University of Tirana has also gained an Applied and Nuclear Physics Centre and Biotechnology Department. Twelve government agencies and centres for technology transfer have also been created.

Until recently, R&D and innovation statistics were not collected in Albania to OECD, Eurostat or UNESCO standards. A first survey of public and academic institutes was launched earlier this year and a business R&D and innovation survey is currently under way, both the support of UNESCO.

The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad

There is a total 578 scientific workers in Albania:

* 274 in Academy of Sciences
* 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

The numbers of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0.2 for 1000 habitants <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

==Transport==

{{Main|Transport in Albania}}

In the early 1990s, the rock-strewn roadways, unstable rail lines and obsolete telephone network crisscrossing Albania represented the remnants of the marked improvements that were made after [[World War II]]. [[Enver Hoxha]]'s [[xenophobia]] and lust for control had kept Albania isolated, however, as the communications revolution transformed the wider world into a [[Global Village (term)|global village]]. Even internal travel amounted to something of a luxury for many Albanians during communism's ascendancy.

===Highways===
[[File:SH2 Tiranë-Durrës.jpg|right|thumb|SH 2 Highway ([[Tirana]]–[[Durrës]])]]

[[File:Tirana's Overpass From Durres (1).JPG|left|thumb|SH 2—Tirana's overpass from Durrës]]

Currently the major cities of the country are linked with first class national roads. There is a four lane highway connecting the city of Durrës with Tirana and the city of Durrës with the city of [[Lushnje]]. Albania is partaking in the construction of what it sees as three major corridors of transportation.

The major priority as of present is the full completion of the four lane [[Albania-Kosovo Highway|Durrës-Pristina highway]] which will link [[Kosovo]] with Albania's Adriatic coast. The portion of the highway which links Albania's north east border with Kosovo was completed in June 2009,<ref>{{cite web|last=Wynne |first=Alexandra |url=http://www.nce.co.uk/news/transport/albania-motorway-making-the-first-move/5203302.article# |title=Albania highway: Making the first move | Features | New Civil Engineer |publisher=Nce.co.uk |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> as a result, cutting the time it takes to get from Kosovo to Durrës from six hours to two. Indeed the roads in northwestern Albania remain in poor condition as of summer 2009. It takes approximately 1h 30' to drive the {{convert|35|km|0|abbr=on}} from the border of Montenegro to Shkodër.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

There has been much discussion, debate, and interest in the {{convert|170|km|0|abbr=on}} Durrës–Kukës–Morinë Highway Albanian highway to Kosovo, which is intended to create a new, super-fast connection between Durrës on the Adriatic coast to [[Morinë]] at the border of Kosovo. The current drive time between Kukës and Durrës is now 2 hours. The whole will be around {{convert|250|km|0|abbr=on}}, when completed to Pristina. The objective for constructing the road, according to the transport ministry, is to reduce transport costs and accidents, and improve traffic flow. It is the biggest, most expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken in Albania. The cost of the highway appears to have breached EUR800 million, although the exact cost for the total highway has yet to be confirmed by the government. Currently there is a display in Tirana's centre on Bvld Dëshmorët e Kombit.

The second priority is the construction of European corridor 8 linking Albania with the Republic of Macedonia and Greece.

The third priority for the government is the construction of the north-south axis of the country; it is sometimes referred to as the [[Adriatic–Ionian motorway]] as it is part of a larger regional highway connecting Croatia with Greece along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts.

By the end of the decade it is expected that the majority of the sections of these three corridors will have been built.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} When all three corridors are completed Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with its neighbors.

===Aviation===
[[File:Rinas-Airport-New-Terminal.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]]]

The civil air transport in Albania marked its beginnings in November 1924, when the Republic of Albania signed a Governmental Agreement with German Air Company [[Lufthansa]]. On the basis of a ten-year concession agreement, the Albanian Airlines with the name [[Adria Aero Lloyd]] Company was established.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} In the spring of 1925, the first domestic flights from [[Tirana]] to [[Shkoder]] and [[Vlora]] began.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

In August 1927, the office of Civil Aviation of Air Traffic Ministry of Italy purchased Adria Aero Lloyd. The company, now in Italian hands, expanded its flights to other cities, such as [[Elbasan]], [[Korça]], [[Kukësi]], [[Peshkopia]] and [[Gjirokastra]], and opened up international lines to Rome, [[Milan]], [[Thessaloniki]], [[Sofia]], [[Belgrade]], and [[Podgorica]].

The construction of a more modern airport construction in present [[Lapraka]]) started in 1934 and was completed by the end of 1935. This new airport, which was later officially named "Airport of Tirana", was constructed in conformity with optimal technological parameters of that time, with reinforced concrete runway of 1200 {{convert|400|m|2|abbr=on|lk=out}}, and complemented with technical equipment and appropriate buildings.

During 1955–1957, the [[Rinasi Airport]] was constructed for military purposes. Later, its administration was shifted to the Ministry of Transport. On 25 January 1957 the State-owned Enterprise of International Air Transport ([[Albtransport]]) established its headquarters in Tirana. [[Aeroflot]], [[Jat]], [[Malev]], [[Tarom]] and [[Interflug]] were the air companies that started to have flights with Albania until 1960.

During 1960–1978, several airlines ceased to operate in Albania due to the impact of the politics, resulting to a decrease of influx of flights and passengers. In 1977 Albania's government signed an agreement with Greece to open the country's first air links with non-communist Europe. As a result, [[Olympic Airlines|Olympic Airways]] was the first non-communist airline to commercially fly into Albania after [[WWII]]. By 1991 Albania had air links with many major European cities, including Paris, Rome, [[Zürich]], [[Vienna]] and [[Budapest]], but no regular domestic air service.

A French-Albanian joint venture [[Ada Air]], was launched in Albania's as the first private airline, in 1991. The company offered flights in a thirty-six-passenger airplane four days each week between Tirana and [[Bari]], Italy and a charter service for domestic and international destinations.

From 1989 to 1991, because of political changes in the [[Eastern European]] countries, Albania adhered to the International Civil Aviation Organization ([[ICAO]]), opened its air space to international flights, and had its duties of Air Traffic Control defined. As premises of these developments, conditions were created to separate the activities of air traffic control from Albtransport. Instead, the [[National Agency of Air Traffic]] (NATA) was established as an independent enterprise. In addition, during these years, governmental agreements of civil air transport were established with [[Bulgaria]], Germany, [[Slovenia]], Italy, Russia, Austria, England, [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], etc. The Directory General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was established on 3 February 1991, to cope with the development required by the time.

As of 2007 Albania has one [[international airport]]: [[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]. The airport is linked to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a dramatic rise in terms of passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s. The data for 2009 is 1.3 million passengers served and an average of 44 landings and takeoffs per day.

[[File:Albanian railway.jpg|thumb|left|Train on the Durrës to Tiranë railway line]]

===Railways===
{{Main|Rail transport in Albania|Hekurudha Shqiptarë}}
The railway system was extensively promoted by the [[totalitarianism|totalitarian]] regime of [[Enver Hoxha]], during which time the use of private transport was effectively prohibited. Since the collapse of the former regime, there has been a considerable increase in [[car]] ownership and [[bus]] usage. Whilst some of the country's roads are still in a very poor condition, there have been other developments (such as the construction of a [[motorway]] between Tirana and Durrës) which have taken much traffic away from the railways. The [[railway]]s in Albania are administered by the national railway company ''[[Hekurudha Shqiptare]]'' (HSH) (which means ''Albanian Railways''). It operates a {{RailGauge|1435}} gauge (standard gauge) rail system in Albania. All trains are hauled by [[Czech Republic|Czech]]-built [[ČKD]] diesel-electric [[locomotive]]s.

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Albania}}

[[File:Albania minorities.png|thumb|Regions with a traditional presence of ethnic or linguistic groups other than Albanian.]]

[[File:Tirana Skanderbeg Square.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tirana]], Albania's capital and largest city.]]

The Albanian population is considered a very young population, with an average age of 28.9 years.<ref>[http://www.instat.gov.al/graphics/doc/downloads/publikime/femrameshkuj2006.pdf Women, Men and shefit's in Albania 2006], Instat, Tirana, 2007</ref> After 1990 the Albanian population has
faced new phenomena like migration, which greatly affected the distribution by districts and prefectures. Districts in the North have seen a decreasing population, while [[Tirana]] and [[Durrës]] districts have increased their population.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Albania's population was 3,152,600 on 1 January 2007 and 3,170,048 on 1 January 2008.<ref name=instat>{{cite web|url=http://www.instat.gov.al/|title=Albania National Institute of Statistics official web site}}</ref> Alternative sources estimate the population in July 2009 at 3,639,453 with an annual growth rate of 0.546%.<ref name=cia>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html ''CIA World Factbook'': Albania]</ref> Albania is a largely ethnically homogeneous country with only small minorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watsoninstitute.org/bjwa/archive/11.1/Essays/Barjarba.pdf|author=Kosta Barjarba|title=Migration and Ethnicity in Albania: Synergies and Interdependencies|format=PDF}}</ref> The vast majority of the population is ethnically [[Albanians|Albanian]] (98.6%). Minorities include [[Greeks]] 1.17% and others 0.23% ([[Vlachs]], [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]], [[Serbs]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Egyptians (Balkans)|Balkan Egyptians]], [[Roma]] and former [[Yugoslavians]]).<ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm Albania], U.S. Department of State Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Background Note November 2008. Retrieved on 14 May 2009</ref> The size of the Greek minority is contentious, with the Albanian government claiming it is only 60,000, while the Greek government is claiming 300,000. Most Western sources put the size of the Greek minority at around 100,000, or ~3% of the population,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=kqCnCOgGc5AC&pg=PA68&dq=greek+minority+albania&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=0 ''Eastern Europe at the end of the 20th century'', Ian Jeffries, p. 69]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?lr=&hl=el&id=OU1oAAAAMAAJ&dq=Pettifer+The+Greeks%3A+The+Land+and+the+People+since+the+War&q=200000&pgis=1#search_anchor The Greeks: the land and people since the war.] James Pettifer. Penguin, 2000. ISBN 0-14-028899-6</ref> while the [[CIA Factbook]] estimates the Greek minority at 3% of the total population.
The dominant and official language is [[Albanian language|Albanian]], with two main dialects, [[Gheg]] and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]]. Many Albanians are also fluent in English, Italian, Greek, etc.



===Religion===
[[File:07Tirana Et'hem beu Mosque03.jpg|thumb|right|[[Et'hem Bey Mosque]] in Tirana]]

[[File:Labova e Kryqit3.jpg|thumb|right|Church of Virgin Mary. It was built in the 10th century]]

{{Main|Religion in Albania}}

{{See also|Freedom of religion in Albania}}

Estimates of the religious allegiance of the population of Albania vary, with some sources suggesting that the majority do not follow or practice any religion.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm]-Freedom of Religion 2007</ref>

A recent study by the [[Pew Research Center]] puts the percentage of
[[Muslim]]s in Albania at 79.9%,<ref>{{Cite book | editor-last = Miller | editor-first = Tracy | month = October | year = 2009 | publisher = [[Pew Research Center]] | title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population | format = PDF | url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf | accessdate = 8 October 2009 }}</ref> with the remaining 20% consisting of Christians. The CIA World Factbook gives a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html 2009 CIA World Factbook]</ref> According to the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]], roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% Christian<ref>{{cite book
|title=World Christian Encyclopedia
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|year=2001
|last=p 51|isbn =0195079639}}</ref>

The Albanians first appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late-11th century. At this point, they are already fully Christianised. Christianity was later overtaken by [[Islam]], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turkish rule from the 15th century until year 1912. After independence (1912) from the Ottoman Empire, the Albanian republican, monarchic and later communist regimes followed a systematic policy of separating religion from official functions and cultural life. Albania never had an official state religion either as a republic or as a kingdom. In the 20th century, the clergy of all faiths was weakened under the monarchy, and ultimately eradicated during the 1940s and 1950s, under the state policy of obliterating all organised religion from Albanian territories.

The Communist regime that took control of Albania after World War II suppressed religious observance and institutions and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [[atheist]] state. Religious freedom has returned to Albania since the regime's change in 1992. Albanian Muslim populations (mainly secular and of the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] rite) are found throughout the country whereas [[Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox Christians]] are concentrated in the south and Roman Catholics are found in the north of the country. No reliable data are available on active participation in formal religious services, and estimates range from 25% to 40%.<ref name="International Religious Freedom Report 2007">[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm Albania: International Religious Freedom Report 2007]</ref>

There are about 4,000 active [[Jehovah's witnesses]] in Albania.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide Status Report|url=http://www.watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report_statistics.htm|accessdate=27 September 2009|publisher=Watch Tower}}</ref>
Among other religious organizations making inroads into this nation is [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS or 'Mormons'). LDS involvement in Albania began with Humanitarian Aid during the 1990s. The first missionaries were sent in 1992 with the Albania Tirana Mission being opened in 1996. As of 2008, there were nearly 2,000 members of the Church in Albania, spread throughout ten branches with two purpose-built Chapels and one Family History Center.<ref>{{cite web|title=LDS Newsroom-Country Profile-Albania|url=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/albania|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Albanians}}

{{Main|Culture of Albania}}

===Music and folklore===
[[File:Berat.jpg|thumb|left|[[Berat]]]]
[[File:A traditional male folk group from Skrapar.JPG|thumb|left|A traditional male folk group from Skrapar]]
{{main|Music of Albania}}
Albanian folk music falls into three sylistic groups, with other important [[music area]]s around [[Shkodër]] and [[Tirana]]; the major groupings are the [[Gheg]]s of the north and southern Labs and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosks]]. The northern and southern traditions are contrasted by the "rugged and heroic" tone of the north and the "relaxed, gentle and exceptionally beautiful" form of the south. These disparate styles are unified by "the intensity that both performers and listeners give to their music as a medium for patriotic expression and as a vehicle carrying the narrative of [[oral history]]", as well as certain characteristics like the use of obscure rhythms such as 3/8, 5/8 and 10/8.<ref>Arbatsky, Yuri, cited in Koco with the footnote ''Translated and published by Filip Fishta in Shkolla Kombëtare (The National School; No.1, May 1939), 19, and quoted from his Preface to [[Pjetër Dungu]]'s Lyra Shqiptare (see note 2).''</ref> The first compilation of Albanian folk music was made by [[Pjetër Dungu]] in 1940.

Albanian folk songs can be divided into major groups, the heroic epics of the north, and the sweetly melodic [[lullaby|lullabies]], love songs, [[wedding music]], [[work song]]s and other kinds of song. The music of various festivals and holidays is also an important part of Albanian folk song, especially those that celebrate St. Lazarus Day (''the llazore''), which inaugurates the springtime. Lullabies and [[lament]]s are very important kinds of Albanian folk song, and are generally performed by solo women.<ref name="koco">{{cite web|title=Albanian Music|work=Eno Koco at the University of Leeds|url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/staff/ek/|accessdate=28 August 2005}}</ref>

===Albanian language and literature===
{{Main|Albanian language}}
{{Main|Albanian literature}}

{{See also|List of Albanian writers}}

Albanian was proven to be an [[Indo-European language]] in 1854 by the German [[Comparative linguistics|philologist]] [[Franz Bopp]]. The Albanian language comprises its own branch of the Indo-European language family.

Some scholars believe that Albanian derives from [[Illyrian language|Illyrian]]<ref>Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture By J. P. Mallory, Douglas Q. Adams Edition: illustrated Published by Taylor & Francis, 1997 ISBN 1-884964-98-2, 9781884964985 (''"Although there are some lexical items that appear to be shared between Romanian (and by extension Dacian) and Albanian, by far the strongest connections can be argued between Albanian and Illyrian."'' page 11)
Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World By Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Contributor Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Edition: illustrated Published by Elsevier, 2008 ISBN 0-08-087774-5, 9780080877747 (''"Albanian constitutes a single branch of the Indo-European family of languages. It is often held to be related to Illyrian, a poorly attested language spoken in the Western Balkans in classical times"'' page 22)</ref> while others,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/LLDescription.cfm?code=txh|title=The Thracian language|publisher=The Linguist List|accessdate=27 January 2008|quote=An ancient language of Southern Balkans, belonging to the Satem group of Indo-European. This language is the most likely ancestor of modern Albanian (which is also a Satem language), though the evidence is scanty. 1st Millennium BC – 500 AD.}}</ref> claim that it derives from [[Dacian language|Daco]]-[[Thracian language|Thracian]]. (Illyrian and Daco-Thracian, however, might have been closely related languages; see [[Thraco-Illyrian]].)

Establishing longer relations, Albanian is often compared to Balto-Slavic on the one hand and Germanic on the other, both of which share a number of [[isogloss]]es with Albanian. Moreover, Albanian has undergone a vowel shift in which stressed, long ''o'' has fallen to ''a'', much like in the former and opposite the latter. Likewise, Albanian has taken the old relative ''jos'' and innovatively used it exclusively to qualify adjectives, much in the way Balto-Slavic has used this word to provide the definite ending of adjectives.

The cultural resistance was first of all expressed through the elaboration of the [[Albanian language]] in the area of church texts and publications, mainly of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] confessional region in the North, but also of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] in the South. The [[Protestant]] reforms invigorated hopes for the development of the local language and literary tradition when cleric [[Gjon Buzuku]] brought into the Albanian language the [[Catholic liturgy]], trying to do for the Albanian language what [[Martin Luther|Luther]] did for German.

[[File:Meshari.jpg|thumb|left|Excerpt from ''[[Meshari]]'' by [[Gjon Buzuku]]]]

''[[Meshari]]'' (The Missal) by [[Gjon Buzuku]], published by him in 1555, is considered to date as the first literary work of written Albanian. The refined level of the language and the stabilised orthography must be a result of an earlier tradition of writing Albanian, a tradition that is not known. But there are some fragmented evidence, dating earlier than Buzuku, which indicate that Albanian was written at least since 14th century AD. The first known evidence dates from 1332 AD and deals with the French Dominican Guillelmus Adae, [[Archbishop]] of [[Antivari]], who in a report in Latin writes that Albanians use Latin letters in their books although their language is quite different from Latin. Of special importance in supporting this are: a baptizing formula (''Unte paghesont premenit Atit et Birit et spertit senit'') of 1462, written in Albanian within a text in Latin by the [[Bishop]] of [[Durrës]], [[Pal Engjëlli]]; a glossary with Albanian words of 1497 by Arnold von Harff, a German who had travelled through Albania, and a 15th century fragment from the [[Bible]] from the [[Gospel of Matthew]], also in Albanian, but in Greek letters.
[[File:Tirana Museum 1988.jpg|thumb|right|The [[National Historical Museum (Albania)|National Museum of Albania]] features exhibits from [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] times to World War II.]]

Albanian writings of these centuries must not have been religious texts only, but historical chronicles too. They are mentioned by the humanist [[Marin Barleti]], who, in his book ''Rrethimi i Shkodrës'' (The Siege of Shkodër) (1504), confirms that he leafed through such chronicles written in the language of the people (''in vernacula lingua''). Despite the obstacles generated by the [[Counter-Reformation]] which was opposed to the development of national languages in Christian [[liturgy]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}}, this process went on uninterrupted. During the 16th to 17th centuries, the [[catechism]] ''E mbësuame krishterë'' (Christian Teachings) (1592) by [[Lekë Matrënga]], ''Doktrina e krishterë'' (The Christian Doctrine) (1618) and ''Rituale romanum'' (1621) by [[Pjetër Budi]], the first writer of original Albanian [[prose]] and [[poetry]], an [[Remorse|apology]] for George Castriot (1636) by [[Frang Bardhi]], who also published a dictionary and [[folklore]] creations, the theological-philosophical treaty ''Cuneus Prophetarum'' (The Band of Prophets) (1685) by [[Pjetër Bogdani]], the most universal personality of Albanian [[Middle Ages]], were published in [[Albanian language|Albanian]]. The most famous Albanian writer is probably [[Ismail Kadare]].

'''Weddings as part of Albanian culture'''

Albania is a country of traditions and loves to be treated like this. The wedding represents a symptom, an important example of what of unique traditions Albanians have.

''The characteristic wedding dress of the muslim shkodran bride''

The dress of the Muslim bride is characterized by the elegance and transparency, in that of the catholic you can see full colors. Her dress is characterized by the picturesque effects and harmony.
Here we can analyze two dresses. One is worked on a ‘shajak” (big piece of wool) and with floral motives worked with “gajtan” (kind of rope) black cotton, sometimes mixed with green. The other one is worked in the same material but with red color. Different from the first here the motives are enriched with full colors. The difference between this two dresses that at the first dress the motives occupy all the area, at the second it occupies a little part in the front and back. These dresses have a belt worked with gold and grain necklaces in red, rose, orange creating all together a warm surface, enjoyable and quieter for the eyes. Here the motives are really small.
This gallery of costumes, richness of colors, sentiments are a big experience of lots of years of a population like ours, not only for the ability to conserve alive the tradition, inheriting it generations after generations, but also for conserving the high technique of elaboration or the high artistic level.

''The characteristic wedding dress of the catholic shkodran bride''

The shkodran woman has worked with a lot of finesse and has poured a lot of gold preparing her wedding dress. All the dress is tripped from the transparent white, shiny, soft, which spreads all over the body. As hardly as you see it, it creates a sense of a deep preoccupation, emotional, it creates you a sense of tranquility and a warm purity. This game is achieved through the white of the base material and the gold thread over. This dress is composed by the “barnaveke”: some kind of very long pants which seem a skirt. In the upper part is worn a shirt and over it a “jelek” (waistcoat).

''Paja''

A lot of ritual songs nominate various elements which contain “pajen” of the girl, which are the goods parents give to the daughter to wear, to furnish the house, gifts for her husband and the intimate cousins.
The preparation of the ‘paja” for the parents of the bride is a pleasure which means also accomplishing the obligations toward the daughter. This is also an expression of the love of parents, but is connected with the economical conditions of the familie

''Dhuntia''

"Dhunti" in Shkodra means all the gifts that the groom prepares for the bride during the engagement, mainly clothes, jewelry, gold ornaments and tricks, which are sent to her a few days before the wedding.
In addition to those received by the family of his father, the bride takes too many gifts from the groom and his family. "Dhuntia", which had a considerable monetary value, was prepared with great care by the family of the boy, because in some way embodied respect and love for his young bride, to whom these gifts were made, love for their son that he married at the same time was also a representation of the family in its economic and aesthetic. In "dhunti" there were enough clothes and items for use at all times, in joy and in sorrow, which expressed particular attention to the role of women.

''Kole Idromeno and “Dasma Shkodrane”''

In 1924 Idromeno drew the picture Dasma Shkodrane (Shkodra wedding), which immediately became known to the general public. The theme and picture was much appreciated for the accurate description of the original customs of the country. In the framework there are many elements and ethnographic peculiarities authentic. The environment is characteristic of Shkodra, the houses enclosed by high walls, windows, trees, chimneys, minarets, and represented everything perfectly, so you can capture all the beauty of the place, clothes only by watching the picture.

==Education==
Before the Communist regime, Albania's illiteracy rate was as high as 85%. Schools were scarce between [[World War I]] and [[World War II]]. When the Communist regime over took the country in 1944, the regime wanted to wipe out illiteracy. The regulations became so strict that anyone between the ages of 12 and 40 who could not read or write was mandated to attend classes to learn. Since these times of struggle the country's literacy rate has improved remarkably.<ref>Zickel, Iwaskiw, 1994</ref> Today the overall literacy rate in Albania is 98.7%, the male literacy rate is 99.2% and female literacy rate is 98.3%.<ref name=cia/> Since the rather large population movements in the 1990s to urban areas, education has moved as well. Thousands of teachers moved to urban areas to follow students. The [[University of Tirana]] is the first university in Albania and was founded in October 1957.

==Administrative divisions==
[[File:AlbaniaNumberedPrefectures.png|thumb|Counties of Albania]]

{{Main|Counties of Albania|Districts of Albania|Municipalities of Albania}}

Albania is divided into 12 administrative divisions called ({{lang-sq|official ''qark''/''qarku''}}, but often ''prefekturë''/''prefektura'') Counties, 36 districts and 351 municipalities. Each region has its Regional Council and is composed of a number of Municipalities and Communes, which are the first level of local governance responsible for local needs and law enforcement.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! !! [[Counties of Albania|County]]
! [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
! [[Districts of Albania|Districts]]
! [[Municipalities of Albania|Municipalities]]
! [[List of cities in Albania|Cities]]
! [[Town]]s
|-
| 1 || [[Berat County|Berat]]
| [[Berat]]
| [[Berat District|Berat]] [[Kuçovë District|Kuçovë]] [[Skrapar District|Skrapar]]
| 12 2 10
| 2 1 2
| 122 17 103
|-
| 2 || [[Dibër County|Dibër]]
| [[Peshkopi]]
| [[Bulqizë District|Bulqizë]] [[Dibër District|Dibër]] [[Mat District|Mat]]
| 8 15 12
| 2 1 3
| 103 141 76
|-
| 3 || [[Durrës County|Durrës]]
| [[Durrës]]
| [[Durrës District|Durrës]] [[Krujë District|Krujë]]
| 10 7
| 4 2
| 61 43
|-
| 4 || [[Elbasan County|Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan District|Elbasan]] [[Gramsh District|Gramsh]] [[Librazhd District|Librazhd]] [[Peqin District|Peqin]]
| 24 10 10 6
| 2 1 2 1
| 176 95 75 49
|-
| 5 || [[Fier County|Fier]]
| [[Fier]]
| [[Fier District|Fier]] [[Lushnjë District|Lushnjë]] [[Mallakastër District|Mallakastër]]
| 17 16 9
| 3 2 1
| 117 121 40
|-
| 6 || [[Gjirokastër County|Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër District|Gjirokastër]] [[Përmet District|Përmet]] [[Tepelenë District|Tepelenë]]
| 13 9 10
| 2 2 2
| 95 97 77
|-
| 7 || [[Korçë County|Korçë]]
| [[Korçë]]
| [[Devoll District|Devoll]] [[Kolonjë District|Kolonjë]] [[Korçë District|Korçë]] [[Pogradec District|Pogradec]]
| 5 8 17 8
| 1 2 2 1
| 44 76 155 72
|-
| 8 || [[Kukës County|Kukës]]
| [[Kukës]]
| [[Has District|Has]] [[Kukës District|Kukës]] [[Tropojë District|Tropojë]]
| 4 15 8
| 1 1 3
| 30 90 68
|-
| 9 || [[Lezhë County|Lezhë]]
| [[Lezhë]]
| [[Kurbin District|Kurbin]] [[Lezhë District|Lezhë]] [[Mirditë District|Mirditë]]
| 4 10 7
| 3 2 4
| 28 63 70
|-
| 10 || [[Shkodër County|Shkodër]]
| [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]]
| [[Malësi e Madhe District|Malësi e Madhe]] [[Pukë District|Pukë]] [[Shkodër District|Shkodër]]
| 6 10 18
| 2 2 2
| 56 75 139
|-
| 11 || [[Tirana County|Tirana]]
| [[Tirana]]
| [[Kavajë District|Kavajë]] [[Tirana District|Tirana]]
| 10 18
| 2 3
| 65 155
|-
| 12 || [[Vlorë County|Vlorë]]
| [[Vlorë]]
| [[Delvinë District|Delvinë]] [[Sarandë District|Sarandë]] [[Vlorë District|Vlorë]]
| 4 9 13
| 1 2 4
| 38 62 99
|}

==Sport==
[[Association football|Football (soccer)]] is the most popular sport in Albania, both at a participatory and spectator level. The sport is governed by the [[Football Association of Albania]] ({{lang-sq|Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit}}, F.SH.F.).

* [[Albania national football team]]
* [[Albania national basketball team]]
* [[Albania national futsal team]]
* [[Albania national under-21 football team]]

==Entertainment==
{{Main|RTSH}}

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar, ([[RTSH]]), is Albania's leading television network. RTSH runs a national television station ''TVSH'', (standing for ''Televizioni Shqiptar''), and two national radio stations, using the name ''Radio Tirana''. An international service broadcasts radio programmes in Albanian and seven other languages via [[medium wave]] (AM) and [[short wave]] (SW).<ref>[http://picasaweb.google.es/ec2adn/RadioTiranaBroadcastingSchedules/photo#5187887711939456834 radiotirana.org website] {{en icon}}</ref> The international service has used the theme from the song "Keputa një gjethe dafine" as its [[signature tune]]. Since 1999, RTSH has been a member of the [[European Broadcasting Union]]. Since 1993, RTSH has also run an international television service via [[satellite]], aimed at [[Albanian language]] communities in [[Kosovo]], [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], [[Montenegro]] and Greece, plus the Albanian [[diaspora]] in the rest of Europe.

According the National Council of Radio and Television Albania has an estimated 257 media outlets, including 66 radio stations and 65 television stations, with three national and 62 local stations.

==Health==
Health care has been in a steep decline after the collapse of socialism in the country, but a process of modernization has been taking place since 2000.<ref name="hospitals">{{cite web|url=http://www.euro.who.int/document/e80089.pdf |title=Albania-prel.pmd |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> As of the early 2000s, there were 51 hospitals in the country, including a military hospital and specialist facilities.<ref name="hospitals"/> Albania has successfully removed diseases such as [[malaria]].

Life expectancy is estimated at 77.43 years, ranking 51st worldwide, and outperforming a number of European Union countries, such as Hungary and the Czech Republic.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=51#al CIA – The World Factbook], Life Expectancy ranks</ref> The most common causes of death are circulatory disease followed by cancerous illnesses.

The medical school, Faculty of Medicine at Tirana University, is in Tirana. There are also nursing schools in many other cities.

==Cuisine==
{{Main|Albanian cuisine}}

The cuisine of Albania – as with most [[Mediterranean]] and [[Balkans|Balkan]] nations – is strongly influenced by its long history. At different times, the territory which is now Albania has been claimed or occupied by Greece, Italy and the [[Ottoman Turk]]s and each group has left its mark on Albanian cuisine. The main meal of the [[Albanians]] is lunch, and it is usually accompanied by a [[salad]] of fresh [[vegetables]], such as [[tomato]]es, [[cucumber]]s, green [[bell pepper|peppers]] and [[olive]]s with [[olive oil]], [[vinegar]] and [[salt]]. Lunch also includes a main dish of vegetables and meat. Seafood specialties are also common in the coastal areas of [[Durrës]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Sarandë]].

==Human rights in Albania==
{{Main|Human rights in Albania}}

===LGBT rights in Albania===
{{Main|LGBT rights in Albania}}

==International rankings==
{{Main|International rankings of Albania}}

===Demographic===
* [[List of countries by population|Population]] 2010 ranked 136 out of 223 countries
* [[CIA World Factbook]]: [[List of countries by life expectancy|Life expectancy]] 2005–2010 ranked 46 out of 195 countries
* List by the United Nations Population Division: [[List of countries by infant mortality rate|infant mortality rate]] ranked 91 highest [[infant mortality]] rate out of 195 countries
* [[United Nations Development Programme]]: [[List of countries by literacy rate|literacy rate]] 2009 ranked 19 out of 177 countries

===Economic===
* [[The Wall Street Journal]] and the [[Heritage Foundation]]: [[Index of Economic Freedom]] 2010, ranked 53 out of 179 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|GDP (nominal) per capita]] 2009, ranked 98 out of 180 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|GDP (nominal)]] 2009, ranked 113 out of 179 countries
* [[World Economic Forum]]: [[Global Competitiveness Index]] 2008–2009, ranked 108 out of 134 countries
* [[World Bank]]: [[Ease of Doing Business Index]] 2010 report, ranked 82 out of 183 countries
* [[United Nations]]: [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]] 2007, ranked 70 out of 182 countries
* [[List of countries by foreign exchange reserves|Foreign exchange reserves]] as of December 2008 ranked 111 out of 156 countries

===Environmental===
* [[Yale University]]: [[Environmental Sustainability Index]] 2005, ranked 24 out of 146 countries

===Globalization===
* [[A.T. Kearney]]/[[Foreign Policy|Foreign Policy Magazine]]: [[Globalization Index]] 2007 ranking based on 2004 data, 102 out of 122 countries.

===Geographic===
* [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|Total area]] ranked 144 out of 234

===Peace===
* Institute for Economics and Peace – [[Global Peace Index]] 2009 <ref>[http://economicsandpeace.org/UserFiles/Resources/2009-GPIResultsReport.pdf Institute for Economics and Peace 2009 Global Peace Index page 11]</ref> ranked 75 out of 144 countries

===Political===
* [[Transparency International]]: [[Corruption Perceptions Index]] 2009, ranked 95 out of 180 countries
* [[Reporters Without Borders]]: [[Press Freedom Index]] 2009, ranked 88 out of 175 countries

==See also==
{{portal|Albania|Flag of Albania.svg}}
{{Albania topics}}

==Notes and references==

'''Notes:'''
{| class="references-small" style="margin-left:13px; line-height:150%"
|-
| style="text-align:right; vertical-align:top;"|a.  
|{{note|status}}{{Kosovo-note}}
|}

'''References:'''

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
* {{CIA World Factbook link|al|Albania}}
* [http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/al/ Albania] information from the [[United States Department of State]]
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/albania.htm Albania] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Albania}}
* [http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_3_1.asp Albania] national profile from the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]]

{{wikiatlas|Albania}}

;Government
* [http://www.president.al Presidency of Albania]
* [http://www.keshilliministrave.al The Albanian Government] (''Council of Ministers'')
* [http://www.parlament.al The Albanian Parliament]
* [http://www.gjk.gov.al The Albanian Constitutional Court]
* [http://www.instat.gov.al Albanian Institute of Statistics]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-a/albania.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]

;Tourism
* [http://www.shqiperia.com/ Shqiperia] Albanian portal
* [http://albania.shqiperia.com/ Albania.Shqiperia.com] Informations related to Albania
* [http://www.albaniantourism.com/ National Tourism Organization] Official website for travel and tourism information
* [http://www.akt.gov.al/index.php?lang=2 National Tourism Agency] (in English)
* {{wikitravel}}
* [http://albaniaonline.org/ Tourism, history]
* [http://www.trekinu.com/viewtrek.aspx?trkid=i02ivoat68cl6qy Travel album], with photos and maps
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/maps.php Various Topographic Map Collections of Albania] (updated 18 January 2009)
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/wiki/index.php?title=Albania_Geopolitical_Mapset GPS Basemap for Albania]
* [http://www.vivalbania.net/ING/index.htm VIVAlbania, hospitality and ecotourism in Albania]
* [http://www.guidetoalbania.com Guide To Albania (with pictures)]
* [http://www.infoalb.net Website of the National Tourist Organisation of Albania]

;Other
* [http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/Albania/treasures_en.xml Treasure of the national library of Albania]
* [http://www.allcountries.eu/albania.htm Information on Albania]
* [http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Subject_Guides/PDFs/Albania.pdf Guide to materials pertaining to Albania at the Eisenhower Presidential Library]
* [http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief DFAT]
* [http://www.scribd.com/doc/11444724/Books-about-Albania-and-the-Albanian-people Books about Albania and the Albanian people] ''(scribd.com)'' Reference of books (and some journal articles) about Albania and the Albanian people; their history, language, origin, culture, literature, etc. Public domain books, fully accessible online.
{{Albania topics}}

{{Coord|41|N|20|E|type:country_region:AL|display=title}}

{{Template group
|title = [[File:Gnome-globe.svg|22px]] Geographic locale
|list =
{{Balkan Countries}}
{{Countries of Europe}}
{{Countries and territories bordering the Mediterranean Sea}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = Within Albania
|list =
{{World Heritage Sites in Albania}}
{{Cities in Albania}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{Council of Europe}}
{{EU countries and candidates}}
{{Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)}}
{{Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)}}
{{La Francophonie|state=collapsed}}
{{Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)|state=collapsed}}
}}

{{use dmy dates}}

[[Category:Albania|*]]
[[Category:Balkans]]
[[Category:Countries of the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:European countries]]
[[Category:Member states of La Francophonie]]
[[Category:Member states of the Union for the Mediterranean]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Organisation of the Islamic Conference members]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1912]]


[[ace:Albania]]
[[af:Albanië]]
[[als:Albanien]]
[[am:አልባኒያ]]
[[ang:Albania]]
[[ar:ألبانيا]]
[[an:Albania]]
[[arc:ܐܠܒܢܝܐ]]
[[roa-rup:Arbinishia]]
[[frp:Albanie]]
[[ast:Albania]]
[[gn:Avaña]]
[[az:Albaniya]]
[[bn:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[zh-min-nan:Shqipëria]]
[[be:Албанія]]
[[be-x-old:Альбанія]]
[[bcl:Albanya]]
[[bar:Albanien]]
[[bo:ཨར་པ་ཉི་ཡ།]]
[[bs:Albanija]]
[[br:Albania]]
[[bg:Албания]]
[[ca:Albània]]
[[cv:Албани]]
[[ceb:Albanya]]
[[cs:Albánie]]
[[co:Albania]]
[[cy:Albania]]
[[da:Albanien]]
[[pdc:Albaani]]
[[de:Albanien]]
[[dv:އަލްބޭނިއާ]]
[[nv:Dziłigaii Bikéyah]]
[[dsb:Albańska]]
[[dz:ཨལ་བཱ་ནི་ཡ།]]
[[et:Albaania]]
[[el:Αλβανία]]
[[eml:Albanî]]
[[es:Albania]]
[[eo:Albanio]]
[[ext:Albánia]]
[[eu:Albania]]
[[ee:Albania]]
[[fa:آلبانی]]
[[hif:Albania]]
[[fo:Albania]]
[[fr:Albanie]]
[[fy:Albaanje]]
[[fur:Albanie]]
[[ga:An Albáin]]
[[gv:Yn Albaan]]
[[gd:Albàinia]]
[[gl:Albania - Shqipëria]]
[[gu:અલ્બાનિયા]]
[[hak:Â-ngì-pâ-nì-â]]
[[xal:Арнаутн Орн Нутг]]
[[ko:알바니아]]
[[haw:‘Alepania]]
[[hy:Ալբանիա]]
[[hi:अल्बानिया]]
[[hsb:Albanska]]
[[hr:Albanija]]
[[io:Albania]]
[[ilo:Albania]]
[[bpy:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[id:Albania]]
[[ia:Albania]]
[[ie:Albania]]
[[os:Албани]]
[[is:Albanía]]
[[it:Albania]]
[[he:אלבניה]]
[[jv:Albania]]
[[kl:Albania]]
[[kn:ಅಲ್ಬೇನಿಯ]]
[[pam:Albania]]
[[ka:ალბანეთი]]
[[csb:Albańskô]]
[[kk:Албания]]
[[kw:Albani]]
[[ky:Албания]]
[[sw:Albania]]
[[kv:Албания]]
[[kg:Albania]]
[[ht:Albani]]
[[ku:Albanya]]
[[lad:אלבאניה]]
[[krc:Албания]]
[[la:Albania]]
[[lv:Albānija]]
[[lb:Albanien]]
[[lt:Albanija]]
[[lij:Albania]]
[[li:Albanië]]
[[ln:Albania]]
[[lmo:Albania]]
[[hu:Albánia]]
[[mk:Албанија]]
[[mg:Albania]]
[[ml:അൽബേനിയ]]
[[mt:Albanija]]
[[mr:आल्बेनिया]]
[[arz:ألبانيا]]
[[mzn:آلباني]]
[[ms:Albania]]
[[mn:Албани]]
[[nah:Albania]]
[[na:Albania]]
[[nl:Albanië]]
[[ne:अल्बानिया]]
[[ja:アルバニア]]
[[ce:Албани]]
[[pih:Elbanya]]
[[no:Albania]]
[[nn:Albania]]
[[nov:Albania]]
[[oc:Albania]]
[[uz:Albaniya]]
[[pnb:البانیا]]
[[pap:Albania]]
[[ps:البانيا]]
[[km:អាល់បានី]]
[[pms:Albanìa]]
[[tpi:Albenia]]
[[nds:Albanien]]
[[pl:Albania]]
[[pnt:Αλβανία]]
[[pt:Albânia]]
[[kaa:Albaniya]]
[[crh:Arnavutlıq]]
[[ro:Albania]]
[[rmy:Shkiperiya]]
[[rm:Albania]]
[[qu:Albanya]]
[[ru:Албания]]
[[sah:Албания]]
[[se:Albánia]]
[[sa:अल्बानिया]]
[[sc:Albania]]
[[sco:Albanie]]
[[stq:Albanien]]
[[sq:Shqipëria]]
[[scn:Albanìa]]
[[simple:Albania]]
[[ss:I-Alibheniya]]
[[sk:Albánsko]]
[[sl:Albanija]]
[[szl:Albańijo]]
[[ckb:ئەڵبانیا]]
[[srn:Albanikondre]]
[[sr:Албанија]]
[[sh:Albanija]]
[[su:Albania]]
[[fi:Albania]]
[[sv:Albanien]]
[[tl:Albanya]]
[[ta:அல்பேனியா]]
[[tt:Албания]]
[[te:అల్బేనియా]]
[[tet:Albánia]]
[[th:ประเทศแอลเบเนีย]]
[[tg:Албания]]
[[chr:ᎠᎸᏇᏂᏯ]]
[[tr:Arnavutluk]]
[[udm:Албания]]
[[uk:Албанія]]
[[ur:البانیا]]
[[ug:ئالبانىيە]]
[[vec:Albania]]
[[vi:Albania]]
[[vo:Lalbanän]]
[[fiu-vro:Albaania]]
[[war:Albanya]]
[[wo:Albaani]]
[[wuu:阿尔巴尼亚]]
[[yi:אלבאניע]]
[[yo:Albania]]
[[zh-yue:阿爾巴尼亞]]
[[diq:Arnawutiye]]
[[zea:Albanië]]
[[bat-smg:Albanėjė]]
[[zh:阿尔巴尼亚]]

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T17:59:40Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion for the umptinth time! */

{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Albania}}
{{Article probation}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|
{{WikiProject Albania|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WPCountries|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=B|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}
}}
{{OnThisDay |date1=2004-11-28|oldid1=16335503|date2=2005-11-28|oldid2=29304681|date3=2006-11-28|oldid3=90576276|date4=2007-11-28|oldid4=174325507|date5=2008-11-28|oldid5=254539953|date6=2009-11-28|oldid6=328209906}}
{{todo|small=yes}}
{{oldpeerreview|archive=1|small=yes}}
{{Archive box|auto=long}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{talkarchivenav|noredlinks=y}}
|maxarchivesize = 100K
|counter = 4
|minthreadsleft = 5
|algo = old(90d)
|archive = Talk:Albania/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Auto archiving notice |bot=MiszaBot I |age=90 |small=yes |dounreplied=yes}}

== Patos Marinzas ==

The article has nothing about [[Patos Marinzas]], the biggest on-shore oil field of Europe.[[User:Agre22|Agre22]] ([[User talk:Agre22|talk]]) 01:45, 8 November 2009 (UTC)agre22

:It is Patos / Marinza stgupid —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/74.59.88.57|74.59.88.57]] ([[User talk:74.59.88.57|talk]]) 15:24, 31 December 2009 (UTC) 

== Arnavutluk ==

I was surprised to find out that there is no mention of the Ottoman/Turkish name of the country in this nice and long article. At least the etymology section should have included something. After all, Arnavutluk and Arnavut (Albanians) have been a very visible if not prominent part of Ottoman history for centuries. A sizable Arnavut community in Turkey still recognize and identify their roots.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Thank you Murat! I was not aware that [[Albania]] was called [[Arnavutlk]] during the Turkish presence. Could you please provide a map to show [[Arnavutluk]] within the [[Ottoman Empire]]? I'll make sure to update the article. As a matter of fact many improvements are due here, but unfortunately many albanian users have been banned. If you ban too many users of a small people, that's what you get. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]])--Sulmues 16:58, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

What do you mean by Albania was called [[Arnavutlk]]? Further more, the article states that it was official! Arnavutlk or Arnavut is the way how the otomans used to call albanian and albanians during that time but that was not any official name! Sulmues, I think you should remove the term "officially". Even nowodays, Trukish people refer to albanians as Arnavut, but that does not make it an official naming for Albanians. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:13, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

== Shingen ==

Is it not an important port city in Albania? I know it may have different names, but could not see any reference anywhere. I made a little stub (San Giovanni di Medua) which needs much input.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

: You may be thinking of [[Shëngjin]], which today is a small town near [[Lezha]]. The only port cities in Albania are [[Durrës]] and [[Vlora]]. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 07:49, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

:: Actually [[Shëngjin]] has a port and it is very important. You can check on google for images of Shëngjin port. A lot of goods that go toward [[Kosovo]] is processed thought this port. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:21, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

::: Oops, I was mistaken on this point! Thanks for the correction. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 18:10, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

== Religious numbers ==

I made useful changes to the religious statistics here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334650526&oldid=334649384] because the numbers in the reference [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html]was incorrectly used and added so I had to foot the numbers properly. It took me some minutes to do that.

But here comes [[user:athenean|athenean]] and reverts the WHOLE THING with other things as well and makes a mess in the article. Of course his numbers in the article for religious statistics won't add up to the right amounts that appear in the source. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334653888&oldid=334651587]. Athenean, please do the math and you will see that your numbers don't make any sense. And stop whispering to the admins to ban all the albanians that you find on your way, otherwise you'll get IP editors getting back at you. All you'll get is to ask for protection and have no life. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 14:39, 29 December 2009 (UTC). 

:What I find most disturbing is that people are even suggesting basing the religion statistics on little-known dubious sources, while the sources most commonly used for the same purpose on other articles are not even mentioned. According to Britannica:
:{{quote|''In the early 21st century about seven-tenths of the Albanian population was nominally Muslim, more than half of them Sunni Muslims and the next largest group being the Bektashi sect. Those who identified with Eastern Orthodoxy constituted about one-fifth of the population, and those associated with Roman Catholicism constituted about one-tenth. Muslims are spread throughout the country, although they particularly dominate the centre. Roman Catholics have settled primarily in the northern part of the country, mainly in the city of Shkodër, while Orthodox Christians are prominent in the southern districts of Gjirokastër, Korçë, Berat, and Vlorë.''}}
:The CIA World Factbook also repeats the traditional figures (''Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%'') as "estimates".
:While I do understand and respect the POV of certain Albanians to underestimate the extent of traditional/nominal Islam in Albania believing that by doing so they are presenting Albania as more "Western" or "European", and the point of even doing so is in itself debatable, these facts should not be removed from the article. I suggest including all available sources.--[[User:Ptolion|Ptolion]] ([[User talk:Ptolion|talk]]) 21:56, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

::Very good point Ptolion. There is definitely a concerted effort to portray Albania as "Christian" and therefore "Western" and "European" as possible. There is a very simple way to deal with this, however. What is sourced to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] can stay, what is sourced to dubious sources goes in the trash. Simple as that. There is absolutely no need to respect or tolerate any sort of POV-pushing. We have ways of dealing with that as well. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:22, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::The situation is actually much worse than that. There are deliberate attempts at deception here. I noticed that the article says ''the World Christian Encyclopedia published in 2001 by the Oxford University Press. Vol 1: p 51 says that roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% being Christians''. However, when I check the citations provided, neither of them has anything to do with the "World Christian Encyclopedia". One is from some website [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html], the other is from the website of the Albanian consulate in Milan [http://www.consolatoalbanesemilano.org/lalbania_oggi.html]. Whoever inserted these mentioned the Oxford University Press in a deliberate attempt to mislead and cast an air of respectability on these dubious sources. I will consequently remove them and replace them with the CIA World Factbook and Encyclopedia Britannica. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:39, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Now you have the reference directly from the World Christian Encyclopedia with full isbn. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 01:47, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

:That's an improvement, although do you think you could include a link to the citation? It's impossible to verify the way you have provided it. In general, the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]] should be treated with caution as a source, as it is known to be pro-Christian and ''consistently gave a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets''. I am not terribly interested in this debate, so I will leave it there for now, but that is something to keep in mind. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 02:21, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::I'm not going to touch this any longer either. I really can't provide a citation for the fact that 1929 is really the last year when Albania had an official religious census, so it's ok if you take it out: it's unsupported, even though I'm sure about it. Now World Christian Encyclopedia might be biased, but I could argue that also the PEW research is also biased. Bottom line the company is a [[think tank]] that works for the [[US government]]. And so does the CIA (that refers to the 1929 data). I could argue that the interest of the USA is to depict Albania like as a muslim country because it wants to make it an example of a democratic muslim country for other muslim theocratic countries. That's why the truth might be closer to what the World Christian Encyclopedia is saying. Furthemore there are 1200 christian churches in ALbania and 500 mosques, what does that tell you? [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 16:57, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I removed a small section that pertained specifically to the Jehovah's witnesses and LDS or 'Mormons'. With a population of over 3 million, it didn't seem noteworthy to single out these 2 groups and note their numbers with only a few thousand apiece, without attempting a more detailed breakdown of the christian percentages. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.217.144.112|24.217.144.112]] ([[User talk:24.217.144.112|talk]]) 23:31, 18 January 2010 (UTC) 
:I'd say that as [[Jehovah's witnesses]] and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] are among the fastest growing religions in the world, this is very relevant. [[User:2007apm|2007apm]] ([[User talk:2007apm|talk]]) 20:56, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

:: Sulmues I really doubt the US govt is peddling an agenda of trying to showcase Albania as some kind of shining example. This is just fanciful, especially since there are other more successful Muslim democracies other than Albania’s weak emerging one, with the added gravitas of being more important and much larger than an island, like Indonesia or Turkey.

Were are these 1200 Churches in Albania, that’s ridiculous, your statements are ridiculous. That goes for mosques as well? What I want to know is why they have stopped at these nice round numbers. Just let Albania be what it is stop inventing facts--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 19:09, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

== Science and technology section ==

I think it would be appropriate to add a section to Alabamian Science and technology. I have found some sources can someone help me put something together.

R&D research does not exceed 0.18% of GDP
24 research studies institutes

"From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.

Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated. This exodus is growing and according to a survey run in 1998 a greater number of highly educated people want to emigrate. They are mainly young people who wish to emigrate for a long time or forever. It is clear that if the economic and social situation in the country does not improve, the Albanian brain drain will continue as intensively as before.

However, the continuous brain drain poses a severe threat to this system. Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state – of – the – art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research. The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad.

Some of the highly educated people do return after their studies and others may also consider it. During this year the new government has planned many ways to provide the acilities to have the new situation changed into : the brain gain.

Mapping Exercise - Albania

There is a total 578 scientific workers in our country: 274 in Academy of Sciences and 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries. The number of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0,2 for 1000 habitants" http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

"Albania approves science strategy. On 29 June, the Council of Ministers approved the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania covering the period 2009–2015.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

To triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;

To augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;

to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technologybased firms;

to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;

to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners."

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=3&CAT=NEWSQUERY=012781319cf6:585a:79a1ee85&RCN=28126
::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=012780c04814:b450:09ce483b&RCN=29062
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1gIeJX2H-HAJ:www.wbc-inco.net/attach/Report_Albania.pdf+Research+and+development+in+albania&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiVyVg-g24X1JrNgP4MR0kEohPCbi4GKeMk_Fr6f37xM4YM9ktL81AFlmlZpwtfI1V0zqupMN33_qHvlQeDmaylE1NwW4dQHxMPEvJTOlHGkrTIXetsgaK0PthxdmhmpdWTcn9x&sig=AHIEtbR1QZwMakonOSgkdrkitiO4CO-CCw

--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 12:55, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

:::: I cobbled something together...some pics would be nice, looks a bit dull, maybe I can reduce teh words later, easier in the eyese and evrything--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 20:35, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

== Motto ==

The motto part in the infobox is incorrect. Albania does NOT have an official governmental motto. That reference is obviously not referring to any official government motto. I suggest that the motto part of the infobox be properly removed, as it's not referring to anything properly sourced. Anyone who disagrees? --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 20:42, 9 April 2010 (UTC)

:Nope. I agree —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Elbasan101|contribs]]) 11:10, 10 April 2010 (UTC) --[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 11:28, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

'''[[Should this be added]]'''

''A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.

International Religious Freedom Report 2009 Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor United States Department of State''

[[My objections:]]

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

:There is no law prohibitng hijabs, but social attitudes tend to be against the use of hijabs so obviously some teachers won't let their students wear hijabs. I don't see why that shouldn't be mentioned. The [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]] is a reliable source, so I don't see why this isn't rs. --[[User:ZjarriRrethues|'''— ''ZjarriRrethues'' —''']] [[User_talk:ZjarriRrethues|talk]] 16:00, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

No there isn’t any law prohibiting hijabs, no one is suggesting that. Without going to much into this, the law on religious freedom is not respected and rarely enforced, especially in the case of the Islamic community where teachers/professors and heads of university deny students in their unis/schools because of beards or hijabs. This is well documented yet this report mentions in passing and seems to condone their actions. My point being is that this report is not adequate enough to be mentioned, as its in-complete and factually unsubstantiated with the statements it has put forward, i.e majority of population is non-religious.

So we have a report that condones or under-plays abuses, makes statement which are not backed up; this equals to a report that is not reliable. To suggest that the majority of the population is "non religious" is a big statement, which in my opinion should be able to have some basis. No such thing is put forward. Surely we should know how this conclusion was formed? Not every assumption that is put forward about religion in Albania should be posted.--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 17:55, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T17:55:56Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion for the umptinth time! */

{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Albania}}
{{Article probation}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|
{{WikiProject Albania|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WPCountries|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=B|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}
}}
{{OnThisDay |date1=2004-11-28|oldid1=16335503|date2=2005-11-28|oldid2=29304681|date3=2006-11-28|oldid3=90576276|date4=2007-11-28|oldid4=174325507|date5=2008-11-28|oldid5=254539953|date6=2009-11-28|oldid6=328209906}}
{{todo|small=yes}}
{{oldpeerreview|archive=1|small=yes}}
{{Archive box|auto=long}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{talkarchivenav|noredlinks=y}}
|maxarchivesize = 100K
|counter = 4
|minthreadsleft = 5
|algo = old(90d)
|archive = Talk:Albania/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Auto archiving notice |bot=MiszaBot I |age=90 |small=yes |dounreplied=yes}}

== Patos Marinzas ==

The article has nothing about [[Patos Marinzas]], the biggest on-shore oil field of Europe.[[User:Agre22|Agre22]] ([[User talk:Agre22|talk]]) 01:45, 8 November 2009 (UTC)agre22

:It is Patos / Marinza stgupid —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/74.59.88.57|74.59.88.57]] ([[User talk:74.59.88.57|talk]]) 15:24, 31 December 2009 (UTC) 

== Arnavutluk ==

I was surprised to find out that there is no mention of the Ottoman/Turkish name of the country in this nice and long article. At least the etymology section should have included something. After all, Arnavutluk and Arnavut (Albanians) have been a very visible if not prominent part of Ottoman history for centuries. A sizable Arnavut community in Turkey still recognize and identify their roots.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Thank you Murat! I was not aware that [[Albania]] was called [[Arnavutlk]] during the Turkish presence. Could you please provide a map to show [[Arnavutluk]] within the [[Ottoman Empire]]? I'll make sure to update the article. As a matter of fact many improvements are due here, but unfortunately many albanian users have been banned. If you ban too many users of a small people, that's what you get. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]])--Sulmues 16:58, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

What do you mean by Albania was called [[Arnavutlk]]? Further more, the article states that it was official! Arnavutlk or Arnavut is the way how the otomans used to call albanian and albanians during that time but that was not any official name! Sulmues, I think you should remove the term "officially". Even nowodays, Trukish people refer to albanians as Arnavut, but that does not make it an official naming for Albanians. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:13, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

== Shingen ==

Is it not an important port city in Albania? I know it may have different names, but could not see any reference anywhere. I made a little stub (San Giovanni di Medua) which needs much input.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

: You may be thinking of [[Shëngjin]], which today is a small town near [[Lezha]]. The only port cities in Albania are [[Durrës]] and [[Vlora]]. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 07:49, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

:: Actually [[Shëngjin]] has a port and it is very important. You can check on google for images of Shëngjin port. A lot of goods that go toward [[Kosovo]] is processed thought this port. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:21, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

::: Oops, I was mistaken on this point! Thanks for the correction. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 18:10, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

== Religious numbers ==

I made useful changes to the religious statistics here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334650526&oldid=334649384] because the numbers in the reference [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html]was incorrectly used and added so I had to foot the numbers properly. It took me some minutes to do that.

But here comes [[user:athenean|athenean]] and reverts the WHOLE THING with other things as well and makes a mess in the article. Of course his numbers in the article for religious statistics won't add up to the right amounts that appear in the source. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334653888&oldid=334651587]. Athenean, please do the math and you will see that your numbers don't make any sense. And stop whispering to the admins to ban all the albanians that you find on your way, otherwise you'll get IP editors getting back at you. All you'll get is to ask for protection and have no life. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 14:39, 29 December 2009 (UTC). 

:What I find most disturbing is that people are even suggesting basing the religion statistics on little-known dubious sources, while the sources most commonly used for the same purpose on other articles are not even mentioned. According to Britannica:
:{{quote|''In the early 21st century about seven-tenths of the Albanian population was nominally Muslim, more than half of them Sunni Muslims and the next largest group being the Bektashi sect. Those who identified with Eastern Orthodoxy constituted about one-fifth of the population, and those associated with Roman Catholicism constituted about one-tenth. Muslims are spread throughout the country, although they particularly dominate the centre. Roman Catholics have settled primarily in the northern part of the country, mainly in the city of Shkodër, while Orthodox Christians are prominent in the southern districts of Gjirokastër, Korçë, Berat, and Vlorë.''}}
:The CIA World Factbook also repeats the traditional figures (''Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%'') as "estimates".
:While I do understand and respect the POV of certain Albanians to underestimate the extent of traditional/nominal Islam in Albania believing that by doing so they are presenting Albania as more "Western" or "European", and the point of even doing so is in itself debatable, these facts should not be removed from the article. I suggest including all available sources.--[[User:Ptolion|Ptolion]] ([[User talk:Ptolion|talk]]) 21:56, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

::Very good point Ptolion. There is definitely a concerted effort to portray Albania as "Christian" and therefore "Western" and "European" as possible. There is a very simple way to deal with this, however. What is sourced to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] can stay, what is sourced to dubious sources goes in the trash. Simple as that. There is absolutely no need to respect or tolerate any sort of POV-pushing. We have ways of dealing with that as well. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:22, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::The situation is actually much worse than that. There are deliberate attempts at deception here. I noticed that the article says ''the World Christian Encyclopedia published in 2001 by the Oxford University Press. Vol 1: p 51 says that roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% being Christians''. However, when I check the citations provided, neither of them has anything to do with the "World Christian Encyclopedia". One is from some website [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html], the other is from the website of the Albanian consulate in Milan [http://www.consolatoalbanesemilano.org/lalbania_oggi.html]. Whoever inserted these mentioned the Oxford University Press in a deliberate attempt to mislead and cast an air of respectability on these dubious sources. I will consequently remove them and replace them with the CIA World Factbook and Encyclopedia Britannica. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:39, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Now you have the reference directly from the World Christian Encyclopedia with full isbn. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 01:47, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

:That's an improvement, although do you think you could include a link to the citation? It's impossible to verify the way you have provided it. In general, the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]] should be treated with caution as a source, as it is known to be pro-Christian and ''consistently gave a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets''. I am not terribly interested in this debate, so I will leave it there for now, but that is something to keep in mind. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 02:21, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::I'm not going to touch this any longer either. I really can't provide a citation for the fact that 1929 is really the last year when Albania had an official religious census, so it's ok if you take it out: it's unsupported, even though I'm sure about it. Now World Christian Encyclopedia might be biased, but I could argue that also the PEW research is also biased. Bottom line the company is a [[think tank]] that works for the [[US government]]. And so does the CIA (that refers to the 1929 data). I could argue that the interest of the USA is to depict Albania like as a muslim country because it wants to make it an example of a democratic muslim country for other muslim theocratic countries. That's why the truth might be closer to what the World Christian Encyclopedia is saying. Furthemore there are 1200 christian churches in ALbania and 500 mosques, what does that tell you? [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 16:57, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I removed a small section that pertained specifically to the Jehovah's witnesses and LDS or 'Mormons'. With a population of over 3 million, it didn't seem noteworthy to single out these 2 groups and note their numbers with only a few thousand apiece, without attempting a more detailed breakdown of the christian percentages. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.217.144.112|24.217.144.112]] ([[User talk:24.217.144.112|talk]]) 23:31, 18 January 2010 (UTC) 
:I'd say that as [[Jehovah's witnesses]] and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] are among the fastest growing religions in the world, this is very relevant. [[User:2007apm|2007apm]] ([[User talk:2007apm|talk]]) 20:56, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

:: Sulmues I really doubt the US govt is peddling an agenda of trying to showcase Albania as some kind of shining example. This is just fanciful, especially since there are other more successful Muslim democracies other than Albania’s weak emerging one, with the added gravitas of being more important and much larger than an island, like Indonesia or Turkey.

Were are these 1200 Churches in Albania, that’s ridiculous, your statements are ridiculous. That goes for mosques as well? What I want to know is why they have stopped at these nice round numbers. Just let Albania be what it is stop inventing facts--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 19:09, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

== Science and technology section ==

I think it would be appropriate to add a section to Alabamian Science and technology. I have found some sources can someone help me put something together.

R&D research does not exceed 0.18% of GDP
24 research studies institutes

"From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.

Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated. This exodus is growing and according to a survey run in 1998 a greater number of highly educated people want to emigrate. They are mainly young people who wish to emigrate for a long time or forever. It is clear that if the economic and social situation in the country does not improve, the Albanian brain drain will continue as intensively as before.

However, the continuous brain drain poses a severe threat to this system. Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state – of – the – art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research. The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad.

Some of the highly educated people do return after their studies and others may also consider it. During this year the new government has planned many ways to provide the acilities to have the new situation changed into : the brain gain.

Mapping Exercise - Albania

There is a total 578 scientific workers in our country: 274 in Academy of Sciences and 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries. The number of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0,2 for 1000 habitants" http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

"Albania approves science strategy. On 29 June, the Council of Ministers approved the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania covering the period 2009–2015.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

To triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;

To augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;

to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technologybased firms;

to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;

to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners."

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=3&CAT=NEWSQUERY=012781319cf6:585a:79a1ee85&RCN=28126
::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=012780c04814:b450:09ce483b&RCN=29062
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1gIeJX2H-HAJ:www.wbc-inco.net/attach/Report_Albania.pdf+Research+and+development+in+albania&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiVyVg-g24X1JrNgP4MR0kEohPCbi4GKeMk_Fr6f37xM4YM9ktL81AFlmlZpwtfI1V0zqupMN33_qHvlQeDmaylE1NwW4dQHxMPEvJTOlHGkrTIXetsgaK0PthxdmhmpdWTcn9x&sig=AHIEtbR1QZwMakonOSgkdrkitiO4CO-CCw

--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 12:55, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

:::: I cobbled something together...some pics would be nice, looks a bit dull, maybe I can reduce teh words later, easier in the eyese and evrything--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 20:35, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

== Motto ==

The motto part in the infobox is incorrect. Albania does NOT have an official governmental motto. That reference is obviously not referring to any official government motto. I suggest that the motto part of the infobox be properly removed, as it's not referring to anything properly sourced. Anyone who disagrees? --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 20:42, 9 April 2010 (UTC)

:Nope. I agree —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Elbasan101|contribs]]) 11:10, 10 April 2010 (UTC) --[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 11:28, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

'''[[Should this be added]]'''

''A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.

International Religious Freedom Report 2009 Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor United States Department of State''

[[My objections:]]

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

:There is no law prohibitng hijabs, but social attitudes tend to be against the use of hijabs so obviously some teachers won't let their students wear hijabs. I don't see why that shouldn't be mentioned. The [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]] is a reliable source, so I don't see why this isn't rs. --[[User:ZjarriRrethues|'''— ''ZjarriRrethues'' —''']] [[User_talk:ZjarriRrethues|talk]] 16:00, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

No there isn’t any law prohibiting hijabs, no one is suggesting that. Without going to much into this, the law on religious freedom is not respected and rarely enforced, especially in the case of the Islamic community where teachers/professors and heads of university deny students in their unis/schools because of beards or hijabs. This is well documented yet this report mentions in passing and seems to condone the actions. My point being is that this report is now adequate enough to be mentioned as its in-complete, and factually un-substantive with its statements, such as the statement that majority of population is non-religious.

So we have a report that condones or under-plays abuses, makes statement which are not backed up; this equals to a report that is not reliable. To suggest that the majority of the population is "non religious" is a big statement, which in my opinion should be able to have some basis. No such thing is put forward. Surely we should not how this conclusion was formed or reached? Not every assumption that is put forward about religion in Albania should be posted.--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 17:55, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T15:50:11Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion for the umptinth time! */

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T15:47:30Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion for the umptinth time! */

{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Albania}}
{{Article probation}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|
{{WikiProject Albania|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WPCountries|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=B|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}
}}
{{OnThisDay |date1=2004-11-28|oldid1=16335503|date2=2005-11-28|oldid2=29304681|date3=2006-11-28|oldid3=90576276|date4=2007-11-28|oldid4=174325507|date5=2008-11-28|oldid5=254539953|date6=2009-11-28|oldid6=328209906}}
{{todo|small=yes}}
{{oldpeerreview|archive=1|small=yes}}
{{Archive box|auto=long}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{talkarchivenav|noredlinks=y}}
|maxarchivesize = 100K
|counter = 4
|minthreadsleft = 5
|algo = old(90d)
|archive = Talk:Albania/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Auto archiving notice |bot=MiszaBot I |age=90 |small=yes |dounreplied=yes}}

== Patos Marinzas ==

The article has nothing about [[Patos Marinzas]], the biggest on-shore oil field of Europe.[[User:Agre22|Agre22]] ([[User talk:Agre22|talk]]) 01:45, 8 November 2009 (UTC)agre22

:It is Patos / Marinza stgupid —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/74.59.88.57|74.59.88.57]] ([[User talk:74.59.88.57|talk]]) 15:24, 31 December 2009 (UTC) 

== Arnavutluk ==

I was surprised to find out that there is no mention of the Ottoman/Turkish name of the country in this nice and long article. At least the etymology section should have included something. After all, Arnavutluk and Arnavut (Albanians) have been a very visible if not prominent part of Ottoman history for centuries. A sizable Arnavut community in Turkey still recognize and identify their roots.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Thank you Murat! I was not aware that [[Albania]] was called [[Arnavutlk]] during the Turkish presence. Could you please provide a map to show [[Arnavutluk]] within the [[Ottoman Empire]]? I'll make sure to update the article. As a matter of fact many improvements are due here, but unfortunately many albanian users have been banned. If you ban too many users of a small people, that's what you get. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]])--Sulmues 16:58, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

What do you mean by Albania was called [[Arnavutlk]]? Further more, the article states that it was official! Arnavutlk or Arnavut is the way how the otomans used to call albanian and albanians during that time but that was not any official name! Sulmues, I think you should remove the term "officially". Even nowodays, Trukish people refer to albanians as Arnavut, but that does not make it an official naming for Albanians. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:13, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

== Shingen ==

Is it not an important port city in Albania? I know it may have different names, but could not see any reference anywhere. I made a little stub (San Giovanni di Medua) which needs much input.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

: You may be thinking of [[Shëngjin]], which today is a small town near [[Lezha]]. The only port cities in Albania are [[Durrës]] and [[Vlora]]. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 07:49, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

:: Actually [[Shëngjin]] has a port and it is very important. You can check on google for images of Shëngjin port. A lot of goods that go toward [[Kosovo]] is processed thought this port. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:21, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

::: Oops, I was mistaken on this point! Thanks for the correction. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 18:10, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

== Religious numbers ==

I made useful changes to the religious statistics here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334650526&oldid=334649384] because the numbers in the reference [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html]was incorrectly used and added so I had to foot the numbers properly. It took me some minutes to do that.

But here comes [[user:athenean|athenean]] and reverts the WHOLE THING with other things as well and makes a mess in the article. Of course his numbers in the article for religious statistics won't add up to the right amounts that appear in the source. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334653888&oldid=334651587]. Athenean, please do the math and you will see that your numbers don't make any sense. And stop whispering to the admins to ban all the albanians that you find on your way, otherwise you'll get IP editors getting back at you. All you'll get is to ask for protection and have no life. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 14:39, 29 December 2009 (UTC). 

:What I find most disturbing is that people are even suggesting basing the religion statistics on little-known dubious sources, while the sources most commonly used for the same purpose on other articles are not even mentioned. According to Britannica:
:{{quote|''In the early 21st century about seven-tenths of the Albanian population was nominally Muslim, more than half of them Sunni Muslims and the next largest group being the Bektashi sect. Those who identified with Eastern Orthodoxy constituted about one-fifth of the population, and those associated with Roman Catholicism constituted about one-tenth. Muslims are spread throughout the country, although they particularly dominate the centre. Roman Catholics have settled primarily in the northern part of the country, mainly in the city of Shkodër, while Orthodox Christians are prominent in the southern districts of Gjirokastër, Korçë, Berat, and Vlorë.''}}
:The CIA World Factbook also repeats the traditional figures (''Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%'') as "estimates".
:While I do understand and respect the POV of certain Albanians to underestimate the extent of traditional/nominal Islam in Albania believing that by doing so they are presenting Albania as more "Western" or "European", and the point of even doing so is in itself debatable, these facts should not be removed from the article. I suggest including all available sources.--[[User:Ptolion|Ptolion]] ([[User talk:Ptolion|talk]]) 21:56, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

::Very good point Ptolion. There is definitely a concerted effort to portray Albania as "Christian" and therefore "Western" and "European" as possible. There is a very simple way to deal with this, however. What is sourced to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] can stay, what is sourced to dubious sources goes in the trash. Simple as that. There is absolutely no need to respect or tolerate any sort of POV-pushing. We have ways of dealing with that as well. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:22, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::The situation is actually much worse than that. There are deliberate attempts at deception here. I noticed that the article says ''the World Christian Encyclopedia published in 2001 by the Oxford University Press. Vol 1: p 51 says that roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% being Christians''. However, when I check the citations provided, neither of them has anything to do with the "World Christian Encyclopedia". One is from some website [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html], the other is from the website of the Albanian consulate in Milan [http://www.consolatoalbanesemilano.org/lalbania_oggi.html]. Whoever inserted these mentioned the Oxford University Press in a deliberate attempt to mislead and cast an air of respectability on these dubious sources. I will consequently remove them and replace them with the CIA World Factbook and Encyclopedia Britannica. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:39, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Now you have the reference directly from the World Christian Encyclopedia with full isbn. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 01:47, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

:That's an improvement, although do you think you could include a link to the citation? It's impossible to verify the way you have provided it. In general, the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]] should be treated with caution as a source, as it is known to be pro-Christian and ''consistently gave a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets''. I am not terribly interested in this debate, so I will leave it there for now, but that is something to keep in mind. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 02:21, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::I'm not going to touch this any longer either. I really can't provide a citation for the fact that 1929 is really the last year when Albania had an official religious census, so it's ok if you take it out: it's unsupported, even though I'm sure about it. Now World Christian Encyclopedia might be biased, but I could argue that also the PEW research is also biased. Bottom line the company is a [[think tank]] that works for the [[US government]]. And so does the CIA (that refers to the 1929 data). I could argue that the interest of the USA is to depict Albania like as a muslim country because it wants to make it an example of a democratic muslim country for other muslim theocratic countries. That's why the truth might be closer to what the World Christian Encyclopedia is saying. Furthemore there are 1200 christian churches in ALbania and 500 mosques, what does that tell you? [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 16:57, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I removed a small section that pertained specifically to the Jehovah's witnesses and LDS or 'Mormons'. With a population of over 3 million, it didn't seem noteworthy to single out these 2 groups and note their numbers with only a few thousand apiece, without attempting a more detailed breakdown of the christian percentages. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.217.144.112|24.217.144.112]] ([[User talk:24.217.144.112|talk]]) 23:31, 18 January 2010 (UTC) 
:I'd say that as [[Jehovah's witnesses]] and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] are among the fastest growing religions in the world, this is very relevant. [[User:2007apm|2007apm]] ([[User talk:2007apm|talk]]) 20:56, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

:: Sulmues I really doubt the US govt is peddling an agenda of trying to showcase Albania as some kind of shining example. This is just fanciful, especially since there are other more successful Muslim democracies other than Albania’s weak emerging one, with the added gravitas of being more important and much larger than an island, like Indonesia or Turkey.

Were are these 1200 Churches in Albania, that’s ridiculous, your statements are ridiculous. That goes for mosques as well? What I want to know is why they have stopped at these nice round numbers. Just let Albania be what it is stop inventing facts--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 19:09, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

== Science and technology section ==

I think it would be appropriate to add a section to Alabamian Science and technology. I have found some sources can someone help me put something together.

R&D research does not exceed 0.18% of GDP
24 research studies institutes

"From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.

Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated. This exodus is growing and according to a survey run in 1998 a greater number of highly educated people want to emigrate. They are mainly young people who wish to emigrate for a long time or forever. It is clear that if the economic and social situation in the country does not improve, the Albanian brain drain will continue as intensively as before.

However, the continuous brain drain poses a severe threat to this system. Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state – of – the – art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research. The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad.

Some of the highly educated people do return after their studies and others may also consider it. During this year the new government has planned many ways to provide the acilities to have the new situation changed into : the brain gain.

Mapping Exercise - Albania

There is a total 578 scientific workers in our country: 274 in Academy of Sciences and 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries. The number of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0,2 for 1000 habitants" http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

"Albania approves science strategy. On 29 June, the Council of Ministers approved the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania covering the period 2009–2015.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

To triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;

To augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;

to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technologybased firms;

to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;

to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners."

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=3&CAT=NEWSQUERY=012781319cf6:585a:79a1ee85&RCN=28126
::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=012780c04814:b450:09ce483b&RCN=29062
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1gIeJX2H-HAJ:www.wbc-inco.net/attach/Report_Albania.pdf+Research+and+development+in+albania&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiVyVg-g24X1JrNgP4MR0kEohPCbi4GKeMk_Fr6f37xM4YM9ktL81AFlmlZpwtfI1V0zqupMN33_qHvlQeDmaylE1NwW4dQHxMPEvJTOlHGkrTIXetsgaK0PthxdmhmpdWTcn9x&sig=AHIEtbR1QZwMakonOSgkdrkitiO4CO-CCw

--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 12:55, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

:::: I cobbled something together...some pics would be nice, looks a bit dull, maybe I can reduce teh words later, easier in the eyese and evrything--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 20:35, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

== Motto ==

The motto part in the infobox is incorrect. Albania does NOT have an official governmental motto. That reference is obviously not referring to any official government motto. I suggest that the motto part of the infobox be properly removed, as it's not referring to anything properly sourced. Anyone who disagrees? --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 20:42, 9 April 2010 (UTC)

:Nope. I agree —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Elbasan101|contribs]]) 11:10, 10 April 2010 (UTC) --[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 11:28, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

'''Should this be added'''

'''''"A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm
International Religious Freedom Report 2009 Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor United States Department of State'''''

My objections:

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T15:47:05Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion for the umptinth time! */

{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Albania}}
{{Article probation}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|
{{WikiProject Albania|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WPCountries|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=B|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}
}}
{{OnThisDay |date1=2004-11-28|oldid1=16335503|date2=2005-11-28|oldid2=29304681|date3=2006-11-28|oldid3=90576276|date4=2007-11-28|oldid4=174325507|date5=2008-11-28|oldid5=254539953|date6=2009-11-28|oldid6=328209906}}
{{todo|small=yes}}
{{oldpeerreview|archive=1|small=yes}}
{{Archive box|auto=long}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{talkarchivenav|noredlinks=y}}
|maxarchivesize = 100K
|counter = 4
|minthreadsleft = 5
|algo = old(90d)
|archive = Talk:Albania/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Auto archiving notice |bot=MiszaBot I |age=90 |small=yes |dounreplied=yes}}

== Patos Marinzas ==

The article has nothing about [[Patos Marinzas]], the biggest on-shore oil field of Europe.[[User:Agre22|Agre22]] ([[User talk:Agre22|talk]]) 01:45, 8 November 2009 (UTC)agre22

:It is Patos / Marinza stgupid —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/74.59.88.57|74.59.88.57]] ([[User talk:74.59.88.57|talk]]) 15:24, 31 December 2009 (UTC) 

== Arnavutluk ==

I was surprised to find out that there is no mention of the Ottoman/Turkish name of the country in this nice and long article. At least the etymology section should have included something. After all, Arnavutluk and Arnavut (Albanians) have been a very visible if not prominent part of Ottoman history for centuries. A sizable Arnavut community in Turkey still recognize and identify their roots.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Thank you Murat! I was not aware that [[Albania]] was called [[Arnavutlk]] during the Turkish presence. Could you please provide a map to show [[Arnavutluk]] within the [[Ottoman Empire]]? I'll make sure to update the article. As a matter of fact many improvements are due here, but unfortunately many albanian users have been banned. If you ban too many users of a small people, that's what you get. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]])--Sulmues 16:58, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

What do you mean by Albania was called [[Arnavutlk]]? Further more, the article states that it was official! Arnavutlk or Arnavut is the way how the otomans used to call albanian and albanians during that time but that was not any official name! Sulmues, I think you should remove the term "officially". Even nowodays, Trukish people refer to albanians as Arnavut, but that does not make it an official naming for Albanians. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:13, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

== Shingen ==

Is it not an important port city in Albania? I know it may have different names, but could not see any reference anywhere. I made a little stub (San Giovanni di Medua) which needs much input.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

: You may be thinking of [[Shëngjin]], which today is a small town near [[Lezha]]. The only port cities in Albania are [[Durrës]] and [[Vlora]]. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 07:49, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

:: Actually [[Shëngjin]] has a port and it is very important. You can check on google for images of Shëngjin port. A lot of goods that go toward [[Kosovo]] is processed thought this port. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:21, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

::: Oops, I was mistaken on this point! Thanks for the correction. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 18:10, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

== Religious numbers ==

I made useful changes to the religious statistics here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334650526&oldid=334649384] because the numbers in the reference [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html]was incorrectly used and added so I had to foot the numbers properly. It took me some minutes to do that.

But here comes [[user:athenean|athenean]] and reverts the WHOLE THING with other things as well and makes a mess in the article. Of course his numbers in the article for religious statistics won't add up to the right amounts that appear in the source. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334653888&oldid=334651587]. Athenean, please do the math and you will see that your numbers don't make any sense. And stop whispering to the admins to ban all the albanians that you find on your way, otherwise you'll get IP editors getting back at you. All you'll get is to ask for protection and have no life. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 14:39, 29 December 2009 (UTC). 

:What I find most disturbing is that people are even suggesting basing the religion statistics on little-known dubious sources, while the sources most commonly used for the same purpose on other articles are not even mentioned. According to Britannica:
:{{quote|''In the early 21st century about seven-tenths of the Albanian population was nominally Muslim, more than half of them Sunni Muslims and the next largest group being the Bektashi sect. Those who identified with Eastern Orthodoxy constituted about one-fifth of the population, and those associated with Roman Catholicism constituted about one-tenth. Muslims are spread throughout the country, although they particularly dominate the centre. Roman Catholics have settled primarily in the northern part of the country, mainly in the city of Shkodër, while Orthodox Christians are prominent in the southern districts of Gjirokastër, Korçë, Berat, and Vlorë.''}}
:The CIA World Factbook also repeats the traditional figures (''Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%'') as "estimates".
:While I do understand and respect the POV of certain Albanians to underestimate the extent of traditional/nominal Islam in Albania believing that by doing so they are presenting Albania as more "Western" or "European", and the point of even doing so is in itself debatable, these facts should not be removed from the article. I suggest including all available sources.--[[User:Ptolion|Ptolion]] ([[User talk:Ptolion|talk]]) 21:56, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

::Very good point Ptolion. There is definitely a concerted effort to portray Albania as "Christian" and therefore "Western" and "European" as possible. There is a very simple way to deal with this, however. What is sourced to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] can stay, what is sourced to dubious sources goes in the trash. Simple as that. There is absolutely no need to respect or tolerate any sort of POV-pushing. We have ways of dealing with that as well. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:22, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::The situation is actually much worse than that. There are deliberate attempts at deception here. I noticed that the article says ''the World Christian Encyclopedia published in 2001 by the Oxford University Press. Vol 1: p 51 says that roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% being Christians''. However, when I check the citations provided, neither of them has anything to do with the "World Christian Encyclopedia". One is from some website [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html], the other is from the website of the Albanian consulate in Milan [http://www.consolatoalbanesemilano.org/lalbania_oggi.html]. Whoever inserted these mentioned the Oxford University Press in a deliberate attempt to mislead and cast an air of respectability on these dubious sources. I will consequently remove them and replace them with the CIA World Factbook and Encyclopedia Britannica. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:39, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Now you have the reference directly from the World Christian Encyclopedia with full isbn. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 01:47, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

:That's an improvement, although do you think you could include a link to the citation? It's impossible to verify the way you have provided it. In general, the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]] should be treated with caution as a source, as it is known to be pro-Christian and ''consistently gave a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets''. I am not terribly interested in this debate, so I will leave it there for now, but that is something to keep in mind. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 02:21, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::I'm not going to touch this any longer either. I really can't provide a citation for the fact that 1929 is really the last year when Albania had an official religious census, so it's ok if you take it out: it's unsupported, even though I'm sure about it. Now World Christian Encyclopedia might be biased, but I could argue that also the PEW research is also biased. Bottom line the company is a [[think tank]] that works for the [[US government]]. And so does the CIA (that refers to the 1929 data). I could argue that the interest of the USA is to depict Albania like as a muslim country because it wants to make it an example of a democratic muslim country for other muslim theocratic countries. That's why the truth might be closer to what the World Christian Encyclopedia is saying. Furthemore there are 1200 christian churches in ALbania and 500 mosques, what does that tell you? [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 16:57, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I removed a small section that pertained specifically to the Jehovah's witnesses and LDS or 'Mormons'. With a population of over 3 million, it didn't seem noteworthy to single out these 2 groups and note their numbers with only a few thousand apiece, without attempting a more detailed breakdown of the christian percentages. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.217.144.112|24.217.144.112]] ([[User talk:24.217.144.112|talk]]) 23:31, 18 January 2010 (UTC) 
:I'd say that as [[Jehovah's witnesses]] and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] are among the fastest growing religions in the world, this is very relevant. [[User:2007apm|2007apm]] ([[User talk:2007apm|talk]]) 20:56, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

:: Sulmues I really doubt the US govt is peddling an agenda of trying to showcase Albania as some kind of shining example. This is just fanciful, especially since there are other more successful Muslim democracies other than Albania’s weak emerging one, with the added gravitas of being more important and much larger than an island, like Indonesia or Turkey.

Were are these 1200 Churches in Albania, that’s ridiculous, your statements are ridiculous. That goes for mosques as well? What I want to know is why they have stopped at these nice round numbers. Just let Albania be what it is stop inventing facts--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 19:09, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

== Science and technology section ==

I think it would be appropriate to add a section to Alabamian Science and technology. I have found some sources can someone help me put something together.

R&D research does not exceed 0.18% of GDP
24 research studies institutes

"From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.

Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated. This exodus is growing and according to a survey run in 1998 a greater number of highly educated people want to emigrate. They are mainly young people who wish to emigrate for a long time or forever. It is clear that if the economic and social situation in the country does not improve, the Albanian brain drain will continue as intensively as before.

However, the continuous brain drain poses a severe threat to this system. Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state – of – the – art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research. The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad.

Some of the highly educated people do return after their studies and others may also consider it. During this year the new government has planned many ways to provide the acilities to have the new situation changed into : the brain gain.

Mapping Exercise - Albania

There is a total 578 scientific workers in our country: 274 in Academy of Sciences and 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries. The number of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0,2 for 1000 habitants" http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

"Albania approves science strategy. On 29 June, the Council of Ministers approved the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania covering the period 2009–2015.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

To triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;

To augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;

to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technologybased firms;

to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;

to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners."

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=3&CAT=NEWSQUERY=012781319cf6:585a:79a1ee85&RCN=28126
::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=012780c04814:b450:09ce483b&RCN=29062
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1gIeJX2H-HAJ:www.wbc-inco.net/attach/Report_Albania.pdf+Research+and+development+in+albania&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiVyVg-g24X1JrNgP4MR0kEohPCbi4GKeMk_Fr6f37xM4YM9ktL81AFlmlZpwtfI1V0zqupMN33_qHvlQeDmaylE1NwW4dQHxMPEvJTOlHGkrTIXetsgaK0PthxdmhmpdWTcn9x&sig=AHIEtbR1QZwMakonOSgkdrkitiO4CO-CCw

--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 12:55, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

:::: I cobbled something together...some pics would be nice, looks a bit dull, maybe I can reduce teh words later, easier in the eyese and evrything--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 20:35, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

== Motto ==

The motto part in the infobox is incorrect. Albania does NOT have an official governmental motto. That reference is obviously not referring to any official government motto. I suggest that the motto part of the infobox be properly removed, as it's not referring to anything properly sourced. Anyone who disagrees? --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 20:42, 9 April 2010 (UTC)

:Nope. I agree —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Elbasan101|contribs]]) 11:10, 10 April 2010 (UTC) --[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 11:28, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

[['''Should this be added''']]

'''''"A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm
International Religious Freedom Report 2009 Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor United States Department of State'''''

My objections:

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T15:46:37Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion for the umptinth time! */

{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Albania}}
{{Article probation}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|
{{WikiProject Albania|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WPCountries|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=B|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}
}}
{{OnThisDay |date1=2004-11-28|oldid1=16335503|date2=2005-11-28|oldid2=29304681|date3=2006-11-28|oldid3=90576276|date4=2007-11-28|oldid4=174325507|date5=2008-11-28|oldid5=254539953|date6=2009-11-28|oldid6=328209906}}
{{todo|small=yes}}
{{oldpeerreview|archive=1|small=yes}}
{{Archive box|auto=long}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{talkarchivenav|noredlinks=y}}
|maxarchivesize = 100K
|counter = 4
|minthreadsleft = 5
|algo = old(90d)
|archive = Talk:Albania/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Auto archiving notice |bot=MiszaBot I |age=90 |small=yes |dounreplied=yes}}

== Patos Marinzas ==

The article has nothing about [[Patos Marinzas]], the biggest on-shore oil field of Europe.[[User:Agre22|Agre22]] ([[User talk:Agre22|talk]]) 01:45, 8 November 2009 (UTC)agre22

:It is Patos / Marinza stgupid —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/74.59.88.57|74.59.88.57]] ([[User talk:74.59.88.57|talk]]) 15:24, 31 December 2009 (UTC) 

== Arnavutluk ==

I was surprised to find out that there is no mention of the Ottoman/Turkish name of the country in this nice and long article. At least the etymology section should have included something. After all, Arnavutluk and Arnavut (Albanians) have been a very visible if not prominent part of Ottoman history for centuries. A sizable Arnavut community in Turkey still recognize and identify their roots.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Thank you Murat! I was not aware that [[Albania]] was called [[Arnavutlk]] during the Turkish presence. Could you please provide a map to show [[Arnavutluk]] within the [[Ottoman Empire]]? I'll make sure to update the article. As a matter of fact many improvements are due here, but unfortunately many albanian users have been banned. If you ban too many users of a small people, that's what you get. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]])--Sulmues 16:58, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

What do you mean by Albania was called [[Arnavutlk]]? Further more, the article states that it was official! Arnavutlk or Arnavut is the way how the otomans used to call albanian and albanians during that time but that was not any official name! Sulmues, I think you should remove the term "officially". Even nowodays, Trukish people refer to albanians as Arnavut, but that does not make it an official naming for Albanians. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:13, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

== Shingen ==

Is it not an important port city in Albania? I know it may have different names, but could not see any reference anywhere. I made a little stub (San Giovanni di Medua) which needs much input.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

: You may be thinking of [[Shëngjin]], which today is a small town near [[Lezha]]. The only port cities in Albania are [[Durrës]] and [[Vlora]]. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 07:49, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

:: Actually [[Shëngjin]] has a port and it is very important. You can check on google for images of Shëngjin port. A lot of goods that go toward [[Kosovo]] is processed thought this port. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:21, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

::: Oops, I was mistaken on this point! Thanks for the correction. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 18:10, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

== Religious numbers ==

I made useful changes to the religious statistics here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334650526&oldid=334649384] because the numbers in the reference [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html]was incorrectly used and added so I had to foot the numbers properly. It took me some minutes to do that.

But here comes [[user:athenean|athenean]] and reverts the WHOLE THING with other things as well and makes a mess in the article. Of course his numbers in the article for religious statistics won't add up to the right amounts that appear in the source. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334653888&oldid=334651587]. Athenean, please do the math and you will see that your numbers don't make any sense. And stop whispering to the admins to ban all the albanians that you find on your way, otherwise you'll get IP editors getting back at you. All you'll get is to ask for protection and have no life. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 14:39, 29 December 2009 (UTC). 

:What I find most disturbing is that people are even suggesting basing the religion statistics on little-known dubious sources, while the sources most commonly used for the same purpose on other articles are not even mentioned. According to Britannica:
:{{quote|''In the early 21st century about seven-tenths of the Albanian population was nominally Muslim, more than half of them Sunni Muslims and the next largest group being the Bektashi sect. Those who identified with Eastern Orthodoxy constituted about one-fifth of the population, and those associated with Roman Catholicism constituted about one-tenth. Muslims are spread throughout the country, although they particularly dominate the centre. Roman Catholics have settled primarily in the northern part of the country, mainly in the city of Shkodër, while Orthodox Christians are prominent in the southern districts of Gjirokastër, Korçë, Berat, and Vlorë.''}}
:The CIA World Factbook also repeats the traditional figures (''Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%'') as "estimates".
:While I do understand and respect the POV of certain Albanians to underestimate the extent of traditional/nominal Islam in Albania believing that by doing so they are presenting Albania as more "Western" or "European", and the point of even doing so is in itself debatable, these facts should not be removed from the article. I suggest including all available sources.--[[User:Ptolion|Ptolion]] ([[User talk:Ptolion|talk]]) 21:56, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

::Very good point Ptolion. There is definitely a concerted effort to portray Albania as "Christian" and therefore "Western" and "European" as possible. There is a very simple way to deal with this, however. What is sourced to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] can stay, what is sourced to dubious sources goes in the trash. Simple as that. There is absolutely no need to respect or tolerate any sort of POV-pushing. We have ways of dealing with that as well. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:22, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::The situation is actually much worse than that. There are deliberate attempts at deception here. I noticed that the article says ''the World Christian Encyclopedia published in 2001 by the Oxford University Press. Vol 1: p 51 says that roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% being Christians''. However, when I check the citations provided, neither of them has anything to do with the "World Christian Encyclopedia". One is from some website [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html], the other is from the website of the Albanian consulate in Milan [http://www.consolatoalbanesemilano.org/lalbania_oggi.html]. Whoever inserted these mentioned the Oxford University Press in a deliberate attempt to mislead and cast an air of respectability on these dubious sources. I will consequently remove them and replace them with the CIA World Factbook and Encyclopedia Britannica. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:39, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Now you have the reference directly from the World Christian Encyclopedia with full isbn. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 01:47, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

:That's an improvement, although do you think you could include a link to the citation? It's impossible to verify the way you have provided it. In general, the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]] should be treated with caution as a source, as it is known to be pro-Christian and ''consistently gave a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets''. I am not terribly interested in this debate, so I will leave it there for now, but that is something to keep in mind. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 02:21, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::I'm not going to touch this any longer either. I really can't provide a citation for the fact that 1929 is really the last year when Albania had an official religious census, so it's ok if you take it out: it's unsupported, even though I'm sure about it. Now World Christian Encyclopedia might be biased, but I could argue that also the PEW research is also biased. Bottom line the company is a [[think tank]] that works for the [[US government]]. And so does the CIA (that refers to the 1929 data). I could argue that the interest of the USA is to depict Albania like as a muslim country because it wants to make it an example of a democratic muslim country for other muslim theocratic countries. That's why the truth might be closer to what the World Christian Encyclopedia is saying. Furthemore there are 1200 christian churches in ALbania and 500 mosques, what does that tell you? [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 16:57, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I removed a small section that pertained specifically to the Jehovah's witnesses and LDS or 'Mormons'. With a population of over 3 million, it didn't seem noteworthy to single out these 2 groups and note their numbers with only a few thousand apiece, without attempting a more detailed breakdown of the christian percentages. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.217.144.112|24.217.144.112]] ([[User talk:24.217.144.112|talk]]) 23:31, 18 January 2010 (UTC) 
:I'd say that as [[Jehovah's witnesses]] and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] are among the fastest growing religions in the world, this is very relevant. [[User:2007apm|2007apm]] ([[User talk:2007apm|talk]]) 20:56, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

:: Sulmues I really doubt the US govt is peddling an agenda of trying to showcase Albania as some kind of shining example. This is just fanciful, especially since there are other more successful Muslim democracies other than Albania’s weak emerging one, with the added gravitas of being more important and much larger than an island, like Indonesia or Turkey.

Were are these 1200 Churches in Albania, that’s ridiculous, your statements are ridiculous. That goes for mosques as well? What I want to know is why they have stopped at these nice round numbers. Just let Albania be what it is stop inventing facts--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 19:09, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

== Science and technology section ==

I think it would be appropriate to add a section to Alabamian Science and technology. I have found some sources can someone help me put something together.

R&D research does not exceed 0.18% of GDP
24 research studies institutes

"From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.

Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated. This exodus is growing and according to a survey run in 1998 a greater number of highly educated people want to emigrate. They are mainly young people who wish to emigrate for a long time or forever. It is clear that if the economic and social situation in the country does not improve, the Albanian brain drain will continue as intensively as before.

However, the continuous brain drain poses a severe threat to this system. Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state – of – the – art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research. The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad.

Some of the highly educated people do return after their studies and others may also consider it. During this year the new government has planned many ways to provide the acilities to have the new situation changed into : the brain gain.

Mapping Exercise - Albania

There is a total 578 scientific workers in our country: 274 in Academy of Sciences and 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries. The number of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0,2 for 1000 habitants" http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

"Albania approves science strategy. On 29 June, the Council of Ministers approved the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania covering the period 2009–2015.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

To triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;

To augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;

to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technologybased firms;

to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;

to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners."

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=3&CAT=NEWSQUERY=012781319cf6:585a:79a1ee85&RCN=28126
::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=012780c04814:b450:09ce483b&RCN=29062
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1gIeJX2H-HAJ:www.wbc-inco.net/attach/Report_Albania.pdf+Research+and+development+in+albania&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiVyVg-g24X1JrNgP4MR0kEohPCbi4GKeMk_Fr6f37xM4YM9ktL81AFlmlZpwtfI1V0zqupMN33_qHvlQeDmaylE1NwW4dQHxMPEvJTOlHGkrTIXetsgaK0PthxdmhmpdWTcn9x&sig=AHIEtbR1QZwMakonOSgkdrkitiO4CO-CCw

--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 12:55, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

:::: I cobbled something together...some pics would be nice, looks a bit dull, maybe I can reduce teh words later, easier in the eyese and evrything--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 20:35, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

== Motto ==

The motto part in the infobox is incorrect. Albania does NOT have an official governmental motto. That reference is obviously not referring to any official government motto. I suggest that the motto part of the infobox be properly removed, as it's not referring to anything properly sourced. Anyone who disagrees? --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 20:42, 9 April 2010 (UTC)

:Nope. I agree —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Elbasan101|contribs]]) 11:10, 10 April 2010 (UTC) --[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 11:28, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

Should this be added

"A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm
International Religious Freedom Report 2009 Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor United States Department of State

My objections:

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T15:46:04Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion for the umptinth time! */

{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Albania}}
{{Article probation}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|
{{WikiProject Albania|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WPCountries|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=B|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}
}}
{{OnThisDay |date1=2004-11-28|oldid1=16335503|date2=2005-11-28|oldid2=29304681|date3=2006-11-28|oldid3=90576276|date4=2007-11-28|oldid4=174325507|date5=2008-11-28|oldid5=254539953|date6=2009-11-28|oldid6=328209906}}
{{todo|small=yes}}
{{oldpeerreview|archive=1|small=yes}}
{{Archive box|auto=long}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{talkarchivenav|noredlinks=y}}
|maxarchivesize = 100K
|counter = 4
|minthreadsleft = 5
|algo = old(90d)
|archive = Talk:Albania/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Auto archiving notice |bot=MiszaBot I |age=90 |small=yes |dounreplied=yes}}

== Patos Marinzas ==

The article has nothing about [[Patos Marinzas]], the biggest on-shore oil field of Europe.[[User:Agre22|Agre22]] ([[User talk:Agre22|talk]]) 01:45, 8 November 2009 (UTC)agre22

:It is Patos / Marinza stgupid —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/74.59.88.57|74.59.88.57]] ([[User talk:74.59.88.57|talk]]) 15:24, 31 December 2009 (UTC) 

== Arnavutluk ==

I was surprised to find out that there is no mention of the Ottoman/Turkish name of the country in this nice and long article. At least the etymology section should have included something. After all, Arnavutluk and Arnavut (Albanians) have been a very visible if not prominent part of Ottoman history for centuries. A sizable Arnavut community in Turkey still recognize and identify their roots.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Thank you Murat! I was not aware that [[Albania]] was called [[Arnavutlk]] during the Turkish presence. Could you please provide a map to show [[Arnavutluk]] within the [[Ottoman Empire]]? I'll make sure to update the article. As a matter of fact many improvements are due here, but unfortunately many albanian users have been banned. If you ban too many users of a small people, that's what you get. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]])--Sulmues 16:58, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

What do you mean by Albania was called [[Arnavutlk]]? Further more, the article states that it was official! Arnavutlk or Arnavut is the way how the otomans used to call albanian and albanians during that time but that was not any official name! Sulmues, I think you should remove the term "officially". Even nowodays, Trukish people refer to albanians as Arnavut, but that does not make it an official naming for Albanians. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:13, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

== Shingen ==

Is it not an important port city in Albania? I know it may have different names, but could not see any reference anywhere. I made a little stub (San Giovanni di Medua) which needs much input.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

: You may be thinking of [[Shëngjin]], which today is a small town near [[Lezha]]. The only port cities in Albania are [[Durrës]] and [[Vlora]]. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 07:49, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

:: Actually [[Shëngjin]] has a port and it is very important. You can check on google for images of Shëngjin port. A lot of goods that go toward [[Kosovo]] is processed thought this port. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:21, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

::: Oops, I was mistaken on this point! Thanks for the correction. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 18:10, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

== Religious numbers ==

I made useful changes to the religious statistics here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334650526&oldid=334649384] because the numbers in the reference [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html]was incorrectly used and added so I had to foot the numbers properly. It took me some minutes to do that.

But here comes [[user:athenean|athenean]] and reverts the WHOLE THING with other things as well and makes a mess in the article. Of course his numbers in the article for religious statistics won't add up to the right amounts that appear in the source. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334653888&oldid=334651587]. Athenean, please do the math and you will see that your numbers don't make any sense. And stop whispering to the admins to ban all the albanians that you find on your way, otherwise you'll get IP editors getting back at you. All you'll get is to ask for protection and have no life. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 14:39, 29 December 2009 (UTC). 

:What I find most disturbing is that people are even suggesting basing the religion statistics on little-known dubious sources, while the sources most commonly used for the same purpose on other articles are not even mentioned. According to Britannica:
:{{quote|''In the early 21st century about seven-tenths of the Albanian population was nominally Muslim, more than half of them Sunni Muslims and the next largest group being the Bektashi sect. Those who identified with Eastern Orthodoxy constituted about one-fifth of the population, and those associated with Roman Catholicism constituted about one-tenth. Muslims are spread throughout the country, although they particularly dominate the centre. Roman Catholics have settled primarily in the northern part of the country, mainly in the city of Shkodër, while Orthodox Christians are prominent in the southern districts of Gjirokastër, Korçë, Berat, and Vlorë.''}}
:The CIA World Factbook also repeats the traditional figures (''Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%'') as "estimates".
:While I do understand and respect the POV of certain Albanians to underestimate the extent of traditional/nominal Islam in Albania believing that by doing so they are presenting Albania as more "Western" or "European", and the point of even doing so is in itself debatable, these facts should not be removed from the article. I suggest including all available sources.--[[User:Ptolion|Ptolion]] ([[User talk:Ptolion|talk]]) 21:56, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

::Very good point Ptolion. There is definitely a concerted effort to portray Albania as "Christian" and therefore "Western" and "European" as possible. There is a very simple way to deal with this, however. What is sourced to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] can stay, what is sourced to dubious sources goes in the trash. Simple as that. There is absolutely no need to respect or tolerate any sort of POV-pushing. We have ways of dealing with that as well. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:22, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::The situation is actually much worse than that. There are deliberate attempts at deception here. I noticed that the article says ''the World Christian Encyclopedia published in 2001 by the Oxford University Press. Vol 1: p 51 says that roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% being Christians''. However, when I check the citations provided, neither of them has anything to do with the "World Christian Encyclopedia". One is from some website [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html], the other is from the website of the Albanian consulate in Milan [http://www.consolatoalbanesemilano.org/lalbania_oggi.html]. Whoever inserted these mentioned the Oxford University Press in a deliberate attempt to mislead and cast an air of respectability on these dubious sources. I will consequently remove them and replace them with the CIA World Factbook and Encyclopedia Britannica. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:39, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Now you have the reference directly from the World Christian Encyclopedia with full isbn. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 01:47, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

:That's an improvement, although do you think you could include a link to the citation? It's impossible to verify the way you have provided it. In general, the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]] should be treated with caution as a source, as it is known to be pro-Christian and ''consistently gave a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets''. I am not terribly interested in this debate, so I will leave it there for now, but that is something to keep in mind. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 02:21, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::I'm not going to touch this any longer either. I really can't provide a citation for the fact that 1929 is really the last year when Albania had an official religious census, so it's ok if you take it out: it's unsupported, even though I'm sure about it. Now World Christian Encyclopedia might be biased, but I could argue that also the PEW research is also biased. Bottom line the company is a [[think tank]] that works for the [[US government]]. And so does the CIA (that refers to the 1929 data). I could argue that the interest of the USA is to depict Albania like as a muslim country because it wants to make it an example of a democratic muslim country for other muslim theocratic countries. That's why the truth might be closer to what the World Christian Encyclopedia is saying. Furthemore there are 1200 christian churches in ALbania and 500 mosques, what does that tell you? [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 16:57, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I removed a small section that pertained specifically to the Jehovah's witnesses and LDS or 'Mormons'. With a population of over 3 million, it didn't seem noteworthy to single out these 2 groups and note their numbers with only a few thousand apiece, without attempting a more detailed breakdown of the christian percentages. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.217.144.112|24.217.144.112]] ([[User talk:24.217.144.112|talk]]) 23:31, 18 January 2010 (UTC) 
:I'd say that as [[Jehovah's witnesses]] and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] are among the fastest growing religions in the world, this is very relevant. [[User:2007apm|2007apm]] ([[User talk:2007apm|talk]]) 20:56, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

:: Sulmues I really doubt the US govt is peddling an agenda of trying to showcase Albania as some kind of shining example. This is just fanciful, especially since there are other more successful Muslim democracies other than Albania’s weak emerging one, with the added gravitas of being more important and much larger than an island, like Indonesia or Turkey.

Were are these 1200 Churches in Albania, that’s ridiculous, your statements are ridiculous. That goes for mosques as well? What I want to know is why they have stopped at these nice round numbers. Just let Albania be what it is stop inventing facts--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 19:09, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

== Science and technology section ==

I think it would be appropriate to add a section to Alabamian Science and technology. I have found some sources can someone help me put something together.

R&D research does not exceed 0.18% of GDP
24 research studies institutes

"From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.

Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated. This exodus is growing and according to a survey run in 1998 a greater number of highly educated people want to emigrate. They are mainly young people who wish to emigrate for a long time or forever. It is clear that if the economic and social situation in the country does not improve, the Albanian brain drain will continue as intensively as before.

However, the continuous brain drain poses a severe threat to this system. Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state – of – the – art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research. The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad.

Some of the highly educated people do return after their studies and others may also consider it. During this year the new government has planned many ways to provide the acilities to have the new situation changed into : the brain gain.

Mapping Exercise - Albania

There is a total 578 scientific workers in our country: 274 in Academy of Sciences and 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries. The number of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0,2 for 1000 habitants" http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

"Albania approves science strategy. On 29 June, the Council of Ministers approved the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania covering the period 2009–2015.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

To triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;

To augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;

to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technologybased firms;

to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;

to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners."

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=3&CAT=NEWSQUERY=012781319cf6:585a:79a1ee85&RCN=28126
::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=012780c04814:b450:09ce483b&RCN=29062
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1gIeJX2H-HAJ:www.wbc-inco.net/attach/Report_Albania.pdf+Research+and+development+in+albania&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiVyVg-g24X1JrNgP4MR0kEohPCbi4GKeMk_Fr6f37xM4YM9ktL81AFlmlZpwtfI1V0zqupMN33_qHvlQeDmaylE1NwW4dQHxMPEvJTOlHGkrTIXetsgaK0PthxdmhmpdWTcn9x&sig=AHIEtbR1QZwMakonOSgkdrkitiO4CO-CCw

--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 12:55, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

:::: I cobbled something together...some pics would be nice, looks a bit dull, maybe I can reduce teh words later, easier in the eyese and evrything--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 20:35, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

== Motto ==

The motto part in the infobox is incorrect. Albania does NOT have an official governmental motto. That reference is obviously not referring to any official government motto. I suggest that the motto part of the infobox be properly removed, as it's not referring to anything properly sourced. Anyone who disagrees? --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 20:42, 9 April 2010 (UTC)

:Nope. I agree —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Elbasan101|contribs]]) 11:10, 10 April 2010 (UTC) --[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 11:28, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

Should this be added

"A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm
International Religious Freedom Report 2009 Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor United States Department of State

My objections:

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

'''Should this be added'''

"A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.

url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm | title = Albania | work = International Religious Freedom Report 2009 | date = 26 October 2009 | publisher = [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] | accessdate = 7 November 2009}}

My objections:

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T15:44:43Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion for the umptinth time! */

{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Albania}}
{{Article probation}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|
{{WikiProject Albania|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WPCountries|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=B|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}
}}
{{OnThisDay |date1=2004-11-28|oldid1=16335503|date2=2005-11-28|oldid2=29304681|date3=2006-11-28|oldid3=90576276|date4=2007-11-28|oldid4=174325507|date5=2008-11-28|oldid5=254539953|date6=2009-11-28|oldid6=328209906}}
{{todo|small=yes}}
{{oldpeerreview|archive=1|small=yes}}
{{Archive box|auto=long}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{talkarchivenav|noredlinks=y}}
|maxarchivesize = 100K
|counter = 4
|minthreadsleft = 5
|algo = old(90d)
|archive = Talk:Albania/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Auto archiving notice |bot=MiszaBot I |age=90 |small=yes |dounreplied=yes}}

== Patos Marinzas ==

The article has nothing about [[Patos Marinzas]], the biggest on-shore oil field of Europe.[[User:Agre22|Agre22]] ([[User talk:Agre22|talk]]) 01:45, 8 November 2009 (UTC)agre22

:It is Patos / Marinza stgupid —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/74.59.88.57|74.59.88.57]] ([[User talk:74.59.88.57|talk]]) 15:24, 31 December 2009 (UTC) 

== Arnavutluk ==

I was surprised to find out that there is no mention of the Ottoman/Turkish name of the country in this nice and long article. At least the etymology section should have included something. After all, Arnavutluk and Arnavut (Albanians) have been a very visible if not prominent part of Ottoman history for centuries. A sizable Arnavut community in Turkey still recognize and identify their roots.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Thank you Murat! I was not aware that [[Albania]] was called [[Arnavutlk]] during the Turkish presence. Could you please provide a map to show [[Arnavutluk]] within the [[Ottoman Empire]]? I'll make sure to update the article. As a matter of fact many improvements are due here, but unfortunately many albanian users have been banned. If you ban too many users of a small people, that's what you get. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]])--Sulmues 16:58, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

What do you mean by Albania was called [[Arnavutlk]]? Further more, the article states that it was official! Arnavutlk or Arnavut is the way how the otomans used to call albanian and albanians during that time but that was not any official name! Sulmues, I think you should remove the term "officially". Even nowodays, Trukish people refer to albanians as Arnavut, but that does not make it an official naming for Albanians. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:13, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

== Shingen ==

Is it not an important port city in Albania? I know it may have different names, but could not see any reference anywhere. I made a little stub (San Giovanni di Medua) which needs much input.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

: You may be thinking of [[Shëngjin]], which today is a small town near [[Lezha]]. The only port cities in Albania are [[Durrës]] and [[Vlora]]. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 07:49, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

:: Actually [[Shëngjin]] has a port and it is very important. You can check on google for images of Shëngjin port. A lot of goods that go toward [[Kosovo]] is processed thought this port. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:21, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

::: Oops, I was mistaken on this point! Thanks for the correction. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 18:10, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

== Religious numbers ==

I made useful changes to the religious statistics here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334650526&oldid=334649384] because the numbers in the reference [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html]was incorrectly used and added so I had to foot the numbers properly. It took me some minutes to do that.

But here comes [[user:athenean|athenean]] and reverts the WHOLE THING with other things as well and makes a mess in the article. Of course his numbers in the article for religious statistics won't add up to the right amounts that appear in the source. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334653888&oldid=334651587]. Athenean, please do the math and you will see that your numbers don't make any sense. And stop whispering to the admins to ban all the albanians that you find on your way, otherwise you'll get IP editors getting back at you. All you'll get is to ask for protection and have no life. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 14:39, 29 December 2009 (UTC). 

:What I find most disturbing is that people are even suggesting basing the religion statistics on little-known dubious sources, while the sources most commonly used for the same purpose on other articles are not even mentioned. According to Britannica:
:{{quote|''In the early 21st century about seven-tenths of the Albanian population was nominally Muslim, more than half of them Sunni Muslims and the next largest group being the Bektashi sect. Those who identified with Eastern Orthodoxy constituted about one-fifth of the population, and those associated with Roman Catholicism constituted about one-tenth. Muslims are spread throughout the country, although they particularly dominate the centre. Roman Catholics have settled primarily in the northern part of the country, mainly in the city of Shkodër, while Orthodox Christians are prominent in the southern districts of Gjirokastër, Korçë, Berat, and Vlorë.''}}
:The CIA World Factbook also repeats the traditional figures (''Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%'') as "estimates".
:While I do understand and respect the POV of certain Albanians to underestimate the extent of traditional/nominal Islam in Albania believing that by doing so they are presenting Albania as more "Western" or "European", and the point of even doing so is in itself debatable, these facts should not be removed from the article. I suggest including all available sources.--[[User:Ptolion|Ptolion]] ([[User talk:Ptolion|talk]]) 21:56, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

::Very good point Ptolion. There is definitely a concerted effort to portray Albania as "Christian" and therefore "Western" and "European" as possible. There is a very simple way to deal with this, however. What is sourced to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] can stay, what is sourced to dubious sources goes in the trash. Simple as that. There is absolutely no need to respect or tolerate any sort of POV-pushing. We have ways of dealing with that as well. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:22, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::The situation is actually much worse than that. There are deliberate attempts at deception here. I noticed that the article says ''the World Christian Encyclopedia published in 2001 by the Oxford University Press. Vol 1: p 51 says that roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% being Christians''. However, when I check the citations provided, neither of them has anything to do with the "World Christian Encyclopedia". One is from some website [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html], the other is from the website of the Albanian consulate in Milan [http://www.consolatoalbanesemilano.org/lalbania_oggi.html]. Whoever inserted these mentioned the Oxford University Press in a deliberate attempt to mislead and cast an air of respectability on these dubious sources. I will consequently remove them and replace them with the CIA World Factbook and Encyclopedia Britannica. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:39, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Now you have the reference directly from the World Christian Encyclopedia with full isbn. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 01:47, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

:That's an improvement, although do you think you could include a link to the citation? It's impossible to verify the way you have provided it. In general, the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]] should be treated with caution as a source, as it is known to be pro-Christian and ''consistently gave a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets''. I am not terribly interested in this debate, so I will leave it there for now, but that is something to keep in mind. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 02:21, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::I'm not going to touch this any longer either. I really can't provide a citation for the fact that 1929 is really the last year when Albania had an official religious census, so it's ok if you take it out: it's unsupported, even though I'm sure about it. Now World Christian Encyclopedia might be biased, but I could argue that also the PEW research is also biased. Bottom line the company is a [[think tank]] that works for the [[US government]]. And so does the CIA (that refers to the 1929 data). I could argue that the interest of the USA is to depict Albania like as a muslim country because it wants to make it an example of a democratic muslim country for other muslim theocratic countries. That's why the truth might be closer to what the World Christian Encyclopedia is saying. Furthemore there are 1200 christian churches in ALbania and 500 mosques, what does that tell you? [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 16:57, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I removed a small section that pertained specifically to the Jehovah's witnesses and LDS or 'Mormons'. With a population of over 3 million, it didn't seem noteworthy to single out these 2 groups and note their numbers with only a few thousand apiece, without attempting a more detailed breakdown of the christian percentages. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.217.144.112|24.217.144.112]] ([[User talk:24.217.144.112|talk]]) 23:31, 18 January 2010 (UTC) 
:I'd say that as [[Jehovah's witnesses]] and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] are among the fastest growing religions in the world, this is very relevant. [[User:2007apm|2007apm]] ([[User talk:2007apm|talk]]) 20:56, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

:: Sulmues I really doubt the US govt is peddling an agenda of trying to showcase Albania as some kind of shining example. This is just fanciful, especially since there are other more successful Muslim democracies other than Albania’s weak emerging one, with the added gravitas of being more important and much larger than an island, like Indonesia or Turkey.

Were are these 1200 Churches in Albania, that’s ridiculous, your statements are ridiculous. That goes for mosques as well? What I want to know is why they have stopped at these nice round numbers. Just let Albania be what it is stop inventing facts--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 19:09, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

== Science and technology section ==

I think it would be appropriate to add a section to Alabamian Science and technology. I have found some sources can someone help me put something together.

R&D research does not exceed 0.18% of GDP
24 research studies institutes

"From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.

Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated. This exodus is growing and according to a survey run in 1998 a greater number of highly educated people want to emigrate. They are mainly young people who wish to emigrate for a long time or forever. It is clear that if the economic and social situation in the country does not improve, the Albanian brain drain will continue as intensively as before.

However, the continuous brain drain poses a severe threat to this system. Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state – of – the – art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research. The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad.

Some of the highly educated people do return after their studies and others may also consider it. During this year the new government has planned many ways to provide the acilities to have the new situation changed into : the brain gain.

Mapping Exercise - Albania

There is a total 578 scientific workers in our country: 274 in Academy of Sciences and 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries. The number of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0,2 for 1000 habitants" http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

"Albania approves science strategy. On 29 June, the Council of Ministers approved the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania covering the period 2009–2015.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

To triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;

To augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;

to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technologybased firms;

to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;

to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners."

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=3&CAT=NEWSQUERY=012781319cf6:585a:79a1ee85&RCN=28126
::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=012780c04814:b450:09ce483b&RCN=29062
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1gIeJX2H-HAJ:www.wbc-inco.net/attach/Report_Albania.pdf+Research+and+development+in+albania&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiVyVg-g24X1JrNgP4MR0kEohPCbi4GKeMk_Fr6f37xM4YM9ktL81AFlmlZpwtfI1V0zqupMN33_qHvlQeDmaylE1NwW4dQHxMPEvJTOlHGkrTIXetsgaK0PthxdmhmpdWTcn9x&sig=AHIEtbR1QZwMakonOSgkdrkitiO4CO-CCw

--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 12:55, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

:::: I cobbled something together...some pics would be nice, looks a bit dull, maybe I can reduce teh words later, easier in the eyese and evrything--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 20:35, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

== Motto ==

The motto part in the infobox is incorrect. Albania does NOT have an official governmental motto. That reference is obviously not referring to any official government motto. I suggest that the motto part of the infobox be properly removed, as it's not referring to anything properly sourced. Anyone who disagrees? --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 20:42, 9 April 2010 (UTC)

:Nope. I agree —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Elbasan101|contribs]]) 11:10, 10 April 2010 (UTC) --[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 11:28, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

Should this be added

"A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm | title = Albania | work = International Religious Freedom Report 2009 | date = 26 October 2009 | publisher = [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] | accessdate = 7 November 2009}}"

My objections:

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

'''Should this be added'''

"A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.

url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm | title = Albania | work = International Religious Freedom Report 2009 | date = 26 October 2009 | publisher = [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] | accessdate = 7 November 2009}}

My objections:

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T15:43:48Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion for the umptinth time! */ new section

{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Albania}}
{{Article probation}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|
{{WikiProject Albania|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WPCountries|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=B|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}
}}
{{OnThisDay |date1=2004-11-28|oldid1=16335503|date2=2005-11-28|oldid2=29304681|date3=2006-11-28|oldid3=90576276|date4=2007-11-28|oldid4=174325507|date5=2008-11-28|oldid5=254539953|date6=2009-11-28|oldid6=328209906}}
{{todo|small=yes}}
{{oldpeerreview|archive=1|small=yes}}
{{Archive box|auto=long}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{talkarchivenav|noredlinks=y}}
|maxarchivesize = 100K
|counter = 4
|minthreadsleft = 5
|algo = old(90d)
|archive = Talk:Albania/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Auto archiving notice |bot=MiszaBot I |age=90 |small=yes |dounreplied=yes}}

== Patos Marinzas ==

The article has nothing about [[Patos Marinzas]], the biggest on-shore oil field of Europe.[[User:Agre22|Agre22]] ([[User talk:Agre22|talk]]) 01:45, 8 November 2009 (UTC)agre22

:It is Patos / Marinza stgupid —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/74.59.88.57|74.59.88.57]] ([[User talk:74.59.88.57|talk]]) 15:24, 31 December 2009 (UTC) 

== Arnavutluk ==

I was surprised to find out that there is no mention of the Ottoman/Turkish name of the country in this nice and long article. At least the etymology section should have included something. After all, Arnavutluk and Arnavut (Albanians) have been a very visible if not prominent part of Ottoman history for centuries. A sizable Arnavut community in Turkey still recognize and identify their roots.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Thank you Murat! I was not aware that [[Albania]] was called [[Arnavutlk]] during the Turkish presence. Could you please provide a map to show [[Arnavutluk]] within the [[Ottoman Empire]]? I'll make sure to update the article. As a matter of fact many improvements are due here, but unfortunately many albanian users have been banned. If you ban too many users of a small people, that's what you get. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]])--Sulmues 16:58, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

What do you mean by Albania was called [[Arnavutlk]]? Further more, the article states that it was official! Arnavutlk or Arnavut is the way how the otomans used to call albanian and albanians during that time but that was not any official name! Sulmues, I think you should remove the term "officially". Even nowodays, Trukish people refer to albanians as Arnavut, but that does not make it an official naming for Albanians. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:13, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

== Shingen ==

Is it not an important port city in Albania? I know it may have different names, but could not see any reference anywhere. I made a little stub (San Giovanni di Medua) which needs much input.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

: You may be thinking of [[Shëngjin]], which today is a small town near [[Lezha]]. The only port cities in Albania are [[Durrës]] and [[Vlora]]. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 07:49, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

:: Actually [[Shëngjin]] has a port and it is very important. You can check on google for images of Shëngjin port. A lot of goods that go toward [[Kosovo]] is processed thought this port. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:21, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

::: Oops, I was mistaken on this point! Thanks for the correction. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 18:10, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

== Religious numbers ==

I made useful changes to the religious statistics here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334650526&oldid=334649384] because the numbers in the reference [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html]was incorrectly used and added so I had to foot the numbers properly. It took me some minutes to do that.

But here comes [[user:athenean|athenean]] and reverts the WHOLE THING with other things as well and makes a mess in the article. Of course his numbers in the article for religious statistics won't add up to the right amounts that appear in the source. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334653888&oldid=334651587]. Athenean, please do the math and you will see that your numbers don't make any sense. And stop whispering to the admins to ban all the albanians that you find on your way, otherwise you'll get IP editors getting back at you. All you'll get is to ask for protection and have no life. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 14:39, 29 December 2009 (UTC). 

:What I find most disturbing is that people are even suggesting basing the religion statistics on little-known dubious sources, while the sources most commonly used for the same purpose on other articles are not even mentioned. According to Britannica:
:{{quote|''In the early 21st century about seven-tenths of the Albanian population was nominally Muslim, more than half of them Sunni Muslims and the next largest group being the Bektashi sect. Those who identified with Eastern Orthodoxy constituted about one-fifth of the population, and those associated with Roman Catholicism constituted about one-tenth. Muslims are spread throughout the country, although they particularly dominate the centre. Roman Catholics have settled primarily in the northern part of the country, mainly in the city of Shkodër, while Orthodox Christians are prominent in the southern districts of Gjirokastër, Korçë, Berat, and Vlorë.''}}
:The CIA World Factbook also repeats the traditional figures (''Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%'') as "estimates".
:While I do understand and respect the POV of certain Albanians to underestimate the extent of traditional/nominal Islam in Albania believing that by doing so they are presenting Albania as more "Western" or "European", and the point of even doing so is in itself debatable, these facts should not be removed from the article. I suggest including all available sources.--[[User:Ptolion|Ptolion]] ([[User talk:Ptolion|talk]]) 21:56, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

::Very good point Ptolion. There is definitely a concerted effort to portray Albania as "Christian" and therefore "Western" and "European" as possible. There is a very simple way to deal with this, however. What is sourced to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] can stay, what is sourced to dubious sources goes in the trash. Simple as that. There is absolutely no need to respect or tolerate any sort of POV-pushing. We have ways of dealing with that as well. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:22, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::The situation is actually much worse than that. There are deliberate attempts at deception here. I noticed that the article says ''the World Christian Encyclopedia published in 2001 by the Oxford University Press. Vol 1: p 51 says that roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% being Christians''. However, when I check the citations provided, neither of them has anything to do with the "World Christian Encyclopedia". One is from some website [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html], the other is from the website of the Albanian consulate in Milan [http://www.consolatoalbanesemilano.org/lalbania_oggi.html]. Whoever inserted these mentioned the Oxford University Press in a deliberate attempt to mislead and cast an air of respectability on these dubious sources. I will consequently remove them and replace them with the CIA World Factbook and Encyclopedia Britannica. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:39, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Now you have the reference directly from the World Christian Encyclopedia with full isbn. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 01:47, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

:That's an improvement, although do you think you could include a link to the citation? It's impossible to verify the way you have provided it. In general, the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]] should be treated with caution as a source, as it is known to be pro-Christian and ''consistently gave a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets''. I am not terribly interested in this debate, so I will leave it there for now, but that is something to keep in mind. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 02:21, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::I'm not going to touch this any longer either. I really can't provide a citation for the fact that 1929 is really the last year when Albania had an official religious census, so it's ok if you take it out: it's unsupported, even though I'm sure about it. Now World Christian Encyclopedia might be biased, but I could argue that also the PEW research is also biased. Bottom line the company is a [[think tank]] that works for the [[US government]]. And so does the CIA (that refers to the 1929 data). I could argue that the interest of the USA is to depict Albania like as a muslim country because it wants to make it an example of a democratic muslim country for other muslim theocratic countries. That's why the truth might be closer to what the World Christian Encyclopedia is saying. Furthemore there are 1200 christian churches in ALbania and 500 mosques, what does that tell you? [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 16:57, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I removed a small section that pertained specifically to the Jehovah's witnesses and LDS or 'Mormons'. With a population of over 3 million, it didn't seem noteworthy to single out these 2 groups and note their numbers with only a few thousand apiece, without attempting a more detailed breakdown of the christian percentages. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.217.144.112|24.217.144.112]] ([[User talk:24.217.144.112|talk]]) 23:31, 18 January 2010 (UTC) 
:I'd say that as [[Jehovah's witnesses]] and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] are among the fastest growing religions in the world, this is very relevant. [[User:2007apm|2007apm]] ([[User talk:2007apm|talk]]) 20:56, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

:: Sulmues I really doubt the US govt is peddling an agenda of trying to showcase Albania as some kind of shining example. This is just fanciful, especially since there are other more successful Muslim democracies other than Albania’s weak emerging one, with the added gravitas of being more important and much larger than an island, like Indonesia or Turkey.

Were are these 1200 Churches in Albania, that’s ridiculous, your statements are ridiculous. That goes for mosques as well? What I want to know is why they have stopped at these nice round numbers. Just let Albania be what it is stop inventing facts--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 19:09, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

== Science and technology section ==

I think it would be appropriate to add a section to Alabamian Science and technology. I have found some sources can someone help me put something together.

R&D research does not exceed 0.18% of GDP
24 research studies institutes

"From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.

Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated. This exodus is growing and according to a survey run in 1998 a greater number of highly educated people want to emigrate. They are mainly young people who wish to emigrate for a long time or forever. It is clear that if the economic and social situation in the country does not improve, the Albanian brain drain will continue as intensively as before.

However, the continuous brain drain poses a severe threat to this system. Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state – of – the – art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research. The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad.

Some of the highly educated people do return after their studies and others may also consider it. During this year the new government has planned many ways to provide the acilities to have the new situation changed into : the brain gain.

Mapping Exercise - Albania

There is a total 578 scientific workers in our country: 274 in Academy of Sciences and 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries. The number of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0,2 for 1000 habitants" http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

"Albania approves science strategy. On 29 June, the Council of Ministers approved the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania covering the period 2009–2015.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

To triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;

To augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;

to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technologybased firms;

to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;

to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners."

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=3&CAT=NEWSQUERY=012781319cf6:585a:79a1ee85&RCN=28126
::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=012780c04814:b450:09ce483b&RCN=29062
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1gIeJX2H-HAJ:www.wbc-inco.net/attach/Report_Albania.pdf+Research+and+development+in+albania&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiVyVg-g24X1JrNgP4MR0kEohPCbi4GKeMk_Fr6f37xM4YM9ktL81AFlmlZpwtfI1V0zqupMN33_qHvlQeDmaylE1NwW4dQHxMPEvJTOlHGkrTIXetsgaK0PthxdmhmpdWTcn9x&sig=AHIEtbR1QZwMakonOSgkdrkitiO4CO-CCw

--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 12:55, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

:::: I cobbled something together...some pics would be nice, looks a bit dull, maybe I can reduce teh words later, easier in the eyese and evrything--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 20:35, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

== Motto ==

The motto part in the infobox is incorrect. Albania does NOT have an official governmental motto. That reference is obviously not referring to any official government motto. I suggest that the motto part of the infobox be properly removed, as it's not referring to anything properly sourced. Anyone who disagrees? --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 20:42, 9 April 2010 (UTC)

:Nope. I agree —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Elbasan101|contribs]]) 11:10, 10 April 2010 (UTC) --[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 11:28, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

Should this be added

"A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm | title = Albania | work = International Religious Freedom Report 2009 | date = 26 October 2009 | publisher = [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] | accessdate = 7 November 2009}}"

My objections:

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

'''Should this be added'''

"A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.

{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm | title = Albania | work = International Religious Freedom Report 2009 | date = 26 October 2009 | publisher = [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] | accessdate = 7 November 2009}}"

My objections:

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T15:42:52Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion for the umptinth time! */ new section

{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Albania}}
{{Article probation}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|
{{WikiProject Albania|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WPCountries|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=B|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}
}}
{{OnThisDay |date1=2004-11-28|oldid1=16335503|date2=2005-11-28|oldid2=29304681|date3=2006-11-28|oldid3=90576276|date4=2007-11-28|oldid4=174325507|date5=2008-11-28|oldid5=254539953|date6=2009-11-28|oldid6=328209906}}
{{todo|small=yes}}
{{oldpeerreview|archive=1|small=yes}}
{{Archive box|auto=long}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{talkarchivenav|noredlinks=y}}
|maxarchivesize = 100K
|counter = 4
|minthreadsleft = 5
|algo = old(90d)
|archive = Talk:Albania/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Auto archiving notice |bot=MiszaBot I |age=90 |small=yes |dounreplied=yes}}

== Patos Marinzas ==

The article has nothing about [[Patos Marinzas]], the biggest on-shore oil field of Europe.[[User:Agre22|Agre22]] ([[User talk:Agre22|talk]]) 01:45, 8 November 2009 (UTC)agre22

:It is Patos / Marinza stgupid —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/74.59.88.57|74.59.88.57]] ([[User talk:74.59.88.57|talk]]) 15:24, 31 December 2009 (UTC) 

== Arnavutluk ==

I was surprised to find out that there is no mention of the Ottoman/Turkish name of the country in this nice and long article. At least the etymology section should have included something. After all, Arnavutluk and Arnavut (Albanians) have been a very visible if not prominent part of Ottoman history for centuries. A sizable Arnavut community in Turkey still recognize and identify their roots.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Thank you Murat! I was not aware that [[Albania]] was called [[Arnavutlk]] during the Turkish presence. Could you please provide a map to show [[Arnavutluk]] within the [[Ottoman Empire]]? I'll make sure to update the article. As a matter of fact many improvements are due here, but unfortunately many albanian users have been banned. If you ban too many users of a small people, that's what you get. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]])--Sulmues 16:58, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

What do you mean by Albania was called [[Arnavutlk]]? Further more, the article states that it was official! Arnavutlk or Arnavut is the way how the otomans used to call albanian and albanians during that time but that was not any official name! Sulmues, I think you should remove the term "officially". Even nowodays, Trukish people refer to albanians as Arnavut, but that does not make it an official naming for Albanians. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:13, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

== Shingen ==

Is it not an important port city in Albania? I know it may have different names, but could not see any reference anywhere. I made a little stub (San Giovanni di Medua) which needs much input.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

: You may be thinking of [[Shëngjin]], which today is a small town near [[Lezha]]. The only port cities in Albania are [[Durrës]] and [[Vlora]]. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 07:49, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

:: Actually [[Shëngjin]] has a port and it is very important. You can check on google for images of Shëngjin port. A lot of goods that go toward [[Kosovo]] is processed thought this port. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:21, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

::: Oops, I was mistaken on this point! Thanks for the correction. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 18:10, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

== Religious numbers ==

I made useful changes to the religious statistics here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334650526&oldid=334649384] because the numbers in the reference [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html]was incorrectly used and added so I had to foot the numbers properly. It took me some minutes to do that.

But here comes [[user:athenean|athenean]] and reverts the WHOLE THING with other things as well and makes a mess in the article. Of course his numbers in the article for religious statistics won't add up to the right amounts that appear in the source. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334653888&oldid=334651587]. Athenean, please do the math and you will see that your numbers don't make any sense. And stop whispering to the admins to ban all the albanians that you find on your way, otherwise you'll get IP editors getting back at you. All you'll get is to ask for protection and have no life. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 14:39, 29 December 2009 (UTC). 

:What I find most disturbing is that people are even suggesting basing the religion statistics on little-known dubious sources, while the sources most commonly used for the same purpose on other articles are not even mentioned. According to Britannica:
:{{quote|''In the early 21st century about seven-tenths of the Albanian population was nominally Muslim, more than half of them Sunni Muslims and the next largest group being the Bektashi sect. Those who identified with Eastern Orthodoxy constituted about one-fifth of the population, and those associated with Roman Catholicism constituted about one-tenth. Muslims are spread throughout the country, although they particularly dominate the centre. Roman Catholics have settled primarily in the northern part of the country, mainly in the city of Shkodër, while Orthodox Christians are prominent in the southern districts of Gjirokastër, Korçë, Berat, and Vlorë.''}}
:The CIA World Factbook also repeats the traditional figures (''Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%'') as "estimates".
:While I do understand and respect the POV of certain Albanians to underestimate the extent of traditional/nominal Islam in Albania believing that by doing so they are presenting Albania as more "Western" or "European", and the point of even doing so is in itself debatable, these facts should not be removed from the article. I suggest including all available sources.--[[User:Ptolion|Ptolion]] ([[User talk:Ptolion|talk]]) 21:56, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

::Very good point Ptolion. There is definitely a concerted effort to portray Albania as "Christian" and therefore "Western" and "European" as possible. There is a very simple way to deal with this, however. What is sourced to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] can stay, what is sourced to dubious sources goes in the trash. Simple as that. There is absolutely no need to respect or tolerate any sort of POV-pushing. We have ways of dealing with that as well. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:22, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::The situation is actually much worse than that. There are deliberate attempts at deception here. I noticed that the article says ''the World Christian Encyclopedia published in 2001 by the Oxford University Press. Vol 1: p 51 says that roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% being Christians''. However, when I check the citations provided, neither of them has anything to do with the "World Christian Encyclopedia". One is from some website [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html], the other is from the website of the Albanian consulate in Milan [http://www.consolatoalbanesemilano.org/lalbania_oggi.html]. Whoever inserted these mentioned the Oxford University Press in a deliberate attempt to mislead and cast an air of respectability on these dubious sources. I will consequently remove them and replace them with the CIA World Factbook and Encyclopedia Britannica. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:39, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Now you have the reference directly from the World Christian Encyclopedia with full isbn. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 01:47, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

:That's an improvement, although do you think you could include a link to the citation? It's impossible to verify the way you have provided it. In general, the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]] should be treated with caution as a source, as it is known to be pro-Christian and ''consistently gave a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets''. I am not terribly interested in this debate, so I will leave it there for now, but that is something to keep in mind. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 02:21, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::I'm not going to touch this any longer either. I really can't provide a citation for the fact that 1929 is really the last year when Albania had an official religious census, so it's ok if you take it out: it's unsupported, even though I'm sure about it. Now World Christian Encyclopedia might be biased, but I could argue that also the PEW research is also biased. Bottom line the company is a [[think tank]] that works for the [[US government]]. And so does the CIA (that refers to the 1929 data). I could argue that the interest of the USA is to depict Albania like as a muslim country because it wants to make it an example of a democratic muslim country for other muslim theocratic countries. That's why the truth might be closer to what the World Christian Encyclopedia is saying. Furthemore there are 1200 christian churches in ALbania and 500 mosques, what does that tell you? [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 16:57, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I removed a small section that pertained specifically to the Jehovah's witnesses and LDS or 'Mormons'. With a population of over 3 million, it didn't seem noteworthy to single out these 2 groups and note their numbers with only a few thousand apiece, without attempting a more detailed breakdown of the christian percentages. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.217.144.112|24.217.144.112]] ([[User talk:24.217.144.112|talk]]) 23:31, 18 January 2010 (UTC) 
:I'd say that as [[Jehovah's witnesses]] and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] are among the fastest growing religions in the world, this is very relevant. [[User:2007apm|2007apm]] ([[User talk:2007apm|talk]]) 20:56, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

:: Sulmues I really doubt the US govt is peddling an agenda of trying to showcase Albania as some kind of shining example. This is just fanciful, especially since there are other more successful Muslim democracies other than Albania’s weak emerging one, with the added gravitas of being more important and much larger than an island, like Indonesia or Turkey.

Were are these 1200 Churches in Albania, that’s ridiculous, your statements are ridiculous. That goes for mosques as well? What I want to know is why they have stopped at these nice round numbers. Just let Albania be what it is stop inventing facts--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 19:09, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

== Science and technology section ==

I think it would be appropriate to add a section to Alabamian Science and technology. I have found some sources can someone help me put something together.

R&D research does not exceed 0.18% of GDP
24 research studies institutes

"From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.

Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated. This exodus is growing and according to a survey run in 1998 a greater number of highly educated people want to emigrate. They are mainly young people who wish to emigrate for a long time or forever. It is clear that if the economic and social situation in the country does not improve, the Albanian brain drain will continue as intensively as before.

However, the continuous brain drain poses a severe threat to this system. Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state – of – the – art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research. The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad.

Some of the highly educated people do return after their studies and others may also consider it. During this year the new government has planned many ways to provide the acilities to have the new situation changed into : the brain gain.

Mapping Exercise - Albania

There is a total 578 scientific workers in our country: 274 in Academy of Sciences and 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries. The number of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0,2 for 1000 habitants" http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

"Albania approves science strategy. On 29 June, the Council of Ministers approved the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania covering the period 2009–2015.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

To triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;

To augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;

to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technologybased firms;

to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;

to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners."

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=3&CAT=NEWSQUERY=012781319cf6:585a:79a1ee85&RCN=28126
::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=012780c04814:b450:09ce483b&RCN=29062
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1gIeJX2H-HAJ:www.wbc-inco.net/attach/Report_Albania.pdf+Research+and+development+in+albania&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiVyVg-g24X1JrNgP4MR0kEohPCbi4GKeMk_Fr6f37xM4YM9ktL81AFlmlZpwtfI1V0zqupMN33_qHvlQeDmaylE1NwW4dQHxMPEvJTOlHGkrTIXetsgaK0PthxdmhmpdWTcn9x&sig=AHIEtbR1QZwMakonOSgkdrkitiO4CO-CCw

--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 12:55, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

:::: I cobbled something together...some pics would be nice, looks a bit dull, maybe I can reduce teh words later, easier in the eyese and evrything--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 20:35, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

== Motto ==

The motto part in the infobox is incorrect. Albania does NOT have an official governmental motto. That reference is obviously not referring to any official government motto. I suggest that the motto part of the infobox be properly removed, as it's not referring to anything properly sourced. Anyone who disagrees? --[[User:Sulmues|Sulmues]][[User Talk:Sulmues| talk]] 20:42, 9 April 2010 (UTC)

:Nope. I agree —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Elbasan101|contribs]]) 11:10, 10 April 2010 (UTC) --[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 11:28, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

== Religion for the umptinth time! ==

Should this be added

"A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm | title = Albania | work = International Religious Freedom Report 2009 | date = 26 October 2009 | publisher = [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] | accessdate = 7 November 2009}}"

My objections:

1) The "study" posits a view "that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious". That may well be the case, probably true, but surely we need to see the data on which this assumption is based on. I assume come kind of study was done, or some local sources acting in an official or neutral capacity were used. Or maybe religious attendance figures have been compiled. If this is the case than this should be published.

The religious section has become a monstrosity, with personal innuendos backed by doggy sources trying to accommodate every view. This source adds to the speculation without any proof. Merely saying something is true does not make it so.

2) There is a suggestion that this is a NPOV source, and assumption being that it is accurate or quasi-accurate. However when I read the report there seemed to be inaccurate reporting on religious freedom in Albania. The constitution allows religious freedom both in school and in society. The government has made it clear that religious discrimination on the basis of ones attire is prohibited. This is backed up by the Albanian constitution Art 10. The study/report seems to condone the practice that some teachers in Albania do not allow their students to hear hijabs, quite contrary to religious freedom. This is either sloppy or biased work.

For these reasons I would that the source not be included pending further information concerning the statement made.

Albania

2010-04-10T15:20:40Z

Elbasan101: Undid revision 355121478 by ZjarriRrethues (talk) Let’s discuss before entering data that is potentially inaccurate and bias

{{About|the modern state}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''Republika e Shqipërisë''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Albania
|common_name = Albania
|national_motto = ''Feja e Shqiptarit është Shqiptaria'' (''The faith of Albanians is Albanism'')<ref>Understanding the war in Kosovo Authors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Editors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Publisher Routledge, 2003 ISBN 0-7146-5391-8, 9780714653914 page 188 link [http://books.google.com/books?id=VPPdgAZxU9IC&lpg=PA188&dq=albanian%20religion%20is%20albanism&lr=&pg=PA188#v=onepage&q=albanism&f=false]</ref> (''national'') ''Ti, Shqipëri, më jep nder, më jep emrin Shqiptar'' (''You Albania give me honor, you give me the name Albanian'') (''traditional'')
|national_anthem = ''[[Himni i Flamurit]]'' ("The Banner Hymn")
|image_flag = Flag of Albania.svg
|image_coat = Albania state emblem.svg
|symbol_type = Coat of arms
|image_map = Europe-Albania.svg
|map_caption = {{map caption|location_color=green|region=Europe|region_color=dark grey|legend=Location Albania Europe.png}}
|official_languages = [[Albanian language|Albanian]]1
|capital = [[Tirana]]
|latd=41 |latm=20 |latNS=N |longd=19 |longm=48 |longEW=E
|largest_city = [[Tirana]]
|government_type = [[Parliamentary republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[List of heads of state of Albania|President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Bamir Topi]]
|leader_title2 = [[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Sali Berisha]]
|area_rank = 139th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area_km2 = 28748
|area_sq_mi = 11100 
|percent_water = 4.7
|population_estimate = 3,639,453<ref name=instat/>
|population_estimate_year = 2009
|population_estimate_rank = 129th
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density_km2 = 126.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 327.8 
|population_density_rank = 63
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP = $21.864 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=914&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=71&pr.y=12 |title=Albania|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=1 October 2009}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 110th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $6,897<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 95th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal = $12.964 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank = 113th
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $4,089<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 94th
|Gini = 26.7
|Gini_year = 2005
|Gini_category = low
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.818
|HDI_rank = 70th
|HDI_category = high
|sovereignty_type = [[History of the Albanian state|Formation]]
|established_event1 = Independence from the [[Ottoman Empire]]
|established_date1 = 28 November 1912
|established_event2 = [[Constitution of Albania|Current Constitution]]
|established_date2 = 28 November 1998
|currency = [[Albanian lek|Lek]]
|currency_code = ALL
|country_code = AL
|time_zone = {{tz|CET}}
|time_zone_DST = {{tz|CEST}}
|demonym = Albanian
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.al]]
|calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Albania|355]]
|footnote1 = Greek, [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] and other regional languages are government-recognized minority languages.}}

'''Albania''' {{Audio-IPA|en-us-Albania.ogg|/ælˈbeɪniə/}} {{respell|al|BAY|nee-ə}} ({{lang-sq|Shqipëri/Shqipëria}}, [[Gheg Albanian]]: ''Shqipnia'' or ''Shqypnia''), officially the '''Republic of Albania''' ({{lang-sq|Republika e Shqipërisë}}, {{pronounced|ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs}}), is a country in [[Balkans|South Eastern Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Montenegro]] to the northwest, [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}} to the northeast, the [[Republic of Macedonia]] to the east and [[Greece]] to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the west, and on the [[Ionian Sea]] to the southwest. It is less than {{convert|72|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from Italy, across the [[Strait of Otranto]] which links the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the [[Ionian Sea]].

Albania is a member of the [[United Nations]], [[NATO]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]], [[Council of Europe]], [[World Trade Organisation]], [[Organisation of the Islamic Conference]] and one of the founding members of the [[Union for the Mediterranean]]. Albania has been a [[Accession of Albania to the European Union|potential candidate for accession to the European Union]] since January 2003, and it formally applied for [[EU member states|EU membership]] on 28 April 2009.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8023127.stm Albania applies for EU membership], BBC News, 28 April 2009. Retrieved on 29 April 2009</ref>

Albania is a [[parliamentary democracy]] and a [[transition economy]]. The Albanian [[capital (political)|capital]], [[Tirana]], is home to approximately 727,000 of the country's 3.6 million people, and it is also the financial capital of the country.<ref name=pop2007>[http://www.tirana.gov.al/common/images/Viti%202007.pdf Population stats] from tirana.gov.al {{sq icon}}</ref> [[Free-market]] reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, especially in the development of [[energy]] and transportation infrastructure.<ref>Reports: Poverty Decreases In Albania After Years Of Growth.Dow Jones Newswires, 201-938-5500.http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200904231403dowjonesdjonline000935&title=reports-poverty-decreases-in-albania-after-years-of-growth</ref><ref>Albania plans to build three hydropower plants.People's Daily</ref><ref>Strong GDP growth reduces poverty in Albania-study.Reuters.http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/04/23/afx6330798.html</ref>

==Etymology==
{{Main|Albania (toponym)}}
''Albania'' is the [[Medieval Latin]] name of the country which is called ''Shqipëri'' by its inhabitants. In [[Medieval Greek]], the country's name is ''Albania'' ({{lang-el|''Αλβανία''}}) besides variants ''Albanitia'', ''Arbanitia''.<ref>[[OED]]</ref>

The name may be derived from the [[Illyrian]] tribe of the Albani recorded by [[Ptolemy]], the geographer and astronomer from [[Alexandria]] who drafted a map in 150 AD<ref>Madrugearu A, Gordon M. The wars of the [[Balkan Peninsula]]. Rowman & Littlefield, 2007. p.146</ref> that shows the city of [[Albanopolis]]<ref>{{Barrington|49 & notes}}</ref> (located northeast of [[Durrës]]).

The name may have a continuation in the name of a medieval settlement called Albanon and Arbanon, although it is not certain this was the same place.<ref>The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, ISBN 0631198075, page 279,"We cannot be certain that the Arbanon of Anna Comnena is the same as Albanopolis of the Albani, a place located on the map of Ptolemy (3.12)"</ref> In his ''History'' written in 1079–1080, [[Byzantine]] historian [[Michael Attaliates]] was the first to refer to ''Albanoi'' as having taken part in a revolt against [[Constantinople]] in 1043 and to the ''Arbanitai'' as subjects of the Duke of [[Dyrrachium]].<ref>Robert Elsei. ''The Albanian lexicon of Arnold von Harff, Earliest reference to the existence of the Albanian language'', pp. 113–122.</ref> During the [[Middle Ages]], the Albanians called their country ''Arbër'' or ''Arbën'' and referred to themselves as [[Arbëresh]] or ''Arbnesh''.<ref>http://www.pinocacozza.it/ {{it icon}}{{sq icon}}</ref><ref>http://www.radio-arberesh.eu/ {{it icon}}</ref>

As early as the 16th century, a new name for their home evolved among Albanian people: ''Shqipëria'', popularly interpreted as "Land of the Eagles" or "Land of the Mountain Eagle" hence the two-headed bird on the national flag,<ref>Kristo Frasheri. ''History of Albania (A Brief Overview)''. Tirana, 1964.</ref> though most likely the origin lies in [[Skanderbeg]]'s use of the [[Byzantine]] double-headed eagle on his seals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fotw.us/flags/al.html#ori|title=Flags Of The World, Albania}}</ref><ref>Albanian Etymological Dictionary by Vladimir E. Orel, Brill 1998</ref>

Under the [[Ottoman Empire]] Albania was referred to officially as ''Arnavutluk'' and its inhabitants as [[arnauts]].<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Arnaut Arnaut] at the Free Dictionary</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Albania}}
[[File:Butrint, Albania.jpg|thumb|300|left|[[Butrint]], a [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Site.]]
[[File:Via Egnatia-en.jpg|thumb|left|Route of the [[Via Egnatia]].]]
===Antiquity===
{{Main|Illyria|Dalmatia (Roman province)|Illyricum (Roman province)|Moesia Superior}}
{{See|Illyrians|Thraco-Illyrian}}
The first recorded inhabitants in the territory of Albania were the [[Illyrians]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm|title=Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs September 2007}}</ref> an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] people that inhabited the area corresponding to northern and central Albania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9052237/Messapic-language|title=Encyclopedia Britannica – Messapic language}}</ref> The Illyrian tribes that resided in the region of modern Albania were the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Taulantii|Taulantii]]<ref>Appian, ''The Foreign Wars, III, 1.2''</ref> the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Parthini|Parthini]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Abri|Abri]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Cavii|Caviii]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Enchelei|Enchelei]],<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN 0631198075, Page 96,"... 25 Enchelei</ref> and [[List of Illyrian tribes|several others]]. In the westernmost parts of the territory of Albania there lived the [[Bryges]],<ref>The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996, ISBN-9780631198079, page 111.</ref> a [[Phrygia]]n people, and in the south were the [[Greeks|Greek]] [[Chaonians]].

Beginning in the 8th century BC, Greek colonies were established on the Illyrian coast. The most important were [[Apollonia (Illyria)|Apollonia]], [[Vlorë|Avlona]] (modern-day [[Vlorë]]), [[Epidamnos]] (modern-day [[Durrës]]), and [[Lissus]] (modern-day [[Lezhë]]). The rediscovered Greek city of [[Buthrotum]] (modern-day Butrint), a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]], is probably more significant today than it was when [[Julius Caesar]] used it as a provisions depot for his troops during his campaigns in the 1st century BC. At that time, it was considered an unimportant outpost, overshadowed by Apollonia and Epidamnos.<ref>An Inventory of Archaic and [[Classical antiquity|Classical]] Poleis by Mogens Herman, ISBN 0198140991, 2004, page 343, "Bouthroton (Bouthrotios)"</ref>

In the 4th century BC, the Illyrian king [[Bardyllis]] united several Illyrian tribes and engaged in conflict with [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedon]] to the southeast, but was defeated. Bardyllis was succeeded by [[Grabos]],<ref>Harding, p. 93. Grabos became the most powerful Illyrian king after the death of Bardylis in 358.</ref> then by [[Bardyllis II]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79">"The Journal of Hellenic Studies by Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies (London, England)", 1973, p. 79. Cleitus was evidently the son of Bardylis II the grandson of the very old Bardylis who had fallen in battle against Phillip II in 385 BC.</ref> and then by [[Cleitus the Illyrian]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79"/> who was defeated by [[Alexander the Great]]. Later on, in 229 BC, Queen [[Teuta]]<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, p. 120, ISBN 0631198075,page 129,"... mainly because no coins are known to have been issued by Illyrian rulers of a later period such as Agron, Teuta, Scerdilaidas, etc. ...</ref> of the [[Ardiaei]] clashed with the Romans and initiated the [[Illyrian Wars]], which resulted in defeat and in the end of Illyrian independence by 168 B.C., when King [[Gentius]] was defeated by a Roman army.

The lands comprising modern-day Albania were incorporated into the Roman empire as part of the province of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] above the river [[Drin (river)|Drin]], and Roman [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] (specifically as [[Epirus Nova]]) below it. The western part of the [[Via Egnatia]] ran inside modern Albania, ending at [[Dyrrachium]]. [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] was later divided into the provinces of [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]] and [[Pannonia]].

===Byzantine era===
When the [[Roman Empire]] was divided into East and West in 395, the territories of modern Albania became part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Beginning in the first decades of Byzantine rule (until 461), the region suffered devastating raids by [[Visigoths]], [[Huns]], and [[Ostrogoths]]. In the 6th and 7th centuries, the region was overrun by the Slavs.

The new administrative system of the themes, or military provinces created by the [[Byzantine Empire]], contributed to the eventual rise of feudalism in Albania, as peasant soldiers who served military lords became serfs on their landed estates. Among the leading families of the Albanian feudal nobility were the [[Karlo Thopia|Thopia]], [[Gjin Bua Shpata|Shpata]], [[Muzaka Principality of Berat|Muzaka]], [[Dukagjini]] and [[Kastrioti]]. The first three of these rose to become rulers of principalities were vassals of the [[Byzantine empire]], maintaining a partial local autonomy from the Byzantine empire. Many Albanians converted to the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Christian Church|Church]] at that period. During the [[Byzantine]] [[Era]] the [[Serbs]] had occupied almost all of Northern Albania and [[Kosovo]], and the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]] had gained control of the coastal regions of Albania.

The territory of Albania would remain under Byzantine and Bulgarian rule until the 14th century, when the Ottoman Turks began to make incursions into the Empire. The Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453, and by 1460 most former Byzantine territories were in the hands of the Turks. Albania was fully occupied by the [[Ottoman empire|Ottomans]] in 1478.

===Ottoman era===
[[File:Durrës, Pinargenti.jpg|thumb|left|[[Durrës]] in 1573]]
In the [[Middle Ages]], the name ''Arberia'' (see ''[[Origin and history of the name Albania]]'') began to be increasingly applied to the region now comprising the nation of Albania.

Beginning in the late-14th century, the Ottoman Turks expanded their empire from [[Anatolia]] to the [[Balkans]] (Rumelia). By the 15th century, the Ottomans ruled all of the Balkan Peninsula. Many Albanians had been recruited into the [[Janissary]], including the feudal heir [[Gjergj Kastrioti]] who was renamed [[Skanderbeg]] (Iskandar Bey) by his Turkish trainers at [[Edrine]]. After some Ottoman defeats at the hands of the [[Serbs]], Skanderbeg deserted and began a rebellion against the [[Ottoman Empire]]<ref name="autogenerated1">Library of Congress Country Study <http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/altoc.html> of Albania</ref>.

After deserting, [[Skanderbeg|Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg]] re-converted to [[Roman Catholicism]] and declared a [[religious war|holy war]] against the Ottoman Empire<ref name="autogenerated1"/>, which he led from 1443 to 1468. Under a red flag bearing Skanderbeg's heraldic emblem, an Albanian force of about 30,000 men at [[Krujë]] held off Ottoman campaigns against their lands for twenty-four years. Thrice the Albanians overcame sieges of Krujë (see [[Siege of Krujë]]) led by many Ottoman commanders, including the influential [[Iljaz Hoxha]] and his [[Albanian]] [[Janissary]] led by [[Hamza Kastrioti]]. However, Skanderbeg was unable to receive any of the help which had been promised him by the [[pope]]s. He died in 1468, leaving no worthy successor. After his death the rebellion continued, but without its former success. The loyalties and alliances created and nurtured by Skanderbeg faltered and fell apart, and the Ottomans reconquered the territory of Albania in 1478. Shortly after the fall of [[Kruje]]'s castle, some Albanians fled to neighboring Italy, giving rise to the modern [[Arbëreshë]] communities.

[[File:Early 16th century Ottoman volley gun.jpg|thumb|[[Military of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[volley gun]] with 9 barrels, early 16th century.]]
The Ottomans had urbanized the landscape creating new cities, [[Bazaars]], garrisons and [[Mosques]] throughout the Albanian regions. The majority of the remaining Albanian population converted to [[Islam]], with many joining the [[Sufi]] Order of the [[Bektashi]]. Converting from Christianity to Islam brought considerable advantages, including access to Ottoman trade networks, bureaucratic positions and the army. As a result many Albanians came to serve in the elite [[Janissary]] and the administrative [[Devşirme]] system. Among these were important historical figures, including [[Iljaz Hoxha]], [[Hamza Kastrioti]], [[Köprülü Mehmed Pasha]] (head of the [[Köprülü family]] of [[Grand Viziers]]), the [[Bushati]] family, [[Sulejman Pasha]], [[Ethem Pasha]], [[Nezim Frakulla]], [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena, [[Hasan Zyko Kamberi]], [[Ali-paša Šabanagić]], and [[Mehmet Ali]] ruler of [[Egypt]].<ref>Research Institute for European and American Studies. [http://www.rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=412&catid=22&Itemid=69 ''The Balkan Muslim Presence'']</ref> and [[Emin Pasha]].

[[File:Turkish guns 1750-1800.jpg|thumb|[[Ottoman weapons|Ottoman guns]], 1750–1800.]]
Many Albanians gained prominent positions in the Ottoman government, Albanians highly active during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[Era]] and leaders such as [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena is known to have aided the Bosnian Hero [[Husein Gradaščević]] on various occasions, no fewer than 42 [[Grand Viziers]] of the Empire were Albanian in origin, including [[Mehmet Akif Ersoy]] (1873–1936) an Albanian from [[Peć]] who composed the Turkish National Anthem in 1921, "İstiklâl Marşı" (The Independence March). As Hupchik states, "Albanians had little cause of unrest" and "if anything, grew important in Ottoman internal affairs", and sometimes persecuted Christians harshly on behalf of their Turkish allies.

Albania became pivotal for the Ottomans in the Balkans, although Albanians never rested, always having small rebellions wchich were put down by the Ottomans. As a cosequene of the continuous rebellions, the Albanians got the nickname "Arnauts" by the Ottomans, which meant "stubborn". Anyway, this period saw the rising of semi-autonomous [[Albanian Pashaliks|Albanian ruled Pashaliks]], and Albanians were also an important part of the Ottoman army and Ottoman administration like the case of [[Köprülü family]]. Albania would remain a part of the Ottoman Empire as the provinces of [[Shkodër Province, Ottoman Empire|Shkodra]], [[Monastir Province, Ottoman Empire|Manastir]] and [[Ioannina Province, Ottoman Empire|Yanya]] until 1912.

===20th century===
====1913 to 1928====
After five hundred years of Ottoman domination, an independent Albania was proclaimed on November 28, 1912.

The initial sparks of the first [[Balkan Wars|Balkan War in 1912]] were ignited by the Albanian uprising between 1908 and 1910 <ref>The Balkans (Nationalism, War and the Great Powers, 1804–1999) – by Misha Glenny</ref> which were directed at opposing the [[Young Turk]] policies of consolidation of the Ottoman Empire. Following the eventual weakening of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, [[Serbia]], Greece and [[Bulgaria]] declared war and sought to aggrandize their respective boundaries on the remaining territories of the Empire. Albania was thus invaded by Serbia in the north and Greece in the south, restricting the country to only a patch of land around the southern coastal city of [[Vlora]]. In 1912 Albania, still under foreign occupation declared its independence and with the aid of [[Austria-Hungary]], the Great Powers drew its present borders leaving more than half of the Albanian population outside the new country.

The border between Albania and its neighbours was delineated in 1913 following the dissolution of most of the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Balkans. The delineation of the new state's borders left a significant number of Albanian communities outside Albania. This population was largely divided between [[Montenegro]] and Serbia (which then included what is now the [[Republic of Macedonia]]). A substantial number of Albanians thus found themselves under Serbian rule. At the same time, an uprising in the country's south by local Greeks, led to the formation of an [[Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus|autonomous region]] inside its borders (1914). After a period of political instability caused during [[World War I]], the country adopted a republican form of government in 1920.<ref>{{cite book
|last=Young
|first= Antonia
|title=Albania
|publisher=Clio Press
|year=1997|isbn =1851092609}}</ref>

====1928 to 1946====
[[File:King Zog.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Zog of Albania|Ahmet Muhtar Bey Zogolli]]]]
Starting in 1928, but especially during the [[Great Depression]], the government of [[King Zog#Relations with Italy|King Zog]], which brought law and order to the country, began to cede Albania's sovereignty to Italy.
Despite some strong resistance, especially at [[Durrës]], Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939 and took control of the country, with the Italian [[Fascist]] dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] proclaiming Italy's figurehead King [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]] as King of Albania. The nation thus became one of the first to be occupied by the [[Axis Powers]] in [[World War II]].<ref>The Balkans by Misha Glenny page 418</ref> As [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] began his aggressions, Mussolini decided to occupy Albania as a means to compete with Hitler's territorial gains. Mussolini and the Italian Fascists saw Albania as a historical part of the [[Roman Empire]], and the occupation was intended to fulfill Mussolini's dream of creating an [[Italian Empire]]. During the Italian occupation, Albania's population was subject to a policy of forced [[Italianisation]] by the kingdom's Italian governors, in which the use of the Albanian language was discouraged in schools while the Italian language was promoted. At the same time, the colonization of Albania by Italians was encouraged.

Mussolini, in October 1940, used his Albanian base to launch an attack on Greece, which led to the defeat of the Italian forces and the Greek occupation of Southern Albania in what was seen by the Greeks as the liberation of [[Northern Epirus]]. While preparing for the [[Operation Barbarossa|Invasion of Russia]], Hitler decided to attack Greece in December 1940 to prevent a British attack on his southern flank.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Creveld |first=Martin van|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1972 |month=July–October |title=In the Shadow of Barbarossa: Germany and Albania, January–March 1941 |journal= |volume=7 |issue=3/4 |pages=22–230|id= |url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-0094(197207%2F10)7%3A3%2F4%3C221%3AITSOBG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-E |accessdate=12 September 2007 |quote=}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], the [[Albanian Communist Party|Party of Labour]] was created on 8 November 1941. With the intention of organizing a [[Albanian National Liberation Front|partisan resistance]], they called a general conference in Pezë on 16 September 1942 where the Albanian National Liberation Front was set up. The Front included nationalist groups, but it was dominated by communist partisans.

In December 1942, more Albanian nationalist groups were organized under Visar Kola. Albanians fought against the Italians while, during [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] occupation, Balli Kombëtar allied itself with the Germans and clashed with Albanian communists, which continued their fight against Germans and Balli Kombëtar at the same time.

With the collapse of the Mussolini government in line with the Allied invasion of Italy, Germany occupied Albania in September 1943, dropping paratroopers into Tirana before the Albanian guerrillas could take the capital. The [[German Army]] soon drove the guerrillas into the hills and to the south. The Nazi German government subsequently announced it would recognize the independence of a neutral Albania and set about organizing a new government, police and armed forces. Many Balli Kombëtar units cooperated with the Germans against the communists and several Balli Kombëtar leaders held positions in the German-sponsored regime.
The partisans entirely liberated Albania from German occupation on 28 November 1944. The Albanian partisans also liberated Kosovo, part of Montenegro, and southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. By November 1944, they had thrown out the Germans, one of the few [[East Europe]]an nations to do so without any assistance from [[Soviet]] troops. [[Enver Hoxha]] became the leader of the country by virtue of his position as Secretary General of the [[Albanian Communist Party]].


Albania was one of the European countries occupied by the [[Axis powers]] that ended World War II with a larger [[Jewish]] population than before the war.<ref>Sarner. ''Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from the Holocaust'', 1997.</ref><ref>"Muslim Family Who Hid 26 Jews in Albania from the Nazis Honored by ADL" [http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4963_52.htm Anti-Defamation League]</ref><ref>Escape Through the Balkans: the Autobiography of Irene Grunbaum (University of Nebraska Press, 1996)</ref><ref>[http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205725.pdf Shoah Research Center – Albania.]</ref> Some 1,200 Jewish residents and refugees from other [[Balkan]] countries were hidden by Albanian families during World War II, according to official records.<ref>Israeli Historians Study How Albanian Jews Escaped Holocaust http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356717,00.html</ref>

====Communist state====
{{Main|Socialist People's Republic of Albania}}
[[File:Brosen tirana hoxha mausol.jpg|thumb|left|The former Enver Hoxha Museum in Tirana]]

[[File:Tirana Square 1988.jpg|thumb|right|Tirana's Skanderbeg Square in 1988]]

Albania became an ally of the Soviet Union, but this came to an end in 1960 over the advent of [[de-Stalinization]]. A strong political alliance with China followed, leading to several billion dollars in aid, which was curtailed after 1974. China cut off aid in 1978 when Albania attacked its policies after the death of the Chinese ruler [[Mao Zedong]]. Large-scale purges of officials occurred during the 1970s.

[[Enver Hoxha]], a dictator who ruled Albania for four decades with an iron fist, died on 11 April 1985. Eventually the new regime introduced some liberalization, and granting the freedom to travel abroad in 1990. The new government made efforts to improve ties with the outside world. The elections of March 1991 left the former Communists in power, but a general strike and urban opposition led to the formation of a coalition cabinet that included non-Communists.<ref>Albania. World Almanac & Book of Facts, 2008, pp467–545, (AN 28820955)</ref>

===Recent history – 1992 to present===
{{Main|History of post-Communist Albania}}
{{See|Timeline of Albanian history from 1994}}
Albania's former Communists were routed in elections March 1992, causing economic collapse and social unrest. The [[blood feud]] has returned in rural areas after more than 40 years of being abolished by Albanian communists,<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1553480/Thousands-fear-as-blood-feuds-sweep-Albania.html Thousands fear as blood feuds sweep Albania]". Telegraph.co.uk. 3 June 2007.</ref> with nearly 10,000 Albanians being killed due to blood feuds since 1991.<ref>"[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/world/europe/10feuds.html?_r=1 In Albanian Feuds, Isolation Engulfs Families ]". The New York Times. 10 July 2008.</ref> Sali Berisha was elected as the first non-Communist president since World War II. The next crisis occurred in 1997, during his presidency, as [[1997 rebellion in Albania|riots ravaged the country]]. The state institutions collapsed and an [[EU]] military mission led by Italy was sent to stabilize the country. In summer 1997, Berisha was defeated in elections, winning just 25 seats out of a total of 156.
His return to power in the elections of 3 July 2005 ended eight years of Socialist Party rule. In 2009, Albania – along with [[Croatia]] – joined [[NATO]].

==Government, politics and armed forces==
{{Main|Politics of Albania}}

{{Politics of Albania}}

The Albanian republic is a parliamentary democracy established under a constitution renewed in 1998. Elections are now held every four years to a unicameral 140-seat chamber, the People's Assembly. In June 2002, a compromise candidate, [[Alfred Moisiu]], former [[Army General]], was elected to succeed President [[Rexhep Meidani]]. Parliamentary elections in July 2005 brought [[Sali Berisha]], as leader of the Democratic Party, back to power. The Euro-Atlantic integration of Albania has been the ultimate goal of the post-communist governments. Albania's [[European Union|EU]] membership bid has been set as a priority by the European Commission.

Albania, along with Croatia, joined NATO on 1 April 2009 becoming the 27th and 28th members of the alliance.<ref>BBC News. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7977332.stm "Nato welcomes Albania and Croatia"], "BBC News", 2 April 2009. Retrieved on 2 April 2009.</ref>

The workforce of Albania has continued to migrate to Greece, Italy, Germany, other parts of Europe, and North America. However, the migration flux is slowly decreasing, as more and more opportunities are emerging in Albania itself as its economy steadily develops.

===Executive branch===
The head of state in Albania is the [[List of Presidents of Albania|President]] of the Republic. The President is elected to a 5-year term by the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] by secret ballot, requiring a 50%+1 majority of the votes of all deputies. The next election will run in 2012. The current President of the Republic is [[Bamir Topi]].

The President has the power to guarantee observation of the constitution and all laws, act as commander in chief of the armed forces, exercise the duties of the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] when the Assembly is not in session, and appoint the Chairman of the Council of Ministers ([[prime minister]]).

Executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The Chairman of the Council (prime minister) is appointed by the president; ministers are nominated by the president on the basis of the prime minister's recommendation. The People's Assembly must give final approval of the composition of the Council. The Council is responsible for carrying out both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!align=left|[[List of Presidents of Albania|President]]
|[[Bamir Topi]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]] ||20 July 2007
|-
!align=left|[[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|[[Sali Berisha]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]]||9 September 2009
|}

===Legislative branch===
The [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] (''Kuvendi i Republikës së Shqipërisë'') is the lawmaking body in Albania. There are 140 deputies in the Assembly, which are elected through a [[party-list proportional representation]] system. The President of the Assembly (or Speaker) has two deputies and chairs the Assembly. There are 15 permanent commissions, or committees. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years.

The Assembly has the power to decide the direction of domestic and foreign policy; approve or amend the constitution; declare war on another state; ratify or annul international treaties; elect the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court and the Attorney General and his or her deputies; and control the activity of state radio and television, state news agency and other official information media.

===Armed forces===
{{Main|Military of Albania|}}
{{See also|Albanian Air Force|Albanian Naval Defense Forces|Albanian Joint Forces Command|Albanian Logistic Support Command}}

[[File:Patrol Boat Iliria.jpg|thumb|Albanian Navy warship ''Iliria'']]

The [[Military of Albania|Albanian Armed Forces]] (''Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë'') first formed after independence in 1912. Albania reduced the number of active troops from a 1988 number of 65,000<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1935630.stm Albania sells off its military hardware], BBC News, 2002</ref> to a 2009 number of 14,500<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/08/21/feature-03 |title=Albania to abolish conscription by 2010 |publisher=SETimes.com |date=21 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> with a small fleet of aircraft and sea vessels. In the 1990s, the country scrapped enormous amount of obsolete hardware, such as tanks and [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM systems]] from China.

Today, it consists of the General Staff Headquarters, the [[Albanian Joint Forces Command]], the [[Albanian Support Command]] and the [[Albanian Training and Doctrine Command]]. Increasing the military budget was one of the most important conditions for [[NATO]] integration. Military spending accounted for about 2.7% of GDP in 2008. Since February 2008, Albania participates officially in NATO's [[Operation Active Endeavor]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>[[NATO]], [http://www.nato.int/issues/active_endeavour/index.html]</ref> and received a NATO membership invitation on 3 April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Albania membership Nato|publisher=NATO|url=http://www.nato.int/issues/nato_albania/evolution.html}}</ref> Albania became a full member of NATO on 1 April 2009.

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Albania}}

[[File:Albania space.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite image of Albania.]]

[[File:Himarë-Albania6.JPG|thumb|Coastline in [[Himarë]]]]
[[File:Ksamil Islets.jpg|thumb|[[Ksamil]], little islands]]
Albania has a total area of 28,748 square [[kilometers]]. Its coastline is 362 kilometers long and extends along the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] and [[Ionian Sea]]s. The lowlands of the west face the Adriatic Sea. The 70% of the country that is mountainous is rugged and often inaccessible from the outside. The highest mountain is [[Mount Korab|Korab]] situated in the [[district of Dibër]], reaching up to {{convert|2753|m|ft|abbr=off|lk=off}}. The climate on the coast is typically [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] with mild, wet winters and warm, sunny, and rather dry summers. Inland conditions vary depending on altitude but the higher areas above 1,500 m/5,000 ft are rather cold and frequently snowy in winter; here cold conditions with lying snow may linger into spring. Besides the capital city of [[Tirana]], which has 800,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are [[Durrës]], [[Korçë]], [[Elbasan]], [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]], [[Gjirokastër]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Kukës]]. In Albanian grammar, a word can have indefinite and definite forms, and this also applies to city names: both ''Tiranë'' and ''Tirana'', ''Shkodër'' and ''Shkodra'' are used.

The three largest and deepest tectonic lakes of the [[Balkan Peninsula]] are partly located in Albania. [[Lake Shkodër]] in the country's northwest has a surface which can vary between {{convert|370|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|lk=off}} and 530 km2, out of which one third belongs to Albania and rest to Montenegro. The Albanian shoreline of the lake is {{convert|57|km|0|abbr=on}}. [[Ohrid Lake]] is situated in the country's southeast and is shared between Albania and Republic of Macedonia. It has a maximal depth of 289 meters and a variety of unique flora and fauna can be found there, including "living fossils" and many endemic species. Because of its natural and historical value, Ohrid Lake is under the protection of [[UNESCO]].

Over a third of the territory of Albania – about 10,000 square kilometers (2.5 million acres) – is forested and the country was very rich in flora. About 3.000 different species of plants grow in Albania, many of which are used for medicinal purposes. [[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Albania belongs to the [[Boreal Kingdom]] and is shared between the Adriatic and [[East Mediterranean]] provinces of the [[Mediterranean Region]] and the Illyrian province of the [[Circumboreal Region]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the [[European Environment Agency]], the territory of Albania can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Illyrian deciduous forests]], [[Pindus Mountains mixed forests]] and [[Dinaric Alps|Dinaric Alpine]] mixed forests. The forests are home to a wide range of mammals, including [[wolves]], [[bear]]s, [[wild boar]]s and [[chamois]]. [[Lynx]], [[wildcat]]s, [[pine marten]]s and [[polecat]]s are rare, but survive in some parts of the country.

==Climate==
''See also [[Geography of Albania#Climate|Climate of Albania]]''
[[File:Coastline in Albania.jpg|thumb|left|Coastline near [[Sarandë]]]]
[[File:Albania pasture.jpg|thumb|left|Albanian landscape]]
[[File:KorabMountain2.jpg|thumb|Korab chains]]

[[File:Ksrbay.jpg|thumb|[[Sarandë]] Bay]]
With its coastline facing the Adriatic and Ionian seas, its highlands backed upon the elevated Balkan landmass, and the entire country lying at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns during the winter and summer seasons, Albania has a high number of climatic regions for so small an area. The coastal lowlands have typically Mediterranean weather; the highlands have a Mediterranean continental climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather varies markedly from north to south.

The lowlands have mild winters, averaging about {{convert|7|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Summer temperatures average {{convert|24|°C|0|abbr=on}}. In the southern lowlands, temperatures average about {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} higher throughout the year. The difference is greater than {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} during the summer and somewhat less during the winter.

Inland temperatures are affected more by differences in elevation than by latitude or any other factor. Low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in [[Eastern Europe]] and the [[Balkan]]s. Northerly and northeasterly winds blow much of the time. Average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and [[river valley]]s are very high, but the nights are almost always cool.

Average [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is heavy, a result of the convergence of the prevailing airflow from the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and the continental air mass. Because they usually meet at the point where the terrain rises, the heaviest rain falls in the central uplands. Vertical currents initiated when the Mediterranean air is uplifted also cause frequent thunderstorms. Many of these storms are accompanied by high local winds and torrential downpours.

When the continental air mass is weak, Mediterranean winds drop their moisture farther inland. When there is a dominant continental air mass, cold air spills onto the lowland areas, which occurs most frequently in the winter. Because the season's lower temperatures damage olive trees and citrus fruits, groves and orchards are restricted to sheltered places with southern and western exposures, even in areas with high average winter temperatures.

Lowland rainfall averages from {{convert|1000|mm|in|1|sp=us}} to more than {{convert|1500|mm|in|1|sp=us}} annually, with the higher levels in the north. Nearly 95% of the rain falls in the winter.

Rainfall in the upland mountain ranges is heavier. Adequate records are not available, and estimates vary widely, but annual averages are probably about {{convert|1800|mm|in|1|sp=us}} and are as high as {{convert|2550|mm|in|1|sp=us}} in some northern areas. The western Albanian Alps (valley of Boga) are among the most wet areas in Europe, receiving some {{convert|3100|mm|2|abbr=on|lk=out}} of rain annually<ref>http://qendrim.forumotion.net/gjeografia-f61/tiparet-e-pergjithshme-te-klimes-t3725.htm</ref>. The seasonal variation is not quite as great in the coastal area.

The higher inland mountains receive less precipitation than the intermediate uplands. Terrain differences cause wide local variations, but the seasonal distribution is the most consistent of any area.

==Flora and fauna==

[[File:Lynx lynx poing.jpg|thumb|left|The [[lynx]] still survives in Albania]]

[[File:Steinadler Aquila chrysaetos closeup2 Richard Bartz.jpg|thumb|right|Golden eagle – the national symbol of Albania]]

Although a small country, Albania is distinguished for its rich biological diversity. The variation of geomorphology, climate and terrain create favorable conditions for a number of endemic and [[sub-endemic]] species with 27 endemic and 160 subendemic vascular plants present in the country. The total number of plants is over 3250 species, approximately 30% of the entire flora species found in Europe. Coastal regions and lowlands have typical Mediterranean [[macchia]] vegetation, whereas [[oak]] forests and vegetation are found on higher altitudes. Vast forests of [[European Black Pine|black pine]], [[beech]] and [[fir]] are found on higher mountains and alpine [[grasslands]] grow at altitudes above 1800 meters a.s.l.<ref name="cbd.int">http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/al/al-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf</ref>

There are around 760 vertebrate species found so far in Albania. Among these there are over 350 bird species, 330 freshwater and marine fish and 80 mammal species. There are some 91 globally threatened species found within the country, among which the [[Dalmatian pelican]], [[Pygmy cormorant]], and the [[European sea sturgeon]]. Rocky coastal regions in the south provide good habitats for the endangered [[Mediterranean monk seal]]. Some of the most significant bird species found in the country include the [[golden eagle]] – known as the national symbol of Albania – [[vulture]] species, [[capercaillie]] and numerous [[waterfowl]]. The Albanian forests still maintain significant communities of large mammals such as the [[brown bear]], [[gray wolf]], [[chamois]] and [[wild boar]].<ref name="cbd.int"/> The north and eastern mountains of the country are home to the last remaining Balkan lynx – a critically endangered population of the [[Eurasian lynx]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catsg.org/balkanlynx/20_blx-compendium/index.htm |title=The Balkan Lynx Conservation Compendium |publisher=Catsg.org |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Albania}}

Albania remains a poor country by Western European standards.<ref>[http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief]. [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] ([[Government of Australia|Australia]]), 1 August 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2009.</ref> Its GDP per capita (expressed in PPS—[[Purchasing power parity|Purchasing Power Standards]]) stood at 25 percent of the EU average in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-25062009-BP/EN/2-25062009-BP-EN.PDF|format=PDF|title=Albania's GDP per capita in PPS (2008) |publisher=Eurostat |accessdate=25 June 2009}}</ref> Still, Albania has shown potential for economic growth, as more and more businesses relocate there and consumer goods are becoming available from emerging market traders as part of the current massive global cost-cutting exercise. Albania and Cyprus are the only countries in Europe that recorded economic growth in the first quarter of 2009. In its latest report, the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) said Albania and Cyprus recorded increases of 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.<ref>Business: Albania, Cyprus register economic growth http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2009/05/15/roundup-bs-03</ref><ref>Strong economic growth potential puts Albania and Panama top of long term investment list http://www.propertywire.com/news/related-stories/albania-panama-long-term-investment-200807201344.html</ref> However, the country is still of low interest for major foreign investors due to frequent power shortages, occasional lack of water supplies and ubiquitous illegal activities.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2681449.stm Albania's Economy shakes off it's shackles], 23 January 2003, BBC News.</ref>

[[File:Mallakastra-oil.jpg|thumb|right|Oil pumps near [[Mallakastra]]]]

Albania and Croatia have discussed the possibility of jointly building a nuclear power plant at Lake [[Shkoder]], close to the border with Montenegro, a plan that has gathered criticism from the latter due to seismicity in the area.<ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/18259/ Albania, Croatia plan nuclear power plant.]</ref> In addition, there is some doubt whether Albania would be able to finance a project of such a scale with a total national budget of less than $ 5 billion.<ref name="CIA — The World Factbook">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html CIA – The World Factbook]</ref> However, in February 2009 Italian company [[Enel]] announced plans to build an 800 MW [[coal]]-fired power plant in Albania, to diversify electricity sources.<ref name="diversify">[http://www.allbusiness.com/energy-utilities/utilities-industry-electric-power/11935171-1.html Enel Albanian Joint Venture Introduces Coal In Albania's Power Mix], Business Monitor Online, 24 February 2009</ref> Nearly 100% of the electricity is generated by ageing hydroelectric power plants, which are becoming more ineffective due to increasing droughts.<ref name="diversify"/>

The country has some deposits of [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]], but produces only 6,425 barrels of oil per day.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2173rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=91#al CIA The World Factbook: Oil producers]</ref> Natural gas production, estimated at about 30 million cubic meters, is sufficient to meet consumer demands.<ref name="CIA — The World Factbook"/> Other natural resources include coal, [[bauxite]], [[copper]] and [[iron ore]].

[[Agriculture]] is the most significant sector, employing some 58% of the labor force and generating about 21% of GDP. Albania produces significant amounts of [[wheat]], [[maize|corn]], [[tobacco]], [[figs]] (13th largest producer in the world)<ref>[http://www.fao.org/es/ess/top/topproduction.html?lang=en&country=3&year=2005 Albania Country Profile], FAO</ref> and [[olives]].

==Science and technology==
{{Main|Science and technology}}

Expenditure for scientific research and Development in Albania does not exceed 0.18% of GDP, which marks the lowest level in Europe. Economic competitiveness and exports are low, with the economy still heavily skewed towards low technology.

From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.
Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated.<ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state of the art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research.

However in 2009 the government approved the "National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania" <ref>[http://www.dsdc.gov.al/dsdc/pub/national_strategy_of_science_technology_and_innovation_final_draft_381_1.pdf National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2009–2015</ref> covering the period 2009–2015. The document was coordinated by the Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and with UNESCO assistance.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

* to triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;
* to augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;
* to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technology based firms;
* to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;
* to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners. <ref> http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html </ref>

The Strategy is to be implemented in synergy with other sectoral strategies and taking into account Albania’s Higher Education Strategy adopted in 2008 and the National Strategy for Development and Integration (2007–2013). The latter underlines the importance of modernizing economic sectors such as the agro-food industry and tourism. It also underscores the strategic importance of energy, environmental and water resource management. Stakeholders have proposed prioritizing fields of research such as agriculture and food, information and communication technologies (ICTs), public health, Albanology and humanities, natural resources, biotechnology, biodiversity, defence and security.

The European Union (EU) has set clear objectives for research and innovation as part of its Lisbon Strategy for becoming the most competitive economy in the world. Like other Western Balkan countries aspiring to join the EU, Albania is trailing behind in the development process, having focused in recent years on laying the foundations for economic growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Genc Pollo acknowledges that ‘the high rates of socio-economic development required in the process of Albania’s membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (now a member) and EU accession necessitate strengthening the role of science, technology and innovation in our society.’

In August of 2009, the government approved the establishment of the Albanian Agency of Research, Technology and Innovation, to improve policy implementation.

In 2006, the Albanian government undertook a deep reform of the scientific research system. The Academy of Sciences was re-organized along the model of many other European countries; it now operates through a selected community of scientists and no longer administrates research institutes, these having been integrated into the higher education system. Two new faculties have been set up: the Faculty of Information Technology at the Polytechnic University of Tirana and the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food at the Agricultural University of Tirana. The University of Tirana has also gained an Applied and Nuclear Physics Centre and Biotechnology Department. Twelve government agencies and centres for technology transfer have also been created.

Until recently, R&D and innovation statistics were not collected in Albania to OECD, Eurostat or UNESCO standards. A first survey of public and academic institutes was launched earlier this year and a business R&D and innovation survey is currently under way, both the support of UNESCO.

The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad

There is a total 578 scientific workers in Albania:

* 274 in Academy of Sciences
* 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

The numbers of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0.2 for 1000 habitants <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

==Transport==

{{Main|Transport in Albania}}

In the early 1990s, the rock-strewn roadways, unstable rail lines and obsolete telephone network crisscrossing Albania represented the remnants of the marked improvements that were made after [[World War II]]. [[Enver Hoxha]]'s [[xenophobia]] and lust for control had kept Albania isolated, however, as the communications revolution transformed the wider world into a [[Global Village (term)|global village]]. Even internal travel amounted to something of a luxury for many Albanians during communism's ascendancy.

===Highways===
[[File:SH2 Tiranë-Durrës.jpg|right|thumb|SH 2 Highway ([[Tirana]]–[[Durrës]])]]

[[File:Tirana's Overpass From Durres (1).JPG|left|thumb|SH 2—Tirana's overpass from Durrës]]

Currently the major cities of the country are linked with first class national roads. There is a four lane highway connecting the city of Durrës with Tirana and the city of Durrës with the city of [[Lushnje]]. Albania is partaking in the construction of what it sees as three major corridors of transportation.

The major priority as of present is the full completion of the four lane [[Albania-Kosovo Highway|Durrës-Pristina highway]] which will link [[Kosovo]] with Albania's Adriatic coast. The portion of the highway which links Albania's north east border with Kosovo was completed in June 2009,<ref>{{cite web|last=Wynne |first=Alexandra |url=http://www.nce.co.uk/news/transport/albania-motorway-making-the-first-move/5203302.article# |title=Albania highway: Making the first move | Features | New Civil Engineer |publisher=Nce.co.uk |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> as a result, cutting the time it takes to get from Kosovo to Durrës from six hours to two. Indeed the roads in northwestern Albania remain in poor condition as of summer 2009. It takes approximately 1h 30' to drive the {{convert|35|km|0|abbr=on}} from the border of Montenegro to Shkodër.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

There has been much discussion, debate, and interest in the {{convert|170|km|0|abbr=on}} Durrës–Kukës–Morinë Highway Albanian highway to Kosovo, which is intended to create a new, super-fast connection between Durrës on the Adriatic coast to [[Morinë]] at the border of Kosovo. The current drive time between Kukës and Durrës is now 2 hours. The whole will be around {{convert|250|km|0|abbr=on}}, when completed to Pristina. The objective for constructing the road, according to the transport ministry, is to reduce transport costs and accidents, and improve traffic flow. It is the biggest, most expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken in Albania. The cost of the highway appears to have breached EUR800 million, although the exact cost for the total highway has yet to be confirmed by the government. Currently there is a display in Tirana's centre on Bvld Dëshmorët e Kombit.

The second priority is the construction of European corridor 8 linking Albania with the Republic of Macedonia and Greece.

The third priority for the government is the construction of the north-south axis of the country; it is sometimes referred to as the [[Adriatic–Ionian motorway]] as it is part of a larger regional highway connecting Croatia with Greece along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts.

By the end of the decade it is expected that the majority of the sections of these three corridors will have been built.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} When all three corridors are completed Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with its neighbors.

===Aviation===
[[File:Rinas-Airport-New-Terminal.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]]]

The civil air transport in Albania marked its beginnings in November 1924, when the Republic of Albania signed a Governmental Agreement with German Air Company [[Lufthansa]]. On the basis of a ten-year concession agreement, the Albanian Airlines with the name [[Adria Aero Lloyd]] Company was established.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} In the spring of 1925, the first domestic flights from [[Tirana]] to [[Shkoder]] and [[Vlora]] began.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

In August 1927, the office of Civil Aviation of Air Traffic Ministry of Italy purchased Adria Aero Lloyd. The company, now in Italian hands, expanded its flights to other cities, such as [[Elbasan]], [[Korça]], [[Kukësi]], [[Peshkopia]] and [[Gjirokastra]], and opened up international lines to Rome, [[Milan]], [[Thessaloniki]], [[Sofia]], [[Belgrade]], and [[Podgorica]].

The construction of a more modern airport construction in present [[Lapraka]]) started in 1934 and was completed by the end of 1935. This new airport, which was later officially named "Airport of Tirana", was constructed in conformity with optimal technological parameters of that time, with reinforced concrete runway of 1200 {{convert|400|m|2|abbr=on|lk=out}}, and complemented with technical equipment and appropriate buildings.

During 1955–1957, the [[Rinasi Airport]] was constructed for military purposes. Later, its administration was shifted to the Ministry of Transport. On 25 January 1957 the State-owned Enterprise of International Air Transport ([[Albtransport]]) established its headquarters in Tirana. [[Aeroflot]], [[Jat]], [[Malev]], [[Tarom]] and [[Interflug]] were the air companies that started to have flights with Albania until 1960.

During 1960–1978, several airlines ceased to operate in Albania due to the impact of the politics, resulting to a decrease of influx of flights and passengers. In 1977 Albania's government signed an agreement with Greece to open the country's first air links with non-communist Europe. As a result, [[Olympic Airlines|Olympic Airways]] was the first non-communist airline to commercially fly into Albania after [[WWII]]. By 1991 Albania had air links with many major European cities, including Paris, Rome, [[Zürich]], [[Vienna]] and [[Budapest]], but no regular domestic air service.

A French-Albanian joint venture [[Ada Air]], was launched in Albania's as the first private airline, in 1991. The company offered flights in a thirty-six-passenger airplane four days each week between Tirana and [[Bari]], Italy and a charter service for domestic and international destinations.

From 1989 to 1991, because of political changes in the [[Eastern European]] countries, Albania adhered to the International Civil Aviation Organization ([[ICAO]]), opened its air space to international flights, and had its duties of Air Traffic Control defined. As premises of these developments, conditions were created to separate the activities of air traffic control from Albtransport. Instead, the [[National Agency of Air Traffic]] (NATA) was established as an independent enterprise. In addition, during these years, governmental agreements of civil air transport were established with [[Bulgaria]], Germany, [[Slovenia]], Italy, Russia, Austria, England, [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], etc. The Directory General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was established on 3 February 1991, to cope with the development required by the time.

As of 2007 Albania has one [[international airport]]: [[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]. The airport is linked to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a dramatic rise in terms of passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s. The data for 2009 is 1.3 million passengers served and an average of 44 landings and takeoffs per day.

[[File:Albanian railway.jpg|thumb|left|Train on the Durrës to Tiranë railway line]]

===Railways===
{{Main|Rail transport in Albania|Hekurudha Shqiptarë}}
The railway system was extensively promoted by the [[totalitarianism|totalitarian]] regime of [[Enver Hoxha]], during which time the use of private transport was effectively prohibited. Since the collapse of the former regime, there has been a considerable increase in [[car]] ownership and [[bus]] usage. Whilst some of the country's roads are still in a very poor condition, there have been other developments (such as the construction of a [[motorway]] between Tirana and Durrës) which have taken much traffic away from the railways. The [[railway]]s in Albania are administered by the national railway company ''[[Hekurudha Shqiptare]]'' (HSH) (which means ''Albanian Railways''). It operates a {{RailGauge|1435}} gauge (standard gauge) rail system in Albania. All trains are hauled by [[Czech Republic|Czech]]-built [[ČKD]] diesel-electric [[locomotive]]s.

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Albania}}

[[File:Albania minorities.png|thumb|Regions with a traditional presence of ethnic or linguistic groups other than Albanian.]]

[[File:Tirana Skanderbeg Square.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tirana]], Albania's capital and largest city.]]

The Albanian population is considered a very young population, with an average age of 28.9 years.<ref>[http://www.instat.gov.al/graphics/doc/downloads/publikime/femrameshkuj2006.pdf Women, Men and shefit's in Albania 2006], Instat, Tirana, 2007</ref> After 1990 the Albanian population has
faced new phenomena like migration, which greatly affected the distribution by districts and prefectures. Districts in the North have seen a decreasing population, while [[Tirana]] and [[Durrës]] districts have increased their population.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Albania's population was 3,152,600 on 1 January 2007 and 3,170,048 on 1 January 2008.<ref name=instat>{{cite web|url=http://www.instat.gov.al/|title=Albania National Institute of Statistics official web site}}</ref> Alternative sources estimate the population in July 2009 at 3,639,453 with an annual growth rate of 0.546%.<ref name=cia>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html ''CIA World Factbook'': Albania]</ref> Albania is a largely ethnically homogeneous country with only small minorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watsoninstitute.org/bjwa/archive/11.1/Essays/Barjarba.pdf|author=Kosta Barjarba|title=Migration and Ethnicity in Albania: Synergies and Interdependencies|format=PDF}}</ref> The vast majority of the population is ethnically [[Albanians|Albanian]] (98.6%). Minorities include [[Greeks]] 1.17% and others 0.23% ([[Vlachs]], [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]], [[Serbs]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Egyptians (Balkans)|Balkan Egyptians]], [[Roma]] and former [[Yugoslavians]]).<ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm Albania], U.S. Department of State Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Background Note November 2008. Retrieved on 14 May 2009</ref> The size of the Greek minority is contentious, with the Albanian government claiming it is only 60,000, while the Greek government is claiming 300,000. Most Western sources put the size of the Greek minority at around 200,000, or ~6% of the population,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=kqCnCOgGc5AC&pg=PA68&dq=greek+minority+albania&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=0 ''Eastern Europe at the end of the 20th century'', Ian Jeffries, p. 69]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?lr=&hl=el&id=OU1oAAAAMAAJ&dq=Pettifer+The+Greeks%3A+The+Land+and+the+People+since+the+War&q=200000&pgis=1#search_anchor The Greeks: the land and people since the war.] James Pettifer. Penguin, 2000. ISBN 0-14-028899-6</ref> while the [[CIA Factbook]] estimates the Greek minority at 3% of the total population.
The dominant language is [[Albanian language|Albanian]], with two main dialects, [[Gheg]] and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]]. Many Albanians are also fluent in English, Italian, Greek, etc.



===Religion===
[[File:07Tirana Et'hem beu Mosque03.jpg|thumb|right|[[Et'hem Bey Mosque]] in Tirana]]

[[File:Labova e Kryqit3.jpg|thumb|right|Church of Virgin Mary. It was built in the 10th century]]

{{Main|Religion in Albania}}

{{See also|Freedom of religion in Albania}}

Estimates of the religious allegiance of the population of Albania vary, with some sources suggesting that the majority do not follow or practice any religion.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm]-Freedom of Religion 2007</ref>

A recent study by the [[Pew Research Center]] puts the percentage of
[[Muslim]]s in Albania at 79.9%,<ref>{{Cite book | editor-last = Miller | editor-first = Tracy | month = October | year = 2009 | publisher = [[Pew Research Center]] | title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population | format = PDF | url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf | accessdate = 8 October 2009 }}</ref> with the remaining 20% consisting of Christians. The CIA World Factbook gives a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html 2009 CIA World Factbook]</ref> According to the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]], roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% Christian<ref>{{cite book
|title=World Christian Encyclopedia
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|year=2001
|last=p 51|isbn =0195079639}}</ref>

The Albanians first appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late-11th century. At this point, they are already fully Christianised. Christianity was later overtaken by [[Islam]], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turkish rule from the 15th century until year 1912. After independence (1912) from the Ottoman Empire, the Albanian republican, monarchic and later communist regimes followed a systematic policy of separating religion from official functions and cultural life. Albania never had an official state religion either as a republic or as a kingdom. In the 20th century, the clergy of all faiths was weakened under the monarchy, and ultimately eradicated during the 1940s and 1950s, under the state policy of obliterating all organised religion from Albanian territories.

The Communist regime that took control of Albania after World War II suppressed religious observance and institutions and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [[atheist]] state. Religious freedom has returned to Albania since the regime's change in 1992. Albanian Muslim populations (mainly secular and of the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] rite) are found throughout the country whereas [[Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox Christians]] are concentrated in the south and Roman Catholics are found in the north of the country. No reliable data are available on active participation in formal religious services, and estimates range from 25% to 40%.<ref name="International Religious Freedom Report 2007">[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm Albania: International Religious Freedom Report 2007]</ref>

There are about 4,000 active [[Jehovah's witnesses]] in Albania.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide Status Report|url=http://www.watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report_statistics.htm|accessdate=27 September 2009|publisher=Watch Tower}}</ref>
Among other religious organizations making inroads into this nation is [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS or 'Mormons'). LDS involvement in Albania began with Humanitarian Aid during the 1990s. The first missionaries were sent in 1992 with the Albania Tirana Mission being opened in 1996. As of 2008, there were nearly 2,000 members of the Church in Albania, spread throughout ten branches with two purpose-built Chapels and one Family History Center.<ref>{{cite web|title=LDS Newsroom-Country Profile-Albania|url=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/albania|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Albanians}}

{{Main|Culture of Albania}}

===Music and folklore===
[[File:Berat.jpg|thumb|left|[[Berat]]]]
[[File:A traditional male folk group from Skrapar.JPG|thumb|left|A traditional male folk group from Skrapar]]
{{main|Music of Albania}}
Albanian folk music falls into three sylistic groups, with other important [[music area]]s around [[Shkodër]] and [[Tirana]]; the major groupings are the [[Gheg]]s of the north and southern Labs and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosks]]. The northern and southern traditions are contrasted by the "rugged and heroic" tone of the north and the "relaxed, gentle and exceptionally beautiful" form of the south. These disparate styles are unified by "the intensity that both performers and listeners give to their music as a medium for patriotic expression and as a vehicle carrying the narrative of [[oral history]]", as well as certain characteristics like the use of obscure rhythms such as 3/8, 5/8 and 10/8.<ref>Arbatsky, Yuri, cited in Koco with the footnote ''Translated and published by Filip Fishta in Shkolla Kombëtare (The National School; No.1, May 1939), 19, and quoted from his Preface to [[Pjetër Dungu]]'s Lyra Shqiptare (see note 2).''</ref> The first compilation of Albanian folk music was made by [[Pjetër Dungu]] in 1940.

Albanian folk songs can be divided into major groups, the heroic epics of the north, and the sweetly melodic [[lullaby|lullabies]], love songs, [[wedding music]], [[work song]]s and other kinds of song. The music of various festivals and holidays is also an important part of Albanian folk song, especially those that celebrate St. Lazarus Day (''the llazore''), which inaugurates the springtime. Lullabies and [[lament]]s are very important kinds of Albanian folk song, and are generally performed by solo women.<ref name="koco">{{cite web|title=Albanian Music|work=Eno Koco at the University of Leeds|url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/staff/ek/|accessdate=28 August 2005}}</ref>

===Albanian language and literature===
{{Main|Albanian language}}
{{Main|Albanian literature}}

{{See also|List of Albanian writers}}

Albanian was proven to be an [[Indo-European language]] in 1854 by the German [[Comparative linguistics|philologist]] [[Franz Bopp]]. The Albanian language comprises its own branch of the Indo-European language family.

Some scholars believe that Albanian derives from [[Illyrian language|Illyrian]]<ref>Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture By J. P. Mallory, Douglas Q. Adams Edition: illustrated Published by Taylor & Francis, 1997 ISBN 1-884964-98-2, 9781884964985 (''"Although there are some lexical items that appear to be shared between Romanian (and by extension Dacian) and Albanian, by far the strongest connections can be argued between Albanian and Illyrian."'' page 11)
Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World By Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Contributor Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Edition: illustrated Published by Elsevier, 2008 ISBN 0-08-087774-5, 9780080877747 (''"Albanian constitutes a single branch of the Indo-European family of languages. It is often held to be related to Illyrian, a poorly attested language spoken in the Western Balkans in classical times"'' page 22)</ref> while others,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/LLDescription.cfm?code=txh|title=The Thracian language|publisher=The Linguist List|accessdate=27 January 2008|quote=An ancient language of Southern Balkans, belonging to the Satem group of Indo-European. This language is the most likely ancestor of modern Albanian (which is also a Satem language), though the evidence is scanty. 1st Millennium BC – 500 AD.}}</ref> claim that it derives from [[Dacian language|Daco]]-[[Thracian language|Thracian]]. (Illyrian and Daco-Thracian, however, might have been closely related languages; see [[Thraco-Illyrian]].)

Establishing longer relations, Albanian is often compared to Balto-Slavic on the one hand and Germanic on the other, both of which share a number of [[isogloss]]es with Albanian. Moreover, Albanian has undergone a vowel shift in which stressed, long ''o'' has fallen to ''a'', much like in the former and opposite the latter. Likewise, Albanian has taken the old relative ''jos'' and innovatively used it exclusively to qualify adjectives, much in the way Balto-Slavic has used this word to provide the definite ending of adjectives.

The cultural resistance was first of all expressed through the elaboration of the [[Albanian language]] in the area of church texts and publications, mainly of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] confessional region in the North, but also of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] in the South. The [[Protestant]] reforms invigorated hopes for the development of the local language and literary tradition when cleric [[Gjon Buzuku]] brought into the Albanian language the [[Catholic liturgy]], trying to do for the Albanian language what [[Martin Luther|Luther]] did for German.

[[File:Meshari.jpg|thumb|left|Excerpt from ''[[Meshari]]'' by [[Gjon Buzuku]]]]

''[[Meshari]]'' (The Missal) by [[Gjon Buzuku]], published by him in 1555, is considered to date as the first literary work of written Albanian. The refined level of the language and the stabilised orthography must be a result of an earlier tradition of writing Albanian, a tradition that is not known. But there are some fragmented evidence, dating earlier than Buzuku, which indicate that Albanian was written at least since 14th century AD. The first known evidence dates from 1332 AD and deals with the French Dominican Guillelmus Adae, [[Archbishop]] of [[Antivari]], who in a report in Latin writes that Albanians use Latin letters in their books although their language is quite different from Latin. Of special importance in supporting this are: a baptizing formula (''Unte paghesont premenit Atit et Birit et spertit senit'') of 1462, written in Albanian within a text in Latin by the [[Bishop]] of [[Durrës]], [[Pal Engjëlli]]; a glossary with Albanian words of 1497 by Arnold von Harff, a German who had travelled through Albania, and a 15th century fragment from the [[Bible]] from the [[Gospel of Matthew]], also in Albanian, but in Greek letters.
[[File:Tirana Museum 1988.jpg|thumb|right|The [[National Historical Museum (Albania)|National Museum of Albania]] features exhibits from [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] times to World War II.]]

Albanian writings of these centuries must not have been religious texts only, but historical chronicles too. They are mentioned by the humanist [[Marin Barleti]], who, in his book ''Rrethimi i Shkodrës'' (The Siege of Shkodër) (1504), confirms that he leafed through such chronicles written in the language of the people (''in vernacula lingua''). Despite the obstacles generated by the [[Counter-Reformation]] which was opposed to the development of national languages in Christian [[liturgy]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}}, this process went on uninterrupted. During the 16th to 17th centuries, the [[catechism]] ''E mbësuame krishterë'' (Christian Teachings) (1592) by [[Lekë Matrënga]], ''Doktrina e krishterë'' (The Christian Doctrine) (1618) and ''Rituale romanum'' (1621) by [[Pjetër Budi]], the first writer of original Albanian [[prose]] and [[poetry]], an [[Remorse|apology]] for George Castriot (1636) by [[Frang Bardhi]], who also published a dictionary and [[folklore]] creations, the theological-philosophical treaty ''Cuneus Prophetarum'' (The Band of Prophets) (1685) by [[Pjetër Bogdani]], the most universal personality of Albanian [[Middle Ages]], were published in [[Albanian language|Albanian]]. The most famous Albanian writer is probably [[Ismail Kadare]].

'''Weddings as part of Albanian culture'''

Albania is a country of traditions and loves to be treated like this. The wedding represents a symptom, an important example of what of unique traditions Albanians have.

''The characteristic wedding dress of the muslim shkodran bride''

The dress of the Muslim bride is characterized by the elegance and transparency, in that of the catholic you can see full colors. Her dress is characterized by the picturesque effects and harmony.
Here we can analyze two dresses. One is worked on a ‘shajak” (big piece of wool) and with floral motives worked with “gajtan” (kind of rope) black cotton, sometimes mixed with green. The other one is worked in the same material but with red color. Different from the first here the motives are enriched with full colors. The difference between this two dresses that at the first dress the motives occupy all the area, at the second it occupies a little part in the front and back. These dresses have a belt worked with gold and grain necklaces in red, rose, orange creating all together a warm surface, enjoyable and quieter for the eyes. Here the motives are really small.
This gallery of costumes, richness of colors, sentiments are a big experience of lots of years of a population like ours, not only for the ability to conserve alive the tradition, inheriting it generations after generations, but also for conserving the high technique of elaboration or the high artistic level.

''The characteristic wedding dress of the catholic shkodran bride''

The shkodran woman has worked with a lot of finesse and has poured a lot of gold preparing her wedding dress. All the dress is tripped from the transparent white, shiny, soft, which spreads all over the body. As hardly as you see it, it creates a sense of a deep preoccupation, emotional, it creates you a sense of tranquility and a warm purity. This game is achieved through the white of the base material and the gold thread over. This dress is composed by the “barnaveke”: some kind of very long pants which seem a skirt. In the upper part is worn a shirt and over it a “jelek” (waistcoat).

''Paja''

A lot of ritual songs nominate various elements which contain “pajen” of the girl, which are the goods parents give to the daughter to wear, to furnish the house, gifts for her husband and the intimate cousins.
The preparation of the ‘paja” for the parents of the bride is a pleasure which means also accomplishing the obligations toward the daughter. This is also an expression of the love of parents, but is connected with the economical conditions of the familie

''Dhuntia''

"Dhunti" in Shkodra means all the gifts that the groom prepares for the bride during the engagement, mainly clothes, jewelry, gold ornaments and tricks, which are sent to her a few days before the wedding.
In addition to those received by the family of his father, the bride takes too many gifts from the groom and his family. "Dhuntia", which had a considerable monetary value, was prepared with great care by the family of the boy, because in some way embodied respect and love for his young bride, to whom these gifts were made, love for their son that he married at the same time was also a representation of the family in its economic and aesthetic. In "dhunti" there were enough clothes and items for use at all times, in joy and in sorrow, which expressed particular attention to the role of women.

''Kole Idromeno and “Dasma Shkodrane”''

In 1924 Idromeno drew the picture Dasma Shkodrane (Shkodra wedding), which immediately became known to the general public. The theme and picture was much appreciated for the accurate description of the original customs of the country. In the framework there are many elements and ethnographic peculiarities authentic. The environment is characteristic of Shkodra, the houses enclosed by high walls, windows, trees, chimneys, minarets, and represented everything perfectly, so you can capture all the beauty of the place, clothes only by watching the picture.

==Education==
Before the Communist regime, Albania's illiteracy rate was as high as 85%. Schools were scarce between [[World War I]] and [[World War II]]. When the Communist regime over took the country in 1944, the regime wanted to wipe out illiteracy. The regulations became so strict that anyone between the ages of 12 and 40 who could not read or write was mandated to attend classes to learn. Since these times of struggle the country's literacy rate has improved remarkably.<ref>Zickel, Iwaskiw, 1994</ref> Today the overall literacy rate in Albania is 98.7%, the male literacy rate is 99.2% and female literacy rate is 98.3%.<ref name=cia/> Since the rather large population movements in the 1990s to urban areas, education has moved as well. Thousands of teachers moved to urban areas to follow students. The [[University of Tirana]] is the first university in Albania and was founded in October 1957.

==Administrative divisions==
[[File:AlbaniaNumberedPrefectures.png|thumb|Counties of Albania]]

{{Main|Counties of Albania|Districts of Albania|Municipalities of Albania}}

Albania is divided into 12 administrative divisions called ({{lang-sq|official ''qark''/''qarku''}}, but often ''prefekturë''/''prefektura'') Counties, 36 districts and 351 municipalities. Each region has its Regional Council and is composed of a number of Municipalities and Communes, which are the first level of local governance responsible for local needs and law enforcement.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! !! [[Counties of Albania|County]]
! [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
! [[Districts of Albania|Districts]]
! [[Municipalities of Albania|Municipalities]]
! [[List of cities in Albania|Cities]]
! [[Town]]s
|-
| 1 || [[Berat County|Berat]]
| [[Berat]]
| [[Berat District|Berat]] [[Kuçovë District|Kuçovë]] [[Skrapar District|Skrapar]]
| 12 2 10
| 2 1 2
| 122 17 103
|-
| 2 || [[Dibër County|Dibër]]
| [[Peshkopi]]
| [[Bulqizë District|Bulqizë]] [[Dibër District|Dibër]] [[Mat District|Mat]]
| 8 15 12
| 2 1 3
| 103 141 76
|-
| 3 || [[Durrës County|Durrës]]
| [[Durrës]]
| [[Durrës District|Durrës]] [[Krujë District|Krujë]]
| 10 7
| 4 2
| 61 43
|-
| 4 || [[Elbasan County|Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan District|Elbasan]] [[Gramsh District|Gramsh]] [[Librazhd District|Librazhd]] [[Peqin District|Peqin]]
| 24 10 10 6
| 2 1 2 1
| 176 95 75 49
|-
| 5 || [[Fier County|Fier]]
| [[Fier]]
| [[Fier District|Fier]] [[Lushnjë District|Lushnjë]] [[Mallakastër District|Mallakastër]]
| 17 16 9
| 3 2 1
| 117 121 40
|-
| 6 || [[Gjirokastër County|Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër District|Gjirokastër]] [[Përmet District|Përmet]] [[Tepelenë District|Tepelenë]]
| 13 9 10
| 2 2 2
| 95 97 77
|-
| 7 || [[Korçë County|Korçë]]
| [[Korçë]]
| [[Devoll District|Devoll]] [[Kolonjë District|Kolonjë]] [[Korçë District|Korçë]] [[Pogradec District|Pogradec]]
| 5 8 17 8
| 1 2 2 1
| 44 76 155 72
|-
| 8 || [[Kukës County|Kukës]]
| [[Kukës]]
| [[Has District|Has]] [[Kukës District|Kukës]] [[Tropojë District|Tropojë]]
| 4 15 8
| 1 1 3
| 30 90 68
|-
| 9 || [[Lezhë County|Lezhë]]
| [[Lezhë]]
| [[Kurbin District|Kurbin]] [[Lezhë District|Lezhë]] [[Mirditë District|Mirditë]]
| 4 10 7
| 3 2 4
| 28 63 70
|-
| 10 || [[Shkodër County|Shkodër]]
| [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]]
| [[Malësi e Madhe District|Malësi e Madhe]] [[Pukë District|Pukë]] [[Shkodër District|Shkodër]]
| 6 10 18
| 2 2 2
| 56 75 139
|-
| 11 || [[Tirana County|Tirana]]
| [[Tirana]]
| [[Kavajë District|Kavajë]] [[Tirana District|Tirana]]
| 10 18
| 2 3
| 65 155
|-
| 12 || [[Vlorë County|Vlorë]]
| [[Vlorë]]
| [[Delvinë District|Delvinë]] [[Sarandë District|Sarandë]] [[Vlorë District|Vlorë]]
| 4 9 13
| 1 2 4
| 38 62 99
|}

==Sport==
[[Association football|Football (soccer)]] is the most popular sport in Albania, both at a participatory and spectator level. The sport is governed by the [[Football Association of Albania]] ({{lang-sq|Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit}}, F.SH.F.).

* [[Albania national football team]]
* [[Albania national basketball team]]
* [[Albania national futsal team]]
* [[Albania national under-21 football team]]

==Entertainment==
{{Main|RTSH}}

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar, ([[RTSH]]), is Albania's leading television network. RTSH runs a national television station ''TVSH'', (standing for ''Televizioni Shqiptar''), and two national radio stations, using the name ''Radio Tirana''. An international service broadcasts radio programmes in Albanian and seven other languages via [[medium wave]] (AM) and [[short wave]] (SW).<ref>[http://picasaweb.google.es/ec2adn/RadioTiranaBroadcastingSchedules/photo#5187887711939456834 radiotirana.org website] {{en icon}}</ref> The international service has used the theme from the song "Keputa një gjethe dafine" as its [[signature tune]]. Since 1999, RTSH has been a member of the [[European Broadcasting Union]]. Since 1993, RTSH has also run an international television service via [[satellite]], aimed at [[Albanian language]] communities in [[Kosovo]], [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], [[Montenegro]] and Greece, plus the Albanian [[diaspora]] in the rest of Europe.

According the National Council of Radio and Television Albania has an estimated 257 media outlets, including 66 radio stations and 65 television stations, with three national and 62 local stations.

==Health==
Health care has been in a steep decline after the collapse of socialism in the country, but a process of modernization has been taking place since 2000.<ref name="hospitals">{{cite web|url=http://www.euro.who.int/document/e80089.pdf |title=Albania-prel.pmd |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> As of the early 2000s, there were 51 hospitals in the country, including a military hospital and specialist facilities.<ref name="hospitals"/> Albania has successfully removed diseases such as [[malaria]].

Life expectancy is estimated at 77.43 years, ranking 51st worldwide, and outperforming a number of European Union countries, such as Hungary and the Czech Republic.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=51#al CIA – The World Factbook], Life Expectancy ranks</ref> The most common causes of death are circulatory disease followed by cancerous illnesses.

The medical school, Faculty of Medicine at Tirana University, is in Tirana. There are also nursing schools in many other cities.

==Cuisine==
{{Main|Albanian cuisine}}

The cuisine of Albania – as with most [[Mediterranean]] and [[Balkans|Balkan]] nations – is strongly influenced by its long history. At different times, the territory which is now Albania has been claimed or occupied by Greece, Italy and the [[Ottoman Turk]]s and each group has left its mark on Albanian cuisine. The main meal of the [[Albanians]] is lunch, and it is usually accompanied by a [[salad]] of fresh [[vegetables]], such as [[tomato]]es, [[cucumber]]s, green [[bell pepper|peppers]] and [[olive]]s with [[olive oil]], [[vinegar]] and [[salt]]. Lunch also includes a main dish of vegetables and meat. Seafood specialties are also common in the coastal areas of [[Durrës]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Sarandë]].

==Human rights in Albania==
{{Main|Human rights in Albania}}

===LGBT rights in Albania===
{{Main|LGBT rights in Albania}}

==International rankings==
{{Main|International rankings of Albania}}

===Demographic===
* [[List of countries by population|Population]] 2010 ranked 136 out of 223 countries
* [[CIA World Factbook]]: [[List of countries by life expectancy|Life expectancy]] 2005–2010 ranked 46 out of 195 countries
* List by the United Nations Population Division: [[List of countries by infant mortality rate|infant mortality rate]] ranked 91 highest [[infant mortality]] rate out of 195 countries
* [[United Nations Development Programme]]: [[List of countries by literacy rate|literacy rate]] 2009 ranked 19 out of 177 countries

===Economic===
* [[The Wall Street Journal]] and the [[Heritage Foundation]]: [[Index of Economic Freedom]] 2010, ranked 53 out of 179 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|GDP (nominal) per capita]] 2009, ranked 98 out of 180 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|GDP (nominal)]] 2009, ranked 113 out of 179 countries
* [[World Economic Forum]]: [[Global Competitiveness Index]] 2008–2009, ranked 108 out of 134 countries
* [[World Bank]]: [[Ease of Doing Business Index]] 2010 report, ranked 82 out of 183 countries
* [[United Nations]]: [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]] 2007, ranked 70 out of 182 countries
* [[List of countries by foreign exchange reserves|Foreign exchange reserves]] as of December 2008 ranked 111 out of 156 countries

===Environmental===
* [[Yale University]]: [[Environmental Sustainability Index]] 2005, ranked 24 out of 146 countries

===Globalization===
* [[A.T. Kearney]]/[[Foreign Policy|Foreign Policy Magazine]]: [[Globalization Index]] 2007 ranking based on 2004 data, 102 out of 122 countries.

===Geographic===
* [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|Total area]] ranked 144 out of 234

===Peace===
* Institute for Economics and Peace – [[Global Peace Index]] 2009 <ref>[http://economicsandpeace.org/UserFiles/Resources/2009-GPIResultsReport.pdf Institute for Economics and Peace 2009 Global Peace Index page 11]</ref> ranked 75 out of 144 countries

===Political===
* [[Transparency International]]: [[Corruption Perceptions Index]] 2009, ranked 95 out of 180 countries
* [[Reporters Without Borders]]: [[Press Freedom Index]] 2009, ranked 88 out of 175 countries

==See also==
{{portal|Albania|Flag of Albania.svg}}
{{Albania topics}}

==Notes and references==

'''Notes:'''
{| class="references-small" style="margin-left:13px; line-height:150%"
|-
| style="text-align:right; vertical-align:top;"|a.  
|{{note|status}}{{Kosovo-note}}
|}

'''References:'''

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
* {{CIA World Factbook link|al|Albania}}
* [http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/al/ Albania] information from the [[United States Department of State]]
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/albania.htm Albania] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Albania}}
* [http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_3_1.asp Albania] national profile from the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]]

{{wikiatlas|Albania}}

;Government
* [http://www.president.al Presidency of Albania]
* [http://www.keshilliministrave.al The Albanian Government] (''Council of Ministers'')
* [http://www.parlament.al The Albanian Parliament]
* [http://www.gjk.gov.al The Albanian Constitutional Court]
* [http://www.instat.gov.al Albanian Institute of Statistics]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-a/albania.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]

;Tourism
* [http://www.shqiperia.com/ Shqiperia] Albanian portal
* [http://albania.shqiperia.com/ Albania.Shqiperia.com] Informations related to Albania
* [http://www.albaniantourism.com/ National Tourism Organization] Official website for travel and tourism information
* [http://www.akt.gov.al/index.php?lang=2 National Tourism Agency] (in English)
* {{wikitravel}}
* [http://albaniaonline.org/ Tourism, history]
* [http://www.trekinu.com/viewtrek.aspx?trkid=i02ivoat68cl6qy Travel album], with photos and maps
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/maps.php Various Topographic Map Collections of Albania] (updated 18 January 2009)
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/wiki/index.php?title=Albania_Geopolitical_Mapset GPS Basemap for Albania]
* [http://www.vivalbania.net/ING/index.htm VIVAlbania, hospitality and ecotourism in Albania]
* [http://www.guidetoalbania.com Guide To Albania (with pictures)]
* [http://www.infoalb.net Website of the National Tourist Organisation of Albania]

;Other
* [http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/Albania/treasures_en.xml Treasure of the national library of Albania]
* [http://www.allcountries.eu/albania.htm Information on Albania]
* [http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Subject_Guides/PDFs/Albania.pdf Guide to materials pertaining to Albania at the Eisenhower Presidential Library]
* [http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief DFAT]
* [http://www.scribd.com/doc/11444724/Books-about-Albania-and-the-Albanian-people Books about Albania and the Albanian people] ''(scribd.com)'' Reference of books (and some journal articles) about Albania and the Albanian people; their history, language, origin, culture, literature, etc. Public domain books, fully accessible online.
{{Albania topics}}

{{Coord|41|N|20|E|type:country_region:AL|display=title}}

{{Template group
|title = [[File:Gnome-globe.svg|22px]] Geographic locale
|list =
{{Balkan Countries}}
{{Countries of Europe}}
{{Countries and territories bordering the Mediterranean Sea}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = Within Albania
|list =
{{World Heritage Sites in Albania}}
{{Cities in Albania}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{Council of Europe}}
{{EU countries and candidates}}
{{Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)}}
{{Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)}}
{{La Francophonie|state=collapsed}}
{{Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)|state=collapsed}}
}}

{{use dmy dates}}

[[Category:Albania|*]]
[[Category:Balkans]]
[[Category:Countries of the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:European countries]]
[[Category:Member states of La Francophonie]]
[[Category:Member states of the Union for the Mediterranean]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Organisation of the Islamic Conference members]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1912]]


[[ace:Albania]]
[[af:Albanië]]
[[als:Albanien]]
[[am:አልባኒያ]]
[[ang:Albania]]
[[ar:ألبانيا]]
[[an:Albania]]
[[arc:ܐܠܒܢܝܐ]]
[[roa-rup:Arbinishia]]
[[frp:Albanie]]
[[ast:Albania]]
[[gn:Avaña]]
[[az:Albaniya]]
[[bn:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[zh-min-nan:Shqipëria]]
[[be:Албанія]]
[[be-x-old:Альбанія]]
[[bcl:Albanya]]
[[bar:Albanien]]
[[bo:ཨར་པ་ཉི་ཡ།]]
[[bs:Albanija]]
[[br:Albania]]
[[bg:Албания]]
[[ca:Albània]]
[[cv:Албани]]
[[ceb:Albanya]]
[[cs:Albánie]]
[[co:Albania]]
[[cy:Albania]]
[[da:Albanien]]
[[pdc:Albaani]]
[[de:Albanien]]
[[dv:އަލްބޭނިއާ]]
[[nv:Dziłigaii Bikéyah]]
[[dsb:Albańska]]
[[dz:ཨལ་བཱ་ནི་ཡ།]]
[[et:Albaania]]
[[el:Αλβανία]]
[[eml:Albanî]]
[[es:Albania]]
[[eo:Albanio]]
[[ext:Albánia]]
[[eu:Albania]]
[[ee:Albania]]
[[fa:آلبانی]]
[[hif:Albania]]
[[fo:Albania]]
[[fr:Albanie]]
[[fy:Albaanje]]
[[fur:Albanie]]
[[ga:An Albáin]]
[[gv:Yn Albaan]]
[[gd:Albàinia]]
[[gl:Albania - Shqipëria]]
[[gu:અલ્બાનિયા]]
[[hak:Â-ngì-pâ-nì-â]]
[[xal:Арнаутн Орн Нутг]]
[[ko:알바니아]]
[[haw:‘Alepania]]
[[hy:Ալբանիա]]
[[hi:अल्बानिया]]
[[hsb:Albanska]]
[[hr:Albanija]]
[[io:Albania]]
[[ilo:Albania]]
[[bpy:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[id:Albania]]
[[ia:Albania]]
[[ie:Albania]]
[[os:Албани]]
[[is:Albanía]]
[[it:Albania]]
[[he:אלבניה]]
[[jv:Albania]]
[[kl:Albania]]
[[kn:ಅಲ್ಬೇನಿಯ]]
[[pam:Albania]]
[[ka:ალბანეთი]]
[[csb:Albańskô]]
[[kk:Албания]]
[[kw:Albani]]
[[ky:Албания]]
[[sw:Albania]]
[[kv:Албания]]
[[kg:Albania]]
[[ht:Albani]]
[[ku:Albanya]]
[[lad:אלבאניה]]
[[krc:Албания]]
[[la:Albania]]
[[lv:Albānija]]
[[lb:Albanien]]
[[lt:Albanija]]
[[lij:Albania]]
[[li:Albanië]]
[[ln:Albania]]
[[lmo:Albania]]
[[hu:Albánia]]
[[mk:Албанија]]
[[mg:Albania]]
[[ml:അൽബേനിയ]]
[[mt:Albanija]]
[[mr:आल्बेनिया]]
[[arz:ألبانيا]]
[[mzn:آلباني]]
[[ms:Albania]]
[[mn:Албани]]
[[nah:Albania]]
[[na:Albania]]
[[nl:Albanië]]
[[ne:अल्बानिया]]
[[ja:アルバニア]]
[[ce:Албани]]
[[pih:Elbanya]]
[[no:Albania]]
[[nn:Albania]]
[[nov:Albania]]
[[oc:Albania]]
[[uz:Albaniya]]
[[pnb:البانیا]]
[[pap:Albania]]
[[ps:البانيا]]
[[km:អាល់បានី]]
[[pms:Albanìa]]
[[tpi:Albenia]]
[[nds:Albanien]]
[[pl:Albania]]
[[pnt:Αλβανία]]
[[pt:Albânia]]
[[kaa:Albaniya]]
[[crh:Arnavutlıq]]
[[ro:Albania]]
[[rmy:Shkiperiya]]
[[rm:Albania]]
[[qu:Albanya]]
[[ru:Албания]]
[[sah:Албания]]
[[se:Albánia]]
[[sa:अल्बानिया]]
[[sc:Albania]]
[[sco:Albanie]]
[[stq:Albanien]]
[[sq:Shqipëria]]
[[scn:Albanìa]]
[[simple:Albania]]
[[ss:I-Alibheniya]]
[[sk:Albánsko]]
[[sl:Albanija]]
[[szl:Albańijo]]
[[ckb:ئەڵبانیا]]
[[srn:Albanikondre]]
[[sr:Албанија]]
[[sh:Albanija]]
[[su:Albania]]
[[fi:Albania]]
[[sv:Albanien]]
[[tl:Albanya]]
[[ta:அல்பேனியா]]
[[tt:Албания]]
[[te:అల్బేనియా]]
[[tet:Albánia]]
[[th:ประเทศแอลเบเนีย]]
[[tg:Албания]]
[[chr:ᎠᎸᏇᏂᏯ]]
[[tr:Arnavutluk]]
[[udm:Албания]]
[[uk:Албанія]]
[[ur:البانیا]]
[[ug:ئالبانىيە]]
[[vec:Albania]]
[[vi:Albania]]
[[vo:Lalbanän]]
[[fiu-vro:Albaania]]
[[war:Albanya]]
[[wo:Albaani]]
[[wuu:阿尔巴尼亚]]
[[yi:אלבאניע]]
[[yo:Albania]]
[[zh-yue:阿爾巴尼亞]]
[[diq:Arnawutiye]]
[[zea:Albanië]]
[[bat-smg:Albanėjė]]
[[zh:阿尔巴尼亚]]

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T11:28:05Z

Elbasan101: /* Motto */

User talk:Marek69

2010-04-10T11:27:11Z

Elbasan101: /* Thanks for the cookies! */

{{User:Marek69/ToolsIcon}}
{{Statustop|link=User:Marek69/Status_explain|offset=80}}

<div class="usermessage"><div class="plainlinks">'''If you leave a message here, I will respond here, unless you ask for a response on your talk page.''' '''</div></div>
{{message
| bgcolor = #f8eaba
| border-color = #c0c090
}}
{{talkheader}}
{{usercomment}}
[[File:pleasesign.png|260px|left]]
{{archive box|search=yes|
{{multicol}}
:'''[[User_talk:Marek69/Archive_1|Archive 1]]'''
:'''[[User_talk:Marek69/Archive_2|Archive 2]]'''
:'''[[User_talk:Marek69/Archive_3|Archive 3]]'''
:'''[[User_talk:Marek69/Archive_4|Archive 4]]'''
{{multicol-break}}
:'''[[User_talk:Marek69/Archive_5|Archive 5]]'''
:'''[[User_talk:Marek69/Archive_6|Archive 6]]'''
:'''[[User_talk:Marek69/Archive_7|Archive 7]]'''
:'''[[User_talk:Marek69/Archive_8|Archive 8]]'''
{{multicol-end}}

''Search archives:''}}
{{-}}

==Where to report?==

Marek69,

Thank you very much for sending me a message regarding the article on Mexico City.

As per a note I previosuly left in the discussion section of such article, I wanted to know how to report users who delete well documented information entered in Wikipedia articles.

In your message you mention that the edit I did to such article appears to be vandalism. I would like to request clarification. Please note that the information I entered has been supported with references, which I invite you to verify. Also, please note that no disrespectful words were used. I read the Wikipedia tutorial to find out what can be entered and I feel strongly I have respected Wikipedia rules.

Would you kindly specify why you think my edit appears to be vandalism?

If after analyzing my edit you arrive to what I consider to be the inevitable conclusion that I simply added information that adds objectivity to what appears to be a printed commercial (you might like to read the comments in the discussion section of the article to find out what other users think of it), would you kindly let me know how to report users that, without valid reason, remove well documented information entered in Wikipedia articles?

Thank you and regards.

[[User:ElEditordeWiki|ElEditordeWiki]] ([[User talk:ElEditordeWiki|talk]]) 04:27, 7 March 2010 (UTC)

=== Mexico City article ===

Marek69,

I just noticed that I received another message blatantly indicating that I had vandalized the Mexico City article.

I am totally shocked, as the information I entered is backed by references. I realize that a couple of the references are in Spanish. However, a significant number of the references found in this article are in Spanish as well. I would like to request that the references I entered are read and analyzed in their entirety. A thorough analysis of them will reveal that they are valid references: one is a copy of Mexico's Constitution; another one is a link to a decent article associated with Televisa, one of the two major television chains in Mexico.

Once more I would like to request that the discussion section of this article be read to find out that a lot of the information in this article is not supported. This, this right here, is completely unacceptable and puts Wikipedia in utter disrespute.

I look forward to your valuable feedback based on the analysis of the references I entered and the comments in the discussion section of this article.

Thanks again and regards,

[[User:ElEditordeWiki|ElEditordeWiki]] ([[User talk:ElEditordeWiki|talk]]) 04:51, 7 March 2010 (UTC)

:Hi ElEditordeWiki, thank you for your message.
:On reading your first message above, I reviewed your edit and, on reflection, I believe that you made these edits in [[WP:AGF|good faith]] rather than vandalism. I have therefore [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk%3AElEditordeWiki&action=historysubmit&diff=348233835&oldid=336777741 removed my warning message] from your talk page. Please accept my sincere apologies, as [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mexico_City&diff=next&oldid=348204336 this editing], did at first, look like non-constructive edits to me.
:Thank you for your explanation.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 05:03, 7 March 2010 (UTC)

== hello ==

No, this is not vandalism, but it is a true fact. In fact i'm about to publish a report for wikipedia these days, on danish racism. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/87.61.142.57|87.61.142.57]] ([[User talk:87.61.142.57|talk]]) 19:42, 9 March 2010 (UTC) 
:Hi, I'm sorry if a mistake was made and your edit was in good faith. However, I did not mention vandalism.
:If you wish to add the sentence: '''''...Denmark has become known as the most racist country in the European Union''''', I would advise you to provide a reference from a [[Wikipedia:Identifying reliable sources|reliable source]] for this information.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 01:14, 10 March 2010 (UTC)

== A Question on References ==

Hello Marek69,

I,ve been editing pages in order to take away all mentions of '''virtual finland''' in wikipedia pages. Virtualfinland.fi was an old site of The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and that site is called now thisisFINLAND.fi. Some of the now existing links go to the articles which dont exist anymore. I try to find new articles from thisisFINLAND.fi to put to these links.

I actually had one problem, didn't know how to change references -sections. When I put edit, the window is empty, there is no text. Can you help me with that? —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Poulie|Poulie]] ([[User talk:Poulie|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Poulie|contribs]]) 07:53, 10 March 2010 (UTC) 

:Hi Poulie, thank you for your e-mail. The most likely reason for the references not being under the 'References' section is that the page in question is using the inline citation & footnotes system, where the section will probably look like this:
<blockquote style="color:#999; background:white; padding:1em; border:1px solid DarkSeaGreen;">
<tt>
===References== 
<nowiki>{{reflist}}</nowiki>
</tt>
</blockquote>

:The actual references are in the actual body of text, as in the example code below:
<blockquote style="color:#999; background:white; padding:1em; border:1px solid DarkSeaGreen;">
<tt>
===The Sun and the Moon== 
The Sun is pretty big,'''<ref>'''Miller, E: <nowiki>''The Sun''</nowiki>, page 23. Academic Press, 2005.'''</ref>''' 
but the Moon is not so big.'''<ref>'''Brown, R: "Size of the Moon", <nowiki>''Scientific American''</nowiki>, 51(78):46'''</ref>''' 
The Sun is also quite hot.'''<ref>'''Miller, E: <nowiki>''The Sun''</nowiki>, page 34. Academic Press, 2005.'''</ref>''' 
 
==References== 
<nowiki>{{reflist}}</nowiki>
</tt>
</blockquote>

:Below is how this would look in the article, once you had previewed or saved your edited section:
<blockquote style="background:white; padding:1em; border:1px solid #999;">
The Sun and the Moon
----
The Sun is pretty big,[[#noteFoot01a|[1]]] but the Moon is not so big.[[#noteFoot02a|[2]]] The Sun is also quite hot.[[#noteFoot03a|[3]]]
 
References
----
<ol class="references">
<li id="noteFoot01a"
>[[#nbFoot01a|^]] Miller, E: ''The Sun'', page 23. Academic Press, 2005.</li>
<li id="noteFoot02a"
>[[#nbFoot02a|^]] Brown, R: "Size of the Moon", ''Scientific American'', 51(78):46.</li>
<li id="noteFoot03a"
>[[#nbFoot03a|^]] Miller, E: ''The Sun'', page 34. Academic Press, 2005.</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>

:In order to find a particular reference from the list, make a note of its number on the list, then look for the corresponding number in the main text. When you have found it, you need to go to that section and edit it there.''(as in the ‘The Sun and the Moon’ section in the example above)''

:I hope this makes sense to you.
:Please let me know if I can help you further.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 17:23, 10 March 2010 (UTC)

====Type heading text here====

Thanks a lot , yes it helped. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Poulie|Poulie]] ([[User talk:Poulie|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Poulie|contribs]]) 10:51, 12 March 2010 (UTC) 
:That's good :-) [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 22:54, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

== Mexico City article ==

Marek69,

Thank you very much for your message.

I am glad there is someone out there verifying the content of Wikipedia articles.

Regards,

[[User:ElEditordeWiki|ElEditordeWiki]] ([[User talk:ElEditordeWiki|talk]]) 01:04, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

== Thanks ==

Thanks for the greeting, Marek! [[Special:Contributions/72.164.134.59|72.164.134.59]] ([[User talk:72.164.134.59|talk]]) 00:59, 12 March 2010 (UTC)
:You're welcome. I hope you enjoy your time here on Wikipedia! -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 01:01, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

== Thanks for the cookies! ==

Thanks for your welcome and the cookies, Marek! I constantly forget to sign my posts with four tildes, so it's very nice of you to remind that. Other than that, I don't have any issues at the moment, but if I ever do, it's good to know I can address myself to a more experienced user like you. Thanks again! [[User:Goodcoin|Goodcoin]] ([[User talk:Goodcoin|talk]]) 10:12, 12 March 2010 (UTC)
:You're very welcome Goodcoin. Enjoy you time here on Wikipedia. If you need any help, you know where to find me.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 22:52, 12 March 2010 (UTC)

Yes thank you for the cookies also, wish they were real, look nice :)--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 11:27, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

==Thanks for the nice welcome==
I'm completely new to this and it's nice to be welcomed whilst I'm still trying to get my footing. Maybe you could help me with something that I'm sure is probably very easy and obvious....
My alterations/additions to web pages are almost always going to be in the Arabic language and regarding correcting the spelling of proper place names. I'm a serious bookworm and have all of the sources/references and evidences for my changes handy but don't yet know how to link them in (by putting a number after my entry for example that would take one to the correct reference). Also, changing the spelling as the header on a page and then putting in a re-route for anyone typing in a common misspelling of the name.
I'm sure all of this information is here but I have strict time restraints so it's taking a while.
Sorry to natter on but thanks again and any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated.
Peace!
[[User:Khaadimone|Khaadimone]] ([[User talk:Khaadimone|talk]]) 00:56, 13 March 2010 (UTC)

:Hi Khaadimone, thankyou for your message. You may find your answer in the [[User_talk:Marek69#A_Question_on_References|section above]].
:This article: [[Wikipedia:Citing sources]] covers the subject in greater detail.
:If you get stuck, please come back.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 01:02, 13 March 2010 (UTC)

==Stockholm==
I've seen plenty enough here, and have semi'd the article indefinitely. [[User:Mjroots|Mjroots]] ([[User talk:Mjroots|talk]]) 21:22, 13 March 2010 (UTC)
:Thanks Mjroots, this is typical Historian19 behaviour and I have just [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia%3ASockpuppet_investigations%2FHistorian19&action=historysubmit&diff=349681114&oldid=346714066 submitted a report] to SPI.
:Cheers -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 21:25, 13 March 2010 (UTC)

==Thanks for the welcome==

I've used Wikipedia for a long time, but am new to editing. Just thought I'd correct a couple capitilization (sp?) mistakes, and suggest a couple new article links to some notable artists. Please let me know if I'm doing it incorrectly, I'm not too sure about the "wiki mark ups."

p.s.the cookies were a nice touch in this online digital age.

my best
[[User:Arthistorian1872|Arthistorian1872]] ([[User talk:Arthistorian1872|talk]]) 02:33, 14 March 2010 (UTC)Arthistorian1872 (did I do that right? (don't feel obliged to answer))

:Hi Arthistorian1872, thank you for the message.
:From what I can see, your edits are fine. :-)
:I hope you enjoy your time here on Wikipedia.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 02:36, 14 March 2010 (UTC)

== editing / Ska Cubano ==

Hi - I have what may be quite a difficult question : is it legitimate to quote published sources on a topic when the ultimate source of the information in them is himself the contributor / editor ? My problem is that I created a band, relating to which I have given many interviews (several published in/by , e.g. , major newspapers, the BBC) and have written articles, press releases and sleeve notes which are the basis, directly or indirectly for virtually all the information in the public domain (apart from fan comments and blogs, photos and videos etc )relating to the band. I have recently edited the wikipedia page based on these "verifiable " sources, sticking strictly to factual information and avoiding self-promotion. Am I permitted to do this? Would it be better if I asked someone else to author the changes?

thanks [[User:Sengleani|Sengleani]] ([[User talk:Sengleani|talk]]) 11:05, 14 March 2010 (UTC)

:Hi Sengleani, thank you for your message. Hmm...the answer to this question in not entirely black-and-white.
:The guideline article [[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest]] covers this in the [[Wikipedia:Conflict_of_interest#Citing_oneself|‘Citing oneself’]] section, stating:
::''‘Editing in an area in which you have professional or academic expertise is not, in itself, a conflict of interest. Using material you yourself have written or published is allowed within reason, but only if it is notable and conforms to the content policies. Excessive self-citation is strongly discouraged. When in doubt, defer to the community's opinion.’''
:At the same time [[Wikipedia:No_original_research#Citing_oneself|Wikipedias:No original research ‘Citing oneself’]] section states:
::''‘This policy does not prohibit editors with specialist knowledge from adding their knowledge to Wikipedia, but it does prohibit them from drawing on their personal knowledge without citing [[WP:SOURCES|reliable sources]]. If an editor has published the results of his or her research in a reliable publication, the editor may cite that source while writing in the third person and complying with our [[Wikipedia:Neutral point of view|neutrality policy]].’''

:In my opinion, I think you should ‘err on the side of caution’ and start a new discussion section on the articles talk page, openly explaining the situation and providing the references you have. Another (independent) editor may decide to incorporate this into the article. If this happens then you can avoid any accusations of ''‘conflict of interest’'' against you.
:If you do decide to add these references yourself, and it appears by the above guidelines you ''are'' permitted, I would also be open and explain the situation on the talk page, quoting the above guidelines, but keeping the citations to a minimum to satisfy the ''‘excessive self-citation is strongly discouraged’'' part.
:I hope this helps
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 01:37, 15 March 2010 (UTC)

==The vandal==
Is cutting and pasting Balinese page into Jakarta page - I think its straight to vandal page [[User:SatuSuro|Satu]][[User talk:SatuSuro|Suro]] 02:37, 15 March 2010 (UTC)
:Thanks Suro, I've [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jakarta&action=historysubmit&diff=349929667&oldid=349929573 reverted the article to last good version] by [[user:Caniago]].
:I notice you've given the IP a final warning. Please report them if they repeat their behaviour.
:Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 02:41, 15 March 2010 (UTC)
::Normally would never do that but cutting and pasting between articles can be a headache for cleanup - blocked anyways - cheers [[User:SatuSuro|Satu]][[User talk:SatuSuro|Suro]] 02:42, 15 March 2010 (UTC)
:::That's good, problem solved, for a while... Cheers :-) [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 02:44, 15 March 2010 (UTC)

== Re: Welcome ==

Dziękuję za miłe powitanie :) Mam zamiar pomóc trochę Wikipedii angielskiej, więc gdy będę miał jakieś pytania, to się zgłoszę, dziękuję za zaoferowaną pomoc. Widzę, że dobrze mówisz po polsku, dlatego też odpowiadam w tym języku. Czy jesteś Polakiem, bądź masz polskie korzenie, że nasz język znasz na poziomie równym z użytkownikiem ojczystym? ;) Pozdrowienia, [[User:AdSz|AdSz]] ([[User talk:AdSz|talk]]) 14:08, 15 March 2010 (UTC)

:Cześć AdSz, tak jestem Polakiem, ale urodzony i mieszkającym w Anglii. Mówię nie źle po Polsku, rozumiem więcej, ale pisać poprawne to trudniejsze. Dużo łatwiej jest mi pisać po angielsku, tak, więc pomagam na Wikipedii angielskiej. Też czasami tłumaczę Polskie artykuły na język Angielski (odwrotnie jest mi dużo trudniej!)

:Jeśli masz jakieś pytania o Wikipedii angielskiej, prześlij je proszę do mnie to pomogę, jeśli zdołam:-)

:Pozdrowienia -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 16:07, 15 March 2010 (UTC)

== Translation ==

Hi Marek! How are you? I'd like to ask you a question. I've found a page in English and I want to translate into another language. How to create the new page for the translation?
Thank you in advance, Annarapo —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Annarapo|Annarapo]] ([[User talk:Annarapo|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Annarapo|contribs]]) 18:36, 15 March 2010 (UTC) 

:Hi Annarapo, thank you for your message.
:Hi if you are starting a new page, I would advise that do so in your own userspace to start with.
:You could create [[User:Annarapo/Sandbox]] or [[User:Annarapo/Article1]] or whichever name you like. ''(Click on one of the red links on the right to start editing that article)''.
:If the finished article is going to be in another language, you'd probably be better off starting it in your userspace on that particular language version of Wikipedia - same principle just add '''/ArticleName''' after the name of your userpage on that wiki.
:That way you can work on the article without interruption and when it is ready to go into the mainspace it is relatively easy to move the article over.
:You may find some useful tips on the subject in this article: [[Wikipedia:Your first article]]
:If you require further help, please come back to me.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 16:05, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

==Thank you!==

Dear Marek69, thank you a lot for a warm reception! =)
[[User:Yana Mazul|Yana Mazul]] ([[User talk:Yana Mazul|talk]]) 09:59, 16 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi Yana Mazul, thank you for your message.
:You're very welcome. Welcome to Wikipedia. I hope you enjoy your time here. :-)
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 15:40, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

===Thanks===
Sorry, thank you so much!--[[Special:Contributions/79.23.144.237|79.23.144.237]] ([[User talk:79.23.144.237|talk]]) 15:25, 16 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi, thank you for your message.
:Welcome to Wikipedia.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 15:40, 16 March 2010 (UTC)

== Welcoming ==

Why are you welcoming IPs, banned users, and users who haven't edited in a very long time? Are you using some kind of bot? [[User:Gigs|Gigs]] ([[User talk:Gigs|talk]]) 23:25, 16 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi Gigs, thank you for your message.
:As far as I am aware, I am not welcoming ‘banned users and users who haven't edited in a very long time’. Could you please provide me an example of this? -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 00:00, 17 March 2010 (UTC)
:Regarding welcoming IPs, is there any problem doing this?
:I am not using a bot, I'm using [[WP:Friendly|Friendly]]. Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 00:08, 17 March 2010 (UTC)
::[[User talk:Agent Smith (The Matrix)]] is a banned sock that hasn't edited in a long time. There's no policy against welcoming IPs with templates, it's just not a very useful thing to do IMO, and most people don't do it. I mean, if we, as a community, wanted everyone to get a automatic welcome template, we'd just have the software generate one when they made their first edit, or authorize it as a bot.

::Anyway, after reviewing the edits more carefully, it does look like the Agent Smith thing was more or less isolated. I had used popups and seen you welcoming users with a small number of edits that had registered years ago, I just assumed they were all like Agent Smith, when in fact all the rest I checked had indeed made a recent edit. [[User:Gigs|Gigs]] ([[User talk:Gigs|talk]]) 01:15, 17 March 2010 (UTC)

:::Gigs, I first noticed [[User talk:Agent Smith (The Matrix)]] yesterday when looking at the edit history of my user page. I notice this particular user [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User%3AMarek69&action=historysubmit&diff=337508422&oldid=337508356 had reverted some vandalism] on the page. Their last few edits were using [[WP:Huggle]] reverting vandalism and seemed like constructive edits to me. These edits were on 13 January 2010, two months ago, which I do not consider a long time to take a break. At the time I was unaware that they were a sockpuppet, otherwise I would not have welcomed them.

:::I normally welcome IPs after carefully reviewing their first edits. If they are constructive, I leave them a welcome message containing useful links such as [[Wikipedia:Five pillars|The five pillars of Wikipedia]], [[Wikipedia:How to edit a page|How to edit a page]], [[Wikipedia:Article development|How to develop articles]], [[Wikipedia:Your first article|How to create your first article]] and [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style|Manual of Style]] and offer my help if needed. I do not believe a bot could do all this. Also in the welcome message I encourage the user to create an account and emphasise the benefits of doing so. If the new IPs edits are not so constructive I leave them the appropriate message or warning. I believe I am providing a useful service with a net benefit to Wikipedia. If you review the contents of my talk page (and archives) for replies back from these IPs you may reconsider your position.

:::You state that the Agent‘ Smith thing was more or less isolated’. Do you have any further examples you wish to bring to my attention? I would be happy to discuss these instances. If they are simply mistakes, then please accept my apologies.

:::Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 02:09, 17 March 2010 (UTC)
::::No, it's fine. We don't need to agree regarding the value of welcoming IPs. Sorry for not checking more carefully before asking if you were using a bot. [[User:Gigs|Gigs]] ([[User talk:Gigs|talk]]) 02:28, 17 March 2010 (UTC)

== Question about editing ==

I received a message saying that a change I had made to a page was 'reverted' as it was unnecessary.
Are you tracking users via IP address or login identity?
The page was one I have never seen nor have no interest in editing.
What gives?
Another user at this IP address?
Thanks!
R —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/71.214.112.251|71.214.112.251]] ([[User talk:71.214.112.251|talk]]) 05:46, 17 March 2010 (UTC) 

:Hi R, thank you for your message.

:If you do not have an account on Wikipedia, and edit anonymously you are identified by your IP address, i.e. 71.214.112.251

:The message you refer to was from the 4 March 2010, so it could be that someone else had the [[Special:Contributions/71.214.112.251|71.214.112.251]] IP address at the time.

:If you have never edited the page in question, please ignore the message.
:It is very likely that you have a [[IP_address#Static_and_dynamic_IP_addresses|dynamic IP address]], which means it could be different every time you turn your computer on, so on 4 March it could have been allocated to someone else.
:If you are considering editing Wikipedia, I would recommend that you '''[{{fullurl:Special:Userlogin|type=signup}} create an account]'''. This has many benefits, the least of which is avoiding situations, like this.
:In short please ignore this particular message, delete it if you wish. If you have any further questions please come back to me.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 18:43, 18 March 2010 (UTC)

== [[Medicinernes Skiklub Svartor]] ==

Hello. I am contacting you because you are listed as a participant for [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Norway|WikiProject Norway]], and the above-mentioned article is sourced by all Norwegian-language references. Moreover, the references do not appear to support [[WP:CORP|notability]]; they might be mere trivial references to the subject. Since these sources are all offline, and I do not speak or read Norwegian, I'm hoping whether you can assist me in determining whether the article qualifies for [[WP:CSD|speedy deletion]]. Many thanks! - [[User:Cobaltbluetony|CobaltBlueTony™]] [[User_talk:Cobaltbluetony#top|talk]] 12:59, 18 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi CobaltBlueTony, thank you for your message. I would happy to help you if I could. Unfortunately my knowledge of the Norwegian language is very little, so I am really in the same position as you, as far as being able to accurately validate Norwegian language references.
:I'm sorry I can't help and hope you find a Norwegian speaker who can. Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 18:51, 18 March 2010 (UTC)
::Thanks for your response! - [[User:Cobaltbluetony|CobaltBlueTony™]] [[User_talk:Cobaltbluetony#top|talk]] 12:46, 19 March 2010 (UTC)

=="Welcome"==
Well Marek69, i'm a user of Wikipedia a very time, in english, spanish and portuguese, but, thanks for this, please, visit my page in portuguese Wikipedia: http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usu%C3%A1rio:D%C3%A1lmata, i´m brazilian, from the capital [[Brasilia]], visit this link too! Bye, or in portuguese, "até mais". [[User:Dálmata|Dálmata]] ([[User talk:Dálmata|talk]]) 23:37, 18 March 2010 (UTC)

:Welcome to English Wikipedia, Dálmata :-)
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 23:39, 18 March 2010 (UTC)

==Also from me about Welcome==

Hey Marek69, like the user above me, I'm also writting for almost 3 years - on the Hebrew Wikipedia; & sometimes when I work there - based on articles here on the Ennglish Wikipedia - I add some links to other articles that I see here or correct some minor mistakes here as well. But thanks anyway for your kind welcoming! I wish there were more friendly people like you on Wikipedia :-) Greets, [[User:אומנות|אומנות]] ([[User talk:אומנות|talk]]) 21:47, 19 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi אומנות, thank you for your message. I hope you enjoy your time on English Wikipedia. Please let me know if there is anything I can help you with.

:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 23:56, 19 March 2010 (UTC)

::I will let you know if I will have problems in the future :-) Thanks again for your kind words & desire to help!

::Kind regards -- [[User:אומנות|אומנות]] ([[User talk:אומנות|talk]]) 15:46, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

==Bad Cannstatt==

Hello Marek,

I've reverted your revision about the mineral spas. I've also occasionally read in newspapers, thas Europe's second largest spas after Budapest, which is not in Western Europe, are in Bad Cannstatt. Is there perhaps another town, which also claims the second largest spas?
Kind regards --[[User:Henrig|Henrig]] ([[User talk:Henrig|talk]]) 08:55, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

:Hi Henrig, thank you for your message. I assume you are referring to my last edit to the [[Stuttgart]] article, titled ''Reverted 2 edits by [[User:Rosh2610|Rosh2610]]; Incorrect edit''
:If you look at [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stuttgart&diff=next&oldid=350876370 this diff], you can clearly see the reason for my reversion.
:That was the addition of the following text to the article:

:'''000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 08 1 11 000 '''
:'''end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 08 1 11 000'''
:'''end_of_the_skype_highlighting'''

:This text was [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stuttgart&action=historysubmit&diff=350876370&oldid=350715105 added] by [[User:Rosh2610|Rosh2610]] ([[WP:AGF|probably by mistake]]). This was my reason to revert the user's edits. It had nothing to do with the content on spa towns.
:The part reading ''‘second only to the ones in Buda, Hungary’'' just happened to get caught in the same reversion edit. If this is indeed correct, then thank you for reinstating it.
:I hope this clarifies the situation for you. :-)
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]]
Hi Marek, I assume the information correct and have also found some information on the web about like this.[http://www.europeanrailguide.com/destinationguides/stuttgart/]. Rosh2610's other addition looks like an accidentally coding. Kind regards --[[User:Henrig|Henrig]] ([[User talk:Henrig|talk]]) 16:18, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

==Hi==
Hi Marek. I was just wondering if copying onto wikipedia from the [[CIA World Factbook]] was allowed. Reply--[[User:Theologiae|Theologiae]] ([[User talk:Theologiae|talk]]) 13:37, 20 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi Theologiae, thank you for your message.
:The [[CIA World Factbook]], as a [[Work of the United States Government|work of the U.S. government]], is in the [[public domain]],<ref name="pd">{{cite web | author = Directorate of Intelligence | title = The World Factbook - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Can I use some or all of The World Factbook for my Web site (book, research project, homework, etc.)? | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/faqs.html | accessdate = 2006-09-23 | quote = The World Factbook is in the public domain and may be used freely by anyone at anytime without seeking permission.* * * As a courtesy, please cite The World Factbook when used. }}</ref> so the short answer is yes. Although it is not really ''good practise'' to copy word-for-word from anywhere.
:I hope this answers your question.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 13:48, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

::So that means that it is not advisable, but it can be done. Ok. I was just wondering if there are any restrictions to your copying (I read about the CIA seal, but what does that mean?) Reply--[[User:Theologiae|Theologiae]] ([[User talk:Theologiae|talk]]) 14:00, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

::::The [[heraldic]] symbol that composes the CIA [[Seal (device)|seal]] consists of three representative parts: the "right"-facing bald eagle head atop, ("right" facing, since the eagle looks over its "right" shoulder, not the left shoulder) the ''[[compass]] star'' (or [[compass rose]]), and the shield. The [[eagle]] is the national bird, standing for strength and alertness. The 16-point compass star represents the CIA's worldwide search for intelligence outside the United States, which is then reported to the headquarters for analysis, reporting, and re-distribution to policymakers. The compass rests upon a shield, symbolic of defense.<ref name=CIAsealCIA>[https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2007-featured-story-archive/the-cia-seal.html "What’s the Meaning Behind the CIA Seal?" from the CIA]</ref><ref name=CIAsealETCHSTAR>[http://www.etchstar.com/art/530/CIA-Sealhttp://www.etchstar.com/art/530/CIA-Seal "CIA Seal" by Etchstar]</ref>

::::Basically its OK to copy from the CIA World Factbook as long as you attribute or reference back to the original text. I would advise to try as much as possible to put it into your own words, rather than copying [[Wikipedia:Verbatim copying under the GFDL|verbatim]]

::::Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 15:59, 20 March 2010 (UTC)

;References:

<div class="references-small">
{{reflist|2}}
</div>

== Hi ==
Thanks for your welcome message. Actually I'm not new here but thanks anyway. At hr.wiki I'm sysop. Here on en.wiki I'll correct or add IW for articles written on hr.wiki. Regards :-)--[[User:Bracodbk|Bracodbk]] ([[User talk:Bracodbk|talk]]) 12:46, 21 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi Bracodbk, thank you for your message. I thought I'd welcome you to the English Wikipedia.

:Please let me know if there is any thing I can do to assist.

:Kind Regards :-)-- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 23:58, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

== Blanking a page ==

Hi, you just told me off for blanking a page ([[Mao Asada]]), but I didn't actually mean to blank it, I just wanted to add one sentance to a section of the article. There is obviously some problem, because when I clicked "save this page" it blanked the whole thing. Not my fault, and I tried submitting my update again and it worked the second time, so I don't know what the problem was. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Hellomontana|Hellomontana]] ([[User talk:Hellomontana|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Hellomontana|contribs]]) 23:46, 23 March 2010 (UTC) 

:Hi Hellomontana, I'm sorry about that. I've now removed my message from your talk page.

:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 23:48, 23 March 2010 (UTC)

== Thank you! ==

Many thanks for your welcome. I have only made some very modest contributions so far, but hope to do more in the future. Thanks again. [[User:Froghood|Froghood]] ([[User talk:Froghood|talk]]) 20:50, 24 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi Froghood, thank you for your message. I hope you enjoy your time here on Wikipedia.
:If you need any assistance, please just ask, I would be happy to help if I can. ;-)
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 01:07, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

== Help ==

Hey Marek i need help with a page i made. Its [[St. Pius X school, Chula Vista]] someone always comes and deletes it all and i always have to undue it. Can you help me get the person to stop.

[[User:Spongie555|Spongie555]] ([[User talk:Spongie555|talk]]) 04:47, 25 March 2010 (UTC)

:Hi Spongie555, I shall try to find out the reason the page is being deleted. I'll get back to you when I find out. [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 00:58, 26 March 2010 (UTC)
:Spongie555, it appears the article has been moved to [[St. Pius X School , Chula Vista]], rather than been deleted.

:Also the user who was vandalising the page has been given a warning.

:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 00:54, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

:Thank you —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Spongie555|Spongie555]] ([[User talk:Spongie555|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Spongie555|contribs]]) 03:48, 29 March 2010 (UTC) 

==re: Welcome==
Hi Marek69, thanks for reminding me the Wikipedia policy for modifying the articles. Anyhow, I don't have time to log in and I only left my contibution (about the wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI with today's articles about the Pope on NY Times and on the Timesonline. That's it! Regards. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/195.110.151.130|195.110.151.130]] ([[User talk:195.110.151.130|talk]]) 14:53, 25 March 2010 (UTC) 

:Hi, I should have known. ;-) [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 00:58, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

== Thanks ==

Thanks for the welcome and advice. I do intend to create an account eventually, but with my 15 edits in the past year and a half, I haven't really found a need. Thanks again, and I hope to see you around once I'm a productive editor. [[Special:Contributions/147.72.72.2|147.72.72.2]] ([[User talk:147.72.72.2|talk]]) 16:35, 25 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi, thank you for your message. You never know, you might catch the bug ;-) Happy editing and see you around. :-)
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 01:00, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

== AWB ==

Please be careful. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Lindzen&diff=352074517&oldid=352018179 This] introduced more errors than it fixed. -[[User:Atmoz|Atmoz]] ([[User talk:Atmoz|talk]]) 00:35, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

:Hi Atmoz, thank you for your message. I am aware that I sometimes need to manually adjust the <nowiki>{{convert}}</nowiki> template after AWB substitutes it
:I was already aware of the changes I needed to make to the selected convert templates (i.e. C --> C-change). I had already made the necessary corrections and was about to save. Unfortunately you only gave me 2 minutes before reverting, resulting in an edit conflict. I have now [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Lindzen&action=historysubmit&diff=352075304&oldid=352074931 applied the corrected version].
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 00:40, 26 March 2010 (UTC)
::Sorry I was so quick to revert. I don't see the need to use the convert template when it was already correct in the text anyway, but... Thanks for fixing it. -[[User:Atmoz|Atmoz]] ([[User talk:Atmoz|talk]]) 00:47, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

:::No problem Atmoz. I'm editing a bit slowly at this time of night. :-) [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 00:52, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

== RE: WElcome ==

Hi Marek69,

Thank you for your welcome mail. I try my best in contributing to Wikipedia :)
One thing confused me a little bit: I was logged in when I did my edits. At least the top-right bar said so. In the article history it also shows ma account name not the IP. Did I miss something here?

Thanks again, [[User:Tias1999|Tias1999]] ([[User talk:Tias1999|talk]]) 09:59, 26 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi Tias1999, thank you for your message. I'm not sure what happened. I changed the welcome message appropriately.

:The template should have detected that you were logged in, although Wikipedia has been experiencing some problems in the last few days.

:Anyhow, Welcome to Wikipedia. I hope you enjoy your time editing here.

:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 14:58, 26 March 2010 (UTC)

== RE:Welcome ==

Bardzo dziękuję Marku za powitanie (masz pl-4, dlatego w tym języku). Cóż - tu bywam od czasu do czasu i faktycznie, aż dziw, że nikt mnie nie przywitał dotąd. Tym bardziej dziękuję i pozdrawiam, a w razie czego, wiem do Kogo się zwrócić w angielskiej Wikipedii ;-) Miłego dnia! --[[User:CudPotwórca|CudPotwórca]] ([[User talk:CudPotwórca|talk]]) 15:50, 26 March 2010 (UTC)
:Cześć CudPotwórca, ja również dziękuję za tak mile podziękowania. Mam nadzieje ze uda mi się pomóc, jeśli będziesz miał jakieś problemy na angielskiej Wikipedii. Co do mojego języka to fakt ze napisałeś do mnie po Polsku jeszcze bardziej mi pochlebia. Dziękuję za mile słowa i do „usłyszenia”.

:Pozdrowienia -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 02:13, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

== Hello! ==

===Thanks for the Welcome...===

Thank you very much for the welcome message. I am an avid Wikipedia user and am happy to correct spelling/grammar throughout the articles - I teach English for a living so this comes naturally for me!

Thanks again, [[User:Brock.enns|Brock]] ([[User talk:Brock.enns|talk]]) 23:00, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

:Hi Brock, thank you for your message. I hope you enjoy your time here on Wikipedia.
:It's great that correcting spelling/grammar comes naturally for you, some articles on Wikipedia could sure use it.
:One question though, will you also be giving us marks? ;-)
:If you need any help with anything, I would be happy to assist.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 00:27, 30 March 2010 (UTC)

== Catholic Church RfC ==

Input is welcome at [[Wikipedia:Requests for comment/Catholic Church]]. [[User:SlimVirgin|SlimVirgin]] [[User talk:SlimVirgin|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/SlimVirgin|contribs]] 00:19, 30 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi SlimVirgin, thank you for letting me know. Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 01:18, 30 March 2010 (UTC)

== Help ! How to change a mistaken name of file... ? ==

There is: Metsovo inside of the Kositza house.jpg
There should be: Metsovo inside of the Tositza house.jpg
...Tthanks ! --[[User:Dimkoa|Dimkoa]] ([[User talk:Dimkoa|talk]]) 05:34, 30 March 2010 (UTC)

== Nobel Prize FA ==

Hey!

I saw that you had changed the image layout after an image had been changed by somebody else at [[Nobel Prize]]. I changed the image back since it was badly referenced. I also changed the layout back to how it was before with that picture since I think it looks better, it is much easier to read. Hope you don't mind too much?

Also, check [[Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Nobel Prize/archive2]] if you can and perhaps add a comment or support? --[[User:Esuzu|Esuzu]] ([[User talk:Esuzu|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Esuzu|contribs]]) 18:44, 31 March 2010 (UTC)
:Hi Esuzu, No Problem :-)

:I shall continue to help as much as I can with the article.

:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 20:52, 2 April 2010 (UTC)

== Pictures==
Im still getting new to Wikipedia and i want to know how to add pictures. Like in this article [[Cheryl Cox]] my infobox looks wierd without the picture. If you can leave a replay on my talk page that would help on how to do it.

[[Spongie555]]
[[User:Spongie555|Spongie555]] ([[User talk:Spongie555|talk]]) 04:34, 3 April 2010 (UTC)

:Spongie555, I've replied on [[User_talk:Spongie555#Pictures|your talk page]], as requested -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 04:50, 3 April 2010 (UTC)

[copied my reply here for reference]
:Hi Spongie555,thank you for your message
:You should be able to find out more about adding pictures in [[Wikipedia:Images]]
:Basically the code to add a picture looks like this:
:'''<nowiki>[[</nowiki>File:Example.png<nowiki>|thumb|left|alt=Example alt text |Example caption]]</nowiki>'''

:where '''File:Example.png''' is the name of the image
:this will give you the following result:
[[File:Example.png|thumb|left|alt=Example alt text |Example caption]]

{{-}}

:In the case of adding an image to an infobox, as in your example [[Cheryl Cox]]
:The blank infobox will look like

{{Infobox Officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name =
|honorific-suffix =
|image =
|imagesize =
|order=39th [[Mayor of Chula Vista]]
|term_start=2006
|term_end=
|predecessor=[[Steve Padilla]]
|successor=Incumbent

:You simply fill in the info in the '''image =''' section (you may have to add this, if it doesn't already exist) i.e:

{{Infobox Officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|name =
|honorific-suffix =
|image = Example.png
|imagesize =
|order=39th [[Mayor of Chula Vista]]
|term_start=2006
|term_end=
|predecessor=[[Steve Padilla]]
|successor=Incumbent

:Try it and see, but don't forget to press the '''‘Preview’''' button until you are happy with the result, then '''‘Save page’'''.
:I hope this helps.
:Please let me know if you need any more assistance.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 05:06, 3 April 2010 (UTC)

==Deletion==
I have another question. How can i stop a speed deletion of a page i made. When i put hangon it stays the same. I want to keep it but i dont know how to make it right. Like i uploaded pictures and they want to delete them becuse i dont even know why. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Spongie555|Spongie555]] ([[User talk:Spongie555|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Spongie555|contribs]]) 04:07, 4 April 2010 (UTC) 

:Hi again Spongie555, I've taken a quick look at your contributions and the messages on [[User talk:Spongie555|your talk page]]. From what I can gather, certain pages and pictures have been deleted due to suspected [[copyright]] infringement.
:To find out more information on this subject, you can read [[Wikipedia:Policies and guidelines|Wikipedia's policies and guidelines]].
:For more specific answers as to why a particular file/article has been deleted, you can always contact the editor who left you a message regarding that page.
:You can also ask further questions or discuss particular instances at [[Wikipedia:Help desk|the Wikipedia help desk]].
:I hope this helps.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 21:39, 4 April 2010 (UTC)

== Your talk page ==

Hi Marek, I'm interested to know how you created the talk page header that welcomes people by name. I've seen it around a few times, and I've been trying to copy it, but I can't figure out which template it is. If you don't mind being copied, help would be appreciated. :) Cheers, [[User:SlimVirgin|SlimVirgin]] [[User talk:SlimVirgin|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/SlimVirgin|contribs]] 11:23, 4 April 2010 (UTC)
:Hi SlimVirgin, first of all you need to create a [[Wikipedia:Editnotice|Wikipedia editnotice page]], i.e. [[User talk:SlimVirgin/Editnotice]]
:My editnotice page can be found on [[User talk:Marek69/Editnotice]]
:The relevant code to Welcome the user by name is: '''<nowiki>Welcome to my talk page, {{REVISIONUSER}}</nowiki>'''
:Feel free to copy as much as you want. :-)
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 14:48, 4 April 2010 (UTC)

::Many thanks, Marek. I was mightily impressed when I first saw it, which when was when I posted the CC RfC notice for you. I thought, "wow, how did he know it was me?" And I've wanted it ever since. :D [[User:SlimVirgin|SlimVirgin]] [[User talk:SlimVirgin|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/SlimVirgin|contribs]] 15:06, 4 April 2010 (UTC)

:::That is super cool, I have used it myself & [[User talk:RP459/Editnotice]] hopefully you do not mind. Thanks! ''-- [[User:RP459|RP459]]'' [[User talk:RP459|Talk]]/[[Special:Contributions/RP459|Contributions]] 21:37, 4 April 2010 (UTC)

::::No probs, I copied most of it myself from various places around Wikipedia. ;-) [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 21:46, 4 April 2010 (UTC)

:::::It [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:SlimVirgin&action=edit seems to be working], though mine is pink. :) [[User:SlimVirgin|SlimVirgin]] [[User talk:SlimVirgin|talk]] [[Special:Contributions/SlimVirgin|contribs]] 21:51, 4 April 2010 (UTC)
::::::Very nice.. :-) [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 22:00, 4 April 2010 (UTC)
:::::::Another [[WP:TPS|TPS]] expressing gratitude for the <nowiki>{{REVISIONUSER}}</nowiki> thing! I might yet modify your whole Page Notice for my own use. I have copied the source, anyway. Cheers --[[User:Jubileeclipman|Jubilee]][[WP:CTM|♫]][[User talk:Jubileeclipman|clipman]] 01:01, 5 April 2010 (UTC)
:::::::BTW, I added you to my Qui friends. I not long ago installed it and am trying to get my head around all of its functionality. Hope you don't mind? --[[User:Jubileeclipman|Jubilee]][[WP:CTM|♫]][[User talk:Jubileeclipman|clipman]] 01:04, 5 April 2010 (UTC)
::::::::Hi Jubilee, no problem, fine by me. Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 01:10, 5 April 2010 (UTC)
:::::::::Thanks --[[User:Jubileeclipman|Jubilee]][[WP:CTM|♫]][[User talk:Jubileeclipman|clipman]] 01:13, 5 April 2010 (UTC)

== A bite on a new person to Wikipedia ==

The new person, you welcomed to Wikipedia, Sengleani, on the 14 Mch 2010, has been bitten hard by an unnamed contributant; 193.188.47.23 (talk) on Senglaeni's talk page. He/she attempted a 1st edit of Saint Paul's article page and did have sources.

[[User:Bernard Mc Nally|MacOfJesus]] ([[User talk:Bernard Mc Nally|talk]]) 21:11, 4 April 2010 (UTC)
:Hi Bernard, thank you for your message. I'll take a look and see what I can do. -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 21:43, 4 April 2010 (UTC)

==Thank you==
Thank you for welcoming me. I have a decent user name, I just forgot to log in. Thank you. Nice to meet you.[[User:Mrszantogabor|Mrszantogabor]] ([[User talk:Mrszantogabor|talk]]) 11:17, 5 April 2010 (UTC)
:Hi Mrszantogabor, thank you for the message. It's nice to meet you too. :-) -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 11:20, 5 April 2010 (UTC)

== Transcription ==

Hello, Marek.
I'm currently working at a series of articles about Chicago in the Russian Wikipedia. I need to be sure about correct pronunciation of a word ''wacker'' in the title [[311 South Wacker Drive]]. The Russian variant coincides with the pronunciation of ''walker'' which I bet is incorrect. Is there any way to know it for sure? It'd be nice to know this is no exception to the common rule. Thanks. --[[User:Ingvar-fed|Ingvar-fed]] ([[User talk:Ingvar-fed|talk]]) 08:40, 7 April 2010 (UTC)

:Hi Ingvar-fed, thank you for your message. I'm sorry for the delay in response.
:Hmm, I'm not 100% sure on this one. At first glance I would guess Wacker to be pronounced as ''wa - ka'' (if it obeys simple English rules, i.e. as in cracker or backer)
:However, as it is a [[proper noun]] and its common usage is in Chicaco, US, then I would be more inclined to say it would be closer to ''way - ka'' (as in baker or maker)
:[[Wacker Drive]] was probably named after [[Charles Henry Wacker]], a notable Chicago citizen, whose family was of German extraction, but I'm not sure this helps, as it would be the current American pronunciation which would apply now.
:I wouldn't be able give a definite answer on this as I live in the UK, so I'm not so sure about US pronunciations, ''Sorry''.
:Maybe a US citizen, especially one from Chicago could give you the correct answer.
:Here is a [[:Category:Wikipedians in Chicago|list of Wikipedians who live in Chicago]]. Maybe you could approach one of these editors.
:Good Luck & Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 14:59, 8 April 2010 (UTC)

:: Ok. Thank you for [[:Category:Wikipedians in Chicago|the list of Wikipedians who live in Chicago]]. I'll try to contact sb there. Good luck. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Ingvar-fed|Ingvar-fed]] ([[User talk:Ingvar-fed|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Ingvar-fed|contribs]]) 09:07, 9 April 2010 (UTC)  --[[User:Ingvar-fed|Ingvar-fed]] ([[User talk:Ingvar-fed|talk]]) 09:09, 9 April 2010 (UTC)

== dates on [[Unification of Germany]] ==

whatever you did on the dates per MOS didn't hold, so I undid everything the other two users did re the dates. [[User:Auntieruth55|Auntieruth55]] ([[User talk:Auntieruth55|talk]]) 18:37, 7 April 2010 (UTC)

:Hi Auntieruth55, thank you for your message.
:I'm not sure I understand, [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unification_of_Germany&action=historysubmit&diff=354518256&oldid=354498800 the edit I made] changed '''the 18th of January 1871''' to '''18 January 1871'''.
:This conforms with [[Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_(dates_and_numbers)#Dates|Wikipedia:Manual of Style (dates and numbers)]]. ''(I'm not quite sure why this ‘didn't hold’?)''
:Looking at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unification_of_Germany&action=historysubmit&diff=354577548&oldid=354518256 combined effect of your 3 edits], (including reverting my edit) seems to have changed '''on 18 January 1871 at''' to '''on 18 January 1871at''' ''(i.e. removed a space)''. I'm a bit confused...

:I just thought I'd let you know.
:Kind Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 23:00, 7 April 2010 (UTC)

::When I looked to see what you had done, the text said the 18th of January 1871. Unless MOS had changed, I knew that wasn't what you had meant. I looked at the previous revisions, and that was where the problem was, so I reverted everything. Probably should just have gone in and edited it, but I wasn't sure if it had involved other dates as well, so by reverting, it should have caught them all. Anyway, it's correct now (I hope), so between us we managed to undo what the IPs did. [[User:Auntieruth55|Auntieruth55]] ([[User talk:Auntieruth55|talk]]) 23:26, 7 April 2010 (UTC)
:::[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unification_of_Germany&action=historysubmit&diff=354518256&oldid=354498800 As you can see in this diff], the one edit I made changed '''the 18th of January 1871''' to '''18 January 1871''', ''as per [[Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_(dates_and_numbers)#Dates|MoS]]''.
:::Regards -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 23:32, 7 April 2010 (UTC)
:::::when I looked at it, it said 18th of January....I'm not saying you did something un MOS-like. [[User:Auntieruth55|Auntieruth55]] ([[User talk:Auntieruth55|talk]]) 23:37, 7 April 2010 (UTC)
::::::I'm not sure why that happened - maybe an edit conflict? Anyhow, it is correct [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unification_of_Germany&action=historysubmit&diff=354633128&oldid=354577548 now] -- [[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 23:43, 7 April 2010 (UTC)

== hi ==

Hello
Thank you for the kind welcome. I finally got around to creating my own Talk Page. (=Detah) It is nothing fancy. Just some simple text.

[[User:Detah|Detah]] ([[User talk:Detah|talk]]) 19:36, 8 April 2010 (UTC)

User talk:Elbasan101

2010-04-10T11:25:53Z

Elbasan101:

User talk:Elbasan101

2010-04-10T11:24:21Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion */

== Welcome! ==

[[Image:Chocolate chip cookies.jpg|thumb|300px|Some cookies to welcome you! [[File:Face-smile.svg|25px]]]] [[Wikipedia:Welcoming committee/Welcome to Wikipedia|Welcome to Wikipedia]], Elbasan101! I {{#if: Marek69|am [[User:Marek69|Marek69]] and|}} have been editing Wikipedia for quite some time. I just wanted to say hi and welcome you to Wikipedia! If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a message on {{#if: Marek69|[[User talk:Marek69|my talk page]]|my talk page}} or by typing ''{{tl|helpme}}'' at the bottom of this page. I love to help new users, so don't be afraid to leave a message! {{#if:| {{{2}}}|}} I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are some pages that you might find helpful:
* [[Wikipedia:Introduction|Introduction]]
* [[Wikipedia:Five pillars|The five pillars of Wikipedia]]
* [[Wikipedia:How to edit a page|How to edit a page]]
* [[Help:Contents|Help pages]]
* [[Wikipedia:Article development|How to write a great article]]
I hope you enjoy editing here and being a [[Wikipedia:Wikipedians|Wikipedian]]! Also, when you post on [[Wikipedia:Talk page|talk pages]] you should [[Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages|sign your name]] on talk pages using four tildes (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>); that should automatically produce your username and the date after your post.
If you need help, check out [[Wikipedia:Questions]], ask me on {{#if: Marek69|[[User talk:Marek69|my talk page]]|my talk page}}, or place {{tl|helpme}} on your talk page and ask your question there. Again, welcome! {{#if:| {{{3}}}|}}

[[User:Marek69|{{#if:||Marek}}]].[[Special:Contributions/Marek69|{{#if:||69}}]][[User_talk:Marek69|{{#if:|'' talk'';color:Green;">|'' talk''}}]] 19:54, 5 April 2010 (UTC)

== Religion ==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&diff=prev&oldid=355121116] Ki pake kujdes dhe mos hiq pjesa me references. Please use the talkpage to explain your edits before removing npov referenced data.--[[User:ZjarriRrethues|'''— ''ZjarriRrethues'' —''']] [[User_talk:ZjarriRrethues|talk]] 11:12, 10 April 2010 (UTC)

: E hoqa se materjali nuk e shpjegon qysh arriten ne conclusion qe shqiptartet nuk praktikojne fene

same would apply to adding rather shoddy pieces of work from a unregistered account. Also I would go as far to suggest that that the "source" is not npov, or at the very least that particular article. The article is not sourced itself no data is provided, there is a lack information how the report gained its info.

Talk:Albania

2010-04-10T11:10:18Z

Elbasan101: /* Motto */

Albania

2010-04-10T11:08:18Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion */

{{About|the modern state}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''Republika e Shqipërisë''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Albania
|common_name = Albania
|national_motto = ''Feja e Shqiptarit është Shqiptaria'' (''The faith of Albanians is Albanism'')<ref>Understanding the war in Kosovo Authors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Editors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Publisher Routledge, 2003 ISBN 0-7146-5391-8, 9780714653914 page 188 link [http://books.google.com/books?id=VPPdgAZxU9IC&lpg=PA188&dq=albanian%20religion%20is%20albanism&lr=&pg=PA188#v=onepage&q=albanism&f=false]</ref> (''national'') ''Ti, Shqipëri, më jep nder, më jep emrin Shqiptar'' (''You Albania give me honor, you give me the name Albanian'') (''traditional'')
|national_anthem = ''[[Himni i Flamurit]]'' ("The Banner Hymn")
|image_flag = Flag of Albania.svg
|image_coat = Albania state emblem.svg
|symbol_type = Coat of arms
|image_map = Europe-Albania.svg
|map_caption = {{map caption|location_color=green|region=Europe|region_color=dark grey|legend=Location Albania Europe.png}}
|official_languages = [[Albanian language|Albanian]]1
|capital = [[Tirana]]
|latd=41 |latm=20 |latNS=N |longd=19 |longm=48 |longEW=E
|largest_city = [[Tirana]]
|government_type = [[Parliamentary republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[List of heads of state of Albania|President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Bamir Topi]]
|leader_title2 = [[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Sali Berisha]]
|area_rank = 139th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area_km2 = 28748
|area_sq_mi = 11100 
|percent_water = 4.7
|population_estimate = 3,639,453<ref name=instat/>
|population_estimate_year = 2009
|population_estimate_rank = 129th
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density_km2 = 126.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 327.8 
|population_density_rank = 63
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP = $21.864 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=914&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=71&pr.y=12 |title=Albania|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=1 October 2009}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 110th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $6,897<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 95th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal = $12.964 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank = 113th
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $4,089<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 94th
|Gini = 26.7
|Gini_year = 2005
|Gini_category = low
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.818
|HDI_rank = 70th
|HDI_category = high
|sovereignty_type = [[History of the Albanian state|Formation]]
|established_event1 = Independence from the [[Ottoman Empire]]
|established_date1 = 28 November 1912
|established_event2 = [[Constitution of Albania|Current Constitution]]
|established_date2 = 28 November 1998
|currency = [[Albanian lek|Lek]]
|currency_code = ALL
|country_code = AL
|time_zone = {{tz|CET}}
|time_zone_DST = {{tz|CEST}}
|demonym = Albanian
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.al]]
|calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Albania|355]]
|footnote1 = Greek, [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] and other regional languages are government-recognized minority languages.}}

'''Albania''' {{Audio-IPA|en-us-Albania.ogg|/ælˈbeɪniə/}} {{respell|al|BAY|nee-ə}} ({{lang-sq|Shqipëri/Shqipëria}}, [[Gheg Albanian]]: ''Shqipnia'' or ''Shqypnia''), officially the '''Republic of Albania''' ({{lang-sq|Republika e Shqipërisë}}, {{pronounced|ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs}}), is a country in [[Balkans|South Eastern Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Montenegro]] to the northwest, [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}} to the northeast, the [[Republic of Macedonia]] to the east and [[Greece]] to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the west, and on the [[Ionian Sea]] to the southwest. It is less than {{convert|72|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from Italy, across the [[Strait of Otranto]] which links the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the [[Ionian Sea]].

Albania is a member of the [[United Nations]], [[NATO]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]], [[Council of Europe]], [[World Trade Organisation]], [[Organisation of the Islamic Conference]] and one of the founding members of the [[Union for the Mediterranean]]. Albania has been a [[Accession of Albania to the European Union|potential candidate for accession to the European Union]] since January 2003, and it formally applied for [[EU member states|EU membership]] on 28 April 2009.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8023127.stm Albania applies for EU membership], BBC News, 28 April 2009. Retrieved on 29 April 2009</ref>

Albania is a [[parliamentary democracy]] and a [[transition economy]]. The Albanian [[capital (political)|capital]], [[Tirana]], is home to approximately 727,000 of the country's 3.6 million people, and it is also the financial capital of the country.<ref name=pop2007>[http://www.tirana.gov.al/common/images/Viti%202007.pdf Population stats] from tirana.gov.al {{sq icon}}</ref> [[Free-market]] reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, especially in the development of [[energy]] and transportation infrastructure.<ref>Reports: Poverty Decreases In Albania After Years Of Growth.Dow Jones Newswires, 201-938-5500.http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200904231403dowjonesdjonline000935&title=reports-poverty-decreases-in-albania-after-years-of-growth</ref><ref>Albania plans to build three hydropower plants.People's Daily</ref><ref>Strong GDP growth reduces poverty in Albania-study.Reuters.http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/04/23/afx6330798.html</ref>

==Etymology==
{{Main|Albania (toponym)}}
''Albania'' is the [[Medieval Latin]] name of the country which is called ''Shqipëri'' by its inhabitants. In [[Medieval Greek]], the country's name is ''Albania'' ({{lang-el|''Αλβανία''}}) besides variants ''Albanitia'', ''Arbanitia''.<ref>[[OED]]</ref>

The name may be derived from the [[Illyrian]] tribe of the Albani recorded by [[Ptolemy]], the geographer and astronomer from [[Alexandria]] who drafted a map in 150 AD<ref>Madrugearu A, Gordon M. The wars of the [[Balkan Peninsula]]. Rowman & Littlefield, 2007. p.146</ref> that shows the city of [[Albanopolis]]<ref>{{Barrington|49 & notes}}</ref> (located northeast of [[Durrës]]).

The name may have a continuation in the name of a medieval settlement called Albanon and Arbanon, although it is not certain this was the same place.<ref>The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, ISBN 0631198075, page 279,"We cannot be certain that the Arbanon of Anna Comnena is the same as Albanopolis of the Albani, a place located on the map of Ptolemy (3.12)"</ref> In his ''History'' written in 1079–1080, [[Byzantine]] historian [[Michael Attaliates]] was the first to refer to ''Albanoi'' as having taken part in a revolt against [[Constantinople]] in 1043 and to the ''Arbanitai'' as subjects of the Duke of [[Dyrrachium]].<ref>Robert Elsei. ''The Albanian lexicon of Arnold von Harff, Earliest reference to the existence of the Albanian language'', pp. 113–122.</ref> During the [[Middle Ages]], the Albanians called their country ''Arbër'' or ''Arbën'' and referred to themselves as [[Arbëresh]] or ''Arbnesh''.<ref>http://www.pinocacozza.it/ {{it icon}}{{sq icon}}</ref><ref>http://www.radio-arberesh.eu/ {{it icon}}</ref>

As early as the 16th century, a new name for their home evolved among Albanian people: ''Shqipëria'', popularly interpreted as "Land of the Eagles" or "Land of the Mountain Eagle" hence the two-headed bird on the national flag,<ref>Kristo Frasheri. ''History of Albania (A Brief Overview)''. Tirana, 1964.</ref> though most likely the origin lies in [[Skanderbeg]]'s use of the [[Byzantine]] double-headed eagle on his seals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fotw.us/flags/al.html#ori|title=Flags Of The World, Albania}}</ref><ref>Albanian Etymological Dictionary by Vladimir E. Orel, Brill 1998</ref>

Under the [[Ottoman Empire]] Albania was referred to officially as ''Arnavutluk'' and its inhabitants as [[arnauts]].<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Arnaut Arnaut] at the Free Dictionary</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Albania}}
[[File:Butrint, Albania.jpg|thumb|300|left|[[Butrint]], a [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Site.]]
[[File:Via Egnatia-en.jpg|thumb|left|Route of the [[Via Egnatia]].]]
===Antiquity===
{{Main|Illyria|Dalmatia (Roman province)|Illyricum (Roman province)|Moesia Superior}}
{{See|Illyrians|Thraco-Illyrian}}
The first recorded inhabitants in the territory of Albania were the [[Illyrians]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm|title=Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs September 2007}}</ref> an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] people that inhabited the area corresponding to northern and central Albania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9052237/Messapic-language|title=Encyclopedia Britannica – Messapic language}}</ref> The Illyrian tribes that resided in the region of modern Albania were the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Taulantii|Taulantii]]<ref>Appian, ''The Foreign Wars, III, 1.2''</ref> the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Parthini|Parthini]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Abri|Abri]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Cavii|Caviii]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Enchelei|Enchelei]],<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN 0631198075, Page 96,"... 25 Enchelei</ref> and [[List of Illyrian tribes|several others]]. In the westernmost parts of the territory of Albania there lived the [[Bryges]],<ref>The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996, ISBN-9780631198079, page 111.</ref> a [[Phrygia]]n people, and in the south were the [[Greeks|Greek]] [[Chaonians]].

Beginning in the 8th century BC, Greek colonies were established on the Illyrian coast. The most important were [[Apollonia (Illyria)|Apollonia]], [[Vlorë|Avlona]] (modern-day [[Vlorë]]), [[Epidamnos]] (modern-day [[Durrës]]), and [[Lissus]] (modern-day [[Lezhë]]). The rediscovered Greek city of [[Buthrotum]] (modern-day Butrint), a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]], is probably more significant today than it was when [[Julius Caesar]] used it as a provisions depot for his troops during his campaigns in the 1st century BC. At that time, it was considered an unimportant outpost, overshadowed by Apollonia and Epidamnos.<ref>An Inventory of Archaic and [[Classical antiquity|Classical]] Poleis by Mogens Herman, ISBN 0198140991, 2004, page 343, "Bouthroton (Bouthrotios)"</ref>

In the 4th century BC, the Illyrian king [[Bardyllis]] united several Illyrian tribes and engaged in conflict with [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedon]] to the southeast, but was defeated. Bardyllis was succeeded by [[Grabos]],<ref>Harding, p. 93. Grabos became the most powerful Illyrian king after the death of Bardylis in 358.</ref> then by [[Bardyllis II]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79">"The Journal of Hellenic Studies by Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies (London, England)", 1973, p. 79. Cleitus was evidently the son of Bardylis II the grandson of the very old Bardylis who had fallen in battle against Phillip II in 385 BC.</ref> and then by [[Cleitus the Illyrian]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79"/> who was defeated by [[Alexander the Great]]. Later on, in 229 BC, Queen [[Teuta]]<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, p. 120, ISBN 0631198075,page 129,"... mainly because no coins are known to have been issued by Illyrian rulers of a later period such as Agron, Teuta, Scerdilaidas, etc. ...</ref> of the [[Ardiaei]] clashed with the Romans and initiated the [[Illyrian Wars]], which resulted in defeat and in the end of Illyrian independence by 168 B.C., when King [[Gentius]] was defeated by a Roman army.

The lands comprising modern-day Albania were incorporated into the Roman empire as part of the province of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] above the river [[Drin (river)|Drin]], and Roman [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] (specifically as [[Epirus Nova]]) below it. The western part of the [[Via Egnatia]] ran inside modern Albania, ending at [[Dyrrachium]]. [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] was later divided into the provinces of [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]] and [[Pannonia]].

===Byzantine era===
When the [[Roman Empire]] was divided into East and West in 395, the territories of modern Albania became part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Beginning in the first decades of Byzantine rule (until 461), the region suffered devastating raids by [[Visigoths]], [[Huns]], and [[Ostrogoths]]. In the 6th and 7th centuries, the region was overrun by the Slavs.

The new administrative system of the themes, or military provinces created by the [[Byzantine Empire]], contributed to the eventual rise of feudalism in Albania, as peasant soldiers who served military lords became serfs on their landed estates. Among the leading families of the Albanian feudal nobility were the [[Karlo Thopia|Thopia]], [[Gjin Bua Shpata|Shpata]], [[Muzaka Principality of Berat|Muzaka]], [[Dukagjini]] and [[Kastrioti]]. The first three of these rose to become rulers of principalities were vassals of the [[Byzantine empire]], maintaining a partial local autonomy from the Byzantine empire. Many Albanians converted to the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Christian Church|Church]] at that period. During the [[Byzantine]] [[Era]] the [[Serbs]] had occupied almost all of Northern Albania and [[Kosovo]], and the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]] had gained control of the coastal regions of Albania.

The territory of Albania would remain under Byzantine and Bulgarian rule until the 14th century, when the Ottoman Turks began to make incursions into the Empire. The Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453, and by 1460 most former Byzantine territories were in the hands of the Turks. Albania was fully occupied by the [[Ottoman empire|Ottomans]] in 1478.

===Ottoman era===
[[File:Durrës, Pinargenti.jpg|thumb|left|[[Durrës]] in 1573]]
In the [[Middle Ages]], the name ''Arberia'' (see ''[[Origin and history of the name Albania]]'') began to be increasingly applied to the region now comprising the nation of Albania.

Beginning in the late-14th century, the Ottoman Turks expanded their empire from [[Anatolia]] to the [[Balkans]] (Rumelia). By the 15th century, the Ottomans ruled all of the Balkan Peninsula. Many Albanians had been recruited into the [[Janissary]], including the feudal heir [[Gjergj Kastrioti]] who was renamed [[Skanderbeg]] (Iskandar Bey) by his Turkish trainers at [[Edrine]]. After some Ottoman defeats at the hands of the [[Serbs]], Skanderbeg deserted and began a rebellion against the [[Ottoman Empire]]<ref name="autogenerated1">Library of Congress Country Study <http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/altoc.html> of Albania</ref>.

After deserting, [[Skanderbeg|Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg]] re-converted to [[Roman Catholicism]] and declared a [[religious war|holy war]] against the Ottoman Empire<ref name="autogenerated1"/>, which he led from 1443 to 1468. Under a red flag bearing Skanderbeg's heraldic emblem, an Albanian force of about 30,000 men at [[Krujë]] held off Ottoman campaigns against their lands for twenty-four years. Thrice the Albanians overcame sieges of Krujë (see [[Siege of Krujë]]) led by many Ottoman commanders, including the influential [[Iljaz Hoxha]] and his [[Albanian]] [[Janissary]] led by [[Hamza Kastrioti]]. However, Skanderbeg was unable to receive any of the help which had been promised him by the [[pope]]s. He died in 1468, leaving no worthy successor. After his death the rebellion continued, but without its former success. The loyalties and alliances created and nurtured by Skanderbeg faltered and fell apart, and the Ottomans reconquered the territory of Albania in 1478. Shortly after the fall of [[Kruje]]'s castle, some Albanians fled to neighboring Italy, giving rise to the modern [[Arbëreshë]] communities.

[[File:Early 16th century Ottoman volley gun.jpg|thumb|[[Military of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[volley gun]] with 9 barrels, early 16th century.]]
The Ottomans had urbanized the landscape creating new cities, [[Bazaars]], garrisons and [[Mosques]] throughout the Albanian regions. The majority of the remaining Albanian population converted to [[Islam]], with many joining the [[Sufi]] Order of the [[Bektashi]]. Converting from Christianity to Islam brought considerable advantages, including access to Ottoman trade networks, bureaucratic positions and the army. As a result many Albanians came to serve in the elite [[Janissary]] and the administrative [[Devşirme]] system. Among these were important historical figures, including [[Iljaz Hoxha]], [[Hamza Kastrioti]], [[Köprülü Mehmed Pasha]] (head of the [[Köprülü family]] of [[Grand Viziers]]), the [[Bushati]] family, [[Sulejman Pasha]], [[Ethem Pasha]], [[Nezim Frakulla]], [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena, [[Hasan Zyko Kamberi]], [[Ali-paša Šabanagić]], and [[Mehmet Ali]] ruler of [[Egypt]].<ref>Research Institute for European and American Studies. [http://www.rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=412&catid=22&Itemid=69 ''The Balkan Muslim Presence'']</ref> and [[Emin Pasha]].

[[File:Turkish guns 1750-1800.jpg|thumb|[[Ottoman weapons|Ottoman guns]], 1750–1800.]]
Many Albanians gained prominent positions in the Ottoman government, Albanians highly active during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[Era]] and leaders such as [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena is known to have aided the Bosnian Hero [[Husein Gradaščević]] on various occasions, no fewer than 42 [[Grand Viziers]] of the Empire were Albanian in origin, including [[Mehmet Akif Ersoy]] (1873–1936) an Albanian from [[Peć]] who composed the Turkish National Anthem in 1921, "İstiklâl Marşı" (The Independence March). As Hupchik states, "Albanians had little cause of unrest" and "if anything, grew important in Ottoman internal affairs", and sometimes persecuted Christians harshly on behalf of their Turkish allies.

Albania became pivotal for the Ottomans in the Balkans, although Albanians never rested, always having small rebellions wchich were put down by the Ottomans. As a cosequene of the continuous rebellions, the Albanians got the nickname "Arnauts" by the Ottomans, which meant "stubborn". Anyway, this period saw the rising of semi-autonomous [[Albanian Pashaliks|Albanian ruled Pashaliks]], and Albanians were also an important part of the Ottoman army and Ottoman administration like the case of [[Köprülü family]]. Albania would remain a part of the Ottoman Empire as the provinces of [[Shkodër Province, Ottoman Empire|Shkodra]], [[Monastir Province, Ottoman Empire|Manastir]] and [[Ioannina Province, Ottoman Empire|Yanya]] until 1912.

===20th century===
====1913 to 1928====
After five hundred years of Ottoman domination, an independent Albania was proclaimed on November 28, 1912.

The initial sparks of the first [[Balkan Wars|Balkan War in 1912]] were ignited by the Albanian uprising between 1908 and 1910 <ref>The Balkans (Nationalism, War and the Great Powers, 1804–1999) – by Misha Glenny</ref> which were directed at opposing the [[Young Turk]] policies of consolidation of the Ottoman Empire. Following the eventual weakening of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, [[Serbia]], Greece and [[Bulgaria]] declared war and sought to aggrandize their respective boundaries on the remaining territories of the Empire. Albania was thus invaded by Serbia in the north and Greece in the south, restricting the country to only a patch of land around the southern coastal city of [[Vlora]]. In 1912 Albania, still under foreign occupation declared its independence and with the aid of [[Austria-Hungary]], the Great Powers drew its present borders leaving more than half of the Albanian population outside the new country.

The border between Albania and its neighbours was delineated in 1913 following the dissolution of most of the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Balkans. The delineation of the new state's borders left a significant number of Albanian communities outside Albania. This population was largely divided between [[Montenegro]] and Serbia (which then included what is now the [[Republic of Macedonia]]). A substantial number of Albanians thus found themselves under Serbian rule. At the same time, an uprising in the country's south by local Greeks, led to the formation of an [[Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus|autonomous region]] inside its borders (1914). After a period of political instability caused during [[World War I]], the country adopted a republican form of government in 1920.<ref>{{cite book
|last=Young
|first= Antonia
|title=Albania
|publisher=Clio Press
|year=1997|isbn =1851092609}}</ref>

====1928 to 1946====
[[File:King Zog.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Zog of Albania|Ahmet Muhtar Bey Zogolli]]]]
Starting in 1928, but especially during the [[Great Depression]], the government of [[King Zog#Relations with Italy|King Zog]], which brought law and order to the country, began to cede Albania's sovereignty to Italy.
Despite some strong resistance, especially at [[Durrës]], Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939 and took control of the country, with the Italian [[Fascist]] dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] proclaiming Italy's figurehead King [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]] as King of Albania. The nation thus became one of the first to be occupied by the [[Axis Powers]] in [[World War II]].<ref>The Balkans by Misha Glenny page 418</ref> As [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] began his aggressions, Mussolini decided to occupy Albania as a means to compete with Hitler's territorial gains. Mussolini and the Italian Fascists saw Albania as a historical part of the [[Roman Empire]], and the occupation was intended to fulfill Mussolini's dream of creating an [[Italian Empire]]. During the Italian occupation, Albania's population was subject to a policy of forced [[Italianisation]] by the kingdom's Italian governors, in which the use of the Albanian language was discouraged in schools while the Italian language was promoted. At the same time, the colonization of Albania by Italians was encouraged.

Mussolini, in October 1940, used his Albanian base to launch an attack on Greece, which led to the defeat of the Italian forces and the Greek occupation of Southern Albania in what was seen by the Greeks as the liberation of [[Northern Epirus]]. While preparing for the [[Operation Barbarossa|Invasion of Russia]], Hitler decided to attack Greece in December 1940 to prevent a British attack on his southern flank.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Creveld |first=Martin van|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1972 |month=July–October |title=In the Shadow of Barbarossa: Germany and Albania, January–March 1941 |journal= |volume=7 |issue=3/4 |pages=22–230|id= |url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-0094(197207%2F10)7%3A3%2F4%3C221%3AITSOBG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-E |accessdate=12 September 2007 |quote=}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], the [[Albanian Communist Party|Party of Labour]] was created on 8 November 1941. With the intention of organizing a [[Albanian National Liberation Front|partisan resistance]], they called a general conference in Pezë on 16 September 1942 where the Albanian National Liberation Front was set up. The Front included nationalist groups, but it was dominated by communist partisans.

In December 1942, more Albanian nationalist groups were organized under Visar Kola. Albanians fought against the Italians while, during [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] occupation, Balli Kombëtar allied itself with the Germans and clashed with Albanian communists, which continued their fight against Germans and Balli Kombëtar at the same time.

With the collapse of the Mussolini government in line with the Allied invasion of Italy, Germany occupied Albania in September 1943, dropping paratroopers into Tirana before the Albanian guerrillas could take the capital. The [[German Army]] soon drove the guerrillas into the hills and to the south. The Nazi German government subsequently announced it would recognize the independence of a neutral Albania and set about organizing a new government, police and armed forces. Many Balli Kombëtar units cooperated with the Germans against the communists and several Balli Kombëtar leaders held positions in the German-sponsored regime.
The partisans entirely liberated Albania from German occupation on 28 November 1944. The Albanian partisans also liberated Kosovo, part of Montenegro, and southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. By November 1944, they had thrown out the Germans, one of the few [[East Europe]]an nations to do so without any assistance from [[Soviet]] troops. [[Enver Hoxha]] became the leader of the country by virtue of his position as Secretary General of the [[Albanian Communist Party]].


Albania was one of the European countries occupied by the [[Axis powers]] that ended World War II with a larger [[Jewish]] population than before the war.<ref>Sarner. ''Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from the Holocaust'', 1997.</ref><ref>"Muslim Family Who Hid 26 Jews in Albania from the Nazis Honored by ADL" [http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4963_52.htm Anti-Defamation League]</ref><ref>Escape Through the Balkans: the Autobiography of Irene Grunbaum (University of Nebraska Press, 1996)</ref><ref>[http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205725.pdf Shoah Research Center – Albania.]</ref> Some 1,200 Jewish residents and refugees from other [[Balkan]] countries were hidden by Albanian families during World War II, according to official records.<ref>Israeli Historians Study How Albanian Jews Escaped Holocaust http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356717,00.html</ref>

====Communist state====
{{Main|Socialist People's Republic of Albania}}
[[File:Brosen tirana hoxha mausol.jpg|thumb|left|The former Enver Hoxha Museum in Tirana]]

[[File:Tirana Square 1988.jpg|thumb|right|Tirana's Skanderbeg Square in 1988]]

Albania became an ally of the Soviet Union, but this came to an end in 1960 over the advent of [[de-Stalinization]]. A strong political alliance with China followed, leading to several billion dollars in aid, which was curtailed after 1974. China cut off aid in 1978 when Albania attacked its policies after the death of the Chinese ruler [[Mao Zedong]]. Large-scale purges of officials occurred during the 1970s.

[[Enver Hoxha]], a dictator who ruled Albania for four decades with an iron fist, died on 11 April 1985. Eventually the new regime introduced some liberalization, and granting the freedom to travel abroad in 1990. The new government made efforts to improve ties with the outside world. The elections of March 1991 left the former Communists in power, but a general strike and urban opposition led to the formation of a coalition cabinet that included non-Communists.<ref>Albania. World Almanac & Book of Facts, 2008, pp467–545, (AN 28820955)</ref>

===Recent history – 1992 to present===
{{Main|History of post-Communist Albania}}
{{See|Timeline of Albanian history from 1994}}
Albania's former Communists were routed in elections March 1992, causing economic collapse and social unrest. The [[blood feud]] has returned in rural areas after more than 40 years of being abolished by Albanian communists,<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1553480/Thousands-fear-as-blood-feuds-sweep-Albania.html Thousands fear as blood feuds sweep Albania]". Telegraph.co.uk. 3 June 2007.</ref> with nearly 10,000 Albanians being killed due to blood feuds since 1991.<ref>"[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/world/europe/10feuds.html?_r=1 In Albanian Feuds, Isolation Engulfs Families ]". The New York Times. 10 July 2008.</ref> Sali Berisha was elected as the first non-Communist president since World War II. The next crisis occurred in 1997, during his presidency, as [[1997 rebellion in Albania|riots ravaged the country]]. The state institutions collapsed and an [[EU]] military mission led by Italy was sent to stabilize the country. In summer 1997, Berisha was defeated in elections, winning just 25 seats out of a total of 156.
His return to power in the elections of 3 July 2005 ended eight years of Socialist Party rule. In 2009, Albania – along with [[Croatia]] – joined [[NATO]].

==Government, politics and armed forces==
{{Main|Politics of Albania}}

{{Politics of Albania}}

The Albanian republic is a parliamentary democracy established under a constitution renewed in 1998. Elections are now held every four years to a unicameral 140-seat chamber, the People's Assembly. In June 2002, a compromise candidate, [[Alfred Moisiu]], former [[Army General]], was elected to succeed President [[Rexhep Meidani]]. Parliamentary elections in July 2005 brought [[Sali Berisha]], as leader of the Democratic Party, back to power. The Euro-Atlantic integration of Albania has been the ultimate goal of the post-communist governments. Albania's [[European Union|EU]] membership bid has been set as a priority by the European Commission.

Albania, along with Croatia, joined NATO on 1 April 2009 becoming the 27th and 28th members of the alliance.<ref>BBC News. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7977332.stm "Nato welcomes Albania and Croatia"], "BBC News", 2 April 2009. Retrieved on 2 April 2009.</ref>

The workforce of Albania has continued to migrate to Greece, Italy, Germany, other parts of Europe, and North America. However, the migration flux is slowly decreasing, as more and more opportunities are emerging in Albania itself as its economy steadily develops.

===Executive branch===
The head of state in Albania is the [[List of Presidents of Albania|President]] of the Republic. The President is elected to a 5-year term by the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] by secret ballot, requiring a 50%+1 majority of the votes of all deputies. The next election will run in 2012. The current President of the Republic is [[Bamir Topi]].

The President has the power to guarantee observation of the constitution and all laws, act as commander in chief of the armed forces, exercise the duties of the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] when the Assembly is not in session, and appoint the Chairman of the Council of Ministers ([[prime minister]]).

Executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The Chairman of the Council (prime minister) is appointed by the president; ministers are nominated by the president on the basis of the prime minister's recommendation. The People's Assembly must give final approval of the composition of the Council. The Council is responsible for carrying out both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!align=left|[[List of Presidents of Albania|President]]
|[[Bamir Topi]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]] ||20 July 2007
|-
!align=left|[[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|[[Sali Berisha]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]]||9 September 2009
|}

===Legislative branch===
The [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] (''Kuvendi i Republikës së Shqipërisë'') is the lawmaking body in Albania. There are 140 deputies in the Assembly, which are elected through a [[party-list proportional representation]] system. The President of the Assembly (or Speaker) has two deputies and chairs the Assembly. There are 15 permanent commissions, or committees. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years.

The Assembly has the power to decide the direction of domestic and foreign policy; approve or amend the constitution; declare war on another state; ratify or annul international treaties; elect the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court and the Attorney General and his or her deputies; and control the activity of state radio and television, state news agency and other official information media.

===Armed forces===
{{Main|Military of Albania|}}
{{See also|Albanian Air Force|Albanian Naval Defense Forces|Albanian Joint Forces Command|Albanian Logistic Support Command}}

[[File:Patrol Boat Iliria.jpg|thumb|Albanian Navy warship ''Iliria'']]

The [[Military of Albania|Albanian Armed Forces]] (''Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë'') first formed after independence in 1912. Albania reduced the number of active troops from a 1988 number of 65,000<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1935630.stm Albania sells off its military hardware], BBC News, 2002</ref> to a 2009 number of 14,500<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/08/21/feature-03 |title=Albania to abolish conscription by 2010 |publisher=SETimes.com |date=21 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> with a small fleet of aircraft and sea vessels. In the 1990s, the country scrapped enormous amount of obsolete hardware, such as tanks and [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM systems]] from China.

Today, it consists of the General Staff Headquarters, the [[Albanian Joint Forces Command]], the [[Albanian Support Command]] and the [[Albanian Training and Doctrine Command]]. Increasing the military budget was one of the most important conditions for [[NATO]] integration. Military spending accounted for about 2.7% of GDP in 2008. Since February 2008, Albania participates officially in NATO's [[Operation Active Endeavor]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>[[NATO]], [http://www.nato.int/issues/active_endeavour/index.html]</ref> and received a NATO membership invitation on 3 April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Albania membership Nato|publisher=NATO|url=http://www.nato.int/issues/nato_albania/evolution.html}}</ref> Albania became a full member of NATO on 1 April 2009.

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Albania}}

[[File:Albania space.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite image of Albania.]]

[[File:Himarë-Albania6.JPG|thumb|Coastline in [[Himarë]]]]
[[File:Ksamil Islets.jpg|thumb|[[Ksamil]], little islands]]
Albania has a total area of 28,748 square [[kilometers]]. Its coastline is 362 kilometers long and extends along the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] and [[Ionian Sea]]s. The lowlands of the west face the Adriatic Sea. The 70% of the country that is mountainous is rugged and often inaccessible from the outside. The highest mountain is [[Mount Korab|Korab]] situated in the [[district of Dibër]], reaching up to {{convert|2753|m|ft|abbr=off|lk=off}}. The climate on the coast is typically [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] with mild, wet winters and warm, sunny, and rather dry summers. Inland conditions vary depending on altitude but the higher areas above 1,500 m/5,000 ft are rather cold and frequently snowy in winter; here cold conditions with lying snow may linger into spring. Besides the capital city of [[Tirana]], which has 800,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are [[Durrës]], [[Korçë]], [[Elbasan]], [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]], [[Gjirokastër]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Kukës]]. In Albanian grammar, a word can have indefinite and definite forms, and this also applies to city names: both ''Tiranë'' and ''Tirana'', ''Shkodër'' and ''Shkodra'' are used.

The three largest and deepest tectonic lakes of the [[Balkan Peninsula]] are partly located in Albania. [[Lake Shkodër]] in the country's northwest has a surface which can vary between {{convert|370|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|lk=off}} and 530 km2, out of which one third belongs to Albania and rest to Montenegro. The Albanian shoreline of the lake is {{convert|57|km|0|abbr=on}}. [[Ohrid Lake]] is situated in the country's southeast and is shared between Albania and Republic of Macedonia. It has a maximal depth of 289 meters and a variety of unique flora and fauna can be found there, including "living fossils" and many endemic species. Because of its natural and historical value, Ohrid Lake is under the protection of [[UNESCO]].

Over a third of the territory of Albania – about 10,000 square kilometers (2.5 million acres) – is forested and the country was very rich in flora. About 3.000 different species of plants grow in Albania, many of which are used for medicinal purposes. [[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Albania belongs to the [[Boreal Kingdom]] and is shared between the Adriatic and [[East Mediterranean]] provinces of the [[Mediterranean Region]] and the Illyrian province of the [[Circumboreal Region]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the [[European Environment Agency]], the territory of Albania can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Illyrian deciduous forests]], [[Pindus Mountains mixed forests]] and [[Dinaric Alps|Dinaric Alpine]] mixed forests. The forests are home to a wide range of mammals, including [[wolves]], [[bear]]s, [[wild boar]]s and [[chamois]]. [[Lynx]], [[wildcat]]s, [[pine marten]]s and [[polecat]]s are rare, but survive in some parts of the country.

==Climate==
''See also [[Geography of Albania#Climate|Climate of Albania]]''
[[File:Coastline in Albania.jpg|thumb|left|Coastline near [[Sarandë]]]]
[[File:Albania pasture.jpg|thumb|left|Albanian landscape]]
[[File:KorabMountain2.jpg|thumb|Korab chains]]

[[File:Ksrbay.jpg|thumb|[[Sarandë]] Bay]]
With its coastline facing the Adriatic and Ionian seas, its highlands backed upon the elevated Balkan landmass, and the entire country lying at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns during the winter and summer seasons, Albania has a high number of climatic regions for so small an area. The coastal lowlands have typically Mediterranean weather; the highlands have a Mediterranean continental climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather varies markedly from north to south.

The lowlands have mild winters, averaging about {{convert|7|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Summer temperatures average {{convert|24|°C|0|abbr=on}}. In the southern lowlands, temperatures average about {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} higher throughout the year. The difference is greater than {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} during the summer and somewhat less during the winter.

Inland temperatures are affected more by differences in elevation than by latitude or any other factor. Low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in [[Eastern Europe]] and the [[Balkan]]s. Northerly and northeasterly winds blow much of the time. Average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and [[river valley]]s are very high, but the nights are almost always cool.

Average [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is heavy, a result of the convergence of the prevailing airflow from the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and the continental air mass. Because they usually meet at the point where the terrain rises, the heaviest rain falls in the central uplands. Vertical currents initiated when the Mediterranean air is uplifted also cause frequent thunderstorms. Many of these storms are accompanied by high local winds and torrential downpours.

When the continental air mass is weak, Mediterranean winds drop their moisture farther inland. When there is a dominant continental air mass, cold air spills onto the lowland areas, which occurs most frequently in the winter. Because the season's lower temperatures damage olive trees and citrus fruits, groves and orchards are restricted to sheltered places with southern and western exposures, even in areas with high average winter temperatures.

Lowland rainfall averages from {{convert|1000|mm|in|1|sp=us}} to more than {{convert|1500|mm|in|1|sp=us}} annually, with the higher levels in the north. Nearly 95% of the rain falls in the winter.

Rainfall in the upland mountain ranges is heavier. Adequate records are not available, and estimates vary widely, but annual averages are probably about {{convert|1800|mm|in|1|sp=us}} and are as high as {{convert|2550|mm|in|1|sp=us}} in some northern areas. The western Albanian Alps (valley of Boga) are among the most wet areas in Europe, receiving some {{convert|3100|mm|2|abbr=on|lk=out}} of rain annually<ref>http://qendrim.forumotion.net/gjeografia-f61/tiparet-e-pergjithshme-te-klimes-t3725.htm</ref>. The seasonal variation is not quite as great in the coastal area.

The higher inland mountains receive less precipitation than the intermediate uplands. Terrain differences cause wide local variations, but the seasonal distribution is the most consistent of any area.

==Flora and fauna==

[[File:Lynx lynx poing.jpg|thumb|left|The [[lynx]] still survives in Albania]]

[[File:Steinadler Aquila chrysaetos closeup2 Richard Bartz.jpg|thumb|right|Golden eagle – the national symbol of Albania]]

Although a small country, Albania is distinguished for its rich biological diversity. The variation of geomorphology, climate and terrain create favorable conditions for a number of endemic and [[sub-endemic]] species with 27 endemic and 160 subendemic vascular plants present in the country. The total number of plants is over 3250 species, approximately 30% of the entire flora species found in Europe. Coastal regions and lowlands have typical Mediterranean [[macchia]] vegetation, whereas [[oak]] forests and vegetation are found on higher altitudes. Vast forests of [[European Black Pine|black pine]], [[beech]] and [[fir]] are found on higher mountains and alpine [[grasslands]] grow at altitudes above 1800 meters a.s.l.<ref name="cbd.int">http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/al/al-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf</ref>

There are around 760 vertebrate species found so far in Albania. Among these there are over 350 bird species, 330 freshwater and marine fish and 80 mammal species. There are some 91 globally threatened species found within the country, among which the [[Dalmatian pelican]], [[Pygmy cormorant]], and the [[European sea sturgeon]]. Rocky coastal regions in the south provide good habitats for the endangered [[Mediterranean monk seal]]. Some of the most significant bird species found in the country include the [[golden eagle]] – known as the national symbol of Albania – [[vulture]] species, [[capercaillie]] and numerous [[waterfowl]]. The Albanian forests still maintain significant communities of large mammals such as the [[brown bear]], [[gray wolf]], [[chamois]] and [[wild boar]].<ref name="cbd.int"/> The north and eastern mountains of the country are home to the last remaining Balkan lynx – a critically endangered population of the [[Eurasian lynx]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catsg.org/balkanlynx/20_blx-compendium/index.htm |title=The Balkan Lynx Conservation Compendium |publisher=Catsg.org |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Albania}}

Albania remains a poor country by Western European standards.<ref>[http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief]. [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] ([[Government of Australia|Australia]]), 1 August 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2009.</ref> Its GDP per capita (expressed in PPS—[[Purchasing power parity|Purchasing Power Standards]]) stood at 25 percent of the EU average in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-25062009-BP/EN/2-25062009-BP-EN.PDF|format=PDF|title=Albania's GDP per capita in PPS (2008) |publisher=Eurostat |accessdate=25 June 2009}}</ref> Still, Albania has shown potential for economic growth, as more and more businesses relocate there and consumer goods are becoming available from emerging market traders as part of the current massive global cost-cutting exercise. Albania and Cyprus are the only countries in Europe that recorded economic growth in the first quarter of 2009. In its latest report, the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) said Albania and Cyprus recorded increases of 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.<ref>Business: Albania, Cyprus register economic growth http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2009/05/15/roundup-bs-03</ref><ref>Strong economic growth potential puts Albania and Panama top of long term investment list http://www.propertywire.com/news/related-stories/albania-panama-long-term-investment-200807201344.html</ref> However, the country is still of low interest for major foreign investors due to frequent power shortages, occasional lack of water supplies and ubiquitous illegal activities.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2681449.stm Albania's Economy shakes off it's shackles], 23 January 2003, BBC News.</ref>

[[File:Mallakastra-oil.jpg|thumb|right|Oil pumps near [[Mallakastra]]]]

Albania and Croatia have discussed the possibility of jointly building a nuclear power plant at Lake [[Shkoder]], close to the border with Montenegro, a plan that has gathered criticism from the latter due to seismicity in the area.<ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/18259/ Albania, Croatia plan nuclear power plant.]</ref> In addition, there is some doubt whether Albania would be able to finance a project of such a scale with a total national budget of less than $ 5 billion.<ref name="CIA — The World Factbook">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html CIA – The World Factbook]</ref> However, in February 2009 Italian company [[Enel]] announced plans to build an 800 MW [[coal]]-fired power plant in Albania, to diversify electricity sources.<ref name="diversify">[http://www.allbusiness.com/energy-utilities/utilities-industry-electric-power/11935171-1.html Enel Albanian Joint Venture Introduces Coal In Albania's Power Mix], Business Monitor Online, 24 February 2009</ref> Nearly 100% of the electricity is generated by ageing hydroelectric power plants, which are becoming more ineffective due to increasing droughts.<ref name="diversify"/>

The country has some deposits of [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]], but produces only 6,425 barrels of oil per day.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2173rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=91#al CIA The World Factbook: Oil producers]</ref> Natural gas production, estimated at about 30 million cubic meters, is sufficient to meet consumer demands.<ref name="CIA — The World Factbook"/> Other natural resources include coal, [[bauxite]], [[copper]] and [[iron ore]].

[[Agriculture]] is the most significant sector, employing some 58% of the labor force and generating about 21% of GDP. Albania produces significant amounts of [[wheat]], [[maize|corn]], [[tobacco]], [[figs]] (13th largest producer in the world)<ref>[http://www.fao.org/es/ess/top/topproduction.html?lang=en&country=3&year=2005 Albania Country Profile], FAO</ref> and [[olives]].

==Science and technology==
{{Main|Science and technology}}

Expenditure for scientific research and Development in Albania does not exceed 0.18% of GDP, which marks the lowest level in Europe. Economic competitiveness and exports are low, with the economy still heavily skewed towards low technology.

From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.
Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated.<ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state of the art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research.

However in 2009 the government approved the "National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania" <ref>[http://www.dsdc.gov.al/dsdc/pub/national_strategy_of_science_technology_and_innovation_final_draft_381_1.pdf National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2009–2015</ref> covering the period 2009–2015. The document was coordinated by the Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and with UNESCO assistance.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

* to triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;
* to augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;
* to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technology based firms;
* to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;
* to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners. <ref> http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html </ref>

The Strategy is to be implemented in synergy with other sectoral strategies and taking into account Albania’s Higher Education Strategy adopted in 2008 and the National Strategy for Development and Integration (2007–2013). The latter underlines the importance of modernizing economic sectors such as the agro-food industry and tourism. It also underscores the strategic importance of energy, environmental and water resource management. Stakeholders have proposed prioritizing fields of research such as agriculture and food, information and communication technologies (ICTs), public health, Albanology and humanities, natural resources, biotechnology, biodiversity, defence and security.

The European Union (EU) has set clear objectives for research and innovation as part of its Lisbon Strategy for becoming the most competitive economy in the world. Like other Western Balkan countries aspiring to join the EU, Albania is trailing behind in the development process, having focused in recent years on laying the foundations for economic growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Genc Pollo acknowledges that ‘the high rates of socio-economic development required in the process of Albania’s membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (now a member) and EU accession necessitate strengthening the role of science, technology and innovation in our society.’

In August of 2009, the government approved the establishment of the Albanian Agency of Research, Technology and Innovation, to improve policy implementation.

In 2006, the Albanian government undertook a deep reform of the scientific research system. The Academy of Sciences was re-organized along the model of many other European countries; it now operates through a selected community of scientists and no longer administrates research institutes, these having been integrated into the higher education system. Two new faculties have been set up: the Faculty of Information Technology at the Polytechnic University of Tirana and the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food at the Agricultural University of Tirana. The University of Tirana has also gained an Applied and Nuclear Physics Centre and Biotechnology Department. Twelve government agencies and centres for technology transfer have also been created.

Until recently, R&D and innovation statistics were not collected in Albania to OECD, Eurostat or UNESCO standards. A first survey of public and academic institutes was launched earlier this year and a business R&D and innovation survey is currently under way, both the support of UNESCO.

The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad

There is a total 578 scientific workers in Albania:

* 274 in Academy of Sciences
* 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

The numbers of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0.2 for 1000 habitants <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

==Transport==

{{Main|Transport in Albania}}

In the early 1990s, the rock-strewn roadways, unstable rail lines and obsolete telephone network crisscrossing Albania represented the remnants of the marked improvements that were made after [[World War II]]. [[Enver Hoxha]]'s [[xenophobia]] and lust for control had kept Albania isolated, however, as the communications revolution transformed the wider world into a [[Global Village (term)|global village]]. Even internal travel amounted to something of a luxury for many Albanians during communism's ascendancy.

===Highways===
[[File:SH2 Tiranë-Durrës.jpg|right|thumb|SH 2 Highway ([[Tirana]]–[[Durrës]])]]

[[File:Tirana's Overpass From Durres (1).JPG|left|thumb|SH 2—Tirana's overpass from Durrës]]

Currently the major cities of the country are linked with first class national roads. There is a four lane highway connecting the city of Durrës with Tirana and the city of Durrës with the city of [[Lushnje]]. Albania is partaking in the construction of what it sees as three major corridors of transportation.

The major priority as of present is the full completion of the four lane [[Albania-Kosovo Highway|Durrës-Pristina highway]] which will link [[Kosovo]] with Albania's Adriatic coast. The portion of the highway which links Albania's north east border with Kosovo was completed in June 2009,<ref>{{cite web|last=Wynne |first=Alexandra |url=http://www.nce.co.uk/news/transport/albania-motorway-making-the-first-move/5203302.article# |title=Albania highway: Making the first move | Features | New Civil Engineer |publisher=Nce.co.uk |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> as a result, cutting the time it takes to get from Kosovo to Durrës from six hours to two. Indeed the roads in northwestern Albania remain in poor condition as of summer 2009. It takes approximately 1h 30' to drive the {{convert|35|km|0|abbr=on}} from the border of Montenegro to Shkodër.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

There has been much discussion, debate, and interest in the {{convert|170|km|0|abbr=on}} Durrës–Kukës–Morinë Highway Albanian highway to Kosovo, which is intended to create a new, super-fast connection between Durrës on the Adriatic coast to [[Morinë]] at the border of Kosovo. The current drive time between Kukës and Durrës is now 2 hours. The whole will be around {{convert|250|km|0|abbr=on}}, when completed to Pristina. The objective for constructing the road, according to the transport ministry, is to reduce transport costs and accidents, and improve traffic flow. It is the biggest, most expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken in Albania. The cost of the highway appears to have breached EUR800 million, although the exact cost for the total highway has yet to be confirmed by the government. Currently there is a display in Tirana's centre on Bvld Dëshmorët e Kombit.

The second priority is the construction of European corridor 8 linking Albania with the Republic of Macedonia and Greece.

The third priority for the government is the construction of the north-south axis of the country; it is sometimes referred to as the [[Adriatic–Ionian motorway]] as it is part of a larger regional highway connecting Croatia with Greece along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts.

By the end of the decade it is expected that the majority of the sections of these three corridors will have been built.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} When all three corridors are completed Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with its neighbors.

===Aviation===
[[File:Rinas-Airport-New-Terminal.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]]]

The civil air transport in Albania marked its beginnings in November 1924, when the Republic of Albania signed a Governmental Agreement with German Air Company [[Lufthansa]]. On the basis of a ten-year concession agreement, the Albanian Airlines with the name [[Adria Aero Lloyd]] Company was established.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} In the spring of 1925, the first domestic flights from [[Tirana]] to [[Shkoder]] and [[Vlora]] began.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

In August 1927, the office of Civil Aviation of Air Traffic Ministry of Italy purchased Adria Aero Lloyd. The company, now in Italian hands, expanded its flights to other cities, such as [[Elbasan]], [[Korça]], [[Kukësi]], [[Peshkopia]] and [[Gjirokastra]], and opened up international lines to Rome, [[Milan]], [[Thessaloniki]], [[Sofia]], [[Belgrade]], and [[Podgorica]].

The construction of a more modern airport construction in present [[Lapraka]]) started in 1934 and was completed by the end of 1935. This new airport, which was later officially named "Airport of Tirana", was constructed in conformity with optimal technological parameters of that time, with reinforced concrete runway of 1200 {{convert|400|m|2|abbr=on|lk=out}}, and complemented with technical equipment and appropriate buildings.

During 1955–1957, the [[Rinasi Airport]] was constructed for military purposes. Later, its administration was shifted to the Ministry of Transport. On 25 January 1957 the State-owned Enterprise of International Air Transport ([[Albtransport]]) established its headquarters in Tirana. [[Aeroflot]], [[Jat]], [[Malev]], [[Tarom]] and [[Interflug]] were the air companies that started to have flights with Albania until 1960.

During 1960–1978, several airlines ceased to operate in Albania due to the impact of the politics, resulting to a decrease of influx of flights and passengers. In 1977 Albania's government signed an agreement with Greece to open the country's first air links with non-communist Europe. As a result, [[Olympic Airlines|Olympic Airways]] was the first non-communist airline to commercially fly into Albania after [[WWII]]. By 1991 Albania had air links with many major European cities, including Paris, Rome, [[Zürich]], [[Vienna]] and [[Budapest]], but no regular domestic air service.

A French-Albanian joint venture [[Ada Air]], was launched in Albania's as the first private airline, in 1991. The company offered flights in a thirty-six-passenger airplane four days each week between Tirana and [[Bari]], Italy and a charter service for domestic and international destinations.

From 1989 to 1991, because of political changes in the [[Eastern European]] countries, Albania adhered to the International Civil Aviation Organization ([[ICAO]]), opened its air space to international flights, and had its duties of Air Traffic Control defined. As premises of these developments, conditions were created to separate the activities of air traffic control from Albtransport. Instead, the [[National Agency of Air Traffic]] (NATA) was established as an independent enterprise. In addition, during these years, governmental agreements of civil air transport were established with [[Bulgaria]], Germany, [[Slovenia]], Italy, Russia, Austria, England, [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], etc. The Directory General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was established on 3 February 1991, to cope with the development required by the time.

As of 2007 Albania has one [[international airport]]: [[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]. The airport is linked to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a dramatic rise in terms of passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s. The data for 2009 is 1.3 million passengers served and an average of 44 landings and takeoffs per day.

[[File:Albanian railway.jpg|thumb|left|Train on the Durrës to Tiranë railway line]]

===Railways===
{{Main|Rail transport in Albania|Hekurudha Shqiptarë}}
The railway system was extensively promoted by the [[totalitarianism|totalitarian]] regime of [[Enver Hoxha]], during which time the use of private transport was effectively prohibited. Since the collapse of the former regime, there has been a considerable increase in [[car]] ownership and [[bus]] usage. Whilst some of the country's roads are still in a very poor condition, there have been other developments (such as the construction of a [[motorway]] between Tirana and Durrës) which have taken much traffic away from the railways. The [[railway]]s in Albania are administered by the national railway company ''[[Hekurudha Shqiptare]]'' (HSH) (which means ''Albanian Railways''). It operates a {{RailGauge|1435}} gauge (standard gauge) rail system in Albania. All trains are hauled by [[Czech Republic|Czech]]-built [[ČKD]] diesel-electric [[locomotive]]s.

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Albania}}

[[File:Albania minorities.png|thumb|Regions with a traditional presence of ethnic or linguistic groups other than Albanian.]]

[[File:Tirana Skanderbeg Square.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tirana]], Albania's capital and largest city.]]

The Albanian population is considered a very young population, with an average age of 28.9 years.<ref>[http://www.instat.gov.al/graphics/doc/downloads/publikime/femrameshkuj2006.pdf Women, Men and shefit's in Albania 2006], Instat, Tirana, 2007</ref> After 1990 the Albanian population has
faced new phenomena like migration, which greatly affected the distribution by districts and prefectures. Districts in the North have seen a decreasing population, while [[Tirana]] and [[Durrës]] districts have increased their population.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Albania's population was 3,152,600 on 1 January 2007 and 3,170,048 on 1 January 2008.<ref name=instat>{{cite web|url=http://www.instat.gov.al/|title=Albania National Institute of Statistics official web site}}</ref> Alternative sources estimate the population in July 2009 at 3,639,453 with an annual growth rate of 0.546%.<ref name=cia>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html ''CIA World Factbook'': Albania]</ref> Albania is a largely ethnically homogeneous country with only small minorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watsoninstitute.org/bjwa/archive/11.1/Essays/Barjarba.pdf|author=Kosta Barjarba|title=Migration and Ethnicity in Albania: Synergies and Interdependencies|format=PDF}}</ref> The vast majority of the population is ethnically [[Albanians|Albanian]] (98.6%). Minorities include [[Greeks]] 1.17% and others 0.23% ([[Vlachs]], [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]], [[Serbs]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Egyptians (Balkans)|Balkan Egyptians]], [[Roma]] and former [[Yugoslavians]]).<ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm Albania], U.S. Department of State Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Background Note November 2008. Retrieved on 14 May 2009</ref> The size of the Greek minority is contentious, with the Albanian government claiming it is only 60,000, while the Greek government is claiming 300,000. Most Western sources put the size of the Greek minority at around 200,000, or ~6% of the population,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=kqCnCOgGc5AC&pg=PA68&dq=greek+minority+albania&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=0 ''Eastern Europe at the end of the 20th century'', Ian Jeffries, p. 69]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?lr=&hl=el&id=OU1oAAAAMAAJ&dq=Pettifer+The+Greeks%3A+The+Land+and+the+People+since+the+War&q=200000&pgis=1#search_anchor The Greeks: the land and people since the war.] James Pettifer. Penguin, 2000. ISBN 0-14-028899-6</ref> while the [[CIA Factbook]] estimates the Greek minority at 3% of the total population.
The dominant language is [[Albanian language|Albanian]], with two main dialects, [[Gheg]] and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]]. Many Albanians are also fluent in English, Italian, Greek, etc.



===Religion===
[[File:07Tirana Et'hem beu Mosque03.jpg|thumb|right|[[Et'hem Bey Mosque]] in Tirana]]

[[File:Labova e Kryqit3.jpg|thumb|right|Church of Virgin Mary. It was built in the 10th century]]

{{Main|Religion in Albania}}

{{See also|Freedom of religion in Albania}}

Estimates of the religious allegiance of the population of Albania vary, with some sources suggesting that the majority do not follow or practice any religion.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm]-Freedom of Religion 2007</ref>

A recent study by the [[Pew Research Center]] puts the percentage of
[[Muslim]]s in Albania at 79.9%,<ref>{{Cite book | editor-last = Miller | editor-first = Tracy | month = October | year = 2009 | publisher = [[Pew Research Center]] | title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population | format = PDF | url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf | accessdate = 8 October 2009 }}</ref> with the remaining 20% consisting of Christians. The CIA World Factbook gives a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html 2009 CIA World Factbook]</ref> According to the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]], roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% Christian<ref>{{cite book
|title=World Christian Encyclopedia
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|year=2001
|last=p 51|isbn =0195079639}}</ref>

The Albanians first appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late-11th century. At this point, they are already fully Christianised. Christianity was later overtaken by [[Islam]], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turkish rule from the 15th century until year 1912. After independence (1912) from the Ottoman Empire, the Albanian republican, monarchic and later communist regimes followed a systematic policy of separating religion from official functions and cultural life. Albania never had an official state religion either as a republic or as a kingdom. In the 20th century, the clergy of all faiths was weakened under the monarchy, and ultimately eradicated during the 1940s and 1950s, under the state policy of obliterating all organised religion from Albanian territories.

The Communist regime that took control of Albania after World War II suppressed religious observance and institutions and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [[atheist]] state. Religious freedom has returned to Albania since the regime's change in 1992. Albanian Muslim populations (mainly secular and of the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] rite) are found throughout the country whereas [[Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox Christians]] are concentrated in the south and Roman Catholics are found in the north of the country. No reliable data are available on active participation in formal religious services, and estimates range from 25% to 40%.<ref name="International Religious Freedom Report 2007">[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm Albania: International Religious Freedom Report 2007]</ref>

There are about 4,000 active [[Jehovah's witnesses]] in Albania.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide Status Report|url=http://www.watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report_statistics.htm|accessdate=27 September 2009|publisher=Watch Tower}}</ref>
Among other religious organizations making inroads into this nation is [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS or 'Mormons'). LDS involvement in Albania began with Humanitarian Aid during the 1990s. The first missionaries were sent in 1992 with the Albania Tirana Mission being opened in 1996. As of 2008, there were nearly 2,000 members of the Church in Albania, spread throughout ten branches with two purpose-built Chapels and one Family History Center.<ref>{{cite web|title=LDS Newsroom-Country Profile-Albania|url=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/albania|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Albanians}}

{{Main|Culture of Albania}}

===Music and folklore===
[[File:Berat.jpg|thumb|left|[[Berat]]]]
[[File:A traditional male folk group from Skrapar.JPG|thumb|left|A traditional male folk group from Skrapar]]
{{main|Music of Albania}}
Albanian folk music falls into three sylistic groups, with other important [[music area]]s around [[Shkodër]] and [[Tirana]]; the major groupings are the [[Gheg]]s of the north and southern Labs and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosks]]. The northern and southern traditions are contrasted by the "rugged and heroic" tone of the north and the "relaxed, gentle and exceptionally beautiful" form of the south. These disparate styles are unified by "the intensity that both performers and listeners give to their music as a medium for patriotic expression and as a vehicle carrying the narrative of [[oral history]]", as well as certain characteristics like the use of obscure rhythms such as 3/8, 5/8 and 10/8.<ref>Arbatsky, Yuri, cited in Koco with the footnote ''Translated and published by Filip Fishta in Shkolla Kombëtare (The National School; No.1, May 1939), 19, and quoted from his Preface to [[Pjetër Dungu]]'s Lyra Shqiptare (see note 2).''</ref> The first compilation of Albanian folk music was made by [[Pjetër Dungu]] in 1940.

Albanian folk songs can be divided into major groups, the heroic epics of the north, and the sweetly melodic [[lullaby|lullabies]], love songs, [[wedding music]], [[work song]]s and other kinds of song. The music of various festivals and holidays is also an important part of Albanian folk song, especially those that celebrate St. Lazarus Day (''the llazore''), which inaugurates the springtime. Lullabies and [[lament]]s are very important kinds of Albanian folk song, and are generally performed by solo women.<ref name="koco">{{cite web|title=Albanian Music|work=Eno Koco at the University of Leeds|url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/staff/ek/|accessdate=28 August 2005}}</ref>

===Albanian language and literature===
{{Main|Albanian language}}
{{Main|Albanian literature}}

{{See also|List of Albanian writers}}

Albanian was proven to be an [[Indo-European language]] in 1854 by the German [[Comparative linguistics|philologist]] [[Franz Bopp]]. The Albanian language comprises its own branch of the Indo-European language family.

Some scholars believe that Albanian derives from [[Illyrian language|Illyrian]]<ref>Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture By J. P. Mallory, Douglas Q. Adams Edition: illustrated Published by Taylor & Francis, 1997 ISBN 1-884964-98-2, 9781884964985 (''"Although there are some lexical items that appear to be shared between Romanian (and by extension Dacian) and Albanian, by far the strongest connections can be argued between Albanian and Illyrian."'' page 11)
Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World By Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Contributor Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Edition: illustrated Published by Elsevier, 2008 ISBN 0-08-087774-5, 9780080877747 (''"Albanian constitutes a single branch of the Indo-European family of languages. It is often held to be related to Illyrian, a poorly attested language spoken in the Western Balkans in classical times"'' page 22)</ref> while others,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/LLDescription.cfm?code=txh|title=The Thracian language|publisher=The Linguist List|accessdate=27 January 2008|quote=An ancient language of Southern Balkans, belonging to the Satem group of Indo-European. This language is the most likely ancestor of modern Albanian (which is also a Satem language), though the evidence is scanty. 1st Millennium BC – 500 AD.}}</ref> claim that it derives from [[Dacian language|Daco]]-[[Thracian language|Thracian]]. (Illyrian and Daco-Thracian, however, might have been closely related languages; see [[Thraco-Illyrian]].)

Establishing longer relations, Albanian is often compared to Balto-Slavic on the one hand and Germanic on the other, both of which share a number of [[isogloss]]es with Albanian. Moreover, Albanian has undergone a vowel shift in which stressed, long ''o'' has fallen to ''a'', much like in the former and opposite the latter. Likewise, Albanian has taken the old relative ''jos'' and innovatively used it exclusively to qualify adjectives, much in the way Balto-Slavic has used this word to provide the definite ending of adjectives.

The cultural resistance was first of all expressed through the elaboration of the [[Albanian language]] in the area of church texts and publications, mainly of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] confessional region in the North, but also of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] in the South. The [[Protestant]] reforms invigorated hopes for the development of the local language and literary tradition when cleric [[Gjon Buzuku]] brought into the Albanian language the [[Catholic liturgy]], trying to do for the Albanian language what [[Martin Luther|Luther]] did for German.

[[File:Meshari.jpg|thumb|left|Excerpt from ''[[Meshari]]'' by [[Gjon Buzuku]]]]

''[[Meshari]]'' (The Missal) by [[Gjon Buzuku]], published by him in 1555, is considered to date as the first literary work of written Albanian. The refined level of the language and the stabilised orthography must be a result of an earlier tradition of writing Albanian, a tradition that is not known. But there are some fragmented evidence, dating earlier than Buzuku, which indicate that Albanian was written at least since 14th century AD. The first known evidence dates from 1332 AD and deals with the French Dominican Guillelmus Adae, [[Archbishop]] of [[Antivari]], who in a report in Latin writes that Albanians use Latin letters in their books although their language is quite different from Latin. Of special importance in supporting this are: a baptizing formula (''Unte paghesont premenit Atit et Birit et spertit senit'') of 1462, written in Albanian within a text in Latin by the [[Bishop]] of [[Durrës]], [[Pal Engjëlli]]; a glossary with Albanian words of 1497 by Arnold von Harff, a German who had travelled through Albania, and a 15th century fragment from the [[Bible]] from the [[Gospel of Matthew]], also in Albanian, but in Greek letters.
[[File:Tirana Museum 1988.jpg|thumb|right|The [[National Historical Museum (Albania)|National Museum of Albania]] features exhibits from [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] times to World War II.]]

Albanian writings of these centuries must not have been religious texts only, but historical chronicles too. They are mentioned by the humanist [[Marin Barleti]], who, in his book ''Rrethimi i Shkodrës'' (The Siege of Shkodër) (1504), confirms that he leafed through such chronicles written in the language of the people (''in vernacula lingua''). Despite the obstacles generated by the [[Counter-Reformation]] which was opposed to the development of national languages in Christian [[liturgy]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}}, this process went on uninterrupted. During the 16th to 17th centuries, the [[catechism]] ''E mbësuame krishterë'' (Christian Teachings) (1592) by [[Lekë Matrënga]], ''Doktrina e krishterë'' (The Christian Doctrine) (1618) and ''Rituale romanum'' (1621) by [[Pjetër Budi]], the first writer of original Albanian [[prose]] and [[poetry]], an [[Remorse|apology]] for George Castriot (1636) by [[Frang Bardhi]], who also published a dictionary and [[folklore]] creations, the theological-philosophical treaty ''Cuneus Prophetarum'' (The Band of Prophets) (1685) by [[Pjetër Bogdani]], the most universal personality of Albanian [[Middle Ages]], were published in [[Albanian language|Albanian]]. The most famous Albanian writer is probably [[Ismail Kadare]].

'''Weddings as part of Albanian culture'''

Albania is a country of traditions and loves to be treated like this. The wedding represents a symptom, an important example of what of unique traditions Albanians have.

''The characteristic wedding dress of the muslim shkodran bride''

The dress of the Muslim bride is characterized by the elegance and transparency, in that of the catholic you can see full colors. Her dress is characterized by the picturesque effects and harmony.
Here we can analyze two dresses. One is worked on a ‘shajak” (big piece of wool) and with floral motives worked with “gajtan” (kind of rope) black cotton, sometimes mixed with green. The other one is worked in the same material but with red color. Different from the first here the motives are enriched with full colors. The difference between this two dresses that at the first dress the motives occupy all the area, at the second it occupies a little part in the front and back. These dresses have a belt worked with gold and grain necklaces in red, rose, orange creating all together a warm surface, enjoyable and quieter for the eyes. Here the motives are really small.
This gallery of costumes, richness of colors, sentiments are a big experience of lots of years of a population like ours, not only for the ability to conserve alive the tradition, inheriting it generations after generations, but also for conserving the high technique of elaboration or the high artistic level.

''The characteristic wedding dress of the catholic shkodran bride''

The shkodran woman has worked with a lot of finesse and has poured a lot of gold preparing her wedding dress. All the dress is tripped from the transparent white, shiny, soft, which spreads all over the body. As hardly as you see it, it creates a sense of a deep preoccupation, emotional, it creates you a sense of tranquility and a warm purity. This game is achieved through the white of the base material and the gold thread over. This dress is composed by the “barnaveke”: some kind of very long pants which seem a skirt. In the upper part is worn a shirt and over it a “jelek” (waistcoat).

''Paja''

A lot of ritual songs nominate various elements which contain “pajen” of the girl, which are the goods parents give to the daughter to wear, to furnish the house, gifts for her husband and the intimate cousins.
The preparation of the ‘paja” for the parents of the bride is a pleasure which means also accomplishing the obligations toward the daughter. This is also an expression of the love of parents, but is connected with the economical conditions of the familie

''Dhuntia''

"Dhunti" in Shkodra means all the gifts that the groom prepares for the bride during the engagement, mainly clothes, jewelry, gold ornaments and tricks, which are sent to her a few days before the wedding.
In addition to those received by the family of his father, the bride takes too many gifts from the groom and his family. "Dhuntia", which had a considerable monetary value, was prepared with great care by the family of the boy, because in some way embodied respect and love for his young bride, to whom these gifts were made, love for their son that he married at the same time was also a representation of the family in its economic and aesthetic. In "dhunti" there were enough clothes and items for use at all times, in joy and in sorrow, which expressed particular attention to the role of women.

''Kole Idromeno and “Dasma Shkodrane”''

In 1924 Idromeno drew the picture Dasma Shkodrane (Shkodra wedding), which immediately became known to the general public. The theme and picture was much appreciated for the accurate description of the original customs of the country. In the framework there are many elements and ethnographic peculiarities authentic. The environment is characteristic of Shkodra, the houses enclosed by high walls, windows, trees, chimneys, minarets, and represented everything perfectly, so you can capture all the beauty of the place, clothes only by watching the picture.

==Education==
Before the Communist regime, Albania's illiteracy rate was as high as 85%. Schools were scarce between [[World War I]] and [[World War II]]. When the Communist regime over took the country in 1944, the regime wanted to wipe out illiteracy. The regulations became so strict that anyone between the ages of 12 and 40 who could not read or write was mandated to attend classes to learn. Since these times of struggle the country's literacy rate has improved remarkably.<ref>Zickel, Iwaskiw, 1994</ref> Today the overall literacy rate in Albania is 98.7%, the male literacy rate is 99.2% and female literacy rate is 98.3%.<ref name=cia/> Since the rather large population movements in the 1990s to urban areas, education has moved as well. Thousands of teachers moved to urban areas to follow students. The [[University of Tirana]] is the first university in Albania and was founded in October 1957.

==Administrative divisions==
[[File:AlbaniaNumberedPrefectures.png|thumb|Counties of Albania]]

{{Main|Counties of Albania|Districts of Albania|Municipalities of Albania}}

Albania is divided into 12 administrative divisions called ({{lang-sq|official ''qark''/''qarku''}}, but often ''prefekturë''/''prefektura'') Counties, 36 districts and 351 municipalities. Each region has its Regional Council and is composed of a number of Municipalities and Communes, which are the first level of local governance responsible for local needs and law enforcement.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! !! [[Counties of Albania|County]]
! [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
! [[Districts of Albania|Districts]]
! [[Municipalities of Albania|Municipalities]]
! [[List of cities in Albania|Cities]]
! [[Town]]s
|-
| 1 || [[Berat County|Berat]]
| [[Berat]]
| [[Berat District|Berat]] [[Kuçovë District|Kuçovë]] [[Skrapar District|Skrapar]]
| 12 2 10
| 2 1 2
| 122 17 103
|-
| 2 || [[Dibër County|Dibër]]
| [[Peshkopi]]
| [[Bulqizë District|Bulqizë]] [[Dibër District|Dibër]] [[Mat District|Mat]]
| 8 15 12
| 2 1 3
| 103 141 76
|-
| 3 || [[Durrës County|Durrës]]
| [[Durrës]]
| [[Durrës District|Durrës]] [[Krujë District|Krujë]]
| 10 7
| 4 2
| 61 43
|-
| 4 || [[Elbasan County|Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan District|Elbasan]] [[Gramsh District|Gramsh]] [[Librazhd District|Librazhd]] [[Peqin District|Peqin]]
| 24 10 10 6
| 2 1 2 1
| 176 95 75 49
|-
| 5 || [[Fier County|Fier]]
| [[Fier]]
| [[Fier District|Fier]] [[Lushnjë District|Lushnjë]] [[Mallakastër District|Mallakastër]]
| 17 16 9
| 3 2 1
| 117 121 40
|-
| 6 || [[Gjirokastër County|Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër District|Gjirokastër]] [[Përmet District|Përmet]] [[Tepelenë District|Tepelenë]]
| 13 9 10
| 2 2 2
| 95 97 77
|-
| 7 || [[Korçë County|Korçë]]
| [[Korçë]]
| [[Devoll District|Devoll]] [[Kolonjë District|Kolonjë]] [[Korçë District|Korçë]] [[Pogradec District|Pogradec]]
| 5 8 17 8
| 1 2 2 1
| 44 76 155 72
|-
| 8 || [[Kukës County|Kukës]]
| [[Kukës]]
| [[Has District|Has]] [[Kukës District|Kukës]] [[Tropojë District|Tropojë]]
| 4 15 8
| 1 1 3
| 30 90 68
|-
| 9 || [[Lezhë County|Lezhë]]
| [[Lezhë]]
| [[Kurbin District|Kurbin]] [[Lezhë District|Lezhë]] [[Mirditë District|Mirditë]]
| 4 10 7
| 3 2 4
| 28 63 70
|-
| 10 || [[Shkodër County|Shkodër]]
| [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]]
| [[Malësi e Madhe District|Malësi e Madhe]] [[Pukë District|Pukë]] [[Shkodër District|Shkodër]]
| 6 10 18
| 2 2 2
| 56 75 139
|-
| 11 || [[Tirana County|Tirana]]
| [[Tirana]]
| [[Kavajë District|Kavajë]] [[Tirana District|Tirana]]
| 10 18
| 2 3
| 65 155
|-
| 12 || [[Vlorë County|Vlorë]]
| [[Vlorë]]
| [[Delvinë District|Delvinë]] [[Sarandë District|Sarandë]] [[Vlorë District|Vlorë]]
| 4 9 13
| 1 2 4
| 38 62 99
|}

==Sport==
[[Association football|Football (soccer)]] is the most popular sport in Albania, both at a participatory and spectator level. The sport is governed by the [[Football Association of Albania]] ({{lang-sq|Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit}}, F.SH.F.).

* [[Albania national football team]]
* [[Albania national basketball team]]
* [[Albania national futsal team]]
* [[Albania national under-21 football team]]

==Entertainment==
{{Main|RTSH}}

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar, ([[RTSH]]), is Albania's leading television network. RTSH runs a national television station ''TVSH'', (standing for ''Televizioni Shqiptar''), and two national radio stations, using the name ''Radio Tirana''. An international service broadcasts radio programmes in Albanian and seven other languages via [[medium wave]] (AM) and [[short wave]] (SW).<ref>[http://picasaweb.google.es/ec2adn/RadioTiranaBroadcastingSchedules/photo#5187887711939456834 radiotirana.org website] {{en icon}}</ref> The international service has used the theme from the song "Keputa një gjethe dafine" as its [[signature tune]]. Since 1999, RTSH has been a member of the [[European Broadcasting Union]]. Since 1993, RTSH has also run an international television service via [[satellite]], aimed at [[Albanian language]] communities in [[Kosovo]], [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], [[Montenegro]] and Greece, plus the Albanian [[diaspora]] in the rest of Europe.

According the National Council of Radio and Television Albania has an estimated 257 media outlets, including 66 radio stations and 65 television stations, with three national and 62 local stations.

==Health==
Health care has been in a steep decline after the collapse of socialism in the country, but a process of modernization has been taking place since 2000.<ref name="hospitals">{{cite web|url=http://www.euro.who.int/document/e80089.pdf |title=Albania-prel.pmd |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> As of the early 2000s, there were 51 hospitals in the country, including a military hospital and specialist facilities.<ref name="hospitals"/> Albania has successfully removed diseases such as [[malaria]].

Life expectancy is estimated at 77.43 years, ranking 51st worldwide, and outperforming a number of European Union countries, such as Hungary and the Czech Republic.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=51#al CIA – The World Factbook], Life Expectancy ranks</ref> The most common causes of death are circulatory disease followed by cancerous illnesses.

The medical school, Faculty of Medicine at Tirana University, is in Tirana. There are also nursing schools in many other cities.

==Cuisine==
{{Main|Albanian cuisine}}

The cuisine of Albania – as with most [[Mediterranean]] and [[Balkans|Balkan]] nations – is strongly influenced by its long history. At different times, the territory which is now Albania has been claimed or occupied by Greece, Italy and the [[Ottoman Turk]]s and each group has left its mark on Albanian cuisine. The main meal of the [[Albanians]] is lunch, and it is usually accompanied by a [[salad]] of fresh [[vegetables]], such as [[tomato]]es, [[cucumber]]s, green [[bell pepper|peppers]] and [[olive]]s with [[olive oil]], [[vinegar]] and [[salt]]. Lunch also includes a main dish of vegetables and meat. Seafood specialties are also common in the coastal areas of [[Durrës]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Sarandë]].

==Human rights in Albania==
{{Main|Human rights in Albania}}

===LGBT rights in Albania===
{{Main|LGBT rights in Albania}}

==International rankings==
{{Main|International rankings of Albania}}

===Demographic===
* [[List of countries by population|Population]] 2010 ranked 136 out of 223 countries
* [[CIA World Factbook]]: [[List of countries by life expectancy|Life expectancy]] 2005–2010 ranked 46 out of 195 countries
* List by the United Nations Population Division: [[List of countries by infant mortality rate|infant mortality rate]] ranked 91 highest [[infant mortality]] rate out of 195 countries
* [[United Nations Development Programme]]: [[List of countries by literacy rate|literacy rate]] 2009 ranked 19 out of 177 countries

===Economic===
* [[The Wall Street Journal]] and the [[Heritage Foundation]]: [[Index of Economic Freedom]] 2010, ranked 53 out of 179 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|GDP (nominal) per capita]] 2009, ranked 98 out of 180 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|GDP (nominal)]] 2009, ranked 113 out of 179 countries
* [[World Economic Forum]]: [[Global Competitiveness Index]] 2008–2009, ranked 108 out of 134 countries
* [[World Bank]]: [[Ease of Doing Business Index]] 2010 report, ranked 82 out of 183 countries
* [[United Nations]]: [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]] 2007, ranked 70 out of 182 countries
* [[List of countries by foreign exchange reserves|Foreign exchange reserves]] as of December 2008 ranked 111 out of 156 countries

===Environmental===
* [[Yale University]]: [[Environmental Sustainability Index]] 2005, ranked 24 out of 146 countries

===Globalization===
* [[A.T. Kearney]]/[[Foreign Policy|Foreign Policy Magazine]]: [[Globalization Index]] 2007 ranking based on 2004 data, 102 out of 122 countries.

===Geographic===
* [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|Total area]] ranked 144 out of 234

===Peace===
* Institute for Economics and Peace – [[Global Peace Index]] 2009 <ref>[http://economicsandpeace.org/UserFiles/Resources/2009-GPIResultsReport.pdf Institute for Economics and Peace 2009 Global Peace Index page 11]</ref> ranked 75 out of 144 countries

===Political===
* [[Transparency International]]: [[Corruption Perceptions Index]] 2009, ranked 95 out of 180 countries
* [[Reporters Without Borders]]: [[Press Freedom Index]] 2009, ranked 88 out of 175 countries

==See also==
{{portal|Albania|Flag of Albania.svg}}
{{Albania topics}}

==Notes and references==

'''Notes:'''
{| class="references-small" style="margin-left:13px; line-height:150%"
|-
| style="text-align:right; vertical-align:top;"|a.  
|{{note|status}}{{Kosovo-note}}
|}

'''References:'''

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
* {{CIA World Factbook link|al|Albania}}
* [http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/al/ Albania] information from the [[United States Department of State]]
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/albania.htm Albania] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Albania}}
* [http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_3_1.asp Albania] national profile from the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]]

{{wikiatlas|Albania}}

;Government
* [http://www.president.al Presidency of Albania]
* [http://www.keshilliministrave.al The Albanian Government] (''Council of Ministers'')
* [http://www.parlament.al The Albanian Parliament]
* [http://www.gjk.gov.al The Albanian Constitutional Court]
* [http://www.instat.gov.al Albanian Institute of Statistics]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-a/albania.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]

;Tourism
* [http://www.shqiperia.com/ Shqiperia] Albanian portal
* [http://albania.shqiperia.com/ Albania.Shqiperia.com] Informations related to Albania
* [http://www.albaniantourism.com/ National Tourism Organization] Official website for travel and tourism information
* [http://www.akt.gov.al/index.php?lang=2 National Tourism Agency] (in English)
* {{wikitravel}}
* [http://albaniaonline.org/ Tourism, history]
* [http://www.trekinu.com/viewtrek.aspx?trkid=i02ivoat68cl6qy Travel album], with photos and maps
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/maps.php Various Topographic Map Collections of Albania] (updated 18 January 2009)
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/wiki/index.php?title=Albania_Geopolitical_Mapset GPS Basemap for Albania]
* [http://www.vivalbania.net/ING/index.htm VIVAlbania, hospitality and ecotourism in Albania]
* [http://www.guidetoalbania.com Guide To Albania (with pictures)]
* [http://www.infoalb.net Website of the National Tourist Organisation of Albania]

;Other
* [http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/Albania/treasures_en.xml Treasure of the national library of Albania]
* [http://www.allcountries.eu/albania.htm Information on Albania]
* [http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Subject_Guides/PDFs/Albania.pdf Guide to materials pertaining to Albania at the Eisenhower Presidential Library]
* [http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief DFAT]
* [http://www.scribd.com/doc/11444724/Books-about-Albania-and-the-Albanian-people Books about Albania and the Albanian people] ''(scribd.com)'' Reference of books (and some journal articles) about Albania and the Albanian people; their history, language, origin, culture, literature, etc. Public domain books, fully accessible online.
{{Albania topics}}

{{Coord|41|N|20|E|type:country_region:AL|display=title}}

{{Template group
|title = [[File:Gnome-globe.svg|22px]] Geographic locale
|list =
{{Balkan Countries}}
{{Countries of Europe}}
{{Countries and territories bordering the Mediterranean Sea}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = Within Albania
|list =
{{World Heritage Sites in Albania}}
{{Cities in Albania}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{Council of Europe}}
{{EU countries and candidates}}
{{Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)}}
{{Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)}}
{{La Francophonie|state=collapsed}}
{{Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)|state=collapsed}}
}}

{{use dmy dates}}

[[Category:Albania|*]]
[[Category:Balkans]]
[[Category:Countries of the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:European countries]]
[[Category:Member states of La Francophonie]]
[[Category:Member states of the Union for the Mediterranean]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Organisation of the Islamic Conference members]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1912]]


[[ace:Albania]]
[[af:Albanië]]
[[als:Albanien]]
[[am:አልባኒያ]]
[[ang:Albania]]
[[ar:ألبانيا]]
[[an:Albania]]
[[arc:ܐܠܒܢܝܐ]]
[[roa-rup:Arbinishia]]
[[frp:Albanie]]
[[ast:Albania]]
[[gn:Avaña]]
[[az:Albaniya]]
[[bn:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[zh-min-nan:Shqipëria]]
[[be:Албанія]]
[[be-x-old:Альбанія]]
[[bcl:Albanya]]
[[bar:Albanien]]
[[bo:ཨར་པ་ཉི་ཡ།]]
[[bs:Albanija]]
[[br:Albania]]
[[bg:Албания]]
[[ca:Albània]]
[[cv:Албани]]
[[ceb:Albanya]]
[[cs:Albánie]]
[[co:Albania]]
[[cy:Albania]]
[[da:Albanien]]
[[pdc:Albaani]]
[[de:Albanien]]
[[dv:އަލްބޭނިއާ]]
[[nv:Dziłigaii Bikéyah]]
[[dsb:Albańska]]
[[dz:ཨལ་བཱ་ནི་ཡ།]]
[[et:Albaania]]
[[el:Αλβανία]]
[[eml:Albanî]]
[[es:Albania]]
[[eo:Albanio]]
[[ext:Albánia]]
[[eu:Albania]]
[[ee:Albania]]
[[fa:آلبانی]]
[[hif:Albania]]
[[fo:Albania]]
[[fr:Albanie]]
[[fy:Albaanje]]
[[fur:Albanie]]
[[ga:An Albáin]]
[[gv:Yn Albaan]]
[[gd:Albàinia]]
[[gl:Albania - Shqipëria]]
[[gu:અલ્બાનિયા]]
[[hak:Â-ngì-pâ-nì-â]]
[[xal:Арнаутн Орн Нутг]]
[[ko:알바니아]]
[[haw:‘Alepania]]
[[hy:Ալբանիա]]
[[hi:अल्बानिया]]
[[hsb:Albanska]]
[[hr:Albanija]]
[[io:Albania]]
[[ilo:Albania]]
[[bpy:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[id:Albania]]
[[ia:Albania]]
[[ie:Albania]]
[[os:Албани]]
[[is:Albanía]]
[[it:Albania]]
[[he:אלבניה]]
[[jv:Albania]]
[[kl:Albania]]
[[kn:ಅಲ್ಬೇನಿಯ]]
[[pam:Albania]]
[[ka:ალბანეთი]]
[[csb:Albańskô]]
[[kk:Албания]]
[[kw:Albani]]
[[ky:Албания]]
[[sw:Albania]]
[[kv:Албания]]
[[kg:Albania]]
[[ht:Albani]]
[[ku:Albanya]]
[[lad:אלבאניה]]
[[krc:Албания]]
[[la:Albania]]
[[lv:Albānija]]
[[lb:Albanien]]
[[lt:Albanija]]
[[lij:Albania]]
[[li:Albanië]]
[[ln:Albania]]
[[lmo:Albania]]
[[hu:Albánia]]
[[mk:Албанија]]
[[mg:Albania]]
[[ml:അൽബേനിയ]]
[[mt:Albanija]]
[[mr:आल्बेनिया]]
[[arz:ألبانيا]]
[[mzn:آلباني]]
[[ms:Albania]]
[[mn:Албани]]
[[nah:Albania]]
[[na:Albania]]
[[nl:Albanië]]
[[ne:अल्बानिया]]
[[ja:アルバニア]]
[[ce:Албани]]
[[pih:Elbanya]]
[[no:Albania]]
[[nn:Albania]]
[[nov:Albania]]
[[oc:Albania]]
[[uz:Albaniya]]
[[pnb:البانیا]]
[[pap:Albania]]
[[ps:البانيا]]
[[km:អាល់បានី]]
[[pms:Albanìa]]
[[tpi:Albenia]]
[[nds:Albanien]]
[[pl:Albania]]
[[pnt:Αλβανία]]
[[pt:Albânia]]
[[kaa:Albaniya]]
[[crh:Arnavutlıq]]
[[ro:Albania]]
[[rmy:Shkiperiya]]
[[rm:Albania]]
[[qu:Albanya]]
[[ru:Албания]]
[[sah:Албания]]
[[se:Albánia]]
[[sa:अल्बानिया]]
[[sc:Albania]]
[[sco:Albanie]]
[[stq:Albanien]]
[[sq:Shqipëria]]
[[scn:Albanìa]]
[[simple:Albania]]
[[ss:I-Alibheniya]]
[[sk:Albánsko]]
[[sl:Albanija]]
[[szl:Albańijo]]
[[ckb:ئەڵبانیا]]
[[srn:Albanikondre]]
[[sr:Албанија]]
[[sh:Albanija]]
[[su:Albania]]
[[fi:Albania]]
[[sv:Albanien]]
[[tl:Albanya]]
[[ta:அல்பேனியா]]
[[tt:Албания]]
[[te:అల్బేనియా]]
[[tet:Albánia]]
[[th:ประเทศแอลเบเนีย]]
[[tg:Албания]]
[[chr:ᎠᎸᏇᏂᏯ]]
[[tr:Arnavutluk]]
[[udm:Албания]]
[[uk:Албанія]]
[[ur:البانیا]]
[[ug:ئالبانىيە]]
[[vec:Albania]]
[[vi:Albania]]
[[vo:Lalbanän]]
[[fiu-vro:Albaania]]
[[war:Albanya]]
[[wo:Albaani]]
[[wuu:阿尔巴尼亚]]
[[yi:אלבאניע]]
[[yo:Albania]]
[[zh-yue:阿爾巴尼亞]]
[[diq:Arnawutiye]]
[[zea:Albanië]]
[[bat-smg:Albanėjė]]
[[zh:阿尔巴尼亚]]

Albania

2010-04-10T11:07:01Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion */ There are no statistics, no data, and no primary or secondary sources on which the "study" is based on

{{About|the modern state}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''Republika e Shqipërisë''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Albania
|common_name = Albania
|national_motto = ''Feja e Shqiptarit është Shqiptaria'' (''The faith of Albanians is Albanism'')<ref>Understanding the war in Kosovo Authors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Editors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Publisher Routledge, 2003 ISBN 0-7146-5391-8, 9780714653914 page 188 link [http://books.google.com/books?id=VPPdgAZxU9IC&lpg=PA188&dq=albanian%20religion%20is%20albanism&lr=&pg=PA188#v=onepage&q=albanism&f=false]</ref> (''national'') ''Ti, Shqipëri, më jep nder, më jep emrin Shqiptar'' (''You Albania give me honor, you give me the name Albanian'') (''traditional'')
|national_anthem = ''[[Himni i Flamurit]]'' ("The Banner Hymn")
|image_flag = Flag of Albania.svg
|image_coat = Albania state emblem.svg
|symbol_type = Coat of arms
|image_map = Europe-Albania.svg
|map_caption = {{map caption|location_color=green|region=Europe|region_color=dark grey|legend=Location Albania Europe.png}}
|official_languages = [[Albanian language|Albanian]]1
|capital = [[Tirana]]
|latd=41 |latm=20 |latNS=N |longd=19 |longm=48 |longEW=E
|largest_city = [[Tirana]]
|government_type = [[Parliamentary republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[List of heads of state of Albania|President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Bamir Topi]]
|leader_title2 = [[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Sali Berisha]]
|area_rank = 139th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area_km2 = 28748
|area_sq_mi = 11100 
|percent_water = 4.7
|population_estimate = 3,639,453<ref name=instat/>
|population_estimate_year = 2009
|population_estimate_rank = 129th
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density_km2 = 126.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 327.8 
|population_density_rank = 63
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP = $21.864 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=914&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=71&pr.y=12 |title=Albania|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=1 October 2009}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 110th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $6,897<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 95th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal = $12.964 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank = 113th
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $4,089<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 94th
|Gini = 26.7
|Gini_year = 2005
|Gini_category = low
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.818
|HDI_rank = 70th
|HDI_category = high
|sovereignty_type = [[History of the Albanian state|Formation]]
|established_event1 = Independence from the [[Ottoman Empire]]
|established_date1 = 28 November 1912
|established_event2 = [[Constitution of Albania|Current Constitution]]
|established_date2 = 28 November 1998
|currency = [[Albanian lek|Lek]]
|currency_code = ALL
|country_code = AL
|time_zone = {{tz|CET}}
|time_zone_DST = {{tz|CEST}}
|demonym = Albanian
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.al]]
|calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Albania|355]]
|footnote1 = Greek, [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] and other regional languages are government-recognized minority languages.}}

'''Albania''' {{Audio-IPA|en-us-Albania.ogg|/ælˈbeɪniə/}} {{respell|al|BAY|nee-ə}} ({{lang-sq|Shqipëri/Shqipëria}}, [[Gheg Albanian]]: ''Shqipnia'' or ''Shqypnia''), officially the '''Republic of Albania''' ({{lang-sq|Republika e Shqipërisë}}, {{pronounced|ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs}}), is a country in [[Balkans|South Eastern Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Montenegro]] to the northwest, [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}} to the northeast, the [[Republic of Macedonia]] to the east and [[Greece]] to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the west, and on the [[Ionian Sea]] to the southwest. It is less than {{convert|72|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from Italy, across the [[Strait of Otranto]] which links the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the [[Ionian Sea]].

Albania is a member of the [[United Nations]], [[NATO]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]], [[Council of Europe]], [[World Trade Organisation]], [[Organisation of the Islamic Conference]] and one of the founding members of the [[Union for the Mediterranean]]. Albania has been a [[Accession of Albania to the European Union|potential candidate for accession to the European Union]] since January 2003, and it formally applied for [[EU member states|EU membership]] on 28 April 2009.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8023127.stm Albania applies for EU membership], BBC News, 28 April 2009. Retrieved on 29 April 2009</ref>

Albania is a [[parliamentary democracy]] and a [[transition economy]]. The Albanian [[capital (political)|capital]], [[Tirana]], is home to approximately 727,000 of the country's 3.6 million people, and it is also the financial capital of the country.<ref name=pop2007>[http://www.tirana.gov.al/common/images/Viti%202007.pdf Population stats] from tirana.gov.al {{sq icon}}</ref> [[Free-market]] reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, especially in the development of [[energy]] and transportation infrastructure.<ref>Reports: Poverty Decreases In Albania After Years Of Growth.Dow Jones Newswires, 201-938-5500.http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200904231403dowjonesdjonline000935&title=reports-poverty-decreases-in-albania-after-years-of-growth</ref><ref>Albania plans to build three hydropower plants.People's Daily</ref><ref>Strong GDP growth reduces poverty in Albania-study.Reuters.http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/04/23/afx6330798.html</ref>

==Etymology==
{{Main|Albania (toponym)}}
''Albania'' is the [[Medieval Latin]] name of the country which is called ''Shqipëri'' by its inhabitants. In [[Medieval Greek]], the country's name is ''Albania'' ({{lang-el|''Αλβανία''}}) besides variants ''Albanitia'', ''Arbanitia''.<ref>[[OED]]</ref>

The name may be derived from the [[Illyrian]] tribe of the Albani recorded by [[Ptolemy]], the geographer and astronomer from [[Alexandria]] who drafted a map in 150 AD<ref>Madrugearu A, Gordon M. The wars of the [[Balkan Peninsula]]. Rowman & Littlefield, 2007. p.146</ref> that shows the city of [[Albanopolis]]<ref>{{Barrington|49 & notes}}</ref> (located northeast of [[Durrës]]).

The name may have a continuation in the name of a medieval settlement called Albanon and Arbanon, although it is not certain this was the same place.<ref>The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, ISBN 0631198075, page 279,"We cannot be certain that the Arbanon of Anna Comnena is the same as Albanopolis of the Albani, a place located on the map of Ptolemy (3.12)"</ref> In his ''History'' written in 1079–1080, [[Byzantine]] historian [[Michael Attaliates]] was the first to refer to ''Albanoi'' as having taken part in a revolt against [[Constantinople]] in 1043 and to the ''Arbanitai'' as subjects of the Duke of [[Dyrrachium]].<ref>Robert Elsei. ''The Albanian lexicon of Arnold von Harff, Earliest reference to the existence of the Albanian language'', pp. 113–122.</ref> During the [[Middle Ages]], the Albanians called their country ''Arbër'' or ''Arbën'' and referred to themselves as [[Arbëresh]] or ''Arbnesh''.<ref>http://www.pinocacozza.it/ {{it icon}}{{sq icon}}</ref><ref>http://www.radio-arberesh.eu/ {{it icon}}</ref>

As early as the 16th century, a new name for their home evolved among Albanian people: ''Shqipëria'', popularly interpreted as "Land of the Eagles" or "Land of the Mountain Eagle" hence the two-headed bird on the national flag,<ref>Kristo Frasheri. ''History of Albania (A Brief Overview)''. Tirana, 1964.</ref> though most likely the origin lies in [[Skanderbeg]]'s use of the [[Byzantine]] double-headed eagle on his seals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fotw.us/flags/al.html#ori|title=Flags Of The World, Albania}}</ref><ref>Albanian Etymological Dictionary by Vladimir E. Orel, Brill 1998</ref>

Under the [[Ottoman Empire]] Albania was referred to officially as ''Arnavutluk'' and its inhabitants as [[arnauts]].<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Arnaut Arnaut] at the Free Dictionary</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Albania}}
[[File:Butrint, Albania.jpg|thumb|300|left|[[Butrint]], a [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Site.]]
[[File:Via Egnatia-en.jpg|thumb|left|Route of the [[Via Egnatia]].]]
===Antiquity===
{{Main|Illyria|Dalmatia (Roman province)|Illyricum (Roman province)|Moesia Superior}}
{{See|Illyrians|Thraco-Illyrian}}
The first recorded inhabitants in the territory of Albania were the [[Illyrians]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm|title=Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs September 2007}}</ref> an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] people that inhabited the area corresponding to northern and central Albania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9052237/Messapic-language|title=Encyclopedia Britannica – Messapic language}}</ref> The Illyrian tribes that resided in the region of modern Albania were the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Taulantii|Taulantii]]<ref>Appian, ''The Foreign Wars, III, 1.2''</ref> the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Parthini|Parthini]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Abri|Abri]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Cavii|Caviii]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Enchelei|Enchelei]],<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN 0631198075, Page 96,"... 25 Enchelei</ref> and [[List of Illyrian tribes|several others]]. In the westernmost parts of the territory of Albania there lived the [[Bryges]],<ref>The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996, ISBN-9780631198079, page 111.</ref> a [[Phrygia]]n people, and in the south were the [[Greeks|Greek]] [[Chaonians]].

Beginning in the 8th century BC, Greek colonies were established on the Illyrian coast. The most important were [[Apollonia (Illyria)|Apollonia]], [[Vlorë|Avlona]] (modern-day [[Vlorë]]), [[Epidamnos]] (modern-day [[Durrës]]), and [[Lissus]] (modern-day [[Lezhë]]). The rediscovered Greek city of [[Buthrotum]] (modern-day Butrint), a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]], is probably more significant today than it was when [[Julius Caesar]] used it as a provisions depot for his troops during his campaigns in the 1st century BC. At that time, it was considered an unimportant outpost, overshadowed by Apollonia and Epidamnos.<ref>An Inventory of Archaic and [[Classical antiquity|Classical]] Poleis by Mogens Herman, ISBN 0198140991, 2004, page 343, "Bouthroton (Bouthrotios)"</ref>

In the 4th century BC, the Illyrian king [[Bardyllis]] united several Illyrian tribes and engaged in conflict with [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedon]] to the southeast, but was defeated. Bardyllis was succeeded by [[Grabos]],<ref>Harding, p. 93. Grabos became the most powerful Illyrian king after the death of Bardylis in 358.</ref> then by [[Bardyllis II]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79">"The Journal of Hellenic Studies by Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies (London, England)", 1973, p. 79. Cleitus was evidently the son of Bardylis II the grandson of the very old Bardylis who had fallen in battle against Phillip II in 385 BC.</ref> and then by [[Cleitus the Illyrian]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79"/> who was defeated by [[Alexander the Great]]. Later on, in 229 BC, Queen [[Teuta]]<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, p. 120, ISBN 0631198075,page 129,"... mainly because no coins are known to have been issued by Illyrian rulers of a later period such as Agron, Teuta, Scerdilaidas, etc. ...</ref> of the [[Ardiaei]] clashed with the Romans and initiated the [[Illyrian Wars]], which resulted in defeat and in the end of Illyrian independence by 168 B.C., when King [[Gentius]] was defeated by a Roman army.

The lands comprising modern-day Albania were incorporated into the Roman empire as part of the province of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] above the river [[Drin (river)|Drin]], and Roman [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] (specifically as [[Epirus Nova]]) below it. The western part of the [[Via Egnatia]] ran inside modern Albania, ending at [[Dyrrachium]]. [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] was later divided into the provinces of [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]] and [[Pannonia]].

===Byzantine era===
When the [[Roman Empire]] was divided into East and West in 395, the territories of modern Albania became part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Beginning in the first decades of Byzantine rule (until 461), the region suffered devastating raids by [[Visigoths]], [[Huns]], and [[Ostrogoths]]. In the 6th and 7th centuries, the region was overrun by the Slavs.

The new administrative system of the themes, or military provinces created by the [[Byzantine Empire]], contributed to the eventual rise of feudalism in Albania, as peasant soldiers who served military lords became serfs on their landed estates. Among the leading families of the Albanian feudal nobility were the [[Karlo Thopia|Thopia]], [[Gjin Bua Shpata|Shpata]], [[Muzaka Principality of Berat|Muzaka]], [[Dukagjini]] and [[Kastrioti]]. The first three of these rose to become rulers of principalities were vassals of the [[Byzantine empire]], maintaining a partial local autonomy from the Byzantine empire. Many Albanians converted to the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Christian Church|Church]] at that period. During the [[Byzantine]] [[Era]] the [[Serbs]] had occupied almost all of Northern Albania and [[Kosovo]], and the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]] had gained control of the coastal regions of Albania.

The territory of Albania would remain under Byzantine and Bulgarian rule until the 14th century, when the Ottoman Turks began to make incursions into the Empire. The Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453, and by 1460 most former Byzantine territories were in the hands of the Turks. Albania was fully occupied by the [[Ottoman empire|Ottomans]] in 1478.

===Ottoman era===
[[File:Durrës, Pinargenti.jpg|thumb|left|[[Durrës]] in 1573]]
In the [[Middle Ages]], the name ''Arberia'' (see ''[[Origin and history of the name Albania]]'') began to be increasingly applied to the region now comprising the nation of Albania.

Beginning in the late-14th century, the Ottoman Turks expanded their empire from [[Anatolia]] to the [[Balkans]] (Rumelia). By the 15th century, the Ottomans ruled all of the Balkan Peninsula. Many Albanians had been recruited into the [[Janissary]], including the feudal heir [[Gjergj Kastrioti]] who was renamed [[Skanderbeg]] (Iskandar Bey) by his Turkish trainers at [[Edrine]]. After some Ottoman defeats at the hands of the [[Serbs]], Skanderbeg deserted and began a rebellion against the [[Ottoman Empire]]<ref name="autogenerated1">Library of Congress Country Study <http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/altoc.html> of Albania</ref>.

After deserting, [[Skanderbeg|Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg]] re-converted to [[Roman Catholicism]] and declared a [[religious war|holy war]] against the Ottoman Empire<ref name="autogenerated1"/>, which he led from 1443 to 1468. Under a red flag bearing Skanderbeg's heraldic emblem, an Albanian force of about 30,000 men at [[Krujë]] held off Ottoman campaigns against their lands for twenty-four years. Thrice the Albanians overcame sieges of Krujë (see [[Siege of Krujë]]) led by many Ottoman commanders, including the influential [[Iljaz Hoxha]] and his [[Albanian]] [[Janissary]] led by [[Hamza Kastrioti]]. However, Skanderbeg was unable to receive any of the help which had been promised him by the [[pope]]s. He died in 1468, leaving no worthy successor. After his death the rebellion continued, but without its former success. The loyalties and alliances created and nurtured by Skanderbeg faltered and fell apart, and the Ottomans reconquered the territory of Albania in 1478. Shortly after the fall of [[Kruje]]'s castle, some Albanians fled to neighboring Italy, giving rise to the modern [[Arbëreshë]] communities.

[[File:Early 16th century Ottoman volley gun.jpg|thumb|[[Military of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[volley gun]] with 9 barrels, early 16th century.]]
The Ottomans had urbanized the landscape creating new cities, [[Bazaars]], garrisons and [[Mosques]] throughout the Albanian regions. The majority of the remaining Albanian population converted to [[Islam]], with many joining the [[Sufi]] Order of the [[Bektashi]]. Converting from Christianity to Islam brought considerable advantages, including access to Ottoman trade networks, bureaucratic positions and the army. As a result many Albanians came to serve in the elite [[Janissary]] and the administrative [[Devşirme]] system. Among these were important historical figures, including [[Iljaz Hoxha]], [[Hamza Kastrioti]], [[Köprülü Mehmed Pasha]] (head of the [[Köprülü family]] of [[Grand Viziers]]), the [[Bushati]] family, [[Sulejman Pasha]], [[Ethem Pasha]], [[Nezim Frakulla]], [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena, [[Hasan Zyko Kamberi]], [[Ali-paša Šabanagić]], and [[Mehmet Ali]] ruler of [[Egypt]].<ref>Research Institute for European and American Studies. [http://www.rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=412&catid=22&Itemid=69 ''The Balkan Muslim Presence'']</ref> and [[Emin Pasha]].

[[File:Turkish guns 1750-1800.jpg|thumb|[[Ottoman weapons|Ottoman guns]], 1750–1800.]]
Many Albanians gained prominent positions in the Ottoman government, Albanians highly active during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[Era]] and leaders such as [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena is known to have aided the Bosnian Hero [[Husein Gradaščević]] on various occasions, no fewer than 42 [[Grand Viziers]] of the Empire were Albanian in origin, including [[Mehmet Akif Ersoy]] (1873–1936) an Albanian from [[Peć]] who composed the Turkish National Anthem in 1921, "İstiklâl Marşı" (The Independence March). As Hupchik states, "Albanians had little cause of unrest" and "if anything, grew important in Ottoman internal affairs", and sometimes persecuted Christians harshly on behalf of their Turkish allies.

Albania became pivotal for the Ottomans in the Balkans, although Albanians never rested, always having small rebellions wchich were put down by the Ottomans. As a cosequene of the continuous rebellions, the Albanians got the nickname "Arnauts" by the Ottomans, which meant "stubborn". Anyway, this period saw the rising of semi-autonomous [[Albanian Pashaliks|Albanian ruled Pashaliks]], and Albanians were also an important part of the Ottoman army and Ottoman administration like the case of [[Köprülü family]]. Albania would remain a part of the Ottoman Empire as the provinces of [[Shkodër Province, Ottoman Empire|Shkodra]], [[Monastir Province, Ottoman Empire|Manastir]] and [[Ioannina Province, Ottoman Empire|Yanya]] until 1912.

===20th century===
====1913 to 1928====
After five hundred years of Ottoman domination, an independent Albania was proclaimed on November 28, 1912.

The initial sparks of the first [[Balkan Wars|Balkan War in 1912]] were ignited by the Albanian uprising between 1908 and 1910 <ref>The Balkans (Nationalism, War and the Great Powers, 1804–1999) – by Misha Glenny</ref> which were directed at opposing the [[Young Turk]] policies of consolidation of the Ottoman Empire. Following the eventual weakening of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, [[Serbia]], Greece and [[Bulgaria]] declared war and sought to aggrandize their respective boundaries on the remaining territories of the Empire. Albania was thus invaded by Serbia in the north and Greece in the south, restricting the country to only a patch of land around the southern coastal city of [[Vlora]]. In 1912 Albania, still under foreign occupation declared its independence and with the aid of [[Austria-Hungary]], the Great Powers drew its present borders leaving more than half of the Albanian population outside the new country.

The border between Albania and its neighbours was delineated in 1913 following the dissolution of most of the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Balkans. The delineation of the new state's borders left a significant number of Albanian communities outside Albania. This population was largely divided between [[Montenegro]] and Serbia (which then included what is now the [[Republic of Macedonia]]). A substantial number of Albanians thus found themselves under Serbian rule. At the same time, an uprising in the country's south by local Greeks, led to the formation of an [[Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus|autonomous region]] inside its borders (1914). After a period of political instability caused during [[World War I]], the country adopted a republican form of government in 1920.<ref>{{cite book
|last=Young
|first= Antonia
|title=Albania
|publisher=Clio Press
|year=1997|isbn =1851092609}}</ref>

====1928 to 1946====
[[File:King Zog.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Zog of Albania|Ahmet Muhtar Bey Zogolli]]]]
Starting in 1928, but especially during the [[Great Depression]], the government of [[King Zog#Relations with Italy|King Zog]], which brought law and order to the country, began to cede Albania's sovereignty to Italy.
Despite some strong resistance, especially at [[Durrës]], Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939 and took control of the country, with the Italian [[Fascist]] dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] proclaiming Italy's figurehead King [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]] as King of Albania. The nation thus became one of the first to be occupied by the [[Axis Powers]] in [[World War II]].<ref>The Balkans by Misha Glenny page 418</ref> As [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] began his aggressions, Mussolini decided to occupy Albania as a means to compete with Hitler's territorial gains. Mussolini and the Italian Fascists saw Albania as a historical part of the [[Roman Empire]], and the occupation was intended to fulfill Mussolini's dream of creating an [[Italian Empire]]. During the Italian occupation, Albania's population was subject to a policy of forced [[Italianisation]] by the kingdom's Italian governors, in which the use of the Albanian language was discouraged in schools while the Italian language was promoted. At the same time, the colonization of Albania by Italians was encouraged.

Mussolini, in October 1940, used his Albanian base to launch an attack on Greece, which led to the defeat of the Italian forces and the Greek occupation of Southern Albania in what was seen by the Greeks as the liberation of [[Northern Epirus]]. While preparing for the [[Operation Barbarossa|Invasion of Russia]], Hitler decided to attack Greece in December 1940 to prevent a British attack on his southern flank.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Creveld |first=Martin van|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1972 |month=July–October |title=In the Shadow of Barbarossa: Germany and Albania, January–March 1941 |journal= |volume=7 |issue=3/4 |pages=22–230|id= |url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-0094(197207%2F10)7%3A3%2F4%3C221%3AITSOBG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-E |accessdate=12 September 2007 |quote=}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], the [[Albanian Communist Party|Party of Labour]] was created on 8 November 1941. With the intention of organizing a [[Albanian National Liberation Front|partisan resistance]], they called a general conference in Pezë on 16 September 1942 where the Albanian National Liberation Front was set up. The Front included nationalist groups, but it was dominated by communist partisans.

In December 1942, more Albanian nationalist groups were organized under Visar Kola. Albanians fought against the Italians while, during [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] occupation, Balli Kombëtar allied itself with the Germans and clashed with Albanian communists, which continued their fight against Germans and Balli Kombëtar at the same time.

With the collapse of the Mussolini government in line with the Allied invasion of Italy, Germany occupied Albania in September 1943, dropping paratroopers into Tirana before the Albanian guerrillas could take the capital. The [[German Army]] soon drove the guerrillas into the hills and to the south. The Nazi German government subsequently announced it would recognize the independence of a neutral Albania and set about organizing a new government, police and armed forces. Many Balli Kombëtar units cooperated with the Germans against the communists and several Balli Kombëtar leaders held positions in the German-sponsored regime.
The partisans entirely liberated Albania from German occupation on 28 November 1944. The Albanian partisans also liberated Kosovo, part of Montenegro, and southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. By November 1944, they had thrown out the Germans, one of the few [[East Europe]]an nations to do so without any assistance from [[Soviet]] troops. [[Enver Hoxha]] became the leader of the country by virtue of his position as Secretary General of the [[Albanian Communist Party]].


Albania was one of the European countries occupied by the [[Axis powers]] that ended World War II with a larger [[Jewish]] population than before the war.<ref>Sarner. ''Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from the Holocaust'', 1997.</ref><ref>"Muslim Family Who Hid 26 Jews in Albania from the Nazis Honored by ADL" [http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4963_52.htm Anti-Defamation League]</ref><ref>Escape Through the Balkans: the Autobiography of Irene Grunbaum (University of Nebraska Press, 1996)</ref><ref>[http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205725.pdf Shoah Research Center – Albania.]</ref> Some 1,200 Jewish residents and refugees from other [[Balkan]] countries were hidden by Albanian families during World War II, according to official records.<ref>Israeli Historians Study How Albanian Jews Escaped Holocaust http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356717,00.html</ref>

====Communist state====
{{Main|Socialist People's Republic of Albania}}
[[File:Brosen tirana hoxha mausol.jpg|thumb|left|The former Enver Hoxha Museum in Tirana]]

[[File:Tirana Square 1988.jpg|thumb|right|Tirana's Skanderbeg Square in 1988]]

Albania became an ally of the Soviet Union, but this came to an end in 1960 over the advent of [[de-Stalinization]]. A strong political alliance with China followed, leading to several billion dollars in aid, which was curtailed after 1974. China cut off aid in 1978 when Albania attacked its policies after the death of the Chinese ruler [[Mao Zedong]]. Large-scale purges of officials occurred during the 1970s.

[[Enver Hoxha]], a dictator who ruled Albania for four decades with an iron fist, died on 11 April 1985. Eventually the new regime introduced some liberalization, and granting the freedom to travel abroad in 1990. The new government made efforts to improve ties with the outside world. The elections of March 1991 left the former Communists in power, but a general strike and urban opposition led to the formation of a coalition cabinet that included non-Communists.<ref>Albania. World Almanac & Book of Facts, 2008, pp467–545, (AN 28820955)</ref>

===Recent history – 1992 to present===
{{Main|History of post-Communist Albania}}
{{See|Timeline of Albanian history from 1994}}
Albania's former Communists were routed in elections March 1992, causing economic collapse and social unrest. The [[blood feud]] has returned in rural areas after more than 40 years of being abolished by Albanian communists,<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1553480/Thousands-fear-as-blood-feuds-sweep-Albania.html Thousands fear as blood feuds sweep Albania]". Telegraph.co.uk. 3 June 2007.</ref> with nearly 10,000 Albanians being killed due to blood feuds since 1991.<ref>"[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/world/europe/10feuds.html?_r=1 In Albanian Feuds, Isolation Engulfs Families ]". The New York Times. 10 July 2008.</ref> Sali Berisha was elected as the first non-Communist president since World War II. The next crisis occurred in 1997, during his presidency, as [[1997 rebellion in Albania|riots ravaged the country]]. The state institutions collapsed and an [[EU]] military mission led by Italy was sent to stabilize the country. In summer 1997, Berisha was defeated in elections, winning just 25 seats out of a total of 156.
His return to power in the elections of 3 July 2005 ended eight years of Socialist Party rule. In 2009, Albania – along with [[Croatia]] – joined [[NATO]].

==Government, politics and armed forces==
{{Main|Politics of Albania}}

{{Politics of Albania}}

The Albanian republic is a parliamentary democracy established under a constitution renewed in 1998. Elections are now held every four years to a unicameral 140-seat chamber, the People's Assembly. In June 2002, a compromise candidate, [[Alfred Moisiu]], former [[Army General]], was elected to succeed President [[Rexhep Meidani]]. Parliamentary elections in July 2005 brought [[Sali Berisha]], as leader of the Democratic Party, back to power. The Euro-Atlantic integration of Albania has been the ultimate goal of the post-communist governments. Albania's [[European Union|EU]] membership bid has been set as a priority by the European Commission.

Albania, along with Croatia, joined NATO on 1 April 2009 becoming the 27th and 28th members of the alliance.<ref>BBC News. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7977332.stm "Nato welcomes Albania and Croatia"], "BBC News", 2 April 2009. Retrieved on 2 April 2009.</ref>

The workforce of Albania has continued to migrate to Greece, Italy, Germany, other parts of Europe, and North America. However, the migration flux is slowly decreasing, as more and more opportunities are emerging in Albania itself as its economy steadily develops.

===Executive branch===
The head of state in Albania is the [[List of Presidents of Albania|President]] of the Republic. The President is elected to a 5-year term by the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] by secret ballot, requiring a 50%+1 majority of the votes of all deputies. The next election will run in 2012. The current President of the Republic is [[Bamir Topi]].

The President has the power to guarantee observation of the constitution and all laws, act as commander in chief of the armed forces, exercise the duties of the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] when the Assembly is not in session, and appoint the Chairman of the Council of Ministers ([[prime minister]]).

Executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The Chairman of the Council (prime minister) is appointed by the president; ministers are nominated by the president on the basis of the prime minister's recommendation. The People's Assembly must give final approval of the composition of the Council. The Council is responsible for carrying out both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!align=left|[[List of Presidents of Albania|President]]
|[[Bamir Topi]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]] ||20 July 2007
|-
!align=left|[[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|[[Sali Berisha]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]]||9 September 2009
|}

===Legislative branch===
The [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] (''Kuvendi i Republikës së Shqipërisë'') is the lawmaking body in Albania. There are 140 deputies in the Assembly, which are elected through a [[party-list proportional representation]] system. The President of the Assembly (or Speaker) has two deputies and chairs the Assembly. There are 15 permanent commissions, or committees. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years.

The Assembly has the power to decide the direction of domestic and foreign policy; approve or amend the constitution; declare war on another state; ratify or annul international treaties; elect the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court and the Attorney General and his or her deputies; and control the activity of state radio and television, state news agency and other official information media.

===Armed forces===
{{Main|Military of Albania|}}
{{See also|Albanian Air Force|Albanian Naval Defense Forces|Albanian Joint Forces Command|Albanian Logistic Support Command}}

[[File:Patrol Boat Iliria.jpg|thumb|Albanian Navy warship ''Iliria'']]

The [[Military of Albania|Albanian Armed Forces]] (''Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë'') first formed after independence in 1912. Albania reduced the number of active troops from a 1988 number of 65,000<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1935630.stm Albania sells off its military hardware], BBC News, 2002</ref> to a 2009 number of 14,500<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/08/21/feature-03 |title=Albania to abolish conscription by 2010 |publisher=SETimes.com |date=21 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> with a small fleet of aircraft and sea vessels. In the 1990s, the country scrapped enormous amount of obsolete hardware, such as tanks and [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM systems]] from China.

Today, it consists of the General Staff Headquarters, the [[Albanian Joint Forces Command]], the [[Albanian Support Command]] and the [[Albanian Training and Doctrine Command]]. Increasing the military budget was one of the most important conditions for [[NATO]] integration. Military spending accounted for about 2.7% of GDP in 2008. Since February 2008, Albania participates officially in NATO's [[Operation Active Endeavor]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>[[NATO]], [http://www.nato.int/issues/active_endeavour/index.html]</ref> and received a NATO membership invitation on 3 April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Albania membership Nato|publisher=NATO|url=http://www.nato.int/issues/nato_albania/evolution.html}}</ref> Albania became a full member of NATO on 1 April 2009.

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Albania}}

[[File:Albania space.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite image of Albania.]]

[[File:Himarë-Albania6.JPG|thumb|Coastline in [[Himarë]]]]
[[File:Ksamil Islets.jpg|thumb|[[Ksamil]], little islands]]
Albania has a total area of 28,748 square [[kilometers]]. Its coastline is 362 kilometers long and extends along the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] and [[Ionian Sea]]s. The lowlands of the west face the Adriatic Sea. The 70% of the country that is mountainous is rugged and often inaccessible from the outside. The highest mountain is [[Mount Korab|Korab]] situated in the [[district of Dibër]], reaching up to {{convert|2753|m|ft|abbr=off|lk=off}}. The climate on the coast is typically [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] with mild, wet winters and warm, sunny, and rather dry summers. Inland conditions vary depending on altitude but the higher areas above 1,500 m/5,000 ft are rather cold and frequently snowy in winter; here cold conditions with lying snow may linger into spring. Besides the capital city of [[Tirana]], which has 800,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are [[Durrës]], [[Korçë]], [[Elbasan]], [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]], [[Gjirokastër]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Kukës]]. In Albanian grammar, a word can have indefinite and definite forms, and this also applies to city names: both ''Tiranë'' and ''Tirana'', ''Shkodër'' and ''Shkodra'' are used.

The three largest and deepest tectonic lakes of the [[Balkan Peninsula]] are partly located in Albania. [[Lake Shkodër]] in the country's northwest has a surface which can vary between {{convert|370|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|lk=off}} and 530 km2, out of which one third belongs to Albania and rest to Montenegro. The Albanian shoreline of the lake is {{convert|57|km|0|abbr=on}}. [[Ohrid Lake]] is situated in the country's southeast and is shared between Albania and Republic of Macedonia. It has a maximal depth of 289 meters and a variety of unique flora and fauna can be found there, including "living fossils" and many endemic species. Because of its natural and historical value, Ohrid Lake is under the protection of [[UNESCO]].

Over a third of the territory of Albania – about 10,000 square kilometers (2.5 million acres) – is forested and the country was very rich in flora. About 3.000 different species of plants grow in Albania, many of which are used for medicinal purposes. [[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Albania belongs to the [[Boreal Kingdom]] and is shared between the Adriatic and [[East Mediterranean]] provinces of the [[Mediterranean Region]] and the Illyrian province of the [[Circumboreal Region]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the [[European Environment Agency]], the territory of Albania can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Illyrian deciduous forests]], [[Pindus Mountains mixed forests]] and [[Dinaric Alps|Dinaric Alpine]] mixed forests. The forests are home to a wide range of mammals, including [[wolves]], [[bear]]s, [[wild boar]]s and [[chamois]]. [[Lynx]], [[wildcat]]s, [[pine marten]]s and [[polecat]]s are rare, but survive in some parts of the country.

==Climate==
''See also [[Geography of Albania#Climate|Climate of Albania]]''
[[File:Coastline in Albania.jpg|thumb|left|Coastline near [[Sarandë]]]]
[[File:Albania pasture.jpg|thumb|left|Albanian landscape]]
[[File:KorabMountain2.jpg|thumb|Korab chains]]

[[File:Ksrbay.jpg|thumb|[[Sarandë]] Bay]]
With its coastline facing the Adriatic and Ionian seas, its highlands backed upon the elevated Balkan landmass, and the entire country lying at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns during the winter and summer seasons, Albania has a high number of climatic regions for so small an area. The coastal lowlands have typically Mediterranean weather; the highlands have a Mediterranean continental climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather varies markedly from north to south.

The lowlands have mild winters, averaging about {{convert|7|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Summer temperatures average {{convert|24|°C|0|abbr=on}}. In the southern lowlands, temperatures average about {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} higher throughout the year. The difference is greater than {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} during the summer and somewhat less during the winter.

Inland temperatures are affected more by differences in elevation than by latitude or any other factor. Low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in [[Eastern Europe]] and the [[Balkan]]s. Northerly and northeasterly winds blow much of the time. Average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and [[river valley]]s are very high, but the nights are almost always cool.

Average [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is heavy, a result of the convergence of the prevailing airflow from the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and the continental air mass. Because they usually meet at the point where the terrain rises, the heaviest rain falls in the central uplands. Vertical currents initiated when the Mediterranean air is uplifted also cause frequent thunderstorms. Many of these storms are accompanied by high local winds and torrential downpours.

When the continental air mass is weak, Mediterranean winds drop their moisture farther inland. When there is a dominant continental air mass, cold air spills onto the lowland areas, which occurs most frequently in the winter. Because the season's lower temperatures damage olive trees and citrus fruits, groves and orchards are restricted to sheltered places with southern and western exposures, even in areas with high average winter temperatures.

Lowland rainfall averages from {{convert|1000|mm|in|1|sp=us}} to more than {{convert|1500|mm|in|1|sp=us}} annually, with the higher levels in the north. Nearly 95% of the rain falls in the winter.

Rainfall in the upland mountain ranges is heavier. Adequate records are not available, and estimates vary widely, but annual averages are probably about {{convert|1800|mm|in|1|sp=us}} and are as high as {{convert|2550|mm|in|1|sp=us}} in some northern areas. The western Albanian Alps (valley of Boga) are among the most wet areas in Europe, receiving some {{convert|3100|mm|2|abbr=on|lk=out}} of rain annually<ref>http://qendrim.forumotion.net/gjeografia-f61/tiparet-e-pergjithshme-te-klimes-t3725.htm</ref>. The seasonal variation is not quite as great in the coastal area.

The higher inland mountains receive less precipitation than the intermediate uplands. Terrain differences cause wide local variations, but the seasonal distribution is the most consistent of any area.

==Flora and fauna==

[[File:Lynx lynx poing.jpg|thumb|left|The [[lynx]] still survives in Albania]]

[[File:Steinadler Aquila chrysaetos closeup2 Richard Bartz.jpg|thumb|right|Golden eagle – the national symbol of Albania]]

Although a small country, Albania is distinguished for its rich biological diversity. The variation of geomorphology, climate and terrain create favorable conditions for a number of endemic and [[sub-endemic]] species with 27 endemic and 160 subendemic vascular plants present in the country. The total number of plants is over 3250 species, approximately 30% of the entire flora species found in Europe. Coastal regions and lowlands have typical Mediterranean [[macchia]] vegetation, whereas [[oak]] forests and vegetation are found on higher altitudes. Vast forests of [[European Black Pine|black pine]], [[beech]] and [[fir]] are found on higher mountains and alpine [[grasslands]] grow at altitudes above 1800 meters a.s.l.<ref name="cbd.int">http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/al/al-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf</ref>

There are around 760 vertebrate species found so far in Albania. Among these there are over 350 bird species, 330 freshwater and marine fish and 80 mammal species. There are some 91 globally threatened species found within the country, among which the [[Dalmatian pelican]], [[Pygmy cormorant]], and the [[European sea sturgeon]]. Rocky coastal regions in the south provide good habitats for the endangered [[Mediterranean monk seal]]. Some of the most significant bird species found in the country include the [[golden eagle]] – known as the national symbol of Albania – [[vulture]] species, [[capercaillie]] and numerous [[waterfowl]]. The Albanian forests still maintain significant communities of large mammals such as the [[brown bear]], [[gray wolf]], [[chamois]] and [[wild boar]].<ref name="cbd.int"/> The north and eastern mountains of the country are home to the last remaining Balkan lynx – a critically endangered population of the [[Eurasian lynx]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catsg.org/balkanlynx/20_blx-compendium/index.htm |title=The Balkan Lynx Conservation Compendium |publisher=Catsg.org |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Albania}}

Albania remains a poor country by Western European standards.<ref>[http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief]. [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] ([[Government of Australia|Australia]]), 1 August 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2009.</ref> Its GDP per capita (expressed in PPS—[[Purchasing power parity|Purchasing Power Standards]]) stood at 25 percent of the EU average in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-25062009-BP/EN/2-25062009-BP-EN.PDF|format=PDF|title=Albania's GDP per capita in PPS (2008) |publisher=Eurostat |accessdate=25 June 2009}}</ref> Still, Albania has shown potential for economic growth, as more and more businesses relocate there and consumer goods are becoming available from emerging market traders as part of the current massive global cost-cutting exercise. Albania and Cyprus are the only countries in Europe that recorded economic growth in the first quarter of 2009. In its latest report, the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) said Albania and Cyprus recorded increases of 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.<ref>Business: Albania, Cyprus register economic growth http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2009/05/15/roundup-bs-03</ref><ref>Strong economic growth potential puts Albania and Panama top of long term investment list http://www.propertywire.com/news/related-stories/albania-panama-long-term-investment-200807201344.html</ref> However, the country is still of low interest for major foreign investors due to frequent power shortages, occasional lack of water supplies and ubiquitous illegal activities.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2681449.stm Albania's Economy shakes off it's shackles], 23 January 2003, BBC News.</ref>

[[File:Mallakastra-oil.jpg|thumb|right|Oil pumps near [[Mallakastra]]]]

Albania and Croatia have discussed the possibility of jointly building a nuclear power plant at Lake [[Shkoder]], close to the border with Montenegro, a plan that has gathered criticism from the latter due to seismicity in the area.<ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/18259/ Albania, Croatia plan nuclear power plant.]</ref> In addition, there is some doubt whether Albania would be able to finance a project of such a scale with a total national budget of less than $ 5 billion.<ref name="CIA — The World Factbook">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html CIA – The World Factbook]</ref> However, in February 2009 Italian company [[Enel]] announced plans to build an 800 MW [[coal]]-fired power plant in Albania, to diversify electricity sources.<ref name="diversify">[http://www.allbusiness.com/energy-utilities/utilities-industry-electric-power/11935171-1.html Enel Albanian Joint Venture Introduces Coal In Albania's Power Mix], Business Monitor Online, 24 February 2009</ref> Nearly 100% of the electricity is generated by ageing hydroelectric power plants, which are becoming more ineffective due to increasing droughts.<ref name="diversify"/>

The country has some deposits of [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]], but produces only 6,425 barrels of oil per day.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2173rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=91#al CIA The World Factbook: Oil producers]</ref> Natural gas production, estimated at about 30 million cubic meters, is sufficient to meet consumer demands.<ref name="CIA — The World Factbook"/> Other natural resources include coal, [[bauxite]], [[copper]] and [[iron ore]].

[[Agriculture]] is the most significant sector, employing some 58% of the labor force and generating about 21% of GDP. Albania produces significant amounts of [[wheat]], [[maize|corn]], [[tobacco]], [[figs]] (13th largest producer in the world)<ref>[http://www.fao.org/es/ess/top/topproduction.html?lang=en&country=3&year=2005 Albania Country Profile], FAO</ref> and [[olives]].

==Science and technology==
{{Main|Science and technology}}

Expenditure for scientific research and Development in Albania does not exceed 0.18% of GDP, which marks the lowest level in Europe. Economic competitiveness and exports are low, with the economy still heavily skewed towards low technology.

From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.
Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated.<ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state of the art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research.

However in 2009 the government approved the "National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania" <ref>[http://www.dsdc.gov.al/dsdc/pub/national_strategy_of_science_technology_and_innovation_final_draft_381_1.pdf National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2009–2015</ref> covering the period 2009–2015. The document was coordinated by the Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and with UNESCO assistance.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

* to triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;
* to augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;
* to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technology based firms;
* to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;
* to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners. <ref> http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html </ref>

The Strategy is to be implemented in synergy with other sectoral strategies and taking into account Albania’s Higher Education Strategy adopted in 2008 and the National Strategy for Development and Integration (2007–2013). The latter underlines the importance of modernizing economic sectors such as the agro-food industry and tourism. It also underscores the strategic importance of energy, environmental and water resource management. Stakeholders have proposed prioritizing fields of research such as agriculture and food, information and communication technologies (ICTs), public health, Albanology and humanities, natural resources, biotechnology, biodiversity, defence and security.

The European Union (EU) has set clear objectives for research and innovation as part of its Lisbon Strategy for becoming the most competitive economy in the world. Like other Western Balkan countries aspiring to join the EU, Albania is trailing behind in the development process, having focused in recent years on laying the foundations for economic growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Genc Pollo acknowledges that ‘the high rates of socio-economic development required in the process of Albania’s membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (now a member) and EU accession necessitate strengthening the role of science, technology and innovation in our society.’

In August of 2009, the government approved the establishment of the Albanian Agency of Research, Technology and Innovation, to improve policy implementation.

In 2006, the Albanian government undertook a deep reform of the scientific research system. The Academy of Sciences was re-organized along the model of many other European countries; it now operates through a selected community of scientists and no longer administrates research institutes, these having been integrated into the higher education system. Two new faculties have been set up: the Faculty of Information Technology at the Polytechnic University of Tirana and the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food at the Agricultural University of Tirana. The University of Tirana has also gained an Applied and Nuclear Physics Centre and Biotechnology Department. Twelve government agencies and centres for technology transfer have also been created.

Until recently, R&D and innovation statistics were not collected in Albania to OECD, Eurostat or UNESCO standards. A first survey of public and academic institutes was launched earlier this year and a business R&D and innovation survey is currently under way, both the support of UNESCO.

The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad

There is a total 578 scientific workers in Albania:

* 274 in Academy of Sciences
* 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

The numbers of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0.2 for 1000 habitants <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

==Transport==

{{Main|Transport in Albania}}

In the early 1990s, the rock-strewn roadways, unstable rail lines and obsolete telephone network crisscrossing Albania represented the remnants of the marked improvements that were made after [[World War II]]. [[Enver Hoxha]]'s [[xenophobia]] and lust for control had kept Albania isolated, however, as the communications revolution transformed the wider world into a [[Global Village (term)|global village]]. Even internal travel amounted to something of a luxury for many Albanians during communism's ascendancy.

===Highways===
[[File:SH2 Tiranë-Durrës.jpg|right|thumb|SH 2 Highway ([[Tirana]]–[[Durrës]])]]

[[File:Tirana's Overpass From Durres (1).JPG|left|thumb|SH 2—Tirana's overpass from Durrës]]

Currently the major cities of the country are linked with first class national roads. There is a four lane highway connecting the city of Durrës with Tirana and the city of Durrës with the city of [[Lushnje]]. Albania is partaking in the construction of what it sees as three major corridors of transportation.

The major priority as of present is the full completion of the four lane [[Albania-Kosovo Highway|Durrës-Pristina highway]] which will link [[Kosovo]] with Albania's Adriatic coast. The portion of the highway which links Albania's north east border with Kosovo was completed in June 2009,<ref>{{cite web|last=Wynne |first=Alexandra |url=http://www.nce.co.uk/news/transport/albania-motorway-making-the-first-move/5203302.article# |title=Albania highway: Making the first move | Features | New Civil Engineer |publisher=Nce.co.uk |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> as a result, cutting the time it takes to get from Kosovo to Durrës from six hours to two. Indeed the roads in northwestern Albania remain in poor condition as of summer 2009. It takes approximately 1h 30' to drive the {{convert|35|km|0|abbr=on}} from the border of Montenegro to Shkodër.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

There has been much discussion, debate, and interest in the {{convert|170|km|0|abbr=on}} Durrës–Kukës–Morinë Highway Albanian highway to Kosovo, which is intended to create a new, super-fast connection between Durrës on the Adriatic coast to [[Morinë]] at the border of Kosovo. The current drive time between Kukës and Durrës is now 2 hours. The whole will be around {{convert|250|km|0|abbr=on}}, when completed to Pristina. The objective for constructing the road, according to the transport ministry, is to reduce transport costs and accidents, and improve traffic flow. It is the biggest, most expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken in Albania. The cost of the highway appears to have breached EUR800 million, although the exact cost for the total highway has yet to be confirmed by the government. Currently there is a display in Tirana's centre on Bvld Dëshmorët e Kombit.

The second priority is the construction of European corridor 8 linking Albania with the Republic of Macedonia and Greece.

The third priority for the government is the construction of the north-south axis of the country; it is sometimes referred to as the [[Adriatic–Ionian motorway]] as it is part of a larger regional highway connecting Croatia with Greece along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts.

By the end of the decade it is expected that the majority of the sections of these three corridors will have been built.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} When all three corridors are completed Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with its neighbors.

===Aviation===
[[File:Rinas-Airport-New-Terminal.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]]]

The civil air transport in Albania marked its beginnings in November 1924, when the Republic of Albania signed a Governmental Agreement with German Air Company [[Lufthansa]]. On the basis of a ten-year concession agreement, the Albanian Airlines with the name [[Adria Aero Lloyd]] Company was established.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} In the spring of 1925, the first domestic flights from [[Tirana]] to [[Shkoder]] and [[Vlora]] began.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

In August 1927, the office of Civil Aviation of Air Traffic Ministry of Italy purchased Adria Aero Lloyd. The company, now in Italian hands, expanded its flights to other cities, such as [[Elbasan]], [[Korça]], [[Kukësi]], [[Peshkopia]] and [[Gjirokastra]], and opened up international lines to Rome, [[Milan]], [[Thessaloniki]], [[Sofia]], [[Belgrade]], and [[Podgorica]].

The construction of a more modern airport construction in present [[Lapraka]]) started in 1934 and was completed by the end of 1935. This new airport, which was later officially named "Airport of Tirana", was constructed in conformity with optimal technological parameters of that time, with reinforced concrete runway of 1200 {{convert|400|m|2|abbr=on|lk=out}}, and complemented with technical equipment and appropriate buildings.

During 1955–1957, the [[Rinasi Airport]] was constructed for military purposes. Later, its administration was shifted to the Ministry of Transport. On 25 January 1957 the State-owned Enterprise of International Air Transport ([[Albtransport]]) established its headquarters in Tirana. [[Aeroflot]], [[Jat]], [[Malev]], [[Tarom]] and [[Interflug]] were the air companies that started to have flights with Albania until 1960.

During 1960–1978, several airlines ceased to operate in Albania due to the impact of the politics, resulting to a decrease of influx of flights and passengers. In 1977 Albania's government signed an agreement with Greece to open the country's first air links with non-communist Europe. As a result, [[Olympic Airlines|Olympic Airways]] was the first non-communist airline to commercially fly into Albania after [[WWII]]. By 1991 Albania had air links with many major European cities, including Paris, Rome, [[Zürich]], [[Vienna]] and [[Budapest]], but no regular domestic air service.

A French-Albanian joint venture [[Ada Air]], was launched in Albania's as the first private airline, in 1991. The company offered flights in a thirty-six-passenger airplane four days each week between Tirana and [[Bari]], Italy and a charter service for domestic and international destinations.

From 1989 to 1991, because of political changes in the [[Eastern European]] countries, Albania adhered to the International Civil Aviation Organization ([[ICAO]]), opened its air space to international flights, and had its duties of Air Traffic Control defined. As premises of these developments, conditions were created to separate the activities of air traffic control from Albtransport. Instead, the [[National Agency of Air Traffic]] (NATA) was established as an independent enterprise. In addition, during these years, governmental agreements of civil air transport were established with [[Bulgaria]], Germany, [[Slovenia]], Italy, Russia, Austria, England, [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], etc. The Directory General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was established on 3 February 1991, to cope with the development required by the time.

As of 2007 Albania has one [[international airport]]: [[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]. The airport is linked to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a dramatic rise in terms of passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s. The data for 2009 is 1.3 million passengers served and an average of 44 landings and takeoffs per day.

[[File:Albanian railway.jpg|thumb|left|Train on the Durrës to Tiranë railway line]]

===Railways===
{{Main|Rail transport in Albania|Hekurudha Shqiptarë}}
The railway system was extensively promoted by the [[totalitarianism|totalitarian]] regime of [[Enver Hoxha]], during which time the use of private transport was effectively prohibited. Since the collapse of the former regime, there has been a considerable increase in [[car]] ownership and [[bus]] usage. Whilst some of the country's roads are still in a very poor condition, there have been other developments (such as the construction of a [[motorway]] between Tirana and Durrës) which have taken much traffic away from the railways. The [[railway]]s in Albania are administered by the national railway company ''[[Hekurudha Shqiptare]]'' (HSH) (which means ''Albanian Railways''). It operates a {{RailGauge|1435}} gauge (standard gauge) rail system in Albania. All trains are hauled by [[Czech Republic|Czech]]-built [[ČKD]] diesel-electric [[locomotive]]s.

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Albania}}

[[File:Albania minorities.png|thumb|Regions with a traditional presence of ethnic or linguistic groups other than Albanian.]]

[[File:Tirana Skanderbeg Square.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tirana]], Albania's capital and largest city.]]

The Albanian population is considered a very young population, with an average age of 28.9 years.<ref>[http://www.instat.gov.al/graphics/doc/downloads/publikime/femrameshkuj2006.pdf Women, Men and shefit's in Albania 2006], Instat, Tirana, 2007</ref> After 1990 the Albanian population has
faced new phenomena like migration, which greatly affected the distribution by districts and prefectures. Districts in the North have seen a decreasing population, while [[Tirana]] and [[Durrës]] districts have increased their population.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Albania's population was 3,152,600 on 1 January 2007 and 3,170,048 on 1 January 2008.<ref name=instat>{{cite web|url=http://www.instat.gov.al/|title=Albania National Institute of Statistics official web site}}</ref> Alternative sources estimate the population in July 2009 at 3,639,453 with an annual growth rate of 0.546%.<ref name=cia>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html ''CIA World Factbook'': Albania]</ref> Albania is a largely ethnically homogeneous country with only small minorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watsoninstitute.org/bjwa/archive/11.1/Essays/Barjarba.pdf|author=Kosta Barjarba|title=Migration and Ethnicity in Albania: Synergies and Interdependencies|format=PDF}}</ref> The vast majority of the population is ethnically [[Albanians|Albanian]] (98.6%). Minorities include [[Greeks]] 1.17% and others 0.23% ([[Vlachs]], [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]], [[Serbs]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Egyptians (Balkans)|Balkan Egyptians]], [[Roma]] and former [[Yugoslavians]]).<ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm Albania], U.S. Department of State Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Background Note November 2008. Retrieved on 14 May 2009</ref> The size of the Greek minority is contentious, with the Albanian government claiming it is only 60,000, while the Greek government is claiming 300,000. Most Western sources put the size of the Greek minority at around 200,000, or ~6% of the population,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=kqCnCOgGc5AC&pg=PA68&dq=greek+minority+albania&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=0 ''Eastern Europe at the end of the 20th century'', Ian Jeffries, p. 69]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?lr=&hl=el&id=OU1oAAAAMAAJ&dq=Pettifer+The+Greeks%3A+The+Land+and+the+People+since+the+War&q=200000&pgis=1#search_anchor The Greeks: the land and people since the war.] James Pettifer. Penguin, 2000. ISBN 0-14-028899-6</ref> while the [[CIA Factbook]] estimates the Greek minority at 3% of the total population.
The dominant language is [[Albanian language|Albanian]], with two main dialects, [[Gheg]] and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]]. Many Albanians are also fluent in English, Italian, Greek, etc.



===Religion===
[[File:07Tirana Et'hem beu Mosque03.jpg|thumb|right|[[Et'hem Bey Mosque]] in Tirana]]

[[File:Labova e Kryqit3.jpg|thumb|right|Church of Virgin Mary. It was built in the 10th century]]

{{Main|Religion in Albania}}

{{See also|Freedom of religion in Albania}}

Estimates of the religious allegiance of the population of Albania vary, with some sources suggesting that the majority do not follow any religion.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm]-Freedom of Religion 2007</ref>

A recent study by the [[Pew Research Center]] puts the percentage of
[[Muslim]]s in Albania at 79.9%,<ref>{{Cite book | editor-last = Miller | editor-first = Tracy | month = October | year = 2009 | publisher = [[Pew Research Center]] | title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population | format = PDF | url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf | accessdate = 8 October 2009 }}</ref> with the remaining 20% consisting of Christians. The CIA World Factbook gives a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html 2009 CIA World Factbook]</ref> According to the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]], roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% Christian<ref>{{cite book
|title=World Christian Encyclopedia
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|year=2001
|last=p 51|isbn =0195079639}}</ref>

The Albanians first appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late-11th century. At this point, they are already fully Christianised. Christianity was later overtaken by [[Islam]], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turkish rule from the 15th century until year 1912. After independence (1912) from the Ottoman Empire, the Albanian republican, monarchic and later communist regimes followed a systematic policy of separating religion from official functions and cultural life. Albania never had an official state religion either as a republic or as a kingdom. In the 20th century, the clergy of all faiths was weakened under the monarchy, and ultimately eradicated during the 1940s and 1950s, under the state policy of obliterating all organised religion from Albanian territories.

The Communist regime that took control of Albania after World War II suppressed religious observance and institutions and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [[atheist]] state. Religious freedom has returned to Albania since the regime's change in 1992. Albanian Muslim populations (mainly secular and of the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] rite) are found throughout the country whereas [[Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox Christians]] are concentrated in the south and Roman Catholics are found in the north of the country. No reliable data are available on active participation in formal religious services, and estimates range from 25% to 40%.<ref name="International Religious Freedom Report 2007">[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm Albania: International Religious Freedom Report 2007]</ref>

There are about 4,000 active [[Jehovah's witnesses]] in Albania.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide Status Report|url=http://www.watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report_statistics.htm|accessdate=27 September 2009|publisher=Watch Tower}}</ref>
Among other religious organizations making inroads into this nation is [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS or 'Mormons'). LDS involvement in Albania began with Humanitarian Aid during the 1990s. The first missionaries were sent in 1992 with the Albania Tirana Mission being opened in 1996. As of 2008, there were nearly 2,000 members of the Church in Albania, spread throughout ten branches with two purpose-built Chapels and one Family History Center.<ref>{{cite web|title=LDS Newsroom-Country Profile-Albania|url=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/albania|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Albanians}}

{{Main|Culture of Albania}}

===Music and folklore===
[[File:Berat.jpg|thumb|left|[[Berat]]]]
[[File:A traditional male folk group from Skrapar.JPG|thumb|left|A traditional male folk group from Skrapar]]
{{main|Music of Albania}}
Albanian folk music falls into three sylistic groups, with other important [[music area]]s around [[Shkodër]] and [[Tirana]]; the major groupings are the [[Gheg]]s of the north and southern Labs and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosks]]. The northern and southern traditions are contrasted by the "rugged and heroic" tone of the north and the "relaxed, gentle and exceptionally beautiful" form of the south. These disparate styles are unified by "the intensity that both performers and listeners give to their music as a medium for patriotic expression and as a vehicle carrying the narrative of [[oral history]]", as well as certain characteristics like the use of obscure rhythms such as 3/8, 5/8 and 10/8.<ref>Arbatsky, Yuri, cited in Koco with the footnote ''Translated and published by Filip Fishta in Shkolla Kombëtare (The National School; No.1, May 1939), 19, and quoted from his Preface to [[Pjetër Dungu]]'s Lyra Shqiptare (see note 2).''</ref> The first compilation of Albanian folk music was made by [[Pjetër Dungu]] in 1940.

Albanian folk songs can be divided into major groups, the heroic epics of the north, and the sweetly melodic [[lullaby|lullabies]], love songs, [[wedding music]], [[work song]]s and other kinds of song. The music of various festivals and holidays is also an important part of Albanian folk song, especially those that celebrate St. Lazarus Day (''the llazore''), which inaugurates the springtime. Lullabies and [[lament]]s are very important kinds of Albanian folk song, and are generally performed by solo women.<ref name="koco">{{cite web|title=Albanian Music|work=Eno Koco at the University of Leeds|url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/staff/ek/|accessdate=28 August 2005}}</ref>

===Albanian language and literature===
{{Main|Albanian language}}
{{Main|Albanian literature}}

{{See also|List of Albanian writers}}

Albanian was proven to be an [[Indo-European language]] in 1854 by the German [[Comparative linguistics|philologist]] [[Franz Bopp]]. The Albanian language comprises its own branch of the Indo-European language family.

Some scholars believe that Albanian derives from [[Illyrian language|Illyrian]]<ref>Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture By J. P. Mallory, Douglas Q. Adams Edition: illustrated Published by Taylor & Francis, 1997 ISBN 1-884964-98-2, 9781884964985 (''"Although there are some lexical items that appear to be shared between Romanian (and by extension Dacian) and Albanian, by far the strongest connections can be argued between Albanian and Illyrian."'' page 11)
Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World By Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Contributor Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Edition: illustrated Published by Elsevier, 2008 ISBN 0-08-087774-5, 9780080877747 (''"Albanian constitutes a single branch of the Indo-European family of languages. It is often held to be related to Illyrian, a poorly attested language spoken in the Western Balkans in classical times"'' page 22)</ref> while others,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/LLDescription.cfm?code=txh|title=The Thracian language|publisher=The Linguist List|accessdate=27 January 2008|quote=An ancient language of Southern Balkans, belonging to the Satem group of Indo-European. This language is the most likely ancestor of modern Albanian (which is also a Satem language), though the evidence is scanty. 1st Millennium BC – 500 AD.}}</ref> claim that it derives from [[Dacian language|Daco]]-[[Thracian language|Thracian]]. (Illyrian and Daco-Thracian, however, might have been closely related languages; see [[Thraco-Illyrian]].)

Establishing longer relations, Albanian is often compared to Balto-Slavic on the one hand and Germanic on the other, both of which share a number of [[isogloss]]es with Albanian. Moreover, Albanian has undergone a vowel shift in which stressed, long ''o'' has fallen to ''a'', much like in the former and opposite the latter. Likewise, Albanian has taken the old relative ''jos'' and innovatively used it exclusively to qualify adjectives, much in the way Balto-Slavic has used this word to provide the definite ending of adjectives.

The cultural resistance was first of all expressed through the elaboration of the [[Albanian language]] in the area of church texts and publications, mainly of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] confessional region in the North, but also of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] in the South. The [[Protestant]] reforms invigorated hopes for the development of the local language and literary tradition when cleric [[Gjon Buzuku]] brought into the Albanian language the [[Catholic liturgy]], trying to do for the Albanian language what [[Martin Luther|Luther]] did for German.

[[File:Meshari.jpg|thumb|left|Excerpt from ''[[Meshari]]'' by [[Gjon Buzuku]]]]

''[[Meshari]]'' (The Missal) by [[Gjon Buzuku]], published by him in 1555, is considered to date as the first literary work of written Albanian. The refined level of the language and the stabilised orthography must be a result of an earlier tradition of writing Albanian, a tradition that is not known. But there are some fragmented evidence, dating earlier than Buzuku, which indicate that Albanian was written at least since 14th century AD. The first known evidence dates from 1332 AD and deals with the French Dominican Guillelmus Adae, [[Archbishop]] of [[Antivari]], who in a report in Latin writes that Albanians use Latin letters in their books although their language is quite different from Latin. Of special importance in supporting this are: a baptizing formula (''Unte paghesont premenit Atit et Birit et spertit senit'') of 1462, written in Albanian within a text in Latin by the [[Bishop]] of [[Durrës]], [[Pal Engjëlli]]; a glossary with Albanian words of 1497 by Arnold von Harff, a German who had travelled through Albania, and a 15th century fragment from the [[Bible]] from the [[Gospel of Matthew]], also in Albanian, but in Greek letters.
[[File:Tirana Museum 1988.jpg|thumb|right|The [[National Historical Museum (Albania)|National Museum of Albania]] features exhibits from [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] times to World War II.]]

Albanian writings of these centuries must not have been religious texts only, but historical chronicles too. They are mentioned by the humanist [[Marin Barleti]], who, in his book ''Rrethimi i Shkodrës'' (The Siege of Shkodër) (1504), confirms that he leafed through such chronicles written in the language of the people (''in vernacula lingua''). Despite the obstacles generated by the [[Counter-Reformation]] which was opposed to the development of national languages in Christian [[liturgy]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}}, this process went on uninterrupted. During the 16th to 17th centuries, the [[catechism]] ''E mbësuame krishterë'' (Christian Teachings) (1592) by [[Lekë Matrënga]], ''Doktrina e krishterë'' (The Christian Doctrine) (1618) and ''Rituale romanum'' (1621) by [[Pjetër Budi]], the first writer of original Albanian [[prose]] and [[poetry]], an [[Remorse|apology]] for George Castriot (1636) by [[Frang Bardhi]], who also published a dictionary and [[folklore]] creations, the theological-philosophical treaty ''Cuneus Prophetarum'' (The Band of Prophets) (1685) by [[Pjetër Bogdani]], the most universal personality of Albanian [[Middle Ages]], were published in [[Albanian language|Albanian]]. The most famous Albanian writer is probably [[Ismail Kadare]].

'''Weddings as part of Albanian culture'''

Albania is a country of traditions and loves to be treated like this. The wedding represents a symptom, an important example of what of unique traditions Albanians have.

''The characteristic wedding dress of the muslim shkodran bride''

The dress of the Muslim bride is characterized by the elegance and transparency, in that of the catholic you can see full colors. Her dress is characterized by the picturesque effects and harmony.
Here we can analyze two dresses. One is worked on a ‘shajak” (big piece of wool) and with floral motives worked with “gajtan” (kind of rope) black cotton, sometimes mixed with green. The other one is worked in the same material but with red color. Different from the first here the motives are enriched with full colors. The difference between this two dresses that at the first dress the motives occupy all the area, at the second it occupies a little part in the front and back. These dresses have a belt worked with gold and grain necklaces in red, rose, orange creating all together a warm surface, enjoyable and quieter for the eyes. Here the motives are really small.
This gallery of costumes, richness of colors, sentiments are a big experience of lots of years of a population like ours, not only for the ability to conserve alive the tradition, inheriting it generations after generations, but also for conserving the high technique of elaboration or the high artistic level.

''The characteristic wedding dress of the catholic shkodran bride''

The shkodran woman has worked with a lot of finesse and has poured a lot of gold preparing her wedding dress. All the dress is tripped from the transparent white, shiny, soft, which spreads all over the body. As hardly as you see it, it creates a sense of a deep preoccupation, emotional, it creates you a sense of tranquility and a warm purity. This game is achieved through the white of the base material and the gold thread over. This dress is composed by the “barnaveke”: some kind of very long pants which seem a skirt. In the upper part is worn a shirt and over it a “jelek” (waistcoat).

''Paja''

A lot of ritual songs nominate various elements which contain “pajen” of the girl, which are the goods parents give to the daughter to wear, to furnish the house, gifts for her husband and the intimate cousins.
The preparation of the ‘paja” for the parents of the bride is a pleasure which means also accomplishing the obligations toward the daughter. This is also an expression of the love of parents, but is connected with the economical conditions of the familie

''Dhuntia''

"Dhunti" in Shkodra means all the gifts that the groom prepares for the bride during the engagement, mainly clothes, jewelry, gold ornaments and tricks, which are sent to her a few days before the wedding.
In addition to those received by the family of his father, the bride takes too many gifts from the groom and his family. "Dhuntia", which had a considerable monetary value, was prepared with great care by the family of the boy, because in some way embodied respect and love for his young bride, to whom these gifts were made, love for their son that he married at the same time was also a representation of the family in its economic and aesthetic. In "dhunti" there were enough clothes and items for use at all times, in joy and in sorrow, which expressed particular attention to the role of women.

''Kole Idromeno and “Dasma Shkodrane”''

In 1924 Idromeno drew the picture Dasma Shkodrane (Shkodra wedding), which immediately became known to the general public. The theme and picture was much appreciated for the accurate description of the original customs of the country. In the framework there are many elements and ethnographic peculiarities authentic. The environment is characteristic of Shkodra, the houses enclosed by high walls, windows, trees, chimneys, minarets, and represented everything perfectly, so you can capture all the beauty of the place, clothes only by watching the picture.

==Education==
Before the Communist regime, Albania's illiteracy rate was as high as 85%. Schools were scarce between [[World War I]] and [[World War II]]. When the Communist regime over took the country in 1944, the regime wanted to wipe out illiteracy. The regulations became so strict that anyone between the ages of 12 and 40 who could not read or write was mandated to attend classes to learn. Since these times of struggle the country's literacy rate has improved remarkably.<ref>Zickel, Iwaskiw, 1994</ref> Today the overall literacy rate in Albania is 98.7%, the male literacy rate is 99.2% and female literacy rate is 98.3%.<ref name=cia/> Since the rather large population movements in the 1990s to urban areas, education has moved as well. Thousands of teachers moved to urban areas to follow students. The [[University of Tirana]] is the first university in Albania and was founded in October 1957.

==Administrative divisions==
[[File:AlbaniaNumberedPrefectures.png|thumb|Counties of Albania]]

{{Main|Counties of Albania|Districts of Albania|Municipalities of Albania}}

Albania is divided into 12 administrative divisions called ({{lang-sq|official ''qark''/''qarku''}}, but often ''prefekturë''/''prefektura'') Counties, 36 districts and 351 municipalities. Each region has its Regional Council and is composed of a number of Municipalities and Communes, which are the first level of local governance responsible for local needs and law enforcement.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! !! [[Counties of Albania|County]]
! [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
! [[Districts of Albania|Districts]]
! [[Municipalities of Albania|Municipalities]]
! [[List of cities in Albania|Cities]]
! [[Town]]s
|-
| 1 || [[Berat County|Berat]]
| [[Berat]]
| [[Berat District|Berat]] [[Kuçovë District|Kuçovë]] [[Skrapar District|Skrapar]]
| 12 2 10
| 2 1 2
| 122 17 103
|-
| 2 || [[Dibër County|Dibër]]
| [[Peshkopi]]
| [[Bulqizë District|Bulqizë]] [[Dibër District|Dibër]] [[Mat District|Mat]]
| 8 15 12
| 2 1 3
| 103 141 76
|-
| 3 || [[Durrës County|Durrës]]
| [[Durrës]]
| [[Durrës District|Durrës]] [[Krujë District|Krujë]]
| 10 7
| 4 2
| 61 43
|-
| 4 || [[Elbasan County|Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan District|Elbasan]] [[Gramsh District|Gramsh]] [[Librazhd District|Librazhd]] [[Peqin District|Peqin]]
| 24 10 10 6
| 2 1 2 1
| 176 95 75 49
|-
| 5 || [[Fier County|Fier]]
| [[Fier]]
| [[Fier District|Fier]] [[Lushnjë District|Lushnjë]] [[Mallakastër District|Mallakastër]]
| 17 16 9
| 3 2 1
| 117 121 40
|-
| 6 || [[Gjirokastër County|Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër District|Gjirokastër]] [[Përmet District|Përmet]] [[Tepelenë District|Tepelenë]]
| 13 9 10
| 2 2 2
| 95 97 77
|-
| 7 || [[Korçë County|Korçë]]
| [[Korçë]]
| [[Devoll District|Devoll]] [[Kolonjë District|Kolonjë]] [[Korçë District|Korçë]] [[Pogradec District|Pogradec]]
| 5 8 17 8
| 1 2 2 1
| 44 76 155 72
|-
| 8 || [[Kukës County|Kukës]]
| [[Kukës]]
| [[Has District|Has]] [[Kukës District|Kukës]] [[Tropojë District|Tropojë]]
| 4 15 8
| 1 1 3
| 30 90 68
|-
| 9 || [[Lezhë County|Lezhë]]
| [[Lezhë]]
| [[Kurbin District|Kurbin]] [[Lezhë District|Lezhë]] [[Mirditë District|Mirditë]]
| 4 10 7
| 3 2 4
| 28 63 70
|-
| 10 || [[Shkodër County|Shkodër]]
| [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]]
| [[Malësi e Madhe District|Malësi e Madhe]] [[Pukë District|Pukë]] [[Shkodër District|Shkodër]]
| 6 10 18
| 2 2 2
| 56 75 139
|-
| 11 || [[Tirana County|Tirana]]
| [[Tirana]]
| [[Kavajë District|Kavajë]] [[Tirana District|Tirana]]
| 10 18
| 2 3
| 65 155
|-
| 12 || [[Vlorë County|Vlorë]]
| [[Vlorë]]
| [[Delvinë District|Delvinë]] [[Sarandë District|Sarandë]] [[Vlorë District|Vlorë]]
| 4 9 13
| 1 2 4
| 38 62 99
|}

==Sport==
[[Association football|Football (soccer)]] is the most popular sport in Albania, both at a participatory and spectator level. The sport is governed by the [[Football Association of Albania]] ({{lang-sq|Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit}}, F.SH.F.).

* [[Albania national football team]]
* [[Albania national basketball team]]
* [[Albania national futsal team]]
* [[Albania national under-21 football team]]

==Entertainment==
{{Main|RTSH}}

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar, ([[RTSH]]), is Albania's leading television network. RTSH runs a national television station ''TVSH'', (standing for ''Televizioni Shqiptar''), and two national radio stations, using the name ''Radio Tirana''. An international service broadcasts radio programmes in Albanian and seven other languages via [[medium wave]] (AM) and [[short wave]] (SW).<ref>[http://picasaweb.google.es/ec2adn/RadioTiranaBroadcastingSchedules/photo#5187887711939456834 radiotirana.org website] {{en icon}}</ref> The international service has used the theme from the song "Keputa një gjethe dafine" as its [[signature tune]]. Since 1999, RTSH has been a member of the [[European Broadcasting Union]]. Since 1993, RTSH has also run an international television service via [[satellite]], aimed at [[Albanian language]] communities in [[Kosovo]], [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], [[Montenegro]] and Greece, plus the Albanian [[diaspora]] in the rest of Europe.

According the National Council of Radio and Television Albania has an estimated 257 media outlets, including 66 radio stations and 65 television stations, with three national and 62 local stations.

==Health==
Health care has been in a steep decline after the collapse of socialism in the country, but a process of modernization has been taking place since 2000.<ref name="hospitals">{{cite web|url=http://www.euro.who.int/document/e80089.pdf |title=Albania-prel.pmd |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> As of the early 2000s, there were 51 hospitals in the country, including a military hospital and specialist facilities.<ref name="hospitals"/> Albania has successfully removed diseases such as [[malaria]].

Life expectancy is estimated at 77.43 years, ranking 51st worldwide, and outperforming a number of European Union countries, such as Hungary and the Czech Republic.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=51#al CIA – The World Factbook], Life Expectancy ranks</ref> The most common causes of death are circulatory disease followed by cancerous illnesses.

The medical school, Faculty of Medicine at Tirana University, is in Tirana. There are also nursing schools in many other cities.

==Cuisine==
{{Main|Albanian cuisine}}

The cuisine of Albania – as with most [[Mediterranean]] and [[Balkans|Balkan]] nations – is strongly influenced by its long history. At different times, the territory which is now Albania has been claimed or occupied by Greece, Italy and the [[Ottoman Turk]]s and each group has left its mark on Albanian cuisine. The main meal of the [[Albanians]] is lunch, and it is usually accompanied by a [[salad]] of fresh [[vegetables]], such as [[tomato]]es, [[cucumber]]s, green [[bell pepper|peppers]] and [[olive]]s with [[olive oil]], [[vinegar]] and [[salt]]. Lunch also includes a main dish of vegetables and meat. Seafood specialties are also common in the coastal areas of [[Durrës]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Sarandë]].

==Human rights in Albania==
{{Main|Human rights in Albania}}

===LGBT rights in Albania===
{{Main|LGBT rights in Albania}}

==International rankings==
{{Main|International rankings of Albania}}

===Demographic===
* [[List of countries by population|Population]] 2010 ranked 136 out of 223 countries
* [[CIA World Factbook]]: [[List of countries by life expectancy|Life expectancy]] 2005–2010 ranked 46 out of 195 countries
* List by the United Nations Population Division: [[List of countries by infant mortality rate|infant mortality rate]] ranked 91 highest [[infant mortality]] rate out of 195 countries
* [[United Nations Development Programme]]: [[List of countries by literacy rate|literacy rate]] 2009 ranked 19 out of 177 countries

===Economic===
* [[The Wall Street Journal]] and the [[Heritage Foundation]]: [[Index of Economic Freedom]] 2010, ranked 53 out of 179 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|GDP (nominal) per capita]] 2009, ranked 98 out of 180 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|GDP (nominal)]] 2009, ranked 113 out of 179 countries
* [[World Economic Forum]]: [[Global Competitiveness Index]] 2008–2009, ranked 108 out of 134 countries
* [[World Bank]]: [[Ease of Doing Business Index]] 2010 report, ranked 82 out of 183 countries
* [[United Nations]]: [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]] 2007, ranked 70 out of 182 countries
* [[List of countries by foreign exchange reserves|Foreign exchange reserves]] as of December 2008 ranked 111 out of 156 countries

===Environmental===
* [[Yale University]]: [[Environmental Sustainability Index]] 2005, ranked 24 out of 146 countries

===Globalization===
* [[A.T. Kearney]]/[[Foreign Policy|Foreign Policy Magazine]]: [[Globalization Index]] 2007 ranking based on 2004 data, 102 out of 122 countries.

===Geographic===
* [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|Total area]] ranked 144 out of 234

===Peace===
* Institute for Economics and Peace – [[Global Peace Index]] 2009 <ref>[http://economicsandpeace.org/UserFiles/Resources/2009-GPIResultsReport.pdf Institute for Economics and Peace 2009 Global Peace Index page 11]</ref> ranked 75 out of 144 countries

===Political===
* [[Transparency International]]: [[Corruption Perceptions Index]] 2009, ranked 95 out of 180 countries
* [[Reporters Without Borders]]: [[Press Freedom Index]] 2009, ranked 88 out of 175 countries

==See also==
{{portal|Albania|Flag of Albania.svg}}
{{Albania topics}}

==Notes and references==

'''Notes:'''
{| class="references-small" style="margin-left:13px; line-height:150%"
|-
| style="text-align:right; vertical-align:top;"|a.  
|{{note|status}}{{Kosovo-note}}
|}

'''References:'''

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
* {{CIA World Factbook link|al|Albania}}
* [http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/al/ Albania] information from the [[United States Department of State]]
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/albania.htm Albania] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Albania}}
* [http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_3_1.asp Albania] national profile from the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]]

{{wikiatlas|Albania}}

;Government
* [http://www.president.al Presidency of Albania]
* [http://www.keshilliministrave.al The Albanian Government] (''Council of Ministers'')
* [http://www.parlament.al The Albanian Parliament]
* [http://www.gjk.gov.al The Albanian Constitutional Court]
* [http://www.instat.gov.al Albanian Institute of Statistics]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-a/albania.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]

;Tourism
* [http://www.shqiperia.com/ Shqiperia] Albanian portal
* [http://albania.shqiperia.com/ Albania.Shqiperia.com] Informations related to Albania
* [http://www.albaniantourism.com/ National Tourism Organization] Official website for travel and tourism information
* [http://www.akt.gov.al/index.php?lang=2 National Tourism Agency] (in English)
* {{wikitravel}}
* [http://albaniaonline.org/ Tourism, history]
* [http://www.trekinu.com/viewtrek.aspx?trkid=i02ivoat68cl6qy Travel album], with photos and maps
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/maps.php Various Topographic Map Collections of Albania] (updated 18 January 2009)
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/wiki/index.php?title=Albania_Geopolitical_Mapset GPS Basemap for Albania]
* [http://www.vivalbania.net/ING/index.htm VIVAlbania, hospitality and ecotourism in Albania]
* [http://www.guidetoalbania.com Guide To Albania (with pictures)]
* [http://www.infoalb.net Website of the National Tourist Organisation of Albania]

;Other
* [http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/Albania/treasures_en.xml Treasure of the national library of Albania]
* [http://www.allcountries.eu/albania.htm Information on Albania]
* [http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Subject_Guides/PDFs/Albania.pdf Guide to materials pertaining to Albania at the Eisenhower Presidential Library]
* [http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief DFAT]
* [http://www.scribd.com/doc/11444724/Books-about-Albania-and-the-Albanian-people Books about Albania and the Albanian people] ''(scribd.com)'' Reference of books (and some journal articles) about Albania and the Albanian people; their history, language, origin, culture, literature, etc. Public domain books, fully accessible online.
{{Albania topics}}

{{Coord|41|N|20|E|type:country_region:AL|display=title}}

{{Template group
|title = [[File:Gnome-globe.svg|22px]] Geographic locale
|list =
{{Balkan Countries}}
{{Countries of Europe}}
{{Countries and territories bordering the Mediterranean Sea}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = Within Albania
|list =
{{World Heritage Sites in Albania}}
{{Cities in Albania}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{Council of Europe}}
{{EU countries and candidates}}
{{Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)}}
{{Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)}}
{{La Francophonie|state=collapsed}}
{{Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)|state=collapsed}}
}}

{{use dmy dates}}

[[Category:Albania|*]]
[[Category:Balkans]]
[[Category:Countries of the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:European countries]]
[[Category:Member states of La Francophonie]]
[[Category:Member states of the Union for the Mediterranean]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Organisation of the Islamic Conference members]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1912]]


[[ace:Albania]]
[[af:Albanië]]
[[als:Albanien]]
[[am:አልባኒያ]]
[[ang:Albania]]
[[ar:ألبانيا]]
[[an:Albania]]
[[arc:ܐܠܒܢܝܐ]]
[[roa-rup:Arbinishia]]
[[frp:Albanie]]
[[ast:Albania]]
[[gn:Avaña]]
[[az:Albaniya]]
[[bn:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[zh-min-nan:Shqipëria]]
[[be:Албанія]]
[[be-x-old:Альбанія]]
[[bcl:Albanya]]
[[bar:Albanien]]
[[bo:ཨར་པ་ཉི་ཡ།]]
[[bs:Albanija]]
[[br:Albania]]
[[bg:Албания]]
[[ca:Albània]]
[[cv:Албани]]
[[ceb:Albanya]]
[[cs:Albánie]]
[[co:Albania]]
[[cy:Albania]]
[[da:Albanien]]
[[pdc:Albaani]]
[[de:Albanien]]
[[dv:އަލްބޭނިއާ]]
[[nv:Dziłigaii Bikéyah]]
[[dsb:Albańska]]
[[dz:ཨལ་བཱ་ནི་ཡ།]]
[[et:Albaania]]
[[el:Αλβανία]]
[[eml:Albanî]]
[[es:Albania]]
[[eo:Albanio]]
[[ext:Albánia]]
[[eu:Albania]]
[[ee:Albania]]
[[fa:آلبانی]]
[[hif:Albania]]
[[fo:Albania]]
[[fr:Albanie]]
[[fy:Albaanje]]
[[fur:Albanie]]
[[ga:An Albáin]]
[[gv:Yn Albaan]]
[[gd:Albàinia]]
[[gl:Albania - Shqipëria]]
[[gu:અલ્બાનિયા]]
[[hak:Â-ngì-pâ-nì-â]]
[[xal:Арнаутн Орн Нутг]]
[[ko:알바니아]]
[[haw:‘Alepania]]
[[hy:Ալբանիա]]
[[hi:अल्बानिया]]
[[hsb:Albanska]]
[[hr:Albanija]]
[[io:Albania]]
[[ilo:Albania]]
[[bpy:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[id:Albania]]
[[ia:Albania]]
[[ie:Albania]]
[[os:Албани]]
[[is:Albanía]]
[[it:Albania]]
[[he:אלבניה]]
[[jv:Albania]]
[[kl:Albania]]
[[kn:ಅಲ್ಬೇನಿಯ]]
[[pam:Albania]]
[[ka:ალბანეთი]]
[[csb:Albańskô]]
[[kk:Албания]]
[[kw:Albani]]
[[ky:Албания]]
[[sw:Albania]]
[[kv:Албания]]
[[kg:Albania]]
[[ht:Albani]]
[[ku:Albanya]]
[[lad:אלבאניה]]
[[krc:Албания]]
[[la:Albania]]
[[lv:Albānija]]
[[lb:Albanien]]
[[lt:Albanija]]
[[lij:Albania]]
[[li:Albanië]]
[[ln:Albania]]
[[lmo:Albania]]
[[hu:Albánia]]
[[mk:Албанија]]
[[mg:Albania]]
[[ml:അൽബേനിയ]]
[[mt:Albanija]]
[[mr:आल्बेनिया]]
[[arz:ألبانيا]]
[[mzn:آلباني]]
[[ms:Albania]]
[[mn:Албани]]
[[nah:Albania]]
[[na:Albania]]
[[nl:Albanië]]
[[ne:अल्बानिया]]
[[ja:アルバニア]]
[[ce:Албани]]
[[pih:Elbanya]]
[[no:Albania]]
[[nn:Albania]]
[[nov:Albania]]
[[oc:Albania]]
[[uz:Albaniya]]
[[pnb:البانیا]]
[[pap:Albania]]
[[ps:البانيا]]
[[km:អាល់បានី]]
[[pms:Albanìa]]
[[tpi:Albenia]]
[[nds:Albanien]]
[[pl:Albania]]
[[pnt:Αλβανία]]
[[pt:Albânia]]
[[kaa:Albaniya]]
[[crh:Arnavutlıq]]
[[ro:Albania]]
[[rmy:Shkiperiya]]
[[rm:Albania]]
[[qu:Albanya]]
[[ru:Албания]]
[[sah:Албания]]
[[se:Albánia]]
[[sa:अल्बानिया]]
[[sc:Albania]]
[[sco:Albanie]]
[[stq:Albanien]]
[[sq:Shqipëria]]
[[scn:Albanìa]]
[[simple:Albania]]
[[ss:I-Alibheniya]]
[[sk:Albánsko]]
[[sl:Albanija]]
[[szl:Albańijo]]
[[ckb:ئەڵبانیا]]
[[srn:Albanikondre]]
[[sr:Албанија]]
[[sh:Albanija]]
[[su:Albania]]
[[fi:Albania]]
[[sv:Albanien]]
[[tl:Albanya]]
[[ta:அல்பேனியா]]
[[tt:Албания]]
[[te:అల్బేనియా]]
[[tet:Albánia]]
[[th:ประเทศแอลเบเนีย]]
[[tg:Албания]]
[[chr:ᎠᎸᏇᏂᏯ]]
[[tr:Arnavutluk]]
[[udm:Албания]]
[[uk:Албанія]]
[[ur:البانیا]]
[[ug:ئالبانىيە]]
[[vec:Albania]]
[[vi:Albania]]
[[vo:Lalbanän]]
[[fiu-vro:Albaania]]
[[war:Albanya]]
[[wo:Albaani]]
[[wuu:阿尔巴尼亚]]
[[yi:אלבאניע]]
[[yo:Albania]]
[[zh-yue:阿爾巴尼亞]]
[[diq:Arnawutiye]]
[[zea:Albanië]]
[[bat-smg:Albanėjė]]
[[zh:阿尔巴尼亚]]

Islam

2010-04-07T06:32:20Z

Elbasan101: /* Muhammad */

{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{Contains Arabic text}}
[[File:Kaaba at night.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Kaaba]], located in [[Mecca]] ([[Saudi Arabia]]) is the center of Islam. It is where [[Muslim]]s from all over the world travel to and gather there to [[prayer|pray]] in [[unity]].]]
{{Islam}}
:''For other meanings, including people named 'Islam', see [[Islam (disambiguation)]].''
'''Islam''' ({{lang-ar|'''الإسلام'''}} ''al-’islām,'' {{IPA-ar|ʔislæːm|pron|ar-al_islam.ogg}}, {{respell|ihs|LAHM}}<ref group=note>There are ten pronunciations of ''Islam'' in English, differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress, whether the ''s'' is {{IPA-en|z|}} or {{IPA|/s/}}, and whether the ''a'' is pronounced {{IPA|/ɑː/}} as in ''father,'' {{IPA|/æ/}} as in ''cat,'' or (when the stress is on the ''i'') {{IPA|/ə/}} as in the ''a'' of ''sofa'' (Merriam Webster). The most common are {{IPA-en|ˈɪzləm, ˈɪsləm, ɪzˈlɑːm, ɪsˈlɑːm|}} (Oxford English Dictionary, Random House) and {{IPA-en|ˈɪzlɑːm, ˈɪslɑːm|}} (American Heritage Dictionary).</ref>) is the [[Abrahamic]] [[religion]] articulated by the [[Qur’an]], a [[Religious text#Islam|text]] considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of the [[Tawhid|one, incomparable]] [[God in Islam|God]] ({{lang-ar|'''الله'''}}, [[Allāh]]), and by the [[Prophets of Islam|Prophet of Islam]] [[Muhammad]]'s demonstrations and real-life examples (called the [[Sunnah]], collected through narration of his [[Sahaba|companions]] in collections of [[Hadith]]). ''Islam'' literally means "[[Surrender (spirituality and psychology)#In Islam|submission]] (to [[God]])."<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/notislam/misconceptions.html#HEADING1 USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts]</ref> ''Muslim'', the word for an adherent of Islam, is the active participle of the same verb of which ''Islām'' is the infinitive (see [[S-L-M#Islam|Islam (term)]]).<ref name="EoI-Islam">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier |accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref><ref name="Lanes Lexicon">{{cite web|url=http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume4/00000137.pdf|title=Lane's lexicon |accessdate=2007-07-03|format=PDF}}</ref>

Muslims regard their religion as the completed and universal version of a primordial, monotheistic faith revealed at many times and places before, including, notably, to the [[Prophets in Islam|prophets]] [[Islamic view of Abraham|Abraham]], [[Islamic view of Moses|Moses]] and [[Islamic view of Jesus|Jesus]]. Islamic tradition holds that previous messages and revelations have been [[Tahrif|changed and distorted]] over time.<ref name="Distorted">See: * Accad (2003): According to Ibn Taymiya, although only some Muslims accept the textual veracity of the entire Bible, most Muslims will grant the veracity of most of it. * Esposito (1998), pp.6,12* Esposito (2002b), pp.4–5* F. E. Peters (2003), p.9* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=F. Buhl | coauthors=A. T. Welch | accessdate=2007-05-02}}* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Tahrif | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=Hava Lazarus-Yafeh | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> Religious practices include the [[Five Pillars of Islam]], which are five obligatory acts of worship.<ref>Esposito (2002b), p.17</ref> [[Sharia|Islamic law]] ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: {{lang|ar|'''شريعة'''}} {{transl|ar|Šarīʿah}}) touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, encompassing everything from [[Islamic banking|banking]] and [[Islamic military jurisprudence|warfare]] to [[zakat|welfare]] and the [[sociology in medieval Islam#Ecological_responsibility_and_environmentalism|environment]].<ref>See: * Esposito (2002b), pp.111,112,118* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Shari'ah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The vast majority of Muslims belong to one of two major denominations, the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and [[Shia Islam|Shi'a]].<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.4,11">Miller (2009), pp.4,11</ref> Islam is the predominant religion in the [[Middle East]], [[North Africa]], and large parts of [[Asia]] and [[Sub-Saharan Africa]].<ref>[http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/31/3731-004.gif Britannica], [http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/02016/images/map_of_religions.png Think Quest], [http://www.wadsworth.com/religion_d/special_features/popups/maps/matthews_world/images/w001.jpg Wadsworth.com]</ref> Sizable communities are also found in [[China]] and [[Russia]], and parts of the [[Balkans]] and the [[Caribbean]]. About 13% of Muslims live in [[Indonesia]], the largest Muslim country,<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.8,17">Miller (2009), pp.8,17</ref> 31% in the [[Indian Subcontinent]],<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.8,17"/> and 20% in [[Arab world|Arab countries]].<ref>See:* Esposito (2002b), p.21* Esposito (2004), pp.2,43 * Miller (2009), pp.9,19</ref> Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world. With approximately 1.57 billion Muslims<ref name="executive summary">{{citation|url=http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=450|title=Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population: Main Page|publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]}}</ref> (see [[Islam by country]]), Islam is the [[major religious groups|second-largest religion in the world]] and arguably the [[Claims to be the fastest growing religion|fastest growing religion in the world]].<ref>[[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] – [http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/faithtoday.html Islam Today] (Islam, followed by more than a billion people today, is the world's fastest growing religion and will soon be the world's largest.)</ref><ref>[http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/religion/2008/04/07/no-god-but-god.html ''No God But God''] by Thomas W. Lippman of [[U.S. News & World Report]]. April 7, 2008.''"Islam is the youngest, the fastest growing, and in many ways the least complicated of the world's great monotheistic faiths. It is a unique religion based on its own holy book, but it is also a direct descendant of Judaism and Christianity, incorporating some of the teachings of those religions—modifying some and rejecting others."''</ref><ref>[http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/religion/2008/04/07/understanding-islam.html ''Understanding Islam''] by Susan Headden of U.S. News & World Report. April 7, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3835 The world's fastest growing religions]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html#Islam |title=Major Religions of the World — Ranked by Number of Adherents |accessdate=2007-07-03 |work= }}</ref>

==Etymology and meaning==
{{Main|S-L-M#Islam|l1=S-L-M}}
The word ''Islam'' is a [[verbal noun]] originating from the [[triliteral]] root ''s-l-m'', and is derived from the [[Arabic grammar#Verb|Arabic verb]] ''Aslama'', which means "to accept, surrender or submit." Thus, Islam means acceptance of and submission to God, and believers must demonstrate this by worshiping him, following his commands, and avoiding [[polytheism]]. Islam also means "Peace". The word is given a number of meanings in the Qur'an. In some verses (''[[ayat]]''), the quality of Islam as an internal conviction is stressed: "Whomsoever God desires to guide, He expands his breast to Islam."<ref>{{cite quran|6|125|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|61|7|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|39|22|style=ref}}</ref>{{Syn|date=November 2009}}

Other verses connect ''islām'' and ''[[Deen (Arabic term)|dīn]]'' (usually translated as "religion"): "Today, I have perfected your religion (''dīn'') for you; I have completed My blessing upon you; I have approved Islam for your religion."<ref>{{cite quran|5|3|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|3|19|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|3|83|style=ref}}</ref> Still others{{Who|date=November 2009}} describe Islam as an action of returning to God—more than just a verbal affirmation of faith.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|9|74|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|49|14|style=ref}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> Another technical meaning in Islamic thought is as one part of a triad of ''islam'', ''[[Iman (concept)|imān]]'' (faith), and ''[[ihsan|ihsān]]'' (excellence) where it represents acts of worship (''`[[ibadah|ibādah]]'') and Islamic law (''[[sharia]]'').<ref>Cyril Glassé, ''The Concise Encyclopedia of Islam'', p. 192</ref>

==Articles of faith==
{{Main|Aqidah|Iman (concept)|l2=Iman}}

The Qur'an states that all Muslims must believe in God, his revelations, his [[Islamic view of angels|angels]], his [[Prophets in Islam|messengers]], and in the "[[Qiyamah|Day of Judgment]]".<ref>{{cite quran|2|4|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|2|285|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|4|136|style=ref}}</ref>{{Syn|date=November 2009}} Also, there are other beliefs that differ between [[Kalam|particular sects]]. The [[Sunni]] concept of predestination is called [[Qadr (doctrine)|divine decree]],<ref>{{Muslim|1|1}}</ref> while the [[Shi'a]] version is called [[Adalah|divine justice]].{{Syn|date=November 2009}} Unique to the Shi'a is the doctrine of ''[[Imamah (Shia doctrine)|Imamah]]'', or the political and spiritual leadership of the [[Imam]]s.<ref>See:
* Farah (2003), p.109
* Momen (1987), p.176</ref>

Muslims believe that God [[revelation|revealed]] his final message to humanity through the Islamic prophet Muhammad via the [[Gabriel|archangel Gabriel]] (''Jibrīl''). For them, Muhammad was God's final prophet and the Qur'an is the holy book of revelations he received over more than two decades.<ref>Esposito (2004), pp.17,18,21</ref> In Islam, prophets are men selected by God to be his messengers. Muslims believe that prophets are human and not divine, though some are able to perform miracles to prove their claim. Islamic prophets are considered to be the closest to perfection of all humans, and are uniquely the recipients of divine [[revelation]]—either directly from God or through angels. The Qur'an mentions the names of numerous figures considered [[prophets in Islam]], including [[Adam (Bible)|Adam]], [[Islamic view of Noah|Noah]], [[Abraham]], [[Islamic view of Moses|Moses]] and [[Jesus in Islam|Jesus]], among others.<ref>See:
* Momem (1987), p.176
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-20}}</ref> Islamic theology says that all of God's messengers since Adam preached the message of Islam—submission to the will of God.<ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=5LacP0-C6MEC&pg=PT156&dq=all+of+God%27s+messengers+since+Adam+preached+the+message+of+Islam&ei=e3f9SozPFJaGkASUj83XDg#v=onepage&q=all%20of%20God's%20messengers%20since%20Adam%20preached%20the%20message%20of%20Islam&f=false Islam, Muslims, and America: understanding the basis of their conflict]. Arshad Khan. Publisher: Algora Publishing, 2003. Pg 136. ISBN 087586242X, 9780875862422</ref><ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=JzUnrNHHp5wC&pg=PA53&dq=all+of+God%27s+messengers+since+Adam+preached+the+message+of+Islam&ei=e3f9SozPFJaGkASUj83XDg#v=onepage&q=all%20of%20God's%20messengers%20since%20Adam%20preached%20the%20message%20of%20Islam&f=false Title Perspectives on Mankind's Search for Meaning]. Walter Taminang. Pg 53. Publisher: Lulu.com, 2008.ISBN 0615219810, 9780615219813</ref> According to the Quran <ref>{{cite web|url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/koran/koran-idx?type=proximity&q1=Imran&operator1=Near&amt1=80&q2=Ibrahim&operator2=Near&amt2=80&q3=&size=First+100 |title=The Koran |publisher=Quod.lib.umich.edu |date= |accessdate=2009-12-12}}</ref> the will of God is brought to the nations by the descendants of Abraham and [[Imran (father of Maryam)|Imran]]. Islam is described in the Qur'an as "the primordial nature upon which God created mankind",<ref>{{cite quran|30|30|style=ref}}</ref> and the Qur'an states that the [[proper name]] ''Muslim'' was given by Abraham.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|22|78|style=ref}}
* "Islam", ''Encyclopedia of Religion''</ref>

As a historical phenomenon, Islam originated in [[Arabia]] in the early 7th century.<ref>"Islam", ''Encyclopedia of Religion''</ref> Islamic texts depict Judaism and Christianity as prophetic successor traditions to the teachings of Abraham. The Qur'an calls [[Jew]]s and [[Christian]]s "[[People of the Book]]" (''ahl al-kitāb''), and distinguishes them from polytheists. Muslims believe that parts of the previously revealed scriptures, the ''[[Tawrat]]'' ([[Torah]]) and the ''[[Injil]]'' ([[Gospels]]), had become [[tahrif|distorted]]—either in interpretation, in text, or both.<ref name="Distorted" />

===God===
{{Main|God in Islam}}
[[File:Dcp7323-Edirne-Eski Camii Allah-ds.svg|thumb|left|100px|[[Allah]] means [[God in Islam|God in Arabic]]]]
{{See also|Oneness of God (Islam)|Allah}}
Islam's fundamental theological concept is ''[[tawhīd]]''—the belief that there is only one god. The Arabic term for God is ''Allāh''; most scholars believe it was derived from a contraction of the words ''[[al-]]'' (the) and ''{{transl|ar|ISO|[[ʾilāh]]}}'' (deity, masculine form), meaning "the god" (''{{transl|ar|ISO|al-ilāh}}''), but others trace its origin to the Aramaic ''Alāhā''.<ref>See:
* "Islam and Christianity", ''Encyclopedia of Christianity'' (2001): Arabic-speaking [[Christian]]s and [[Jew]]s also refer to God as ''Allāh''.
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Allah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> The first of the Five Pillars of Islam, ''tawhīd'' is expressed in the ''[[shahadah]]'' (testification), which declares that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is God's messenger. In traditional Islamic theology, God is beyond all comprehension; Muslims are not expected to visualize God but to worship and adore him as a protector. Although Muslims believe that [[Jesus]] was a prophet, they reject the Christian doctrine of the [[Trinity]] and divinity of Jesus, comparing it to polytheism. In Islamic theology, [[Jesus]] was just a man and not the son of God;<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Tathlith, Trinity | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=David Thomas | accessdate=2007-05-11}}: Contrary to Muslim understanding, some scholars have suggested that the Qur'an only opposes certain deviant forms of Trinitarian belief.</ref> God is described in a chapter (''[[sura]]'') of the Qur'an as "…God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him."<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|112|1|end=4|style=ref}}
* Esposito (2002b), pp.74–76
* Esposito (2004), p.22
* Griffith (2006), p.248
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Allah, Tawhid | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | author=D. Gimaret | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Qur'an===
{{Main|Islamic holy books|Qur'an}}
{{See also|Origin and development of the Qur'an}}
[[Image:FirstSurahKoran.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Al-Fatiha|first sura]] in a Qur'anic manuscript by [[Hattat Aziz Efendi]]]]

Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the literal word of God; it is the central [[religious text]] of Islam revealed in [[Arabic]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Qur'an| encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}</ref> Muslims believe that the verses of the Qur'an were revealed to Muhammad by God through the angel Gabriel on many occasions between 610 and his death on June 8, 632. The Qur'an was reportedly written down by Muhammad's companions (''[[sahabah]]'') while he was alive, although the prime method of transmission was orally. It was compiled in the time of [[Abu Bakr]], the first [[caliph]], and was standardized under the administration of [[Uthman]], the third caliph. From textual evidence [[Islamic studies]] scholars find that the Qur'an of today has not changed significantly since it was standardized<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/bukhari/061.sbt.html#006.061.510 USC.edu]</ref><ref>See:
* William Montgomery Watt in ''The Cambridge History of Islam'', p.32
* Richard Bell, William Montgomery Watt, ''Introduction to the Qur'an'', p.51
* F. E. Peters (1991), pp.3–5: "Few have failed to be convinced that … the Quran is … the words of Muhammad, perhaps even dictated by him after their recitation."</ref>

The Qur'an is divided into 114 [[sura]]s, or chapters, which combined, contain 6,236 ''[[ayah|āyāt]]'', or verses. The chronologically earlier suras, revealed at Mecca, are primarily concerned with ethical and spiritual topics. The later Medinan suras mostly discuss social and moral issues relevant to the Muslim community.<ref>See:
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Qur'an | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}

</ref> The Qur'an is more concerned with moral guidance than legal instruction, and is considered the "sourcebook of Islamic principles and values".<ref>Esposito (2004), p.79</ref> Muslim jurists consult the ''[[hadith]]'', or the written record of Muhammad's life, to both supplement the Qur'an and assist with its interpretation. The science of Qur'anic commentary and exegesis is known as ''[[tafsir]]''.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), pp.79–81
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Tafsir | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}</ref>

The word ''Qur'an'' means "recitation". When Muslims speak in the abstract about "the Qur'an", they usually mean the scripture as recited in Arabic rather than the printed work or any translation of it. To Muslims, the Qur'an is perfect only as revealed in the original Arabic; translations are necessarily deficient because of language differences, the fallibility of translators, and the impossibility of preserving the original's inspired style. Translations are therefore regarded only as commentaries on the Qur'an, or "interpretations of its meaning", not as the Qur'an itself.<ref>See:
* Teece (2003), pp.12,13
* C. Turner (2006), p.42
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Qur'an | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}: The word ''Qur'an'' was invented and first used in the Qur'an itself. There are [[Quran#Etymology|two different theories]] about this term and its formation.</ref>

===Hadith===
{{Main|Hadith}}
Hadith are narrations originating from the words and deeds of the [[Prophets of Islam|Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad|Mohammad]]. Hadith are regarded by traditional [[Madh'hab|schools of jurisprudence]] as important tools for understanding the [[Qur'an]] and in matters of [[Fiqh|jurisprudence]].<ref name="Nukat">Ibn Hajar, Ahmad. ''al-Nukat ala Kitab ibn al-Salah'', vol. 1, pg. 90. Maktabah al-Furqan.</ref> Hadith were [[Science of hadith|evaluated]] and gathered into large collections mostly during the reign of [[Umar II|Umar bin Abdul Aziz]] during the 8th and 9th centuries. These works are referred to in matters of [[Sharia|Islamic law]] and [[Muslim history|history]] to this day. The two main denominations of Islam, Shi`ism and Sunnism, have different sets of Hadith collections.

The Hadith enables Muslims to acquire the [[Sunnah]] (habits) or usual practices of [[Muhammad]].<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/reference/glossary/term.SUNNAH.html Sunnah], Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement</ref> The [[Muslim]] usage of this term refers to the sayings and living habits of [[Muhammad]], the last [[Prophets of Islam|prophet of Islam]]. Recording sunnah was an [[Arabia|Arabic]] tradition, and once people converted to Islam, they brought the tradition to the [[religion]]<ref>Goldziher, Ignác. Introduction to Islamic theology and law, page 231. Princeton, N.J: Princeton UP, 1981.</ref>. Among Sunni Muslims, [[Sahih al-Bukhari]] and [[Sahih Muslim]] collections are considered authentic.

===Angels===
{{Main|Angels in Islam}}

Belief in angels is crucial to the faith of Islam. The Arabic word for angel (''malak'') means "messenger", like its counterparts in Hebrew (''malakh'') and Greek (''angelos''). According to the Qur'an, angels do not possess [[free will]], and worship God in perfect obedience.<ref>{{cite quran|21|19|end=20|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|35|1|style=ref}}</ref>{{Syn|date=November 2009}} Angels' duties include communicating revelations from God, glorifying God, recording every person's actions, and taking a person's soul at the time of death. They are also thought to intercede on man's behalf. The Qur'an describes angels as "messengers with wings—two, or three, or four (pairs): He [God] adds to Creation as He pleases…"<ref>See:
*{{cite quran|35|1|style=ref}}
*Esposito (2002b), pp.26–28
*{{cite encyclopedia | title=Malā'ika | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=W. Madelung | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
*{{cite encyclopedia | title=Angel | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Gisela Webb | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Muhammad===
{{Main|Muhammad}}
[[File:Madina Haram at evening .jpg|thumb|left|500px|[[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi]] (the Mosque of the Prophet) in [[Medina]], Saudi Arabia, is the site of [[Muhammad]]'s [[tomb]].]]
Muhammad (c. 570 – June 8, 632) was a trader later becoming a religious, political, and military leader. Muslims view him not as the creator of a new religion, but as the restorer of the original, uncorrupted monotheistic faith of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and others. In Muslim tradition, Muhammad is viewed as the last and the greatest in a series of [[Prophets in Islam|prophets]]—as the man closest to perfection, the possessor of all virtues.<ref>See:
* Esposito (1998), p.12
* Esposito (2002b), pp.4–5
* F. E. Peters (2003), p.9
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}</ref> For the last 23 years of his life, beginning at age 40, Muhammad reported receiving revelations from God. The content of these revelations, known as the Qur'an, was memorized and recorded by his [[Sahaba|companions]].<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|18|110|style=ref}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=F. Buhl | coauthors=A. T. Welch | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

During this time, Muhammad preached to the people of Mecca, imploring them to abandon polytheism. Although some converted to Islam, Muhammad and his followers were persecuted by the leading Meccan authorities. After 13 years of preaching, Muhammad and the Muslims performed the ''[[Hijra (Islam)|Hijra]]'' ("emigration") to the city of [[Medina]] (formerly known as ''Yathrib'') in 622. There, with the Medinan converts (''[[Ansar (Islam)|Ansar]]'') and the Meccan migrants (''[[Muhajirun]]''), Muhammad established his political and [[Theocracy|religious authority]]. Within years, two battles had been fought against Meccan forces: the [[Battle of Badr]] in 624, which was a Muslim victory, and the [[Battle of Uhud]] in 625, which ended inconclusively. Conflict with Medinan Jewish clans who opposed the Muslims led to their exile, enslavement or death, and the Jewish enclave of [[Battle of Khaybar|Khaybar]] was subdued. At the same time, Meccan trade routes were cut off as Muhammad brought surrounding desert tribes under his control.<ref>See:
* F.E.Peters(2003), pp.78,79,194
* Lapidus (2002), pp.23–28</ref> By 629 Muhammad was victorious in the nearly bloodless [[Conquest of Mecca]], and by the time of his death in 632 (at the age of 63) he ruled over the [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabian peninsula]].<ref name="EoI-Muhammad">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=F. Buhl | coauthors=A. T. Welch | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

In Islam, the "[[normative]]" example of Muhammad's life is called the ''[[Sunnah]]'' (literally "trodden path"). This example is preserved in traditions known as [[hadith]] ("reports"), which recount his words, his actions, and his personal characteristics. The classical Muslim jurist [[ash-Shafi'i]] (d. 820) emphasized the importance of the Sunnah in [[Sharia|Islamic law]], and Muslims are encouraged to emulate Muhammad's actions in their daily lives. The Sunnah is seen as crucial to guiding interpretation of the Qur'an.<ref>See:
* ''Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World'' (2003), p.666
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Hadith | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=J. Robson | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sunna | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=D. W. Brown | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Resurrection and judgment===
{{Main|Qiyama}}

Belief in the "Day of Resurrection", ''[[Qiyamah|yawm al-Qiyāmah]]'' (also known as ''yawm ad-dīn'', "Day of Judgment" and ''as-sā`a'', "the Last Hour") is also crucial for Muslims. They believe that the time of ''Qiyāmah'' is preordained by God but unknown to man. The trials and [[tribulation]]s preceding and during the ''Qiyāmah'' are described in the Qur'an and the [[hadith]], and also in the commentaries of [[Ulema|Islamic scholars]]. The Qur'an emphasizes [[Resurrection of the Dead|bodily resurrection]], a break from the [[pre-Islamic Arabia]]n understanding of death. It states that resurrection will be followed by the gathering of mankind, culminating in their judgment by God.<ref>See:
* "Resurrection", ''The New Encyclopedia of Islam'' (2003)
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Avicenna | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}: Ibn Sīnā, Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAbd Allāh b. Sīnā is known in the West as "Avicenna".
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Qiyama | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The Qur'an lists several sins that can condemn a person to hell, such as disbelief, [[riba|usury]] and dishonesty. Muslims view paradise (''[[jannah]]'') as a place of joy and bliss, with Qur'anic references describing its features and the physical pleasures to come. There are also references to a greater joy—acceptance by God (''ridwān'').<ref>{{cite quran|9|72|style=ref}}</ref> Mystical traditions in Islam place these heavenly delights in the context of an ecstatic awareness of God.<ref>See:
* Smith (2006), p.89; ''Encyclopedia of Islam and Muslim World'', p.565
* "Heaven", ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'' (2000)
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Garden | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Asma Afsaruddin | accessdate=2007-05-08}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Paradise | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Predestination===
{{Main|Predestination in Islam|Adalah}}

In accordance with the Islamic belief in [[predestination]], or divine preordainment (''al-qadā wa'l-qadar''), God has full knowledge and control over all that occurs. This is explained in Qur'anic verses such as "Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector'…"<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|9|51|style=ref}}
* D. Cohen-Mor (2001), p.4: "The idea of predestination is reinforced by the frequent mention of events 'being written' or 'being in a book' before they happen: 'Say: "Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us…" ' "
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Fate | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Ahmet T. Karamustafa | accessdate=2007-05-02}}: The verb ''qadara'' literally means "to measure, to determine". Here it is used to mean that "God measures and orders his creation".</ref> For Muslims, everything in the world that occurs, good or evil, has been preordained and nothing can happen unless permitted by God. According to Muslim theologians, although events are pre-ordained, man possesses free will in that he has the faculty to choose between right and wrong, and is thus responsible for his actions. According to Islamic tradition, all that has been decreed by God is written in ''al-Lawh al-Mahfūz'', the "Preserved Tablet".<ref>See:
* Farah (2003), pp.119–122
* Patton (1900), p.130</ref>

The Shi'a understanding of free will is called "divine justice" (''Adalah''). This doctrine, originally developed by the [[Mu'tazila]], stresses the importance of man's responsibility for his own actions. In contrast, the Sunni deemphasize the role of individual free will in the context of God's creation and foreknowledge of all things.<ref>Momen (1987), pp.177,178</ref>

==Duties and practices==
===Five Pillars===
{{Main|Five Pillars of Islam}}

[[The Five Pillars of Islam]] (Arabic: أركان الإسلام) are five practices essential to [[Sunni Islam]]. Shi'a Muslims subscribe to different sets of pillars which substantially overlap with the [[Five Pillars of Islam|Five Pillars]].<ref>See:
* Momem (1987), p.178
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Pillars of Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The Five Pillars of Islam are:
[[Image:Mosque.jpg|thumb|Muslims performing [[salah]] ([[prayer]]) at the [[Umayyad Mosque]] in [[Damascus]], [[Syria]].]]
# The '''''[[shahadah]]'''''<ref>[[Hossein Nasr]]
The Heart of Islam, Enduring Values for Humanity (April., 2003), pp 3, 39, 85, 27–272
</ref>, which is the basic [[creed]] or tenet of Islam that must be recited under an [[oath]] with the following specific statement: "''{{transl|ar|ISO|'ašhadu 'al-lā ilāha illā-llāhu wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh}}''", or "I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God." This testament is a foundation for all other beliefs and practices in Islam. Muslims must repeat the ''shahadah'' in prayer, and non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam are required to recite the creed.<ref>See:
* Farah (1994), p.135
* Momen (1987), p.178
* "Islam", ''Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals''(2004)
* [http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Ismaili/1035965 ArticleClick.com]</ref>
# '''''[[Salah]]''''', or ritual prayer, which must be performed five times a [[day]]. Each [[salah]] is done facing towards the [[Kaaba]] in Mecca. Salah is intended to focus the mind on [[God]], and is seen as a personal communication with him that expresses gratitude and [[worship]]. Salah is compulsory but flexibility in the specifics is allowed depending on circumstances. In many Muslim countries, reminders called [[Adhan]] (call to prayer) are broadcast publicly from local mosques at the appropriate times. The prayers are recited in the [[Arabic language]], and consist of verses from the Qur'an.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2002b), pp.18,19
* Hedáyetullah (2006), pp.53–55
* Kobeisy (2004), pp.22–34
* Momen (1987), p.178</ref>
# '''''[[Zakat]]''''', or [[alms|alms-giving]]. This is the practice of giving based on accumulated wealth, and is obligatory for all Muslims who can afford it. A fixed portion is spent to help the poor or needy, and also to assist the spread of Islam. The zakat is considered a religious obligation (as opposed to voluntary charity) that the well-off owe to the needy because their wealth is seen as a "trust from God's bounty". The Qur'an and the hadith also suggest a Muslim give even more as an act of voluntary alms-giving (''[[sadaqah]]'').<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|2|177|style=ref}}
* Esposito (2004), p.90
* Momen (1987), p.179
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Zakat | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-11}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Zakat | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>
# '''''[[Sawm]]''''', or [[Sawm of Ramadan|fasting during the month of Ramadan]]. Muslims must not eat or drink (among other things) from dawn to dusk during this month, and must be mindful of other sins. The fast is to encourage a feeling of nearness to God, and during it Muslims should express their gratitude for and dependence on him, atone for their past sins, and think of the needy. ''Sawm'' is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would constitute an undue burden. For others, flexibility is allowed depending on circumstances, but missed fasts usually must be made up quickly. Some Muslim groups do not fast during Ramadan, and instead have fasts at different times of the year.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|2|184|style=ref}}
* Esposito (2004), pp.90,91
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/pillars/fasting/tajuddin/fast_21.html#HEADING20 | title=For whom fasting is mandatory | publisher=USC-MSA | work=Compendium of Muslim Texts | accessdate=2007-04-18}}</ref>
# The '''''[[Hajj]]''''', which is the pilgrimage during the [[Islamic calendar|Islamic month]] of ''[[Dhu al-Hijjah]]'' in the city of Mecca. Every [[able-bodied]] Muslim who can afford it must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime. When the pilgrim is about ten kilometers from Mecca, he must dress in [[Ihram clothing|''Ihram'' clothing]], which consists of two white seamless sheets. Rituals of the Hajj include walking seven times around the Kaaba, touching the [[black stone]] if possible, walking or running seven times between [[Al-Safa and Al-Marwah|Mount Safa]] and [[Al-Safa and Al-Marwah|Mount Marwah]], and symbolically [[Stoning of the Devil|stoning the Devil]] in [[Mina, Saudi Arabia|Mina]]. The pilgrim, or the ''[[hajji]]'', is honored in his or her community, although Islamic teachers say that the Hajj should be an expression of devotion to God instead of a means to gain social standing.<ref>See:
* Farah (1994), pp.145–147
* Goldschmidt (2005), p.48
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Hajj | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Law===
{{Main|Sharia|Fiqh}}

The ''Sharia'' (literally: "the path leading to the watering place") is Islamic law formed by traditional Islamic scholarship, which most Muslim groups adhere to. In Islam, Sharia is the expression of the divine will, and "constitutes a system of duties that are incumbent upon a Muslim by virtue of his religious belief".<ref name="BritannicaShariah">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Shari'ah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

Islamic law covers all aspects of life, from matters of state, like governance and [[Diplomacy|foreign relations]], to issues of daily living. The Qur'an defines ''[[hudud]]'' as the punishments for five specific crimes: unlawful intercourse, false accusation of unlawful intercourse, consumption of alcohol, theft, and highway robbery. The Qur'an and Sunnah also contain laws of [[Islamic Inheritance jurisprudence|inheritance]], [[Islamic marital jurisprudence|marriage]], and [[Qisas|restitution for injuries and murder]], as well as rules for [[sawm|fasting]], [[Sadaqah|charity]], and [[salat|prayer]]. However, these [[wajib|prescriptions]] and [[Haraam|prohibitions]] may be broad, so their application in practice varies. [[Ulema|Islamic scholars]] (known as ''ulema'') have elaborated systems of law on the basis of these rules and their interpretations.<ref>See:
* Menski (2006), p.290
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Hadd | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=B. Carra de Vaux | coauthors=J. Schacht, A.M. Goichon | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sharia | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=N. Calder | coauthors=M. B. Hooker | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

''[[Fiqh]]'', or "jurisprudence", is defined as the knowledge of the practical rules of the religion. The method Islamic jurists use to derive rulings is known as ''[[usul al-fiqh]]'' ("legal theory", or "principles of jurisprudence"). According to Islamic legal theory, law has four fundamental roots, which are given precedence in this order: the Qur'an, the Sunnah (actions and sayings of Muhammad), the consensus of the Muslim jurists (''[[ijma]]''), and analogical reasoning (''[[qiyas]]''). For early Islamic jurists, theory was less important than pragmatic application of the law. In the 9th century, the jurist [[ash-Shafi'i]] provided a theoretical basis for Islamic law by codifying the principles of jurisprudence (including the four fundamental roots) in his book ''ar-Risālah''.<ref>Weiss (2002), pp.xvii,162</ref>

====Religion and state====
{{Main|Political aspects of Islam|Islamic state|Caliphate}}
Mainstream Islamic law does not distinguish between "matters of church" and "matters of state"; the [[ulema]] function as both jurists and theologians. In practice, Islamic rulers frequently bypassed the Sharia courts with a parallel system of so-called "Grievance courts" over which they had sole control. As the Muslim world came into contact with Western secular ideals, Muslim societies responded in different ways. [[Turkey]] has been governed as a [[secular state]] ever since the reforms of [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]]. In contrast, the [[1979 Iranian Revolution]] replaced a mostly secular regime with an [[Islamic republic]] led by the [[Ruholla Khomeini|Ayatollah Khomeini]].<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), p. 84
* Lapidus (2002), pp. 502–507,845
* Lewis (2003), p. 100</ref>

===Etiquette and diet===
{{Main|Adab (behavior)|Islamic dietary laws}}

Many practices fall in the category of ''adab'', or Islamic etiquette. This includes greeting others with "''[[As-Salamu Alaykum|as-salamu `alaykum]]''" ("peace be unto you"), saying ''[[bismillah]]'' ("in [[Names of God|the name of God]]") before meals, and using only the right hand for eating and drinking. [[Islamic hygienical jurisprudence|Islamic hygienic]] practices mainly fall into the category of personal cleanliness and health, such as the [[Khitan (circumcision)|circumcision of male offspring]]. [[Islamic funeral|Islamic burial rituals]] include saying the ''[[Salat al-Janazah]]'' ("funeral prayer") over the bathed and enshrouded dead body, and burying it in a grave. Muslims are restricted in their diet. Prohibited foods include pork products, blood, [[carrion]], and [[alcoholic beverage|alcohol]]. All meat must come from a [[herbivorous]] animal slaughtered in the name of God by a Muslim, Jew, or Christian, with the exception of game that one has hunted or fished for oneself. Food permissible for Muslims is known as [[halal]] food.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|5|5|style=ref}}
* Curtis (2005), p.164
* Esposito (2002b), p.111
* Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/janisla2y2.html Customs and Behavioral Laws]
* Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/febislaw2y2.html The Dietary Laws]
* Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/DecIslaw2y5.htm Various types of the prayer]
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Slaughter | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Ersilia Francesca | accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref>

===Jihad===
{{Main|Jihad|Islamic military jurisprudence}}

Jihad means "to strive or struggle" (in the way of God) and is considered the "[[Sixth Pillar of Islam]]" by a minority of Sunni Muslim authorities.<ref name="jih">Esposito (2003), p.93</ref> Jihad, in its broadest sense, is classically defined as "exerting one's utmost power, efforts, endeavors, or ability in contending with an object of disapprobation." Depending on the object being a visible enemy, the devil, and aspects of one's own self, different categories of Jihad are defined.<ref>Firestone (1999) pp. 17–18</ref> Jihad, when used without any qualifier, is understood in its military aspect.<ref>Reuven Firestone (1999), The Meaning of Jihād, p. 17–18</ref><ref>Britannica Encyclopedia, Jihad</ref> Jihad also refers to one's striving to attain religious and moral perfection.<ref>See:
* Brockopp (2003) pp. 99–100
* Esposito (2003), p.93
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=jihad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-06-13}}</ref> Some Muslim authorities, especially among the Shi'a and [[Sufism|Sufis]], distinguish between the "greater jihad", which pertains to spiritual self-perfection, and the "lesser jihad", defined as warfare.<ref>See:
* Firestone (1999) p.17
* "Djihad", ''Encyclopedia of Islam Online''.</ref>

Within [[fiqh|Islamic jurisprudence]], jihad is usually taken to mean military exertion against non-Muslim combatants in the [[Defensive Jihad|defense]] or [[Offensive jihad|expansion]] of the [[Ummah]]. The ultimate purpose of military jihad is debated, both within the Islamic community and without, with some claiming that it only serves to protect he Ummah, with no aspiration of offensive conflict, whereas others have argued that the goal of Jihad is global conquest. Jihad is the only form of warfare permissible in Islamic law and may be declared against apostates, rebels, highway robbers, violent groups, and leaders or states, Islamic or otherwise, who oppress Muslims or hamper proselytizing efforts.<ref>Firestone (1999) p.17</ref><ref name="jihad">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Djihād | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> Most Muslims today interpret Jihad as only a defensive form of warfare: the external Jihad includes a struggle to make the Islamic societies conform to the Islamic norms of justice.<ref>Knowing the Enemy: Jihadist Ideology and the War on Terror, Mary R. Habeck, Yale University Press, p.108–109, 118</ref>

Under most circumstances and for most Muslims, jihad is a collective duty (''[[fard|fard kifaya]]''): its performance by some individuals exempts the others. Only for those vested with authority, especially the sovereign ([[imam]]), does jihad become an individual duty. For the rest of the populace, this happens only in the case of a [[general mobilization]].<ref name="jihad" /> For most [[Twelvers|Shias]], [[offensive jihad]] can only be declared by a [[Imamah (Shi'a twelver doctrine)|divinely appointed leader]] of the Muslim community, and as such is suspended since [[Muhammad al-Mahdi]]'s<ref>Seyyed Hossein Nasr
The Heart of Islam, Enduring Values for Humanity (April., 2003), pp 72
</ref> occultation in 868 AD.<ref>cf. Sachedina (1998) p. 105 and 106</ref>

==History==
[[Image:Kairouan's Great Mosque courtyard.jpg|thumb|The [[Mosque of Uqba|Great Mosque of Kairouan]] also known as the Mosque of Uqba was founded by Arab general Uqba Ibn Nafi in 670. It is the oldest mosque in the western Islamic world <ref name="kairouan"/> and represents one of the best architectural examples of Islamic civilization <ref>[http://www.muslimheritage.com/topics/default.cfm?articleID=358 Great Mosque of Kairouan (Muslim Heritage.com)]</ref>, city of [[Kairouan]], [[Tunisia]].]]
{{Main|Muslim history|Spread of Islam}}

Islam's historical development resulted in major political, economic, and military effects inside and outside the [[Islamic world]]. Within a century of Muhammad's first recitations of the [[Qur'an]], an Islamic empire stretched from the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in the west to [[Central Asia]] in the east ; one of the best preserved architectural examples of Islamic spread, is the [[Mosque of Uqba|Great Mosque of Kairouan]] (in [[Tunisia]]) considered as the ancestor of all the mosques in the western Islamic world <ref name="kairouan">[http://books.google.fr/books?id=IaM9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA104&dq=kairouan+mosque+the+oldest+in+the+western+islamic+world&cd=1#v=onepage&q=kairouan%20mosque%20the%20oldest%20in%20the%20western%20islamic%20world&f=false John Stothoff Badeau and John Richard Hayes, ''The Genius of Arab civilization: source of Renaissance''. Taylor & Francis. 1983. p. 104]</ref>. This new polity soon broke into civil war, and successor states fought each other and outside forces. However, Islam continued to spread into regions like [[Africa]], the [[Indian subcontinent]], and [[Southeast Asia]]. The Islamic civilization was one of the most advanced in the world during the [[Middle Ages]], but was surpassed by Europe with the economic and military growth of the West. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Islamic dynasties such as the [[Ottomans]] and [[Mughals]] fell under the sway of European imperial powers. In the 20th century [[Islamic revival|new religious and political movements]] and newfound wealth in the Islamic world led to both rebirth and conflict.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), pp.50,112,197,380,489,578,817
* Lewis (2004), pp.29,51–56</ref>

===Rise of the caliphate and civil war (632–750)===
{{See|Succession to Muhammad|Muslim conquests|Battle of Karbala}}
Muhammad began preaching Islam at Mecca before [[Hijra (Islam)|migrating]] to [[Medina]], from where he united the [[tribes of Arabia]] into a singular Arab Muslim religious polity. He made his last [[The Farewell Sermon|farewell sermon]] at the age of 63 in the year 632 and died 72 days later.<ref name="patheos.com">[http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Historical-Development/Early-Developments.html Patheos Library – Islam: Early Developments]</ref> Right after his death disagreement broke out over who would succeed him as leader of the Muslim community. [[Umar ibn al-Khattab]], a prominent [[sahaba|companion]] of Muhammad, nominated [[Abu Bakr]], who was Muhammad's intimate friend and collaborator. Others added their support and Abu Bakr was made the first [[caliph]]. This choice was disputed by some of Muhammad's companions{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}, who held that [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, had been designated his successor.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} Abu Bakr's immediate task was to avenge a recent defeat by [[Byzantine]] (or [[Eastern Roman Empire]]) forces, although he first had to put down a rebellion by Arab tribes in an episode known as the [[Ridda wars]], or "Wars of Apostasy".<ref>See:
* Holt (1977a), p.57
* Hourani (2003), p.22
* Lapidus (2002), p.32
* Madelung (1996), p.43
* Tabatabaei (1979), p.30–50</ref>

[[Image:Age of Caliphs.png|thumb|300px|The territory of the [[Caliphate]] in 750]]

His death in 634 resulted in the succession of Umar as the caliph, followed by [[Uthman ibn al-Affan]] and Ali ibn Abi Talib. These four are known as ''al-khulafā' ar-rāshidūn'' ("[[Rightly Guided Caliphs]]"). Under them, the territory under Muslim rule expanded deeply into [[Persian Empire|Persian]] and [[Byzantine]] territories.<ref>See
* Holt (1977a), p.74
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

When Umar was assassinated in 644, [[the election of Uthman]] as successor was met with increasing opposition. In 656, Uthman was also killed, and Ali assumed the position of caliph. After fighting off opposition in the [[First Fitna|first civil war]] (the "First Fitna"), Ali was assassinated by [[Kharijites]] in 661. Following this, [[Muawiyah I|Mu'awiyah]], who was governor of the [[Levant]], seized power and began the [[Umayyad dynasty]].<ref>Holt (1977a), pp.67–72</ref> Although there was discord, the period until the death of Ali in 661 is remembered as a kind of golden age by some{{Who|date=January 2010}} Muslims. It was the Age of the Rashidun or "rightly-guided ones," when Muhammad's close companions led the community of Muslims.<ref name="patheos.com"/>

These disputes over religious and political leadership would give rise to schism in the Muslim community. The majority accepted the legitimacy of the three rulers prior to Ali, and became known as [[Sunni]]s. A minority disagreed, and believed that Ali was the only rightful successor; they became known as the [[Shi'a]].<ref>Waines (2003) p.46</ref> After Mu'awiyah's death in 680, conflict over succession broke out again in a civil war known as the "[[Second Fitna]]". Afterward, the Umayyad dynasty prevailed for seventy years, and was able to conquer the [[Maghreb|Maghrib]] and [[Al-Andalus]] (the [[Iberian Peninsula]], former [[Visigoths|Visigothic]] [[Hispania]]) and the [[Gallia Narbonensis|Narbonnese Gaul]] in the west as well as expand Muslim territory into [[Sindh]] and the fringes of [[Central Asia]].<ref>Donald Puchala, ‘’Theory and History in International Relations,’’ page 137. Routledge, 2003.</ref> While the Muslim-Arab elite engaged in conquest, some devout Muslims began to question the piety of indulgence in a worldly life, emphasizing, rather, poverty, humility, and avoidance of sin based on renunciation of bodily desires. Devout Muslim ascetic exemplars such as [[Hasan al-Basri]] would inspire a movement that would evolve into [[Sufism]].<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), pp.90,91
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sufism | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-13}}</ref>

For the Umayyad aristocracy, Islam was viewed as a religion for Arabs only;<ref>Hawting (2000), p.4</ref> the economy of the Umayyad empire was based on the assumption that a majority of non-Muslims ([[Dhimmis]]) would pay taxes to the minority of Muslim Arabs. A non-Arab who wanted to convert to Islam was supposed to first become a client of an Arab tribe. Even after conversion, these new Muslims (''[[mawali]]'') did not achieve social and economic equality with the Arabs. The descendants of Muhammad's uncle [[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib]] rallied discontented ''mawali'', poor Arabs, and some Shi'a against the Umayyads and overthrew them with the help of their propagandist and general [[Abu Muslim]], inaugurating the [[Abbasid|Abbasid dynasty]] in 750.<ref>Lapidus (2002), p.56; Lewis (1993), pp. 71–83</ref> Under the Abbasids, Islamic civilization flourished in the "[[Islamic Golden Age]]", with its capital at the cosmopolitan city of [[Baghdad]].<ref>See:
* Holt (1977a), pp.80,92,105
* Holt (1977b), pp.661–663
* Lapidus (2002), p.56
* Lewis (1993), p.84
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Golden Age (750–1258)===
{{Main|Islamic Golden Age}}
{{See|Muslim Agricultural Revolution}}
The Golden Age saw new legal, philosophical, and religious developments. The [[Six major Hadith collections|major hadith collections]] were compiled and the four modern Sunni [[Madh'hab]]s were established. Islamic law was advanced greatly by the efforts of the early 9th century jurist [[al-Shafi'i]]; he codified a method to establish the reliability of hadith, a topic which had been a locus of dispute among Islamic scholars.<ref>Lapidus (2002), p.86</ref> Philosophers [[Ibn Sina]] (Avicenna) and [[Al-Farabi]] sought to incorporate Greek principles into Islamic theology, while others like the 11th century theologian [[Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali]] argued against them and ultimately prevailed.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.160
* Waines (2003) p.126,127</ref> Finally, Sufism and Shi'ism both underwent major changes in the 9th century. [[Sufism]] became a full-fledged movement that had moved towards mysticism and away from its ascetic roots, while Shi'ism split due to disagreements over the succession of Imams.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), pp.44–45
* Lapidus (2002), pp.90–94
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sufism | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The spread of the Islamic dominion induced hostility among [[Middle ages|medieval]] [[ecclesiastical]] Christian authors who saw Islam as an adversary in the light of the large numbers of new Muslim converts. This opposition resulted in polemical treatises which depicted Islam as the religion of the [[antichrist]] and of Muslims as libidinous and subhuman.<ref>Tolan (2002) xv, xvi, 41</ref> In the [[Middle Ages|medieval period]], a few Arab philosophers like the poet [[Al-Ma'arri]] adopted a critical approach to Islam, and the Jewish philosopher [[Maimonides]] contrasted Islamic views of morality to Jewish views that he himself elaborated.<ref>See:
* Novak (February 1999)
* Sahas (1997), pp.76–80</ref>

===Fragmentation and Invasions===
{{Main|Crusades|Reconquista}}
{{See|Mongol invasion of Central Asia|Ilkhanate}}
[[Image:Hattin.jpg|thumb|upright|Artistic depiction of the [[Battle of Hattin]] in 1187, where Jerusalem was recaptured by Saladin's Ayyubid forces]]

By the late 9th century, the Abbasid caliphate began to fracture as various regions gained increasing levels of autonomy. Across North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, [[emirate]]s formed as provinces broke away. The monolithic Arab empire gave way to a more religiously homogenized [[Muslim world]] where the Shia [[Fatimid]]s contested even the religious authority of the caliphate. In the 10th century the powerful [[Ghaznavids]] conquered the Persian region and a large part of the [[Indian subcontinent]] in the name of Islam. They were replaced by the [[Ghurids]] in the 12th century. By 1055 the [[Seljuq dynasty|Seljuq Turks]] had eliminated the Abbasids as a military power, nevertheless they continued to respect the caliph's titular authority.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.103–143
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Abbasid Dynasty | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> During this time expansion of the Muslim world continued, by both conquest and peaceful [[Dawah|proselytism]] even as both Islam and Muslim trade networks were extending into sub-Saharan [[West Africa]], [[Central Asia]], [[Volga Bulgaria]] and the [[Malay archipelago]].<ref name="EoI-Islam" />

Starting in the 9th century, Muslim conquests in the West began to be reversed. The [[Reconquista]] was launched against Muslim [[Taifa|principalities]] in [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberia]], and Muslim [[History of Islam in southern Italy|Italian possessions]] were lost to the [[Normans]]. From the 11th century onwards alliances of European Christian kingdoms mobilized to launch a series of wars known as the [[Crusade]]s, aimed at reversing Muslim military conquests within the [[Byzantine Empire|eastern part of the former Roman Empire]], especially in the [[Holy Land (Biblical)|Holy Land]]. Initially successful in this aim, and establishing the [[Crusader states]], these gains were later reversed by subsequent Muslim generals such as [[Saladin]], who recaptured [[Jerusalem]] in 1187.<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.288–290,310</ref>

In the east the [[Mongol Empire]] put an end to the Abbassid dynasty at the [[Battle of Baghdad (1258)|Battle of Baghdad in 1258]], as they overran the Muslim lands in a series of invasions. Meanwhile in Egypt, the slave-soldier [[Mamluk]]s took control in an uprising in 1250<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.292
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islamic World | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> and in alliance with the [[Golden Horde]] halted the Mongol armies at the [[Battle of Ain Jalut]]. Over the next century the Mongol [[Khanate]]s converted to Islam and this religious and cultural absorption ushered in a new age of Mongol-Islamic synthesis that shaped the further spread of Islam in central Asia, eastern Europe and the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The [[Crimean Khanate]] was one of the strongest powers in [[Eastern Europe]] until the end of the 17th century.<ref>[http://www.econ.hit-u.ac.jp/~areastd/mediterranean/mw/pdf/18/10.pdf The Crimean Tatars and their Russian-Captive Slaves]. Eizo Matsuki. ''Mediterranean Studies Group at Hitotsubashi University.''</ref>

The [[Black Death]] ravaged much of the Islamic world in the mid-14th century.<ref>[http://www.sfusd.edu/schwww/sch618/Medicine/Diseases_and_Cures.html Islamic Medicine Part III: Diseases of the Middle Ages]</ref> It is probable that the Mongols and merchant caravans making use of the opportunities of free passage offered by the [[Pax Mongolica]] inadvertently brought the plague from [[Central Asia]] to the Middle East and Europe.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/09/13/2031252.htm?site=science/greatmomentsinscience Black Death], Great Moments in Science, ABC Science</ref> [[List of historical plagues|Plague epidemics]] kept returning to the Islamic world up to the 19th century.<ref>[http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/mongols/blackDeath.html The Islamic World to 1600: The Mongol Invasions (The Black Death)]</ref>

===New dynasties and colonialism (1030–1918)===
The [[Great Seljuq Empire|Seljuk Turks]] conquered Abbassid lands, adopted Islam and become the ''de facto'' rulers of the caliphate. They captured [[Anatolia]] by defeating the [[Byzantine]]s at the [[Battle of Manzikert]], thereby precipitating the call for Crusades. They fell apart in the second half of the 12th century giving rise to various semi-autonomous Islamic dynasties such as the powerful [[Ayyubids]] who conquered Egypt and a Jerusalem in the name of Islam. In the 13th and 14th centuries the [[Ottoman Empire]] (named after [[Osman I]]) emerged from among these ''"Ghazi emirates''" and established itself after a string of conquests that included the [[Balkans]], parts of [[Greece]], and western Anatolia. In 1453 under [[Mehmed II]] the Ottomans laid siege to [[Constantinople]], the capital of Byzantium, [[Fall of Constantinople|which succumbed]] shortly thereafter, having been overwhelmed by a far greater number of Ottoman troops and to a lesser extent, [[cannon]]ry.<ref>See
* Holt (1977a), p.263
* Lapidus (2002), p.250
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Istanbul | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>
[[Image:TajMahalbyAmalMongia.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The [[Taj Mahal]] was built by Muslim rulers of the [[Mughal Empire]] in [[Agra]], [[India]].]]

Beginning in the 13th century, Sufism underwent a transformation, largely as a result of the efforts of [[al-Ghazzali]] to legitimize and reorganize the movement. He developed the model of the Sufi order—a community of spiritual teachers and students.<ref>Esposito (2004), pp.104,105</ref> Also of importance to Sufism was the creation of the [[Masnavi]], a collection of mystical poetry by the 13th century [[Persian language|Persian]] poet [[Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi|Rumi]]. The Masnavi had a profound influence on the development of Sufi religious thought; to many Sufis it is second in importance only to the Qur'an.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Islamic Art | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> From the 14th century to the 16th century much of the eastern Islamic world was experiencing another golden age under the [[Timurid dynasty]]. In the early 16th century, the [[Safavid dynasty]] assumed control in Persia and established Shi'a Islam as an official religion there, and despite periodic setbacks, the Safavids remained in power for two centuries until being usurped by the [[Hotaki dynasty]] in the early-18th century. Meanwhile, Mamluk Egypt fell to the Ottomans in 1517, who then launched a [[Ottoman wars in Europe|European campaign]] which reached as far as [[Siege of Vienna|the gates of Vienna]] in 1529.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), pp.198,234,244,245,254
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

After the invasion of Persia and sack of Baghdad by the Mongols in the mid 13th century, [[Delhi]] became the most important cultural centre of the Muslim east.<ref name="Ikram">Ikram, S. M. 1964. Muslim Civilization in India. New York: Columbia University Press</ref> Many Islamic dynasties ruled parts of the Indian subcontinent starting with the [[Ghaznavids]] in the 10th century. The prominent ones included the [[Delhi Sultanate]] (1206–1526) and the [[Mughal Empire]] (1526–1857). These empires helped in the spread of Islam in [[South Asia]], but by the early-18th century the [[Maratha Empire|Sikh Maratha Empire]] was becoming the pre-eminent power in northern India until they were weaken by the [[Durrani Empire]] in the mid-18th century.

Around the 18th century, despite attempts at modernization, the Ottoman empire had begun to feel threatened by European economic and military advantages. It was during the 18th century that the [[Wahhabi]] movement took hold in Saudi Arabia. Founded by the preacher [[Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab|Ibn Abd al-Wahhab]], Wahhabism is a fundamentalist ideology that condemns practices like Sufism and the veneration of saints as un-Islamic.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.572
* Watt (1973), p.18: Wahhabism should not be confused with the early Kharijite sect of Wahabiyya, which was named after Abd-Allah ibn-Wahb ar-Rasibi, who opposed Ali at Nahrawan.</ref>

By the 19th century the [[East India Company|British Empire]] had formally ended the last Mughal dynasty,<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.358,378–380,624</ref> and overthrew the Muslim-ruled [[Kingdom of Mysore]]. In the 19th century, the [[Rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire|rise of nationalism]] resulted in Greece declaring and winning independence in 1829, with several Balkan states following suit after the Ottomans suffered defeat in the [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)|Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878]]. The Ottoman era came to a close at the end of [[World War I]] and the [[Caliphate]] was abolished in 1924.<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.380,489–493</ref><ref>[http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2000/488/chrncls.htm New Turkey]</ref>

In the 19th century, the [[Salafi]], [[Deobandi]] and [[Barelwi]] movements were initiated.

===Modern times (1918–present)===
{{See|Fall of the Ottoman Empire|Arab Revolt|Arab–Israeli conflict|Iranian revolution}}

By the early years of the 20th century, most of the Muslim world outside the Ottoman empire had been absorbed into the empires of non-Islamic European powers. After [[World War I]] losses, nearly all of the Ottoman empire was also parceled out as European [[protectorate]]s or [[sphere of influence|spheres of influence]]. In the course of the 20th century, most of these European-ruled territories became independent, and new issues such as oil wealth and relations with the State of [[Israel]] have assumed prominence.<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.281–282,380,489–493,556,578,823,835</ref>

During this time, many Muslims migrated, as indentured servants, from mostly India and [[Indonesia]] to the [[Caribbean]], forming the largest Muslim populations by percentage in the [[Americas]].<ref>Muslim Minorities in the West: Visible and Invisible By Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad, Jane I. Smith, pg 271</ref> Additionally, the resulting urbanization and increase in trade in [[Africa]] brought Muslims to settle in new areas and spread their faith. As a result, Islam in sub-Saharan Africa likely doubled between 1869 and 1914.<ref>Bulliet, Richard, Pamela Crossley, Daniel Headrick, Steven Hirsch, Lyman Johnson, and David Northrup. The Earth and Its Peoples. 3. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. ISBN 0618427708</ref> The [[Organization of the Islamic Conference]] (OIC), consisting of [[Islam by country|Muslim countries]], was formally established in September 1969 after the burning of the [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] in [[Jerusalem]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/1555062.stm Organization of the Islamic Conference]</ref>

==== Islamic revival and Islamist movements ====
{{See|Islamic revival|Islamism}}
The 20th century saw the Islamic world [[Islam and modernity|increasingly exposed to outside cultural influences]], bringing potential changes to Muslim societies. In response, new Islamic [[Islamic revival|"revivalist" movements were initiated]] as a counter movement to non-Islamic ideas. Groups such as the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] in Egypt and [[Jamaat-e-Islami]] in Pakistan advocate a totalistic and theocratic alternative to secular political ideologies. Sometimes called [[Islamist]], they see Western cultural values as a threat, and promote Islam as a comprehensive solution to every public and private question of importance.

In countries like Iran revolutionary movement replaced [[secularism|secular]] regime with an [[Islamic state]], while transnational groups like [[Osama bin Laden]]'s [[al-Qaeda]] engage in [[Islamic terrorism|terrorism]] to further their goals. In contrast, [[Liberal Islam]] is a movement that attempts to reconcile religious tradition with modern norms of secular governance and [[human rights]]. Its supporters say that there are multiple ways to read Islam's sacred texts, and stress the need to leave room for "independent thought on religious matters".<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), pp.118,119,179
* Lapidus (2002), pp.823–830</ref>

Modern [[criticism of Islam]] includes accusations that Islam is intolerant of criticism and that [[Islamic law]] is too hard on [[Apostasy in Islam|apostates from Islam]]. Critics like [[Ibn Warraq]] question the morality of the Qu'ran, saying that its contents justify the mistreatment of women and encourage [[antisemitic]] remarks by Muslim theologians.<ref>See:
* Rippin (2001), p.288
* {{cite news | publisher=NYRB | work=[[The New York Review of Books]] | date=October 5, 2006 | title=Islam in Europe | author=Timothy Garton Ash | url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/19371}}</ref> Such claims have been challenged by many Muslim scholars and writers including [[Fazlur Rahman Malik]],<ref>For example see ''Major Themes of the Qur'an'' by Fazlur Rahman Malik in which he argues against the treatment of the Qur'an as either a piecemeal or an evolutionary progression of ideas. See review by William A. Graham (1983), p.446.</ref> [[Syed Ameer Ali]],<ref>For example see ''The Spirit of Islam'' by Syed Ameer Ali (1849–1928). It is described by [[David Samuel Margoliouth]] (1905) as "probably the best achievement in the way of an apology for Mohammed". See Margoliouth, preface ''[[Mohammed and the Rise of Islam]]''.</ref> [[Ahmed Deedat]],<ref>Westerlund (2003)</ref> [[Yusuf Estes]],<ref>{{cite news | publisher=Advance, [[University of Connecticut]] | date=2003-11-17 | title=Ramadan Awareness Event Designed To Debunk Negative Images | author=Elizabeth Omara-Otunnu | url=http://advance.uconn.edu/2003/031117/03111715.htm}}</ref> as well as [[Zakir Naik]] and others of [[Peace TV]], which is a global Islamic satellite channel intended to correct the misconceptions about Islam.

Others like [[Daniel Pipes]] and [[Martin Kramer]] focus more on criticizing the spread of [[Islamic fundamentalism]], a danger they feel has been ignored.<ref>{{cite news | last=Bernstein | first=Richard | title= Experts on Islam Pointing Fingers At One Another | url=http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F70D16F734540C708CDDA80994D9404482 | publisher=The New York Times | accessdate=2007-05-14 | date=2001-11-03}}</ref> [[Montgomery Watt]] and Norman Daniel dismiss many of the criticisms as the product of old myths and polemics.<ref>See:
* Seibert (1994), pp.88–89
* Watt (1974), p.231</ref> The rise of [[Islamophobia]], according to [[Carl Ernst]], had contributed to the negative views about Islam and Muslims in the West.<ref>Ernst (2004), p.11</ref>

[[Pascal Bruckner]] and [[Paul Berman]] on the other hand have entered the "[[Islam in Europe]]" debate. Berman identifies a "reactionary turn in the intellectual world" represented by Western scholars who idealize Islam.<ref>{{cite magazine| last = Berman| first = Paul| authorlink = Paul Berman| title = Who's Afraid of Tariq Ramadan?: The Islamist, the journalist, and the defense of liberalism.| journal = [[The New Republic]]| publisher = | location = | date = June 4, 2007| url = http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=fd52e6a4-efc5-42fd-983b-1282a16ac8dd}}</ref></blockquote>

==Community==
{{Main|Muslim world|Ummah}}
===Demographics===
{{See also|List of countries by Muslim population}}
[[File:World Muslim Population Pew Forum.png|right|400px|thumb|Muslim population by percentage]]
A comprehensive 2009 demographic study of 232 countries and territories reported that 23% of the global population or 1.57 billion people are Muslims.<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.4,11"/> Of those, 87–90% are [[Sunni]] and 10–13% are [[Shi'a]],<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.4,11"/> with a small minority belonging to other sects. Approximately 50 countries are [[List of Muslim majority countries|Muslim-majority]],<ref>Miller (2009), p.11</ref> and [[Arabs]] account for around 20% of all Muslims worldwide.

The majority of Muslims live in Asia and Africa.<ref>[http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e1087 Islam: An Overview in Oxford Islamic Studies Online]</ref> Approximately 62% of the world's Muslims live in [[Asia]], with over 683 million adherents in [[Indonesia]], [[Pakistan]], [[India]], and [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="USN&WR">[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/graphics/religion/islams_global_reach.htm Secrets of Islam] – [[U.S. News & World Report]]. Information provided by the International Population Center, Department of Geography, [[San Diego State University]] (2005).</ref><ref>Miller (2009), pp.15,17</ref> In the [[Middle East]], non-Arab countries such as [[Turkey]] and [[Iran]] are the largest Muslim-majority countries; in [[Africa]], [[Egypt]] and [[Nigeria]] have the most populous Muslim communities.<ref name="Islam_by_country">{{cite web
|url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_isl_num_of_mus-religion-islam-number-of-muslim
|title=Number of Muslim by country
|publisher=nationmaster.com
|accessdate=2007-05-30}}</ref> According to a recent study in the United States, the [[People's Republic of China]] has the eighth highest Muslim population with up to 65.3 million individuals<ref name="USN&WR"/> but other figures show only 20 million.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71338.htm
|title=International Religious Freedom Report 2006—China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)
|year=2006
|publisher=U.S. department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
|accessdate=2007-05-30}}</ref> Islam is the second largest religion after [[Christianity]] in many [[Europe]]an countries,<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004) pp.2,43
*{{cite encyclopedia | title=Islamic World | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}

{{cite web | url=http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html | title=Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents | publisher=Adherents.com | accessdate=2007-01-09}}
* {{cite news | title=Muslims in Europe: Country guide | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4385768.stm | publisher=BBC | work=BBC News | date=2005-12-23 | accessdate=2006-09-28}}
* {{cite web | title=Religion In Britain | url= http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=293 | publisher=Office for National Statistics | work=National Statistics | date=2003-02-13 | accessdate=2006-08-27}}</ref>
and is slowly catching up to that status in the [[Americas]] and [[Australia]].

===Mosques===
[[File:Faisal mosque2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Faisal Mosque]] in [[Islamabad]], Pakistan]]
{{Main|Mosque}}
A mosque is a [[places of worship|place of worship]] for Muslims, who often refer to it by its Arabic name, ''masjid''. The word ''mosque'' in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated to Islamic worship, although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller, privately owned mosque and the larger, "collective" mosque (''masjid jāmi`''). Although the primary purpose of the mosque is to serve as a place of prayer, it is also important to the [[ummah|Muslim community]] as a place to meet and study. Modern mosques have evolved greatly from the early designs of the 7th century, and contain a variety of architectural elements such as [[minaret]]s.<ref>See:
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Masdjid | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author= J. Pedersen | coauthors=R. Hillenbrand, J. Burton-Page, et al. | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Mosque | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Family life===
{{See also|Women in Islam}}
[[File:Bejeweled Girl Portrait.jpg|thumb|left|100px|Islam prohibits women from showing their hair in public.]]
The basic unit of Islamic society is the [[family]], and Islam defines the obligations and legal rights of family members. The father is seen as financially responsible for his family, and is obliged to cater for their well-being. The division of [[inheritance]] is specified in the Qur'an, which states that most of it is to pass to the immediate family, while a portion is set aside for the payment of debts and the making of bequests. The woman's share of inheritance is generally half of that of a man with the same rights of succession.<ref>"al-Mar'a". ''Encyclopaedia of Islam''</ref> [[Marriage in Islam]] is a civil [[nikah|contract]] which consists of an offer and acceptance between two qualified parties in the presence of two witnesses. The groom is required to pay a bridal gift (''[[mahr]]'') to the bride, as stipulated in the contract.<ref>
* Waines (2003) pp. 93–96
* The Oxford Dictionary of Islam (2003), p.339
* Esposito (1998) p. 79</ref>

A man may have up to four wives if he believes he can treat them equally, while a woman may have only one husband. In most Muslim countries, the process of divorce in Islam is known as ''[[Talaq (Nikah)|talaq]]'', which the husband initiates by pronouncing the word "divorce".<ref>*"Talak". ''Encyclopaedia of Islam''</ref> Scholars disagree whether Islamic holy texts justify traditional Islamic practices such as [[hijab|veiling]] and seclusion ([[purdah]]).

Starting in the 20th century, Muslim social reformers argued against these and other practices such as [[polygamy in Islam]], with varying success. At the same time, many Muslim women have attempted to reconcile tradition with modernity by combining an active life with outward modesty. Certain [[Islamist]] groups like the [[Taliban]] have sought to continue traditional law as applied to women.<ref>
* Esposito (2004), pp.95,96,235–241
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Marriage and Divorce | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an | author=Harald Motzki | accessdate=2007-05-15}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Marriage Practices | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures | author=Lori Peek | accessdate=2007-05-15}}
</ref>

===Calendar===
{{Main|Islamic calendar}}
[[File:Crescent Moon.JPG|thumb|upright|The Islamic calendar is based on the [[lunar cycle]].]]
The formal beginning of the Muslim era was chosen to be the [[Hijra (Islam)|Hijra]] in 622 CE, which was an important turning point in Muhammad's fortunes. The assignment of this year as the year 1 AH (''Anno Hegirae'') in the Islamic calendar was reportedly made by [[Umar|Caliph Umar]]. It is a [[lunar calendar]], with nineteen ordinary years of 354 days and eleven leap years of 355 days in a thirty-year cycle. Islamic dates cannot be converted to CE/AD dates simply by adding 622 years: allowance must also be made for the fact that each Hijri century corresponds to only 97 years in the Christian calendar.<ref>See:
* Adil (2002), p.288
* F. E. Peters (2003), p.67
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Tarikh̲ | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=B. van Dalen | coauthors=R. S. Humphreys, Manuela Marín, et al. | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The year 1428 AH coincides almost completely with 2007 CE.

Islamic [[Muslim holidays|holy days]] fall on fixed dates of the lunar calendar, which means that they occur in [[seasons|different seasons]] in different years in the [[Gregorian calendar]]. The most important Islamic festivals are ''[[Eid al-Fitr]]'' (Arabic: عيد الفطر) on the 1st of ''[[Shawwal]]'', marking the end of the fasting month ''[[Ramadan]]'', and ''[[Eid al-Adha]]'' (Arabic: عيد الأضحى) on the 10th of ''[[Dhu al-Hijjah]]'', coinciding with the pilgrimage to Mecca.<ref>Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/janisla2y2.html Customs and Behavioral Laws]</ref> Similar to the Jewish calendar, days in the Islamic calendar last from sunset to sunset.<ref>Patheos Library – Islam Sacred Time – [http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Ritual-Worship-Devotion-Symbolism/Sacred-Time.html Patheos.com]</ref>

==Other religions==
{{Main|Islam and other religions}}
[[Image:Jerusalem Dome of the rock BW 3.JPG|thumb|A view of the [[Dome of the Rock]] on the [[Temple Mount]] in [[Jerusalem]], a holy site in both Islam and [[Judaism]] that has been a source of controversy.]]

According to Islamic doctrine, Islam was the primordial religion of mankind, professed by [[Adam (Bible)|Adam]].<ref>Friedmann (2003), pp. 14–16</ref> At some point, a [[Schism (religion)|religious split]] occurred, and God began sending prophets to bring his revelations to the people.<ref>Friedmann (2003), pp. 18–19</ref> In this view, [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Nevi'im|Hebrew prophets]], and [[Jesus]] were all [[Prophets in Islam]], but their message and the texts of the [[Torah]] and the [[Gospels]] were [[tahrif|corrupted]] by [[Jew]]s and [[Christians]]. Similarly, every child is born in the domain of Islam, but is converted to some other faith if the parents/guardians are not Muslims.<ref>Friedmann (2003), p. 18</ref>

Islamic law divides non-Muslims into several categories, depending on their relation with the Islamic state. Christians and Jews who live under Islamic rule are known as ''[[dhimmis]]'' ("protected peoples"). According to this regulation, the personal safety and security of property of the dhimmis is guaranteed in return for paying tribute (''[[jizya]]'') to the Islamic state. The status was extended to other groups like Zoroastrians and Hindus,<ref>Ernst (2005), Following Muhammad, p.46</ref> but not to [[atheist]]s or [[agnostic]]s.<ref>Lewis (2001), p.273</ref>

Those who live in non-Muslim lands (''[[dar al-harb]]'') are known as ''[[harbi]]s'', and upon entering into an alliance with the Muslim state become known as ''ahl al-ahd''. Those who receive a guarantee of safety while residing temporarily in Muslim lands are known as ''ahl al-amān''. Their legal position is similar to that of the dhimmi except that they are not required to pay the jizya. The people of armistice (''ahl al-[[hudna]]'') are those who live outside of Muslim territory and agree to refrain from attacking the Muslims.<ref>Friedmann (2003), p. 55</ref><ref>"Aman", ''Encyclopaedia of Islam''</ref> [[apostasy in Islam|Apostasy from Islam]] is prohibited, and is punishable by death.<ref>A woman who converts from Islam to another religion is to be executed according to some jurists, or imprisoned according to others.</ref><ref>"Murtadd", ''Encyclopedia of Islam''</ref>

The [[Alevi]], [[Yazidi]], [[Druze]], [[Bábís|Bábí]], [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]], [[Berghouata]] and [[Ha-Mim]] movements either emerged out of Islam or came to share certain beliefs with Islam. Some consider themselves separate while others still sects of Islam though controversial in certain beliefs with mainstream Muslims. [[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community|Ahmadiyyat]], a reformatory sect in Islam is considered to be non-Muslim by many mainstream Muslims. For this reason the government of Pakistan has declared them to be non-Muslim, although international organisations such as [[Amnesty International]] have viewed such a move is against international human rights.<ref>http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA13/011/2008/en/7d8e2c8c-d119-11dd-984e-fdc7ffcd27a6/asa130112008en.pdf Ahmadiyya – human rights</ref> [[Sikhism]], founded by [[Guru Nanak]] in late 15th century [[Punjab region|Punjab]], incorporates aspects of both Islam and [[Hinduism]].<ref>Encyclopedia of Islam, "Sikhs"</ref>

==Denominations==
{{Main|Islamic schools and branches}}
Islam consists of a number of [[religious denomination]]s that are essentially similar in belief but which have significant theological and legal differences. The primary division is between the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and the [[Shi'a]], with [[Sufi]]sm generally considered to be a mystical inflection of Islam rather than a distinct school. According to most sources, 70% of the world's Muslims are Sunni,<ref name="cia.gov">https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html</ref> 20% are Shi'a with the 10% being other various small minorities and [[Islamic schools and branches|Islamic sects]].<ref>See:
* Esposito (2002b), p.2
* {{cite web | url=http://countrystudies.us/afghanistan/61.htm | title=Sunni and Shia Islam | work=Country Studies | publisher=U.S. Library of Congress | accessdate=2007-01-09}}</ref>

===Sunni===
{{Main|Sunni Islam}}
[[Sunni]] Muslims are the largest group in Islam, comprising 70%<ref name="cia.gov"/> of the world's 1.5 billion [[Muslim]]s,<ref>From the article on Sunni Islam in [http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2280?_hi=2&_pos=2 Oxford Islamic Studies Online]</ref> hence the title 'Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘ah' (people of the principle and majority). In [[Arabic]], ''as-Sunnah'' literally means "principle" or "path". The Sunnah (the example of Muhammad's life) as recorded in the Qur'an and the hadith is the main pillar of Sunni doctrine. Sunnis believe that the first four [[caliph]]s were the rightful successors to Muhammad; since God did not specify any particular leaders to succeed him, those leaders had to be elected. There are four recognised [[madhhab|madh'habs]] (schools of thought): [[Hanafi]], [[Maliki]], [[Shafi'i]], and [[Hanbali]]. All four accept the validity of the others and a Muslim may choose any one that he or she finds agreeable.

There are other Islamic sects that may be considered as being Sunni yet are believed to have departed from the majority by introducing ''[[bidah]]'' (innovations) and extreme political views which are divorced from Islam.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2003), pp.275,306
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Shariah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sunnite | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Shi'a===
{{Main|Shia Islam}}
{{See also|Succession to Muhammad}}
The [[Shi'a]] constitute about 15% of Islam,<ref>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/pilgrimage-to-karbala/sunni-and-shia-the-worlds-of-islam/1737/</ref> coming as the second-largest branch.<ref name="mgmpPRC">
{{Cite book
| editor-last = Miller
| editor-first = Tracy
| month = 10
| year = 2009
| publisher = [[Pew Research Center]]
| title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population
| format = PDF
| url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf
| accessdate = 2009-10-08 }}
</ref> They believe in the political and religious [[Islamic leadership|leadership]] of [[Imamah (Shia doctrine)|Imams]] from the progeny of [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], who according to most Shi'a are in a state of ''[[ismah]]'', meaning infallibility. They believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib, as the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, was his rightful successor, and they call him the first ''Imam'' (leader), rejecting the legitimacy of the previous Muslim caliphs. To most Shi'a, an Imam rules by right of divine appointment and holds "absolute spiritual authority" among Muslims, having final say in matters of doctrine and revelation.<ref>See
* Lapidus (2002), p.46
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Imam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Shi'ite | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

Approximately 40% of worldwide Shi'a adherents are concentrated in Iran, with other significant population in Iraq, Pakistan, and India.<ref name="mgmpPRC"/> Shi'a make up the majority of the Muslim population in several countries, including Iran (90–95%), Iraq (65–70%), Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and Lebanon.<ref name="mgmpPRC"/>

Shi'a Islam has several branches, the largest of which is the [[Twelvers]] (''{{transl|ar|ISO|iṯnāʿašariyya}}'') which the label Shi'a generally refers to. Although the Twelver Shi'a share many core practices with the Sunni, the two branches disagree over the proper importance and validity of specific collections of hadith. The Twelver Shi'a follow a legal tradition called [[Ja'fari jurisprudence]].<ref>See:
* Ahmed (1999), pp.44–45
* Nasr (1994), p.466</ref> Other smaller groups include the [[Ismaili]] and [[Zaidiyyah|Zaidi]], who differ from Twelvers in both their line of successors and theological beliefs.<ref>See:
* Kramer (1987), [http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/Alawis.htm Syria's Alawis and Shi''ism pp.237–254]
* [http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/islam/shia/index.html Shia branches]</ref>

===Sufism===
[[File:Whirling Dervishes 2.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Sufism|Sufi]] whirling dervishes in [[Turkey]]]]
{{Main|Sufism}}
[[Sufism]] is a mystical-ascetic form of Islam. By focusing on the more spiritual aspects of religion, Sufis strive to obtain direct experience of God by making use of "intuitive and emotional faculties" that one must be trained to use.<ref>Trimingham (1998), p.1</ref> Sufism and [[Islamic law]] are usually considered to be complementary, although Sufism has been criticized by some Muslims for being an unjustified [[bidah|religious innovation]]. Most Sufi orders, or ''[[tariqa]]s'', can be classified as either Sunni or Shi'a.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2003), p.302
* Malik (2006), p.3
* B. S. Turner (1998), p.145
* {{cite web | url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/aftoc.html | work=Country Studies | publisher=U. S. Library of Congress (Federal Research Division) | title=Afghanistan: A Country Study | accessdate=2007-04-18 | page=150}}</ref> Some Sufi groups can be described as non-Islamic when their teachings are very distinct from Islam.

===Ahmadiyya===

{{Main|Ahmadiyya}}

Ahmadiyya ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|احمدِیہ}}}}) is a religious movement founded towards the end of the [[19th century]] and originating with the life and teachings of [[Mirza Ghulam Ahmad]] (1835–1908). Ghulam Ahmad was an important religious figure who claimed to have fulfilled the prophecies about the world reformer of the [[end times]], who was to herald the [[Eschatology|Eschaton]] as predicted in the traditions of various [[world religions]] and bring about the final triumph of Islam as per Islamic prophecy. He claimed that he was the [[Mujaddid]] (divine reformer) of the 14th [[Islamic century]], the promised [[Messiah]] (“[[Second Coming of Christ]]”) and [[Mahdi]] awaited by Muslims.<ref name="hmgaintro_mma">[http://www.aaiil.org/text/books/mali/callofislam/reformermujaddiddeathjesusmessiahimammahdidajjalggogmagog.shtml “The Fourteenth-Century's Reformer / Mujaddid”, from the “Call of Islam”], by [[Maulana Muhammad Ali]]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/books/3in1/chap2/index.html Claims of Hadhrat Ahmad, Chapter Two]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/books/truth/reflection.html Reflection of all the Prophets]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/library/books/revelation/part_7_section_1.html Future of Revelation, Part 7]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/books/misunderstandingremoved.html The Removal of a Misunderstanding]</ref> Ahmadi emphasis lay in the belief that Islam is the final law for humanity as revealed to [[Muhammad]] and the necessity of restoring to it its true essence and pristine form, which had been lost through the centuries. Thus, Ahmadis view themselves as leading the revival and peaceful propagation of Islam.<ref name="timesonline.co.uk">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4009445.ece The Ahmadi Muslim Community. Who are the Ahmadi Muslims and what do they believe? Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi gives a brief introduction to the Ahmadi branch of Islam.] Times Online. May 27, 2008.</ref> The Ahmadis were among the earliest Muslim communities to arrive in [[Great Britain|Britain]] and other Western countries.<ref name="timesonline.co.uk"/>

===Others===
{{Main|Salafi}}
The recent [[Salafi]] movement, also known as [[Wahhabi]], which sees itself as restorationist and claims to derive its teachings from the original sources of Islam by refuting the established schools of thought of Sunni Islam.
{{Main|Ibadi}}
The [[Kharijites]] are a sect that dates back to the early days of Islam. The only surviving branch of the Kharijites is [[Ibadism]]. Unlike most Kharijite groups, Ibadism does not regard sinful Muslims as unbelievers. The [[Imam]]ate is an important topic in Ibadi legal literature, which stipulates that the leader should be chosen solely on the basis of his knowledge and piety, and is to be deposed if he acts unjustly. Most Ibadi Muslims live in [[Oman]].<ref>See:
* [http://www.uga.edu/islam/ibadis.html UGA.edu], Ibadi Islam: An Introduction
* J. A. Williams (1994), p.173
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=al-Ibāḍiyya | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>. There are communities of Ibadis that took refuge in the [[Mzab]] oases in southern [[Algeria]], the [[Nafusa Mountains]] in western Libya, and in [[Djerba|Djerba Island]] (Tunisia), in order to avoid [[persecution]] in certain periods of history.<ref>[http://www.uga.edu/islam/ibadis.html Valerie J. Hoffman, Ibadi Islam: An Introduction]</ref>
{{Main|Qur'an alone}}
[[Qur'an alone|Quranist]] is a term used to refer to Muslims who reject [[hadith]], or reported traditions of the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]], and follow the [[Qur'an]], a sacred text of Islam, exclusively.<ref>www.submission.org/islam/Islam-American.html</ref>

===Cultural Muslim===
{{Main|Cultural Muslim}}
Generally, a Muslim is defined by faith in the [[religion]] of Islam; however, in the modern world there are religiously unobservant, [[agnostic]] or [[atheist]] individuals who still identify with the [[Muslim culture]] due to [[family]] background, personal experiences or fear of retribution for apostasy, an approach discussed by [[Malise Ruthven]].<ref>http://www.nybooks.com/authors/8876</ref>

==See also==
{{Main|Outline of Islam}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-1-of-3}}
*[[Islamic studies]]
*[[Islam and animals]]
*[[Islam and children]]
*[[Islam and science]]
*[[Islamic jurisprudence]]
*[[Islamic ethics]]
*[[Islamic art]]
*[[Islamic economics]]
*[[Islamic literature]]

{{Col-2-of-3}}
*[[Islam and modernity]]
*[[Islamism]]
*[[Lists of Muslims]]
*[[List of Muslim empires and dynasties]]
*[[List of notable converts to Islam]]
*[[Timeline of Muslim history]]
*[[Prisoner rights in Islam]]

{{Col-3-of-3}}
{{portal}}
{{Wikipedia-Books
|1=Abrahamic religions
|3=Islam
}}

{{Col-end}}

==References==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
=== Footnotes===
{{Reflist|group=note}}
===Books and journals===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite journal | last=Accad | first=Martin | title=The Gospels in the Muslim Discourse of the Ninth to the Fourteenth Centuries: An Exegetical Inventorial Table (Part I) | journal=Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations | volume=14 | issue=1 |year=2003 | id=ISSN 0959-6410}}
* {{cite book | last=Adil | first=Hajjah Amina | coauthors=Shaykh Nazim Adil Al-Haqqani, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani | title=Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam | publisher=Islamic Supreme Council of America | year=2002 | isbn=978-1930409118}}
* {{cite book | last=Ahmed | first=Akbar | title=Islam Today: A Short Introduction to the Muslim World | publisher=I. B. Tauris | edition=2.00 | year=1999 | isbn=978-1860642579}}
* {{cite book | last=Armstrong | first=Karen | title=Muhammad: A Prophet for our Time | publisher=HarperCollins |year=2006 | isbn=006059897-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Brockopp | first=Jonathan E. | title=Islamic Ethics of Life: abortion, war and euthanasia | publisher=University of South Carolina press | year=2003 | isbn=1570034710}}
* {{cite book | last=Cohen-Mor | first=Dalya | title=A Matter of Fate: The Concept of Fate in the Arab World as Reflected in Modern Arabic Literature | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2001 | isbn=0195133986}}
* {{cite book | last=Curtis | first=Patricia A. | year=2005 | title=A Guide to Food Laws and Regulations | publisher=Blackwell Publishing Professional | isbn=978-0813819464}}
* {{cite book | last=Eglash | first=Ron | year=1999 | title=African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design | publisher=Rutgers University Press | isbn=0-8135-2614-0}}
* {{cite book | last=Ernst | first=Carl | authorlink=Carl Ernst | year=2004 | title = Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World | publisher=University of North Carolina Press | isbn=0-8078-5577-4}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John | authorlink=John Esposito | coauthors=John Obert Voll | title=Islam and Democracy | year=1996 | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0-19-510816-7}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John | title=Islam: The Straight Path | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1998 | edition=3rd | isbn=978-0195112344}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John|coauthors=Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad | title=Muslims on the Americanization Path? | year=2000a | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0-19-513526-1}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John |year=2000b | title=Oxford History of Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=978-0195107999}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| year=2002a | title=Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=978-0195168860}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| year=2002b | title=What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0-19-515713-3}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| title=[[The Oxford Dictionary of Islam]] | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | year=2003 | isbn=0-19-512558-4}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| title=Islam: The Straight Path | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2004 | edition=3rd Rev Upd | isbn=978-0195182668}}
* {{cite book | last=Farah | first=Caesar | authorlink=Caesar E. Farah | title=Islam: Beliefs and Observances | publisher=Barron's Educational Series | year=1994 | edition=5th | isbn=978-0812018530}}
* {{cite book | last=Farah | first=Caesar| title=Islam: Beliefs and Observances | publisher=Barron's Educational Series | year=2003 | edition=7th | isbn=978-0764-12226-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Firestone | first=Reuven | title=Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam | publisher= Oxford University Press | year=1999 | isbn=019-5125800}}
* {{cite book | last=Friedmann | first=Yohanan | authorlink=Yohanan Friedmann | title=Tolerance and Coercion in Islam: Interfaith Relations in the Muslim Tradition | publisher= Cambridge University Press | year=2003 | isbn=978-0521026994}}
* {{cite book | last=Ghamidi | first=Javed | authorlink=Javed Ahmed Ghamidi | title=[[Mizan]] | publisher=[[Al-Mawrid|Dar al-Ishraq]] | year=2001 | id={{OCLC|52901690}}}}
* {{cite book | last=Goldschmidt, Jr. | first=Arthur | coauthors=Lawrence Davidson | title=A Concise History of the Middle East | publisher=Westview Press | year=2005 | edition=8th | isbn=978-0813342757}}
* {{cite book | last=Griffith | first=Ruth Marie | coauthors=Barbara Dianne Savage | title=Women and Religion in the African Diaspora: Knowledge, Power, and Performance | publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press | year=2006 | isbn=0801883709}}
* {{cite book | last=Hawting| first=G. R. | authorlink= G.R. Hawting | title=The First Dynasty of Islam: The Umayyad Caliphate AD 661–750 | publisher=Routledge | year=2000 | isbn=0415240735}}
* {{cite book | last=Hedayetullah | first=Muhammad | title=Dynamics of Islam: An Exposition | publisher=Trafford Publishing | year=2006 | isbn=978-1553698425}}
* {{cite book | last=Holt | first=P. M. | coauthors=[[Bernard Lewis]] | title=Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. 1 | year=1977a | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=0521291364}}
* {{cite book | last=Holt | first=P. M. | coauthors=Ann K. S. Lambton, Bernard Lewis | title=Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. 2 | year=1977b | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=0521291372}}
* {{cite book | last=Hourani | first=Albert | authorlink=Albert Hourani | coauthor=[[Malise Ruthven|Ruthven, Malise]] | title=A History of the Arab Peoples | year=2003 | publisher=Belknap Press; Revised edition | isbn=978-0674010178}}
* {{cite book | last=Humphreys | first=Stephen | title=Between Memory and Desire | year=2005 | publisher=University of California Press | isbn=052-0246918}}
* {{cite book | last=Kobeisy | first=Ahmed Nezar | title=Counseling American Muslims: Understanding the Faith and Helping the People | publisher=Praeger Publishers | year=2004 | isbn=978-0313324727}}
* {{cite book | last=Koprulu | first=Mehmed Fuad | coauthors=Leiser, Gary | title=The Origins of the Ottoman Empire | publisher=SUNY Press | year=1992 | isbn=0791408191}}
* {{cite book | last=Kramer | first=Martin | title=Shi'Ism, Resistance, and Revolution | publisher=Westview Press | year=1987 | isbn=978-0813304533}}
* {{cite book | last=Kugle | first=Scott Alan | title=Rebel Between Spirit And Law: Ahmad Zarruq, Sainthood, And Authority in Islam | publisher=Indiana University Press| year=2006 | isbn=0253347114}}
* {{cite book | last=Lapidus| first=Ira | title=A History of Islamic Societies | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2002 | edition=2nd | isbn=978-0521779333}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | authorlink=Bernard Lewis| title=The Jews of Islam | publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul | year=1984 | isbn=0-7102-0462-0}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | title=The Arabs in History | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1993 | isbn=0-1928-5258-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=The Middle East | publisher=Scribner | year=1997 | isbn=978-0684832807}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=Islam in History: Ideas, People, and Events in the Middle East | publisher=Open Court | edition=2nd | year=2001 | isbn=978-0812695182}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East | publisher=Harper Perennial | edition=Reprint | year=2003 | isbn=978-0060516055}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror | publisher=Random House, Inc., New York | year=2004 | isbn=978-0812967852}}
* {{cite book | last=Madelung | first=Wilferd | authorlink=Wilferd Madelung | title=The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=1996 | isbn=0521646960}}
* {{cite book | last=Malik| first=Jamal| coauthors=John R Hinnells, Inc NetLibrary | title=Sufism in the West | publisher= Routledge | year=2006 | isbn=0415274087}}
* {{cite book | last=Menski | first=Werner F. | title=Comparative Law in a Global Context: The Legal Systems of Asia and Africa | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2006 | isbn=0521858593}}
* {{cite journal | last=Mohammad | first=Noor | title=The Doctrine of Jihad: An Introduction | journal=Journal of Law and Religion | volume=3 | issue=2 |year=1985 | doi=10.2307/1051182 | page=381}}
* {{cite book | last=Momen | first=Moojan | title=An Introduction to Shi`i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi`ism | publisher=Yale University Press | year=1987 | isbn=978-0300035315}}
* {{cite book | last=Nasr | first=Seyed Muhammad | title=Our Religions: The Seven World Religions Introduced by Preeminent Scholars from Each Tradition (Chapter 7) | publisher=HarperCollins | year=1994| isbn=0-06067-700-7}}
* {{cite journal | last=Novak | first=David | title=The Mind of Maimonides | journal=[[First Things]] |month=February | year=1999}}
* {{cite book | last=Parrinder | first=Geoffrey | authorlink=Geoffrey Parrinder | title=World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present | publisher=Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited | year=1971 | isbn=0-87196-129-6}}
* {{cite journal | last=Patton | first=Walter M. | title=The Doctrine of Freedom in the Korân | journal=The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures |month=April | year=1900 | volume=16 | issue=3 | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | id=ISBN 9004103147 | doi=10.1086/369367 | page=129}}
* {{cite journal | last=Peters | first=F. E. | authorlink=F. E. Peters | title=The Quest for Historical Muhammad | journal=International Journal of Middle East Studies |year=1991}}
* {{cite book | last=Peters | first=F. E.| title=Islam: A Guide for Jews and Christians | publisher=Princeton University Press | year=2003 | isbn=0-691-11553-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Peters | first=Rudolph | authorlink=Rudolph Peters | title=Jihad in Medieval and Modern Islam | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | year=1977 | isbn = 90-04-04854-5}}
* {{cite book | last=Rippin | first=Andrew | authorlink=Andrew Rippin | title=Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices | publisher=Routledge | edition=2nd | year=2001 | isbn=978-0415217811}}
* {{cite book | last=Ruthven | first=Malise | title=Fundamentalism: The Search for Meaning | publisher= Oxford University Press | year=2005 | isbn = 01-92-80606-8}}
* {{cite book | last=Sahas | first=Daniel J. | title=John of Damascus on Islam: The Heresy of the Ishmaelites | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | year=1997 | isbn=978-9004034952}}
* {{cite book | last=[[Abdulaziz Sachedina|Sachedina]] | first=Abdulaziz | title=The Just Ruler in Shi'ite Islam: The Comprehensive Authority of the Jurist in Imamite Jurisprudence | publisher=Oxford University Press US | year=1998 | isbn=0195119150}}
*{{citejournal|last=Seibert|first=Robert F.|title=Review: Islam and the West: The Making of an Image (Norman Daniel)|journal=Review of Religious Research|year=1994|volume=36|issue=1|doi=10.2307/3511655|page=88|last2=Daniel|first2=Norman}}
* {{cite book | last=Sells | first=Michael Anthony | authorlink=Michael Anthony Sells | coauthors=Emran Qureshi | title=The New Crusades: Constructing the Muslim Enemy | publisher=Columbia University Press | year=2003 | isbn=0231126670}}
* {{cite book | last=Smith | first=Jane I. | title=The Islamic Understanding of Death and Resurrection | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2006 | isbn=978-0195156492}}
* {{cite book | last=Stillman | first=Norman | authorlink=Norman Stillman | title=The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book | publisher=Jewish Publication Society of America | location=Philadelphia | year=1979 | isbn=1-82760-198-1}}
* {{cite book | last=Tabatabae | first=Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn | coauthors=Seyyed Hossein Nasr (translator) | authorlink=Allameh Tabatabaei | title= Shi'ite Islam
|publisher=Suny press| year=1979 | isbn=0-87395-272-3}}
* {{cite book | last=Tabatabae | first=Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn | coauthors=R. Campbell (translator)| title= Islamic teachings: An Overview and a Glance at the Life of the Holy Prophet of Islam | publisher=Green Gold | year=2002 | isbn=0-922817-00-6}}
* {{cite book | last=Teece | first=Geoff | title=Religion in Focus: Islam | publisher=Franklin Watts Ltd | year=2003 | isbn=978-0749647964}}
* {{cite book | last=Tolan | first=John V. | title=Saracens: Islam in the Medieval European Imagination | publisher=Columbia University Press | year=2002}}
* {{cite book | last=Trimingham| first=John Spencer | title=The Sufi Orders in Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1998| isbn=0195120582}}
* {{cite book | last=Tritton | first=Arthur S. | authorlink=Arthur Stanley Tritton| title=The Caliphs and their Non-Muslim Subjects: A Critical Study of the Covenant of Umar | publisher=Frank Cass Publisher | location=London | year=1970 |origyear = 1930 | isbn=0-7146-1996-5}}
* {{cite book | last=Turner | first=Colin | title=Islam: the Basics | publisher=Routledge (UK) | year=2006 | id=ISBN 041534106X}}
* {{cite book | last=Turner | first=Bryan S. | title=Weber and Islam | publisher=Routledge (UK) | year=1998 | isbn=0415174589}}
* {{cite book | last=Waines | first=David | title=An Introduction to Islam | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2003 | isbn=0521539064}}
* {{cite book | last=Warraq | first=Ibn | title=The Quest for Historical Muhammad | publisher=Prometheus | year=2000 | isbn=978-1573927871}}
* {{cite book | last=Warraq | first=Ibn | title=Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out | publisher=Prometheus | year=2003 | isbn=1-59102-068-9}}
* {{cite book | last=Watt | first=W. Montgomery | authorlink=William Montgomery Watt | title=The Formative Period of Islamic Thought | publisher=University Press Edinburgh| year=1973 | isbn=0-85-224254-X}}
* {{cite book | last=Watt | first=W. Montgomery|title=Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman | publisher=Oxford University Press | edition=New | year=1974 | isbn=0-19-881078-4}}
* {{cite book | last=Weiss | first=Bernard G. | title=Studies in Islamic Legal Theory | year=2002 | location=Boston | publisher=Brill Academic publishers | isbn=9004120661}}
* {{cite book | last=Williams | first=John Alden | title=The Word of Islam | year=1994 | publisher=University of Texas Press | isbn=0-292-79076-7}}
* {{cite book | last=Williams | first=Mary E. | title=The Middle East | year=2000 | publisher=Greenhaven Pr | isbn=0737701331}}
{{Refend}}

====Encyclopedias====
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=William H. McNeill, Jerry H. Bentley, David Christian | encyclopedia=Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History | publisher=Berkshire Publishing Group | year=2005 | id=ISBN 978-0974309101}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Gabriel Oussani | encyclopedia=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]] | year=1910}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Paul Lagasse, Lora Goldman, Archie Hobson, Susan R. Norton | encyclopedia=The Columbia Encyclopedia | publisher=Gale Group | year=2000 | edition=6th | id=ISBN 978-1593392369}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica Online|Encyclopaedia Britannica Online]] | publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Erwin Fahlbusch, William Geoffrey Bromiley | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Christianity | publisher=Eerdmans Publishing Company, and Brill| year=2001 | edition=1st| id=ISBN 0-8028-2414-5}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=John Bowden | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Christianity | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2005 | edition=1st | id=ISBN 0-19-522393-4}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=George Thomas Kurian, Graham T. T. Molitor | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of the Future | publisher=MacMillan Reference Books | year=1995 | id=ISBN 978-0028972053}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of Islam Online]] | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | id=ISSN 1573-3912}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Richard C. Martin, Said Amir Arjomand, Marcia Hermansen, Abdulkader Tayob, Rochelle Davis, John Obert Voll | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World | publisher=MacMillan Reference Books | year=2003 | id=ISBN 978-0028656038}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Jane Dammen McAuliffe | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an|Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online]] | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Lindsay Jones | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Religion | publisher=MacMillan Reference Books | year=2005 | edition=2nd | id=ISBN 978-0028657332}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Salamone Frank | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals | publisher=Routledge | edition=1st | year=2004 | id=ISBN 978-0415941808}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Peter N. Stearns | edition=6th | year=2000 | encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of World History Online | publisher=Bartleby}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=[[Josef W. Meri]] | encyclopedia=Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia | publisher=[[Routledge]] | year=2005 | id=ISBN 041-5966906}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=[[Wendy Doniger]] | encyclopedia=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions | publisher=[[Merriam-Webster]] | year=1999 | id=ISBN 087-7790442}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Glasse Cyril | encyclopedia=New Encyclopedia of Islam: A Revised Edition of the Concise Encyclopedia of Islam | publisher=AltaMira Press | year=2003 | id=ISSN 978-0759101906}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Edward Craig | encyclopedia=Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy | publisher=Routledge | year=1998 | edition=1st| id=ISBN 978-0415073103}}
{{Refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | last=Arberry | first=A. J. | authorlink=A. J. Arberry | title=The Koran Interpreted: A Translation | publisher=Touchstone | edition=1st | year=1996 | isbn=978-0684825076}}
* {{cite book | last=Khan | first=Muhammad Muhsin | authorlink=Muhammad Muhsin Khan | coauthors=Al-Hilali Khan, Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din | title=Noble Quran | year=1999 | publisher=Dar-us-Salam Publications | edition=1st | isbn=978-9960740799}}
* {{cite book | last=Kramer (ed.) | first=Martin | authorlink=Martin Kramer | title=The Jewish Discovery of Islam: Studies in Honor of Bernard Lewis | publisher=Syracuse University | year=1999 | isbn=978-9652240408}}
* {{cite book | last=Kuban | first=Dogan | title=Muslim Religious Architecture | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | year=1974 | isbn=9004038132}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | title=Islam and the West | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1994 | isbn=978-0195090611}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=Cultures in Conflict: Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the Age of Discovery | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1996 | isbn=978-0195102833}}
* {{cite book | last=Mubarkpuri | first=Saifur-Rahman | title=[[The Sealed Nectar]]: Biography of the Prophet | publisher=Dar-us-Salam Publications | year=2002 | isbn=978-1591440710}}
* {{cite book | last=Najeebabadi | first=Akbar Shah | title=History of Islam | publisher=Dar-us-Salam Publications | year=2001 | isbn=978-1591440345}}
* {{cite book | last=Nigosian | first=S. A. | title=Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices | publisher=Indiana University Press | year=2004 | edition=New | isbn=978-0253216274}}
* {{cite book | last=Rahman | first=Fazlur | authorlink=Fazlur Rahman | title=Islam | publisher=University of Chicago Press | year=1979 | edition=2nd | isbn=0-226-70281-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Tausch | first=Arno | authorlink=Arno Tausch | title=Muslim Calvinism | publisher=Rozenberg Publishers, Amsterdam | year=2009 | edition=1st | isbn=978-905170995}}
* {{cite book | last=Tausch | first=Arno| title=What 1.3 Billion Muslims Really Think: An Answer to a Recent Gallup Study, Based on the “World Values Survey”. Foreword Mansoor Moaddel, Eastern Michigan University | publisher=Nova Science Publishers, New York| year=2009 | edition=1st | isbn=978-1-60692-731-1}}
* {{cite book | last=Walker | first=Benjamin | authorlink=Benjamin Walker | title=Foundations of Islam: The Making of a World Faith | publisher=Peter Owen Publishers | year=1998 | isbn=978-0720610383}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
;Academic resources
* [http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam.html Patheos Library – Islam]
* [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA University of Southern California Compendium of Muslim Texts]
* [http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/islam Encyclopedia of Islam (Overview of World Religions)]
*[http://www.ethicaldemocracy.org/ Ethical Democracy Journal] views on Islam, other ethical systems and democracy
;Online resource
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9105852/Islam Islam], article at ''Enyclopaedia Britannica Online''
* [http://www.friesian.com/islam.htm Islam], article at ''Friesian.com''
*[http://ideas.repec.org/p/iza/izadps/dp4459.html Asabiyya: Re-Interpreting Value Change in Globalized Societies], article at Repec/Ideas, [[University of Connecticut]] and IZA, Bonn, on Islam and global value change

;Directories
* {{dmoz|Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Islam/}}
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Islam_%28Bookshelf%29 Islam (Bookshelf)] at [[Project Gutenberg]]
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/us/islamus.htm Islam] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''


{{Islam topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Religion topics}}
{{featured article}}

[[Category:Islam|Islam]]

{{Link FA|ceb}}
{{Link FA|hu}}
{{Link FA|id}}
{{Link FA|tr}}
[[ace:Éseulam]]
[[af:Islam]]
[[als:Islam]]
[[am:እስልምና]]
[[ang:Alladōm]]
[[ar:إسلام]]
[[an:Islam]]
[[arc:ܐܣܠܐܡ]]
[[frp:Islame]]
[[ast:Islam]]
[[az:İslam]]
[[bm:Silameya]]
[[bn:ইসলাম]]
[[zh-min-nan:I-su-lân-kàu]]
[[map-bms:Islam]]
[[ba:Ислам]]
[[be:Іслам]]
[[be-x-old:Іслам]]
[[bcl:Islam]]
[[bi:Islam]]
[[bar:Islam]]
[[bo:དབྱི་སི་ལམ་ཆོས་ལུགས།]]
[[bs:Islam]]
[[br:Islam]]
[[bg:Ислям]]
[[ca:Islam]]
[[cv:Ислам]]
[[ceb:Islam]]
[[cs:Islám]]
[[co:Islamu]]
[[cy:Islam]]
[[da:Islam]]
[[pdc:Islaam]]
[[de:Islam]]
[[dv:އިސްލާމް]]
[[et:Islam]]
[[el:Ισλάμ]]
[[es:Islam]]
[[eo:Islamo]]
[[ext:Islam]]
[[eu:Islam]]
[[fa:اسلام]]
[[hif:Islam]]
[[fo:Islam]]
[[fr:Islam]]
[[fy:Islam]]
[[fur:Islam]]
[[ga:An tIoslam]]
[[gd:Islam]]
[[gl:Islam]]
[[gu:ઇસ્લામ ધર્મ]]
[[hak:Yî-sṳ̂-làn-kau]]
[[xal:Лал шаҗн]]
[[ko:이슬람교]]
[[ha:Islama]]
[[haw:Hoʻomana Mohameka]]
[[hy:Իսլամ]]
[[hi:इस्लाम]]
[[hsb:Islam]]
[[hr:Islam]]
[[io:Islamismo]]
[[ig:Islam]]
[[ilo:Islam]]
[[id:Islam]]
[[ia:Islam]]
[[ie:Islam]]
[[os:Пысылмон дин]]
[[is:Íslam]]
[[it:Islam]]
[[he:אסלאם]]
[[jv:Islam]]
[[kl:Islam]]
[[kn:ಇಸ್ಲಾಂ ಧರ್ಮ]]
[[ka:ისლამი]]
[[kk:Исләм]]
[[kw:Islam]]
[[ky:Ислам]]
[[sw:Uislamu]]
[[kg:Kisilamu]]
[[ht:Islamis]]
[[ku:Îslam]]
[[lad:Islam]]
[[krc:Ислам]]
[[lbe:Ислам]]
[[la:Religio Islamica]]
[[lv:Islāms]]
[[lb:Islam]]
[[lt:Islamas]]
[[lij:Islamiximo]]
[[li:Islam]]
[[ln:Islamu]]
[[jbo:musyjda]]
[[hu:Iszlám]]
[[mk:Ислам]]
[[ml:ഇസ്‌ലാം]]
[[mt:Islam]]
[[mr:इस्लाम धर्म]]
[[arz:الاسلام]]
[[mzn:ایسلام]]
[[ms:Islam]]
[[mwl:Eislan]]
[[mn:Ислам]]
[[nah:Islamismo]]
[[nl:Islam]]
[[nds-nl:Islam]]
[[ja:イスラム教]]
[[pih:Islem]]
[[no:Islam]]
[[nn:Islam]]
[[nrm:Islam]]
[[nov:Islam]]
[[oc:Islam]]
[[uz:Islom]]
[[pnb:اسلام]]
[[ps:اسلام]]
[[km:សាសនាឥស្លាម]]
[[tpi:Islam]]
[[nds:Islam]]
[[pl:Islam]]
[[pt:Islão]]
[[crh:İslâm]]
[[ro:Islam]]
[[rm:Islam]]
[[qu:Islam]]
[[ru:Ислам]]
[[sah:Ислам]]
[[se:Islam]]
[[sa:इस्लाम]]
[[sc:Islam]]
[[sco:Islam]]
[[sq:Feja Islame]]
[[scn:Islam]]
[[simple:Islam]]
[[sd:اسلام]]
[[sk:Islam]]
[[sl:Islam]]
[[szl:Islam]]
[[so:Islaam]]
[[sr:Ислам]]
[[sh:Islam]]
[[su:Islam]]
[[fi:Islam]]
[[sv:Islam]]
[[tl:Islam]]
[[ta:இசுலாம்]]
[[kab:Islam]]
[[tt:Íslam]]
[[te:ఇస్లాం మతం]]
[[th:ศาสนาอิสลาม]]
[[tg:Ислом]]
[[tr:İslam]]
[[tk:Yslam]]
[[bug:Islam]]
[[uk:Іслам]]
[[ur:اسلام]]
[[ug:ئىسلام دىنى]]
[[vec:Islam]]
[[vi:Hồi giáo]]
[[fiu-vro:Muhamediusk]]
[[wa:Islam]]
[[zh-classical:回教]]
[[vls:Islam]]
[[war:Islam]]
[[wo:Lislaam]]
[[wuu:回教]]
[[yi:איסלאם]]
[[yo:Ìmàle]]
[[zh-yue:伊斯蘭教]]
[[diq:İslam]]
[[bat-smg:Ėslams]]
[[zh:伊斯兰教]]

Islam

2010-04-07T06:31:14Z

Elbasan101: /* Muhammad */

{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{Contains Arabic text}}
[[File:Kaaba at night.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Kaaba]], located in [[Mecca]] ([[Saudi Arabia]]) is the center of Islam. It is where [[Muslim]]s from all over the world travel to and gather there to [[prayer|pray]] in [[unity]].]]
{{Islam}}
:''For other meanings, including people named 'Islam', see [[Islam (disambiguation)]].''
'''Islam''' ({{lang-ar|'''الإسلام'''}} ''al-’islām,'' {{IPA-ar|ʔislæːm|pron|ar-al_islam.ogg}}, {{respell|ihs|LAHM}}<ref group=note>There are ten pronunciations of ''Islam'' in English, differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress, whether the ''s'' is {{IPA-en|z|}} or {{IPA|/s/}}, and whether the ''a'' is pronounced {{IPA|/ɑː/}} as in ''father,'' {{IPA|/æ/}} as in ''cat,'' or (when the stress is on the ''i'') {{IPA|/ə/}} as in the ''a'' of ''sofa'' (Merriam Webster). The most common are {{IPA-en|ˈɪzləm, ˈɪsləm, ɪzˈlɑːm, ɪsˈlɑːm|}} (Oxford English Dictionary, Random House) and {{IPA-en|ˈɪzlɑːm, ˈɪslɑːm|}} (American Heritage Dictionary).</ref>) is the [[Abrahamic]] [[religion]] articulated by the [[Qur’an]], a [[Religious text#Islam|text]] considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of the [[Tawhid|one, incomparable]] [[God in Islam|God]] ({{lang-ar|'''الله'''}}, [[Allāh]]), and by the [[Prophets of Islam|Prophet of Islam]] [[Muhammad]]'s demonstrations and real-life examples (called the [[Sunnah]], collected through narration of his [[Sahaba|companions]] in collections of [[Hadith]]). ''Islam'' literally means "[[Surrender (spirituality and psychology)#In Islam|submission]] (to [[God]])."<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/notislam/misconceptions.html#HEADING1 USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts]</ref> ''Muslim'', the word for an adherent of Islam, is the active participle of the same verb of which ''Islām'' is the infinitive (see [[S-L-M#Islam|Islam (term)]]).<ref name="EoI-Islam">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier |accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref><ref name="Lanes Lexicon">{{cite web|url=http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume4/00000137.pdf|title=Lane's lexicon |accessdate=2007-07-03|format=PDF}}</ref>

Muslims regard their religion as the completed and universal version of a primordial, monotheistic faith revealed at many times and places before, including, notably, to the [[Prophets in Islam|prophets]] [[Islamic view of Abraham|Abraham]], [[Islamic view of Moses|Moses]] and [[Islamic view of Jesus|Jesus]]. Islamic tradition holds that previous messages and revelations have been [[Tahrif|changed and distorted]] over time.<ref name="Distorted">See: * Accad (2003): According to Ibn Taymiya, although only some Muslims accept the textual veracity of the entire Bible, most Muslims will grant the veracity of most of it. * Esposito (1998), pp.6,12* Esposito (2002b), pp.4–5* F. E. Peters (2003), p.9* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=F. Buhl | coauthors=A. T. Welch | accessdate=2007-05-02}}* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Tahrif | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=Hava Lazarus-Yafeh | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> Religious practices include the [[Five Pillars of Islam]], which are five obligatory acts of worship.<ref>Esposito (2002b), p.17</ref> [[Sharia|Islamic law]] ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: {{lang|ar|'''شريعة'''}} {{transl|ar|Šarīʿah}}) touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, encompassing everything from [[Islamic banking|banking]] and [[Islamic military jurisprudence|warfare]] to [[zakat|welfare]] and the [[sociology in medieval Islam#Ecological_responsibility_and_environmentalism|environment]].<ref>See: * Esposito (2002b), pp.111,112,118* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Shari'ah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The vast majority of Muslims belong to one of two major denominations, the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and [[Shia Islam|Shi'a]].<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.4,11">Miller (2009), pp.4,11</ref> Islam is the predominant religion in the [[Middle East]], [[North Africa]], and large parts of [[Asia]] and [[Sub-Saharan Africa]].<ref>[http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/31/3731-004.gif Britannica], [http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/02016/images/map_of_religions.png Think Quest], [http://www.wadsworth.com/religion_d/special_features/popups/maps/matthews_world/images/w001.jpg Wadsworth.com]</ref> Sizable communities are also found in [[China]] and [[Russia]], and parts of the [[Balkans]] and the [[Caribbean]]. About 13% of Muslims live in [[Indonesia]], the largest Muslim country,<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.8,17">Miller (2009), pp.8,17</ref> 31% in the [[Indian Subcontinent]],<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.8,17"/> and 20% in [[Arab world|Arab countries]].<ref>See:* Esposito (2002b), p.21* Esposito (2004), pp.2,43 * Miller (2009), pp.9,19</ref> Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world. With approximately 1.57 billion Muslims<ref name="executive summary">{{citation|url=http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=450|title=Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population: Main Page|publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]}}</ref> (see [[Islam by country]]), Islam is the [[major religious groups|second-largest religion in the world]] and arguably the [[Claims to be the fastest growing religion|fastest growing religion in the world]].<ref>[[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] – [http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/faithtoday.html Islam Today] (Islam, followed by more than a billion people today, is the world's fastest growing religion and will soon be the world's largest.)</ref><ref>[http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/religion/2008/04/07/no-god-but-god.html ''No God But God''] by Thomas W. Lippman of [[U.S. News & World Report]]. April 7, 2008.''"Islam is the youngest, the fastest growing, and in many ways the least complicated of the world's great monotheistic faiths. It is a unique religion based on its own holy book, but it is also a direct descendant of Judaism and Christianity, incorporating some of the teachings of those religions—modifying some and rejecting others."''</ref><ref>[http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/religion/2008/04/07/understanding-islam.html ''Understanding Islam''] by Susan Headden of U.S. News & World Report. April 7, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3835 The world's fastest growing religions]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html#Islam |title=Major Religions of the World — Ranked by Number of Adherents |accessdate=2007-07-03 |work= }}</ref>

==Etymology and meaning==
{{Main|S-L-M#Islam|l1=S-L-M}}
The word ''Islam'' is a [[verbal noun]] originating from the [[triliteral]] root ''s-l-m'', and is derived from the [[Arabic grammar#Verb|Arabic verb]] ''Aslama'', which means "to accept, surrender or submit." Thus, Islam means acceptance of and submission to God, and believers must demonstrate this by worshiping him, following his commands, and avoiding [[polytheism]]. Islam also means "Peace". The word is given a number of meanings in the Qur'an. In some verses (''[[ayat]]''), the quality of Islam as an internal conviction is stressed: "Whomsoever God desires to guide, He expands his breast to Islam."<ref>{{cite quran|6|125|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|61|7|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|39|22|style=ref}}</ref>{{Syn|date=November 2009}}

Other verses connect ''islām'' and ''[[Deen (Arabic term)|dīn]]'' (usually translated as "religion"): "Today, I have perfected your religion (''dīn'') for you; I have completed My blessing upon you; I have approved Islam for your religion."<ref>{{cite quran|5|3|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|3|19|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|3|83|style=ref}}</ref> Still others{{Who|date=November 2009}} describe Islam as an action of returning to God—more than just a verbal affirmation of faith.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|9|74|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|49|14|style=ref}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> Another technical meaning in Islamic thought is as one part of a triad of ''islam'', ''[[Iman (concept)|imān]]'' (faith), and ''[[ihsan|ihsān]]'' (excellence) where it represents acts of worship (''`[[ibadah|ibādah]]'') and Islamic law (''[[sharia]]'').<ref>Cyril Glassé, ''The Concise Encyclopedia of Islam'', p. 192</ref>

==Articles of faith==
{{Main|Aqidah|Iman (concept)|l2=Iman}}

The Qur'an states that all Muslims must believe in God, his revelations, his [[Islamic view of angels|angels]], his [[Prophets in Islam|messengers]], and in the "[[Qiyamah|Day of Judgment]]".<ref>{{cite quran|2|4|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|2|285|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|4|136|style=ref}}</ref>{{Syn|date=November 2009}} Also, there are other beliefs that differ between [[Kalam|particular sects]]. The [[Sunni]] concept of predestination is called [[Qadr (doctrine)|divine decree]],<ref>{{Muslim|1|1}}</ref> while the [[Shi'a]] version is called [[Adalah|divine justice]].{{Syn|date=November 2009}} Unique to the Shi'a is the doctrine of ''[[Imamah (Shia doctrine)|Imamah]]'', or the political and spiritual leadership of the [[Imam]]s.<ref>See:
* Farah (2003), p.109
* Momen (1987), p.176</ref>

Muslims believe that God [[revelation|revealed]] his final message to humanity through the Islamic prophet Muhammad via the [[Gabriel|archangel Gabriel]] (''Jibrīl''). For them, Muhammad was God's final prophet and the Qur'an is the holy book of revelations he received over more than two decades.<ref>Esposito (2004), pp.17,18,21</ref> In Islam, prophets are men selected by God to be his messengers. Muslims believe that prophets are human and not divine, though some are able to perform miracles to prove their claim. Islamic prophets are considered to be the closest to perfection of all humans, and are uniquely the recipients of divine [[revelation]]—either directly from God or through angels. The Qur'an mentions the names of numerous figures considered [[prophets in Islam]], including [[Adam (Bible)|Adam]], [[Islamic view of Noah|Noah]], [[Abraham]], [[Islamic view of Moses|Moses]] and [[Jesus in Islam|Jesus]], among others.<ref>See:
* Momem (1987), p.176
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-20}}</ref> Islamic theology says that all of God's messengers since Adam preached the message of Islam—submission to the will of God.<ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=5LacP0-C6MEC&pg=PT156&dq=all+of+God%27s+messengers+since+Adam+preached+the+message+of+Islam&ei=e3f9SozPFJaGkASUj83XDg#v=onepage&q=all%20of%20God's%20messengers%20since%20Adam%20preached%20the%20message%20of%20Islam&f=false Islam, Muslims, and America: understanding the basis of their conflict]. Arshad Khan. Publisher: Algora Publishing, 2003. Pg 136. ISBN 087586242X, 9780875862422</ref><ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=JzUnrNHHp5wC&pg=PA53&dq=all+of+God%27s+messengers+since+Adam+preached+the+message+of+Islam&ei=e3f9SozPFJaGkASUj83XDg#v=onepage&q=all%20of%20God's%20messengers%20since%20Adam%20preached%20the%20message%20of%20Islam&f=false Title Perspectives on Mankind's Search for Meaning]. Walter Taminang. Pg 53. Publisher: Lulu.com, 2008.ISBN 0615219810, 9780615219813</ref> According to the Quran <ref>{{cite web|url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/koran/koran-idx?type=proximity&q1=Imran&operator1=Near&amt1=80&q2=Ibrahim&operator2=Near&amt2=80&q3=&size=First+100 |title=The Koran |publisher=Quod.lib.umich.edu |date= |accessdate=2009-12-12}}</ref> the will of God is brought to the nations by the descendants of Abraham and [[Imran (father of Maryam)|Imran]]. Islam is described in the Qur'an as "the primordial nature upon which God created mankind",<ref>{{cite quran|30|30|style=ref}}</ref> and the Qur'an states that the [[proper name]] ''Muslim'' was given by Abraham.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|22|78|style=ref}}
* "Islam", ''Encyclopedia of Religion''</ref>

As a historical phenomenon, Islam originated in [[Arabia]] in the early 7th century.<ref>"Islam", ''Encyclopedia of Religion''</ref> Islamic texts depict Judaism and Christianity as prophetic successor traditions to the teachings of Abraham. The Qur'an calls [[Jew]]s and [[Christian]]s "[[People of the Book]]" (''ahl al-kitāb''), and distinguishes them from polytheists. Muslims believe that parts of the previously revealed scriptures, the ''[[Tawrat]]'' ([[Torah]]) and the ''[[Injil]]'' ([[Gospels]]), had become [[tahrif|distorted]]—either in interpretation, in text, or both.<ref name="Distorted" />

===God===
{{Main|God in Islam}}
[[File:Dcp7323-Edirne-Eski Camii Allah-ds.svg|thumb|left|100px|[[Allah]] means [[God in Islam|God in Arabic]]]]
{{See also|Oneness of God (Islam)|Allah}}
Islam's fundamental theological concept is ''[[tawhīd]]''—the belief that there is only one god. The Arabic term for God is ''Allāh''; most scholars believe it was derived from a contraction of the words ''[[al-]]'' (the) and ''{{transl|ar|ISO|[[ʾilāh]]}}'' (deity, masculine form), meaning "the god" (''{{transl|ar|ISO|al-ilāh}}''), but others trace its origin to the Aramaic ''Alāhā''.<ref>See:
* "Islam and Christianity", ''Encyclopedia of Christianity'' (2001): Arabic-speaking [[Christian]]s and [[Jew]]s also refer to God as ''Allāh''.
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Allah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> The first of the Five Pillars of Islam, ''tawhīd'' is expressed in the ''[[shahadah]]'' (testification), which declares that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is God's messenger. In traditional Islamic theology, God is beyond all comprehension; Muslims are not expected to visualize God but to worship and adore him as a protector. Although Muslims believe that [[Jesus]] was a prophet, they reject the Christian doctrine of the [[Trinity]] and divinity of Jesus, comparing it to polytheism. In Islamic theology, [[Jesus]] was just a man and not the son of God;<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Tathlith, Trinity | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=David Thomas | accessdate=2007-05-11}}: Contrary to Muslim understanding, some scholars have suggested that the Qur'an only opposes certain deviant forms of Trinitarian belief.</ref> God is described in a chapter (''[[sura]]'') of the Qur'an as "…God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him."<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|112|1|end=4|style=ref}}
* Esposito (2002b), pp.74–76
* Esposito (2004), p.22
* Griffith (2006), p.248
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Allah, Tawhid | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | author=D. Gimaret | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Qur'an===
{{Main|Islamic holy books|Qur'an}}
{{See also|Origin and development of the Qur'an}}
[[Image:FirstSurahKoran.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Al-Fatiha|first sura]] in a Qur'anic manuscript by [[Hattat Aziz Efendi]]]]

Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the literal word of God; it is the central [[religious text]] of Islam revealed in [[Arabic]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Qur'an| encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}</ref> Muslims believe that the verses of the Qur'an were revealed to Muhammad by God through the angel Gabriel on many occasions between 610 and his death on June 8, 632. The Qur'an was reportedly written down by Muhammad's companions (''[[sahabah]]'') while he was alive, although the prime method of transmission was orally. It was compiled in the time of [[Abu Bakr]], the first [[caliph]], and was standardized under the administration of [[Uthman]], the third caliph. From textual evidence [[Islamic studies]] scholars find that the Qur'an of today has not changed significantly since it was standardized<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/bukhari/061.sbt.html#006.061.510 USC.edu]</ref><ref>See:
* William Montgomery Watt in ''The Cambridge History of Islam'', p.32
* Richard Bell, William Montgomery Watt, ''Introduction to the Qur'an'', p.51
* F. E. Peters (1991), pp.3–5: "Few have failed to be convinced that … the Quran is … the words of Muhammad, perhaps even dictated by him after their recitation."</ref>

The Qur'an is divided into 114 [[sura]]s, or chapters, which combined, contain 6,236 ''[[ayah|āyāt]]'', or verses. The chronologically earlier suras, revealed at Mecca, are primarily concerned with ethical and spiritual topics. The later Medinan suras mostly discuss social and moral issues relevant to the Muslim community.<ref>See:
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Qur'an | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}

</ref> The Qur'an is more concerned with moral guidance than legal instruction, and is considered the "sourcebook of Islamic principles and values".<ref>Esposito (2004), p.79</ref> Muslim jurists consult the ''[[hadith]]'', or the written record of Muhammad's life, to both supplement the Qur'an and assist with its interpretation. The science of Qur'anic commentary and exegesis is known as ''[[tafsir]]''.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), pp.79–81
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Tafsir | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}</ref>

The word ''Qur'an'' means "recitation". When Muslims speak in the abstract about "the Qur'an", they usually mean the scripture as recited in Arabic rather than the printed work or any translation of it. To Muslims, the Qur'an is perfect only as revealed in the original Arabic; translations are necessarily deficient because of language differences, the fallibility of translators, and the impossibility of preserving the original's inspired style. Translations are therefore regarded only as commentaries on the Qur'an, or "interpretations of its meaning", not as the Qur'an itself.<ref>See:
* Teece (2003), pp.12,13
* C. Turner (2006), p.42
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Qur'an | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}: The word ''Qur'an'' was invented and first used in the Qur'an itself. There are [[Quran#Etymology|two different theories]] about this term and its formation.</ref>

===Hadith===
{{Main|Hadith}}
Hadith are narrations originating from the words and deeds of the [[Prophets of Islam|Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad|Mohammad]]. Hadith are regarded by traditional [[Madh'hab|schools of jurisprudence]] as important tools for understanding the [[Qur'an]] and in matters of [[Fiqh|jurisprudence]].<ref name="Nukat">Ibn Hajar, Ahmad. ''al-Nukat ala Kitab ibn al-Salah'', vol. 1, pg. 90. Maktabah al-Furqan.</ref> Hadith were [[Science of hadith|evaluated]] and gathered into large collections mostly during the reign of [[Umar II|Umar bin Abdul Aziz]] during the 8th and 9th centuries. These works are referred to in matters of [[Sharia|Islamic law]] and [[Muslim history|history]] to this day. The two main denominations of Islam, Shi`ism and Sunnism, have different sets of Hadith collections.

The Hadith enables Muslims to acquire the [[Sunnah]] (habits) or usual practices of [[Muhammad]].<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/reference/glossary/term.SUNNAH.html Sunnah], Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement</ref> The [[Muslim]] usage of this term refers to the sayings and living habits of [[Muhammad]], the last [[Prophets of Islam|prophet of Islam]]. Recording sunnah was an [[Arabia|Arabic]] tradition, and once people converted to Islam, they brought the tradition to the [[religion]]<ref>Goldziher, Ignác. Introduction to Islamic theology and law, page 231. Princeton, N.J: Princeton UP, 1981.</ref>. Among Sunni Muslims, [[Sahih al-Bukhari]] and [[Sahih Muslim]] collections are considered authentic.

===Angels===
{{Main|Angels in Islam}}

Belief in angels is crucial to the faith of Islam. The Arabic word for angel (''malak'') means "messenger", like its counterparts in Hebrew (''malakh'') and Greek (''angelos''). According to the Qur'an, angels do not possess [[free will]], and worship God in perfect obedience.<ref>{{cite quran|21|19|end=20|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|35|1|style=ref}}</ref>{{Syn|date=November 2009}} Angels' duties include communicating revelations from God, glorifying God, recording every person's actions, and taking a person's soul at the time of death. They are also thought to intercede on man's behalf. The Qur'an describes angels as "messengers with wings—two, or three, or four (pairs): He [God] adds to Creation as He pleases…"<ref>See:
*{{cite quran|35|1|style=ref}}
*Esposito (2002b), pp.26–28
*{{cite encyclopedia | title=Malā'ika | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=W. Madelung | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
*{{cite encyclopedia | title=Angel | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Gisela Webb | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Muhammad===
{{Main|Muhammad}}
[[File:Madina Haram at evening .jpg|thumb|left|500px|[[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi]] (the Mosque of the Prophet) in [[Medina]], Saudi Arabia, is the site of [[Muhammad]]'s [[tomb]].]]
Muhammad (c. 570 – June 8, 632) was a trader than a religious, political, and military leader. Muslims view him not as the creator of a new religion, but as the restorer of the original, uncorrupted monotheistic faith of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and others. In Muslim tradition, Muhammad is viewed as the last and the greatest in a series of [[Prophets in Islam|prophets]]—as the man closest to perfection, the possessor of all virtues.<ref>See:
* Esposito (1998), p.12
* Esposito (2002b), pp.4–5
* F. E. Peters (2003), p.9
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}</ref> For the last 23 years of his life, beginning at age 40, Muhammad reported receiving revelations from God. The content of these revelations, known as the Qur'an, was memorized and recorded by his [[Sahaba|companions]].<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|18|110|style=ref}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=F. Buhl | coauthors=A. T. Welch | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

During this time, Muhammad preached to the people of Mecca, imploring them to abandon polytheism. Although some converted to Islam, Muhammad and his followers were persecuted by the leading Meccan authorities. After 13 years of preaching, Muhammad and the Muslims performed the ''[[Hijra (Islam)|Hijra]]'' ("emigration") to the city of [[Medina]] (formerly known as ''Yathrib'') in 622. There, with the Medinan converts (''[[Ansar (Islam)|Ansar]]'') and the Meccan migrants (''[[Muhajirun]]''), Muhammad established his political and [[Theocracy|religious authority]]. Within years, two battles had been fought against Meccan forces: the [[Battle of Badr]] in 624, which was a Muslim victory, and the [[Battle of Uhud]] in 625, which ended inconclusively. Conflict with Medinan Jewish clans who opposed the Muslims led to their exile, enslavement or death, and the Jewish enclave of [[Battle of Khaybar|Khaybar]] was subdued. At the same time, Meccan trade routes were cut off as Muhammad brought surrounding desert tribes under his control.<ref>See:
* F.E.Peters(2003), pp.78,79,194
* Lapidus (2002), pp.23–28</ref> By 629 Muhammad was victorious in the nearly bloodless [[Conquest of Mecca]], and by the time of his death in 632 (at the age of 63) he ruled over the [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabian peninsula]].<ref name="EoI-Muhammad">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=F. Buhl | coauthors=A. T. Welch | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

In Islam, the "[[normative]]" example of Muhammad's life is called the ''[[Sunnah]]'' (literally "trodden path"). This example is preserved in traditions known as [[hadith]] ("reports"), which recount his words, his actions, and his personal characteristics. The classical Muslim jurist [[ash-Shafi'i]] (d. 820) emphasized the importance of the Sunnah in [[Sharia|Islamic law]], and Muslims are encouraged to emulate Muhammad's actions in their daily lives. The Sunnah is seen as crucial to guiding interpretation of the Qur'an.<ref>See:
* ''Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World'' (2003), p.666
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Hadith | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=J. Robson | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sunna | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=D. W. Brown | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Resurrection and judgment===
{{Main|Qiyama}}

Belief in the "Day of Resurrection", ''[[Qiyamah|yawm al-Qiyāmah]]'' (also known as ''yawm ad-dīn'', "Day of Judgment" and ''as-sā`a'', "the Last Hour") is also crucial for Muslims. They believe that the time of ''Qiyāmah'' is preordained by God but unknown to man. The trials and [[tribulation]]s preceding and during the ''Qiyāmah'' are described in the Qur'an and the [[hadith]], and also in the commentaries of [[Ulema|Islamic scholars]]. The Qur'an emphasizes [[Resurrection of the Dead|bodily resurrection]], a break from the [[pre-Islamic Arabia]]n understanding of death. It states that resurrection will be followed by the gathering of mankind, culminating in their judgment by God.<ref>See:
* "Resurrection", ''The New Encyclopedia of Islam'' (2003)
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Avicenna | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}: Ibn Sīnā, Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAbd Allāh b. Sīnā is known in the West as "Avicenna".
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Qiyama | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The Qur'an lists several sins that can condemn a person to hell, such as disbelief, [[riba|usury]] and dishonesty. Muslims view paradise (''[[jannah]]'') as a place of joy and bliss, with Qur'anic references describing its features and the physical pleasures to come. There are also references to a greater joy—acceptance by God (''ridwān'').<ref>{{cite quran|9|72|style=ref}}</ref> Mystical traditions in Islam place these heavenly delights in the context of an ecstatic awareness of God.<ref>See:
* Smith (2006), p.89; ''Encyclopedia of Islam and Muslim World'', p.565
* "Heaven", ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'' (2000)
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Garden | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Asma Afsaruddin | accessdate=2007-05-08}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Paradise | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Predestination===
{{Main|Predestination in Islam|Adalah}}

In accordance with the Islamic belief in [[predestination]], or divine preordainment (''al-qadā wa'l-qadar''), God has full knowledge and control over all that occurs. This is explained in Qur'anic verses such as "Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector'…"<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|9|51|style=ref}}
* D. Cohen-Mor (2001), p.4: "The idea of predestination is reinforced by the frequent mention of events 'being written' or 'being in a book' before they happen: 'Say: "Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us…" ' "
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Fate | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Ahmet T. Karamustafa | accessdate=2007-05-02}}: The verb ''qadara'' literally means "to measure, to determine". Here it is used to mean that "God measures and orders his creation".</ref> For Muslims, everything in the world that occurs, good or evil, has been preordained and nothing can happen unless permitted by God. According to Muslim theologians, although events are pre-ordained, man possesses free will in that he has the faculty to choose between right and wrong, and is thus responsible for his actions. According to Islamic tradition, all that has been decreed by God is written in ''al-Lawh al-Mahfūz'', the "Preserved Tablet".<ref>See:
* Farah (2003), pp.119–122
* Patton (1900), p.130</ref>

The Shi'a understanding of free will is called "divine justice" (''Adalah''). This doctrine, originally developed by the [[Mu'tazila]], stresses the importance of man's responsibility for his own actions. In contrast, the Sunni deemphasize the role of individual free will in the context of God's creation and foreknowledge of all things.<ref>Momen (1987), pp.177,178</ref>

==Duties and practices==
===Five Pillars===
{{Main|Five Pillars of Islam}}

[[The Five Pillars of Islam]] (Arabic: أركان الإسلام) are five practices essential to [[Sunni Islam]]. Shi'a Muslims subscribe to different sets of pillars which substantially overlap with the [[Five Pillars of Islam|Five Pillars]].<ref>See:
* Momem (1987), p.178
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Pillars of Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The Five Pillars of Islam are:
[[Image:Mosque.jpg|thumb|Muslims performing [[salah]] ([[prayer]]) at the [[Umayyad Mosque]] in [[Damascus]], [[Syria]].]]
# The '''''[[shahadah]]'''''<ref>[[Hossein Nasr]]
The Heart of Islam, Enduring Values for Humanity (April., 2003), pp 3, 39, 85, 27–272
</ref>, which is the basic [[creed]] or tenet of Islam that must be recited under an [[oath]] with the following specific statement: "''{{transl|ar|ISO|'ašhadu 'al-lā ilāha illā-llāhu wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh}}''", or "I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God." This testament is a foundation for all other beliefs and practices in Islam. Muslims must repeat the ''shahadah'' in prayer, and non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam are required to recite the creed.<ref>See:
* Farah (1994), p.135
* Momen (1987), p.178
* "Islam", ''Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals''(2004)
* [http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Ismaili/1035965 ArticleClick.com]</ref>
# '''''[[Salah]]''''', or ritual prayer, which must be performed five times a [[day]]. Each [[salah]] is done facing towards the [[Kaaba]] in Mecca. Salah is intended to focus the mind on [[God]], and is seen as a personal communication with him that expresses gratitude and [[worship]]. Salah is compulsory but flexibility in the specifics is allowed depending on circumstances. In many Muslim countries, reminders called [[Adhan]] (call to prayer) are broadcast publicly from local mosques at the appropriate times. The prayers are recited in the [[Arabic language]], and consist of verses from the Qur'an.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2002b), pp.18,19
* Hedáyetullah (2006), pp.53–55
* Kobeisy (2004), pp.22–34
* Momen (1987), p.178</ref>
# '''''[[Zakat]]''''', or [[alms|alms-giving]]. This is the practice of giving based on accumulated wealth, and is obligatory for all Muslims who can afford it. A fixed portion is spent to help the poor or needy, and also to assist the spread of Islam. The zakat is considered a religious obligation (as opposed to voluntary charity) that the well-off owe to the needy because their wealth is seen as a "trust from God's bounty". The Qur'an and the hadith also suggest a Muslim give even more as an act of voluntary alms-giving (''[[sadaqah]]'').<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|2|177|style=ref}}
* Esposito (2004), p.90
* Momen (1987), p.179
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Zakat | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-11}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Zakat | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>
# '''''[[Sawm]]''''', or [[Sawm of Ramadan|fasting during the month of Ramadan]]. Muslims must not eat or drink (among other things) from dawn to dusk during this month, and must be mindful of other sins. The fast is to encourage a feeling of nearness to God, and during it Muslims should express their gratitude for and dependence on him, atone for their past sins, and think of the needy. ''Sawm'' is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would constitute an undue burden. For others, flexibility is allowed depending on circumstances, but missed fasts usually must be made up quickly. Some Muslim groups do not fast during Ramadan, and instead have fasts at different times of the year.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|2|184|style=ref}}
* Esposito (2004), pp.90,91
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/pillars/fasting/tajuddin/fast_21.html#HEADING20 | title=For whom fasting is mandatory | publisher=USC-MSA | work=Compendium of Muslim Texts | accessdate=2007-04-18}}</ref>
# The '''''[[Hajj]]''''', which is the pilgrimage during the [[Islamic calendar|Islamic month]] of ''[[Dhu al-Hijjah]]'' in the city of Mecca. Every [[able-bodied]] Muslim who can afford it must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime. When the pilgrim is about ten kilometers from Mecca, he must dress in [[Ihram clothing|''Ihram'' clothing]], which consists of two white seamless sheets. Rituals of the Hajj include walking seven times around the Kaaba, touching the [[black stone]] if possible, walking or running seven times between [[Al-Safa and Al-Marwah|Mount Safa]] and [[Al-Safa and Al-Marwah|Mount Marwah]], and symbolically [[Stoning of the Devil|stoning the Devil]] in [[Mina, Saudi Arabia|Mina]]. The pilgrim, or the ''[[hajji]]'', is honored in his or her community, although Islamic teachers say that the Hajj should be an expression of devotion to God instead of a means to gain social standing.<ref>See:
* Farah (1994), pp.145–147
* Goldschmidt (2005), p.48
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Hajj | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Law===
{{Main|Sharia|Fiqh}}

The ''Sharia'' (literally: "the path leading to the watering place") is Islamic law formed by traditional Islamic scholarship, which most Muslim groups adhere to. In Islam, Sharia is the expression of the divine will, and "constitutes a system of duties that are incumbent upon a Muslim by virtue of his religious belief".<ref name="BritannicaShariah">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Shari'ah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

Islamic law covers all aspects of life, from matters of state, like governance and [[Diplomacy|foreign relations]], to issues of daily living. The Qur'an defines ''[[hudud]]'' as the punishments for five specific crimes: unlawful intercourse, false accusation of unlawful intercourse, consumption of alcohol, theft, and highway robbery. The Qur'an and Sunnah also contain laws of [[Islamic Inheritance jurisprudence|inheritance]], [[Islamic marital jurisprudence|marriage]], and [[Qisas|restitution for injuries and murder]], as well as rules for [[sawm|fasting]], [[Sadaqah|charity]], and [[salat|prayer]]. However, these [[wajib|prescriptions]] and [[Haraam|prohibitions]] may be broad, so their application in practice varies. [[Ulema|Islamic scholars]] (known as ''ulema'') have elaborated systems of law on the basis of these rules and their interpretations.<ref>See:
* Menski (2006), p.290
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Hadd | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=B. Carra de Vaux | coauthors=J. Schacht, A.M. Goichon | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sharia | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=N. Calder | coauthors=M. B. Hooker | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

''[[Fiqh]]'', or "jurisprudence", is defined as the knowledge of the practical rules of the religion. The method Islamic jurists use to derive rulings is known as ''[[usul al-fiqh]]'' ("legal theory", or "principles of jurisprudence"). According to Islamic legal theory, law has four fundamental roots, which are given precedence in this order: the Qur'an, the Sunnah (actions and sayings of Muhammad), the consensus of the Muslim jurists (''[[ijma]]''), and analogical reasoning (''[[qiyas]]''). For early Islamic jurists, theory was less important than pragmatic application of the law. In the 9th century, the jurist [[ash-Shafi'i]] provided a theoretical basis for Islamic law by codifying the principles of jurisprudence (including the four fundamental roots) in his book ''ar-Risālah''.<ref>Weiss (2002), pp.xvii,162</ref>

====Religion and state====
{{Main|Political aspects of Islam|Islamic state|Caliphate}}
Mainstream Islamic law does not distinguish between "matters of church" and "matters of state"; the [[ulema]] function as both jurists and theologians. In practice, Islamic rulers frequently bypassed the Sharia courts with a parallel system of so-called "Grievance courts" over which they had sole control. As the Muslim world came into contact with Western secular ideals, Muslim societies responded in different ways. [[Turkey]] has been governed as a [[secular state]] ever since the reforms of [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]]. In contrast, the [[1979 Iranian Revolution]] replaced a mostly secular regime with an [[Islamic republic]] led by the [[Ruholla Khomeini|Ayatollah Khomeini]].<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), p. 84
* Lapidus (2002), pp. 502–507,845
* Lewis (2003), p. 100</ref>

===Etiquette and diet===
{{Main|Adab (behavior)|Islamic dietary laws}}

Many practices fall in the category of ''adab'', or Islamic etiquette. This includes greeting others with "''[[As-Salamu Alaykum|as-salamu `alaykum]]''" ("peace be unto you"), saying ''[[bismillah]]'' ("in [[Names of God|the name of God]]") before meals, and using only the right hand for eating and drinking. [[Islamic hygienical jurisprudence|Islamic hygienic]] practices mainly fall into the category of personal cleanliness and health, such as the [[Khitan (circumcision)|circumcision of male offspring]]. [[Islamic funeral|Islamic burial rituals]] include saying the ''[[Salat al-Janazah]]'' ("funeral prayer") over the bathed and enshrouded dead body, and burying it in a grave. Muslims are restricted in their diet. Prohibited foods include pork products, blood, [[carrion]], and [[alcoholic beverage|alcohol]]. All meat must come from a [[herbivorous]] animal slaughtered in the name of God by a Muslim, Jew, or Christian, with the exception of game that one has hunted or fished for oneself. Food permissible for Muslims is known as [[halal]] food.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|5|5|style=ref}}
* Curtis (2005), p.164
* Esposito (2002b), p.111
* Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/janisla2y2.html Customs and Behavioral Laws]
* Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/febislaw2y2.html The Dietary Laws]
* Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/DecIslaw2y5.htm Various types of the prayer]
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Slaughter | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Ersilia Francesca | accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref>

===Jihad===
{{Main|Jihad|Islamic military jurisprudence}}

Jihad means "to strive or struggle" (in the way of God) and is considered the "[[Sixth Pillar of Islam]]" by a minority of Sunni Muslim authorities.<ref name="jih">Esposito (2003), p.93</ref> Jihad, in its broadest sense, is classically defined as "exerting one's utmost power, efforts, endeavors, or ability in contending with an object of disapprobation." Depending on the object being a visible enemy, the devil, and aspects of one's own self, different categories of Jihad are defined.<ref>Firestone (1999) pp. 17–18</ref> Jihad, when used without any qualifier, is understood in its military aspect.<ref>Reuven Firestone (1999), The Meaning of Jihād, p. 17–18</ref><ref>Britannica Encyclopedia, Jihad</ref> Jihad also refers to one's striving to attain religious and moral perfection.<ref>See:
* Brockopp (2003) pp. 99–100
* Esposito (2003), p.93
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=jihad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-06-13}}</ref> Some Muslim authorities, especially among the Shi'a and [[Sufism|Sufis]], distinguish between the "greater jihad", which pertains to spiritual self-perfection, and the "lesser jihad", defined as warfare.<ref>See:
* Firestone (1999) p.17
* "Djihad", ''Encyclopedia of Islam Online''.</ref>

Within [[fiqh|Islamic jurisprudence]], jihad is usually taken to mean military exertion against non-Muslim combatants in the [[Defensive Jihad|defense]] or [[Offensive jihad|expansion]] of the [[Ummah]]. The ultimate purpose of military jihad is debated, both within the Islamic community and without, with some claiming that it only serves to protect he Ummah, with no aspiration of offensive conflict, whereas others have argued that the goal of Jihad is global conquest. Jihad is the only form of warfare permissible in Islamic law and may be declared against apostates, rebels, highway robbers, violent groups, and leaders or states, Islamic or otherwise, who oppress Muslims or hamper proselytizing efforts.<ref>Firestone (1999) p.17</ref><ref name="jihad">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Djihād | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> Most Muslims today interpret Jihad as only a defensive form of warfare: the external Jihad includes a struggle to make the Islamic societies conform to the Islamic norms of justice.<ref>Knowing the Enemy: Jihadist Ideology and the War on Terror, Mary R. Habeck, Yale University Press, p.108–109, 118</ref>

Under most circumstances and for most Muslims, jihad is a collective duty (''[[fard|fard kifaya]]''): its performance by some individuals exempts the others. Only for those vested with authority, especially the sovereign ([[imam]]), does jihad become an individual duty. For the rest of the populace, this happens only in the case of a [[general mobilization]].<ref name="jihad" /> For most [[Twelvers|Shias]], [[offensive jihad]] can only be declared by a [[Imamah (Shi'a twelver doctrine)|divinely appointed leader]] of the Muslim community, and as such is suspended since [[Muhammad al-Mahdi]]'s<ref>Seyyed Hossein Nasr
The Heart of Islam, Enduring Values for Humanity (April., 2003), pp 72
</ref> occultation in 868 AD.<ref>cf. Sachedina (1998) p. 105 and 106</ref>

==History==
[[Image:Kairouan's Great Mosque courtyard.jpg|thumb|The [[Mosque of Uqba|Great Mosque of Kairouan]] also known as the Mosque of Uqba was founded by Arab general Uqba Ibn Nafi in 670. It is the oldest mosque in the western Islamic world <ref name="kairouan"/> and represents one of the best architectural examples of Islamic civilization <ref>[http://www.muslimheritage.com/topics/default.cfm?articleID=358 Great Mosque of Kairouan (Muslim Heritage.com)]</ref>, city of [[Kairouan]], [[Tunisia]].]]
{{Main|Muslim history|Spread of Islam}}

Islam's historical development resulted in major political, economic, and military effects inside and outside the [[Islamic world]]. Within a century of Muhammad's first recitations of the [[Qur'an]], an Islamic empire stretched from the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in the west to [[Central Asia]] in the east ; one of the best preserved architectural examples of Islamic spread, is the [[Mosque of Uqba|Great Mosque of Kairouan]] (in [[Tunisia]]) considered as the ancestor of all the mosques in the western Islamic world <ref name="kairouan">[http://books.google.fr/books?id=IaM9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA104&dq=kairouan+mosque+the+oldest+in+the+western+islamic+world&cd=1#v=onepage&q=kairouan%20mosque%20the%20oldest%20in%20the%20western%20islamic%20world&f=false John Stothoff Badeau and John Richard Hayes, ''The Genius of Arab civilization: source of Renaissance''. Taylor & Francis. 1983. p. 104]</ref>. This new polity soon broke into civil war, and successor states fought each other and outside forces. However, Islam continued to spread into regions like [[Africa]], the [[Indian subcontinent]], and [[Southeast Asia]]. The Islamic civilization was one of the most advanced in the world during the [[Middle Ages]], but was surpassed by Europe with the economic and military growth of the West. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Islamic dynasties such as the [[Ottomans]] and [[Mughals]] fell under the sway of European imperial powers. In the 20th century [[Islamic revival|new religious and political movements]] and newfound wealth in the Islamic world led to both rebirth and conflict.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), pp.50,112,197,380,489,578,817
* Lewis (2004), pp.29,51–56</ref>

===Rise of the caliphate and civil war (632–750)===
{{See|Succession to Muhammad|Muslim conquests|Battle of Karbala}}
Muhammad began preaching Islam at Mecca before [[Hijra (Islam)|migrating]] to [[Medina]], from where he united the [[tribes of Arabia]] into a singular Arab Muslim religious polity. He made his last [[The Farewell Sermon|farewell sermon]] at the age of 63 in the year 632 and died 72 days later.<ref name="patheos.com">[http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Historical-Development/Early-Developments.html Patheos Library – Islam: Early Developments]</ref> Right after his death disagreement broke out over who would succeed him as leader of the Muslim community. [[Umar ibn al-Khattab]], a prominent [[sahaba|companion]] of Muhammad, nominated [[Abu Bakr]], who was Muhammad's intimate friend and collaborator. Others added their support and Abu Bakr was made the first [[caliph]]. This choice was disputed by some of Muhammad's companions{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}, who held that [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, had been designated his successor.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} Abu Bakr's immediate task was to avenge a recent defeat by [[Byzantine]] (or [[Eastern Roman Empire]]) forces, although he first had to put down a rebellion by Arab tribes in an episode known as the [[Ridda wars]], or "Wars of Apostasy".<ref>See:
* Holt (1977a), p.57
* Hourani (2003), p.22
* Lapidus (2002), p.32
* Madelung (1996), p.43
* Tabatabaei (1979), p.30–50</ref>

[[Image:Age of Caliphs.png|thumb|300px|The territory of the [[Caliphate]] in 750]]

His death in 634 resulted in the succession of Umar as the caliph, followed by [[Uthman ibn al-Affan]] and Ali ibn Abi Talib. These four are known as ''al-khulafā' ar-rāshidūn'' ("[[Rightly Guided Caliphs]]"). Under them, the territory under Muslim rule expanded deeply into [[Persian Empire|Persian]] and [[Byzantine]] territories.<ref>See
* Holt (1977a), p.74
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

When Umar was assassinated in 644, [[the election of Uthman]] as successor was met with increasing opposition. In 656, Uthman was also killed, and Ali assumed the position of caliph. After fighting off opposition in the [[First Fitna|first civil war]] (the "First Fitna"), Ali was assassinated by [[Kharijites]] in 661. Following this, [[Muawiyah I|Mu'awiyah]], who was governor of the [[Levant]], seized power and began the [[Umayyad dynasty]].<ref>Holt (1977a), pp.67–72</ref> Although there was discord, the period until the death of Ali in 661 is remembered as a kind of golden age by some{{Who|date=January 2010}} Muslims. It was the Age of the Rashidun or "rightly-guided ones," when Muhammad's close companions led the community of Muslims.<ref name="patheos.com"/>

These disputes over religious and political leadership would give rise to schism in the Muslim community. The majority accepted the legitimacy of the three rulers prior to Ali, and became known as [[Sunni]]s. A minority disagreed, and believed that Ali was the only rightful successor; they became known as the [[Shi'a]].<ref>Waines (2003) p.46</ref> After Mu'awiyah's death in 680, conflict over succession broke out again in a civil war known as the "[[Second Fitna]]". Afterward, the Umayyad dynasty prevailed for seventy years, and was able to conquer the [[Maghreb|Maghrib]] and [[Al-Andalus]] (the [[Iberian Peninsula]], former [[Visigoths|Visigothic]] [[Hispania]]) and the [[Gallia Narbonensis|Narbonnese Gaul]] in the west as well as expand Muslim territory into [[Sindh]] and the fringes of [[Central Asia]].<ref>Donald Puchala, ‘’Theory and History in International Relations,’’ page 137. Routledge, 2003.</ref> While the Muslim-Arab elite engaged in conquest, some devout Muslims began to question the piety of indulgence in a worldly life, emphasizing, rather, poverty, humility, and avoidance of sin based on renunciation of bodily desires. Devout Muslim ascetic exemplars such as [[Hasan al-Basri]] would inspire a movement that would evolve into [[Sufism]].<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), pp.90,91
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sufism | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-13}}</ref>

For the Umayyad aristocracy, Islam was viewed as a religion for Arabs only;<ref>Hawting (2000), p.4</ref> the economy of the Umayyad empire was based on the assumption that a majority of non-Muslims ([[Dhimmis]]) would pay taxes to the minority of Muslim Arabs. A non-Arab who wanted to convert to Islam was supposed to first become a client of an Arab tribe. Even after conversion, these new Muslims (''[[mawali]]'') did not achieve social and economic equality with the Arabs. The descendants of Muhammad's uncle [[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib]] rallied discontented ''mawali'', poor Arabs, and some Shi'a against the Umayyads and overthrew them with the help of their propagandist and general [[Abu Muslim]], inaugurating the [[Abbasid|Abbasid dynasty]] in 750.<ref>Lapidus (2002), p.56; Lewis (1993), pp. 71–83</ref> Under the Abbasids, Islamic civilization flourished in the "[[Islamic Golden Age]]", with its capital at the cosmopolitan city of [[Baghdad]].<ref>See:
* Holt (1977a), pp.80,92,105
* Holt (1977b), pp.661–663
* Lapidus (2002), p.56
* Lewis (1993), p.84
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Golden Age (750–1258)===
{{Main|Islamic Golden Age}}
{{See|Muslim Agricultural Revolution}}
The Golden Age saw new legal, philosophical, and religious developments. The [[Six major Hadith collections|major hadith collections]] were compiled and the four modern Sunni [[Madh'hab]]s were established. Islamic law was advanced greatly by the efforts of the early 9th century jurist [[al-Shafi'i]]; he codified a method to establish the reliability of hadith, a topic which had been a locus of dispute among Islamic scholars.<ref>Lapidus (2002), p.86</ref> Philosophers [[Ibn Sina]] (Avicenna) and [[Al-Farabi]] sought to incorporate Greek principles into Islamic theology, while others like the 11th century theologian [[Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali]] argued against them and ultimately prevailed.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.160
* Waines (2003) p.126,127</ref> Finally, Sufism and Shi'ism both underwent major changes in the 9th century. [[Sufism]] became a full-fledged movement that had moved towards mysticism and away from its ascetic roots, while Shi'ism split due to disagreements over the succession of Imams.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), pp.44–45
* Lapidus (2002), pp.90–94
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sufism | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The spread of the Islamic dominion induced hostility among [[Middle ages|medieval]] [[ecclesiastical]] Christian authors who saw Islam as an adversary in the light of the large numbers of new Muslim converts. This opposition resulted in polemical treatises which depicted Islam as the religion of the [[antichrist]] and of Muslims as libidinous and subhuman.<ref>Tolan (2002) xv, xvi, 41</ref> In the [[Middle Ages|medieval period]], a few Arab philosophers like the poet [[Al-Ma'arri]] adopted a critical approach to Islam, and the Jewish philosopher [[Maimonides]] contrasted Islamic views of morality to Jewish views that he himself elaborated.<ref>See:
* Novak (February 1999)
* Sahas (1997), pp.76–80</ref>

===Fragmentation and Invasions===
{{Main|Crusades|Reconquista}}
{{See|Mongol invasion of Central Asia|Ilkhanate}}
[[Image:Hattin.jpg|thumb|upright|Artistic depiction of the [[Battle of Hattin]] in 1187, where Jerusalem was recaptured by Saladin's Ayyubid forces]]

By the late 9th century, the Abbasid caliphate began to fracture as various regions gained increasing levels of autonomy. Across North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, [[emirate]]s formed as provinces broke away. The monolithic Arab empire gave way to a more religiously homogenized [[Muslim world]] where the Shia [[Fatimid]]s contested even the religious authority of the caliphate. In the 10th century the powerful [[Ghaznavids]] conquered the Persian region and a large part of the [[Indian subcontinent]] in the name of Islam. They were replaced by the [[Ghurids]] in the 12th century. By 1055 the [[Seljuq dynasty|Seljuq Turks]] had eliminated the Abbasids as a military power, nevertheless they continued to respect the caliph's titular authority.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.103–143
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Abbasid Dynasty | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> During this time expansion of the Muslim world continued, by both conquest and peaceful [[Dawah|proselytism]] even as both Islam and Muslim trade networks were extending into sub-Saharan [[West Africa]], [[Central Asia]], [[Volga Bulgaria]] and the [[Malay archipelago]].<ref name="EoI-Islam" />

Starting in the 9th century, Muslim conquests in the West began to be reversed. The [[Reconquista]] was launched against Muslim [[Taifa|principalities]] in [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberia]], and Muslim [[History of Islam in southern Italy|Italian possessions]] were lost to the [[Normans]]. From the 11th century onwards alliances of European Christian kingdoms mobilized to launch a series of wars known as the [[Crusade]]s, aimed at reversing Muslim military conquests within the [[Byzantine Empire|eastern part of the former Roman Empire]], especially in the [[Holy Land (Biblical)|Holy Land]]. Initially successful in this aim, and establishing the [[Crusader states]], these gains were later reversed by subsequent Muslim generals such as [[Saladin]], who recaptured [[Jerusalem]] in 1187.<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.288–290,310</ref>

In the east the [[Mongol Empire]] put an end to the Abbassid dynasty at the [[Battle of Baghdad (1258)|Battle of Baghdad in 1258]], as they overran the Muslim lands in a series of invasions. Meanwhile in Egypt, the slave-soldier [[Mamluk]]s took control in an uprising in 1250<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.292
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islamic World | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> and in alliance with the [[Golden Horde]] halted the Mongol armies at the [[Battle of Ain Jalut]]. Over the next century the Mongol [[Khanate]]s converted to Islam and this religious and cultural absorption ushered in a new age of Mongol-Islamic synthesis that shaped the further spread of Islam in central Asia, eastern Europe and the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The [[Crimean Khanate]] was one of the strongest powers in [[Eastern Europe]] until the end of the 17th century.<ref>[http://www.econ.hit-u.ac.jp/~areastd/mediterranean/mw/pdf/18/10.pdf The Crimean Tatars and their Russian-Captive Slaves]. Eizo Matsuki. ''Mediterranean Studies Group at Hitotsubashi University.''</ref>

The [[Black Death]] ravaged much of the Islamic world in the mid-14th century.<ref>[http://www.sfusd.edu/schwww/sch618/Medicine/Diseases_and_Cures.html Islamic Medicine Part III: Diseases of the Middle Ages]</ref> It is probable that the Mongols and merchant caravans making use of the opportunities of free passage offered by the [[Pax Mongolica]] inadvertently brought the plague from [[Central Asia]] to the Middle East and Europe.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/09/13/2031252.htm?site=science/greatmomentsinscience Black Death], Great Moments in Science, ABC Science</ref> [[List of historical plagues|Plague epidemics]] kept returning to the Islamic world up to the 19th century.<ref>[http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/mongols/blackDeath.html The Islamic World to 1600: The Mongol Invasions (The Black Death)]</ref>

===New dynasties and colonialism (1030–1918)===
The [[Great Seljuq Empire|Seljuk Turks]] conquered Abbassid lands, adopted Islam and become the ''de facto'' rulers of the caliphate. They captured [[Anatolia]] by defeating the [[Byzantine]]s at the [[Battle of Manzikert]], thereby precipitating the call for Crusades. They fell apart in the second half of the 12th century giving rise to various semi-autonomous Islamic dynasties such as the powerful [[Ayyubids]] who conquered Egypt and a Jerusalem in the name of Islam. In the 13th and 14th centuries the [[Ottoman Empire]] (named after [[Osman I]]) emerged from among these ''"Ghazi emirates''" and established itself after a string of conquests that included the [[Balkans]], parts of [[Greece]], and western Anatolia. In 1453 under [[Mehmed II]] the Ottomans laid siege to [[Constantinople]], the capital of Byzantium, [[Fall of Constantinople|which succumbed]] shortly thereafter, having been overwhelmed by a far greater number of Ottoman troops and to a lesser extent, [[cannon]]ry.<ref>See
* Holt (1977a), p.263
* Lapidus (2002), p.250
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Istanbul | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>
[[Image:TajMahalbyAmalMongia.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The [[Taj Mahal]] was built by Muslim rulers of the [[Mughal Empire]] in [[Agra]], [[India]].]]

Beginning in the 13th century, Sufism underwent a transformation, largely as a result of the efforts of [[al-Ghazzali]] to legitimize and reorganize the movement. He developed the model of the Sufi order—a community of spiritual teachers and students.<ref>Esposito (2004), pp.104,105</ref> Also of importance to Sufism was the creation of the [[Masnavi]], a collection of mystical poetry by the 13th century [[Persian language|Persian]] poet [[Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi|Rumi]]. The Masnavi had a profound influence on the development of Sufi religious thought; to many Sufis it is second in importance only to the Qur'an.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Islamic Art | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> From the 14th century to the 16th century much of the eastern Islamic world was experiencing another golden age under the [[Timurid dynasty]]. In the early 16th century, the [[Safavid dynasty]] assumed control in Persia and established Shi'a Islam as an official religion there, and despite periodic setbacks, the Safavids remained in power for two centuries until being usurped by the [[Hotaki dynasty]] in the early-18th century. Meanwhile, Mamluk Egypt fell to the Ottomans in 1517, who then launched a [[Ottoman wars in Europe|European campaign]] which reached as far as [[Siege of Vienna|the gates of Vienna]] in 1529.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), pp.198,234,244,245,254
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

After the invasion of Persia and sack of Baghdad by the Mongols in the mid 13th century, [[Delhi]] became the most important cultural centre of the Muslim east.<ref name="Ikram">Ikram, S. M. 1964. Muslim Civilization in India. New York: Columbia University Press</ref> Many Islamic dynasties ruled parts of the Indian subcontinent starting with the [[Ghaznavids]] in the 10th century. The prominent ones included the [[Delhi Sultanate]] (1206–1526) and the [[Mughal Empire]] (1526–1857). These empires helped in the spread of Islam in [[South Asia]], but by the early-18th century the [[Maratha Empire|Sikh Maratha Empire]] was becoming the pre-eminent power in northern India until they were weaken by the [[Durrani Empire]] in the mid-18th century.

Around the 18th century, despite attempts at modernization, the Ottoman empire had begun to feel threatened by European economic and military advantages. It was during the 18th century that the [[Wahhabi]] movement took hold in Saudi Arabia. Founded by the preacher [[Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab|Ibn Abd al-Wahhab]], Wahhabism is a fundamentalist ideology that condemns practices like Sufism and the veneration of saints as un-Islamic.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.572
* Watt (1973), p.18: Wahhabism should not be confused with the early Kharijite sect of Wahabiyya, which was named after Abd-Allah ibn-Wahb ar-Rasibi, who opposed Ali at Nahrawan.</ref>

By the 19th century the [[East India Company|British Empire]] had formally ended the last Mughal dynasty,<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.358,378–380,624</ref> and overthrew the Muslim-ruled [[Kingdom of Mysore]]. In the 19th century, the [[Rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire|rise of nationalism]] resulted in Greece declaring and winning independence in 1829, with several Balkan states following suit after the Ottomans suffered defeat in the [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)|Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878]]. The Ottoman era came to a close at the end of [[World War I]] and the [[Caliphate]] was abolished in 1924.<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.380,489–493</ref><ref>[http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2000/488/chrncls.htm New Turkey]</ref>

In the 19th century, the [[Salafi]], [[Deobandi]] and [[Barelwi]] movements were initiated.

===Modern times (1918–present)===
{{See|Fall of the Ottoman Empire|Arab Revolt|Arab–Israeli conflict|Iranian revolution}}

By the early years of the 20th century, most of the Muslim world outside the Ottoman empire had been absorbed into the empires of non-Islamic European powers. After [[World War I]] losses, nearly all of the Ottoman empire was also parceled out as European [[protectorate]]s or [[sphere of influence|spheres of influence]]. In the course of the 20th century, most of these European-ruled territories became independent, and new issues such as oil wealth and relations with the State of [[Israel]] have assumed prominence.<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.281–282,380,489–493,556,578,823,835</ref>

During this time, many Muslims migrated, as indentured servants, from mostly India and [[Indonesia]] to the [[Caribbean]], forming the largest Muslim populations by percentage in the [[Americas]].<ref>Muslim Minorities in the West: Visible and Invisible By Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad, Jane I. Smith, pg 271</ref> Additionally, the resulting urbanization and increase in trade in [[Africa]] brought Muslims to settle in new areas and spread their faith. As a result, Islam in sub-Saharan Africa likely doubled between 1869 and 1914.<ref>Bulliet, Richard, Pamela Crossley, Daniel Headrick, Steven Hirsch, Lyman Johnson, and David Northrup. The Earth and Its Peoples. 3. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. ISBN 0618427708</ref> The [[Organization of the Islamic Conference]] (OIC), consisting of [[Islam by country|Muslim countries]], was formally established in September 1969 after the burning of the [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] in [[Jerusalem]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/1555062.stm Organization of the Islamic Conference]</ref>

==== Islamic revival and Islamist movements ====
{{See|Islamic revival|Islamism}}
The 20th century saw the Islamic world [[Islam and modernity|increasingly exposed to outside cultural influences]], bringing potential changes to Muslim societies. In response, new Islamic [[Islamic revival|"revivalist" movements were initiated]] as a counter movement to non-Islamic ideas. Groups such as the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] in Egypt and [[Jamaat-e-Islami]] in Pakistan advocate a totalistic and theocratic alternative to secular political ideologies. Sometimes called [[Islamist]], they see Western cultural values as a threat, and promote Islam as a comprehensive solution to every public and private question of importance.

In countries like Iran revolutionary movement replaced [[secularism|secular]] regime with an [[Islamic state]], while transnational groups like [[Osama bin Laden]]'s [[al-Qaeda]] engage in [[Islamic terrorism|terrorism]] to further their goals. In contrast, [[Liberal Islam]] is a movement that attempts to reconcile religious tradition with modern norms of secular governance and [[human rights]]. Its supporters say that there are multiple ways to read Islam's sacred texts, and stress the need to leave room for "independent thought on religious matters".<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), pp.118,119,179
* Lapidus (2002), pp.823–830</ref>

Modern [[criticism of Islam]] includes accusations that Islam is intolerant of criticism and that [[Islamic law]] is too hard on [[Apostasy in Islam|apostates from Islam]]. Critics like [[Ibn Warraq]] question the morality of the Qu'ran, saying that its contents justify the mistreatment of women and encourage [[antisemitic]] remarks by Muslim theologians.<ref>See:
* Rippin (2001), p.288
* {{cite news | publisher=NYRB | work=[[The New York Review of Books]] | date=October 5, 2006 | title=Islam in Europe | author=Timothy Garton Ash | url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/19371}}</ref> Such claims have been challenged by many Muslim scholars and writers including [[Fazlur Rahman Malik]],<ref>For example see ''Major Themes of the Qur'an'' by Fazlur Rahman Malik in which he argues against the treatment of the Qur'an as either a piecemeal or an evolutionary progression of ideas. See review by William A. Graham (1983), p.446.</ref> [[Syed Ameer Ali]],<ref>For example see ''The Spirit of Islam'' by Syed Ameer Ali (1849–1928). It is described by [[David Samuel Margoliouth]] (1905) as "probably the best achievement in the way of an apology for Mohammed". See Margoliouth, preface ''[[Mohammed and the Rise of Islam]]''.</ref> [[Ahmed Deedat]],<ref>Westerlund (2003)</ref> [[Yusuf Estes]],<ref>{{cite news | publisher=Advance, [[University of Connecticut]] | date=2003-11-17 | title=Ramadan Awareness Event Designed To Debunk Negative Images | author=Elizabeth Omara-Otunnu | url=http://advance.uconn.edu/2003/031117/03111715.htm}}</ref> as well as [[Zakir Naik]] and others of [[Peace TV]], which is a global Islamic satellite channel intended to correct the misconceptions about Islam.

Others like [[Daniel Pipes]] and [[Martin Kramer]] focus more on criticizing the spread of [[Islamic fundamentalism]], a danger they feel has been ignored.<ref>{{cite news | last=Bernstein | first=Richard | title= Experts on Islam Pointing Fingers At One Another | url=http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F70D16F734540C708CDDA80994D9404482 | publisher=The New York Times | accessdate=2007-05-14 | date=2001-11-03}}</ref> [[Montgomery Watt]] and Norman Daniel dismiss many of the criticisms as the product of old myths and polemics.<ref>See:
* Seibert (1994), pp.88–89
* Watt (1974), p.231</ref> The rise of [[Islamophobia]], according to [[Carl Ernst]], had contributed to the negative views about Islam and Muslims in the West.<ref>Ernst (2004), p.11</ref>

[[Pascal Bruckner]] and [[Paul Berman]] on the other hand have entered the "[[Islam in Europe]]" debate. Berman identifies a "reactionary turn in the intellectual world" represented by Western scholars who idealize Islam.<ref>{{cite magazine| last = Berman| first = Paul| authorlink = Paul Berman| title = Who's Afraid of Tariq Ramadan?: The Islamist, the journalist, and the defense of liberalism.| journal = [[The New Republic]]| publisher = | location = | date = June 4, 2007| url = http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=fd52e6a4-efc5-42fd-983b-1282a16ac8dd}}</ref></blockquote>

==Community==
{{Main|Muslim world|Ummah}}
===Demographics===
{{See also|List of countries by Muslim population}}
[[File:World Muslim Population Pew Forum.png|right|400px|thumb|Muslim population by percentage]]
A comprehensive 2009 demographic study of 232 countries and territories reported that 23% of the global population or 1.57 billion people are Muslims.<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.4,11"/> Of those, 87–90% are [[Sunni]] and 10–13% are [[Shi'a]],<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.4,11"/> with a small minority belonging to other sects. Approximately 50 countries are [[List of Muslim majority countries|Muslim-majority]],<ref>Miller (2009), p.11</ref> and [[Arabs]] account for around 20% of all Muslims worldwide.

The majority of Muslims live in Asia and Africa.<ref>[http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e1087 Islam: An Overview in Oxford Islamic Studies Online]</ref> Approximately 62% of the world's Muslims live in [[Asia]], with over 683 million adherents in [[Indonesia]], [[Pakistan]], [[India]], and [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="USN&WR">[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/graphics/religion/islams_global_reach.htm Secrets of Islam] – [[U.S. News & World Report]]. Information provided by the International Population Center, Department of Geography, [[San Diego State University]] (2005).</ref><ref>Miller (2009), pp.15,17</ref> In the [[Middle East]], non-Arab countries such as [[Turkey]] and [[Iran]] are the largest Muslim-majority countries; in [[Africa]], [[Egypt]] and [[Nigeria]] have the most populous Muslim communities.<ref name="Islam_by_country">{{cite web
|url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_isl_num_of_mus-religion-islam-number-of-muslim
|title=Number of Muslim by country
|publisher=nationmaster.com
|accessdate=2007-05-30}}</ref> According to a recent study in the United States, the [[People's Republic of China]] has the eighth highest Muslim population with up to 65.3 million individuals<ref name="USN&WR"/> but other figures show only 20 million.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71338.htm
|title=International Religious Freedom Report 2006—China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)
|year=2006
|publisher=U.S. department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
|accessdate=2007-05-30}}</ref> Islam is the second largest religion after [[Christianity]] in many [[Europe]]an countries,<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004) pp.2,43
*{{cite encyclopedia | title=Islamic World | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}

{{cite web | url=http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html | title=Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents | publisher=Adherents.com | accessdate=2007-01-09}}
* {{cite news | title=Muslims in Europe: Country guide | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4385768.stm | publisher=BBC | work=BBC News | date=2005-12-23 | accessdate=2006-09-28}}
* {{cite web | title=Religion In Britain | url= http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=293 | publisher=Office for National Statistics | work=National Statistics | date=2003-02-13 | accessdate=2006-08-27}}</ref>
and is slowly catching up to that status in the [[Americas]] and [[Australia]].

===Mosques===
[[File:Faisal mosque2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Faisal Mosque]] in [[Islamabad]], Pakistan]]
{{Main|Mosque}}
A mosque is a [[places of worship|place of worship]] for Muslims, who often refer to it by its Arabic name, ''masjid''. The word ''mosque'' in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated to Islamic worship, although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller, privately owned mosque and the larger, "collective" mosque (''masjid jāmi`''). Although the primary purpose of the mosque is to serve as a place of prayer, it is also important to the [[ummah|Muslim community]] as a place to meet and study. Modern mosques have evolved greatly from the early designs of the 7th century, and contain a variety of architectural elements such as [[minaret]]s.<ref>See:
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Masdjid | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author= J. Pedersen | coauthors=R. Hillenbrand, J. Burton-Page, et al. | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Mosque | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Family life===
{{See also|Women in Islam}}
[[File:Bejeweled Girl Portrait.jpg|thumb|left|100px|Islam prohibits women from showing their hair in public.]]
The basic unit of Islamic society is the [[family]], and Islam defines the obligations and legal rights of family members. The father is seen as financially responsible for his family, and is obliged to cater for their well-being. The division of [[inheritance]] is specified in the Qur'an, which states that most of it is to pass to the immediate family, while a portion is set aside for the payment of debts and the making of bequests. The woman's share of inheritance is generally half of that of a man with the same rights of succession.<ref>"al-Mar'a". ''Encyclopaedia of Islam''</ref> [[Marriage in Islam]] is a civil [[nikah|contract]] which consists of an offer and acceptance between two qualified parties in the presence of two witnesses. The groom is required to pay a bridal gift (''[[mahr]]'') to the bride, as stipulated in the contract.<ref>
* Waines (2003) pp. 93–96
* The Oxford Dictionary of Islam (2003), p.339
* Esposito (1998) p. 79</ref>

A man may have up to four wives if he believes he can treat them equally, while a woman may have only one husband. In most Muslim countries, the process of divorce in Islam is known as ''[[Talaq (Nikah)|talaq]]'', which the husband initiates by pronouncing the word "divorce".<ref>*"Talak". ''Encyclopaedia of Islam''</ref> Scholars disagree whether Islamic holy texts justify traditional Islamic practices such as [[hijab|veiling]] and seclusion ([[purdah]]).

Starting in the 20th century, Muslim social reformers argued against these and other practices such as [[polygamy in Islam]], with varying success. At the same time, many Muslim women have attempted to reconcile tradition with modernity by combining an active life with outward modesty. Certain [[Islamist]] groups like the [[Taliban]] have sought to continue traditional law as applied to women.<ref>
* Esposito (2004), pp.95,96,235–241
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Marriage and Divorce | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an | author=Harald Motzki | accessdate=2007-05-15}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Marriage Practices | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures | author=Lori Peek | accessdate=2007-05-15}}
</ref>

===Calendar===
{{Main|Islamic calendar}}
[[File:Crescent Moon.JPG|thumb|upright|The Islamic calendar is based on the [[lunar cycle]].]]
The formal beginning of the Muslim era was chosen to be the [[Hijra (Islam)|Hijra]] in 622 CE, which was an important turning point in Muhammad's fortunes. The assignment of this year as the year 1 AH (''Anno Hegirae'') in the Islamic calendar was reportedly made by [[Umar|Caliph Umar]]. It is a [[lunar calendar]], with nineteen ordinary years of 354 days and eleven leap years of 355 days in a thirty-year cycle. Islamic dates cannot be converted to CE/AD dates simply by adding 622 years: allowance must also be made for the fact that each Hijri century corresponds to only 97 years in the Christian calendar.<ref>See:
* Adil (2002), p.288
* F. E. Peters (2003), p.67
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Tarikh̲ | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=B. van Dalen | coauthors=R. S. Humphreys, Manuela Marín, et al. | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The year 1428 AH coincides almost completely with 2007 CE.

Islamic [[Muslim holidays|holy days]] fall on fixed dates of the lunar calendar, which means that they occur in [[seasons|different seasons]] in different years in the [[Gregorian calendar]]. The most important Islamic festivals are ''[[Eid al-Fitr]]'' (Arabic: عيد الفطر) on the 1st of ''[[Shawwal]]'', marking the end of the fasting month ''[[Ramadan]]'', and ''[[Eid al-Adha]]'' (Arabic: عيد الأضحى) on the 10th of ''[[Dhu al-Hijjah]]'', coinciding with the pilgrimage to Mecca.<ref>Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/janisla2y2.html Customs and Behavioral Laws]</ref> Similar to the Jewish calendar, days in the Islamic calendar last from sunset to sunset.<ref>Patheos Library – Islam Sacred Time – [http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Ritual-Worship-Devotion-Symbolism/Sacred-Time.html Patheos.com]</ref>

==Other religions==
{{Main|Islam and other religions}}
[[Image:Jerusalem Dome of the rock BW 3.JPG|thumb|A view of the [[Dome of the Rock]] on the [[Temple Mount]] in [[Jerusalem]], a holy site in both Islam and [[Judaism]] that has been a source of controversy.]]

According to Islamic doctrine, Islam was the primordial religion of mankind, professed by [[Adam (Bible)|Adam]].<ref>Friedmann (2003), pp. 14–16</ref> At some point, a [[Schism (religion)|religious split]] occurred, and God began sending prophets to bring his revelations to the people.<ref>Friedmann (2003), pp. 18–19</ref> In this view, [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Nevi'im|Hebrew prophets]], and [[Jesus]] were all [[Prophets in Islam]], but their message and the texts of the [[Torah]] and the [[Gospels]] were [[tahrif|corrupted]] by [[Jew]]s and [[Christians]]. Similarly, every child is born in the domain of Islam, but is converted to some other faith if the parents/guardians are not Muslims.<ref>Friedmann (2003), p. 18</ref>

Islamic law divides non-Muslims into several categories, depending on their relation with the Islamic state. Christians and Jews who live under Islamic rule are known as ''[[dhimmis]]'' ("protected peoples"). According to this regulation, the personal safety and security of property of the dhimmis is guaranteed in return for paying tribute (''[[jizya]]'') to the Islamic state. The status was extended to other groups like Zoroastrians and Hindus,<ref>Ernst (2005), Following Muhammad, p.46</ref> but not to [[atheist]]s or [[agnostic]]s.<ref>Lewis (2001), p.273</ref>

Those who live in non-Muslim lands (''[[dar al-harb]]'') are known as ''[[harbi]]s'', and upon entering into an alliance with the Muslim state become known as ''ahl al-ahd''. Those who receive a guarantee of safety while residing temporarily in Muslim lands are known as ''ahl al-amān''. Their legal position is similar to that of the dhimmi except that they are not required to pay the jizya. The people of armistice (''ahl al-[[hudna]]'') are those who live outside of Muslim territory and agree to refrain from attacking the Muslims.<ref>Friedmann (2003), p. 55</ref><ref>"Aman", ''Encyclopaedia of Islam''</ref> [[apostasy in Islam|Apostasy from Islam]] is prohibited, and is punishable by death.<ref>A woman who converts from Islam to another religion is to be executed according to some jurists, or imprisoned according to others.</ref><ref>"Murtadd", ''Encyclopedia of Islam''</ref>

The [[Alevi]], [[Yazidi]], [[Druze]], [[Bábís|Bábí]], [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]], [[Berghouata]] and [[Ha-Mim]] movements either emerged out of Islam or came to share certain beliefs with Islam. Some consider themselves separate while others still sects of Islam though controversial in certain beliefs with mainstream Muslims. [[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community|Ahmadiyyat]], a reformatory sect in Islam is considered to be non-Muslim by many mainstream Muslims. For this reason the government of Pakistan has declared them to be non-Muslim, although international organisations such as [[Amnesty International]] have viewed such a move is against international human rights.<ref>http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA13/011/2008/en/7d8e2c8c-d119-11dd-984e-fdc7ffcd27a6/asa130112008en.pdf Ahmadiyya – human rights</ref> [[Sikhism]], founded by [[Guru Nanak]] in late 15th century [[Punjab region|Punjab]], incorporates aspects of both Islam and [[Hinduism]].<ref>Encyclopedia of Islam, "Sikhs"</ref>

==Denominations==
{{Main|Islamic schools and branches}}
Islam consists of a number of [[religious denomination]]s that are essentially similar in belief but which have significant theological and legal differences. The primary division is between the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and the [[Shi'a]], with [[Sufi]]sm generally considered to be a mystical inflection of Islam rather than a distinct school. According to most sources, 70% of the world's Muslims are Sunni,<ref name="cia.gov">https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html</ref> 20% are Shi'a with the 10% being other various small minorities and [[Islamic schools and branches|Islamic sects]].<ref>See:
* Esposito (2002b), p.2
* {{cite web | url=http://countrystudies.us/afghanistan/61.htm | title=Sunni and Shia Islam | work=Country Studies | publisher=U.S. Library of Congress | accessdate=2007-01-09}}</ref>

===Sunni===
{{Main|Sunni Islam}}
[[Sunni]] Muslims are the largest group in Islam, comprising 70%<ref name="cia.gov"/> of the world's 1.5 billion [[Muslim]]s,<ref>From the article on Sunni Islam in [http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2280?_hi=2&_pos=2 Oxford Islamic Studies Online]</ref> hence the title 'Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘ah' (people of the principle and majority). In [[Arabic]], ''as-Sunnah'' literally means "principle" or "path". The Sunnah (the example of Muhammad's life) as recorded in the Qur'an and the hadith is the main pillar of Sunni doctrine. Sunnis believe that the first four [[caliph]]s were the rightful successors to Muhammad; since God did not specify any particular leaders to succeed him, those leaders had to be elected. There are four recognised [[madhhab|madh'habs]] (schools of thought): [[Hanafi]], [[Maliki]], [[Shafi'i]], and [[Hanbali]]. All four accept the validity of the others and a Muslim may choose any one that he or she finds agreeable.

There are other Islamic sects that may be considered as being Sunni yet are believed to have departed from the majority by introducing ''[[bidah]]'' (innovations) and extreme political views which are divorced from Islam.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2003), pp.275,306
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Shariah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sunnite | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Shi'a===
{{Main|Shia Islam}}
{{See also|Succession to Muhammad}}
The [[Shi'a]] constitute about 15% of Islam,<ref>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/pilgrimage-to-karbala/sunni-and-shia-the-worlds-of-islam/1737/</ref> coming as the second-largest branch.<ref name="mgmpPRC">
{{Cite book
| editor-last = Miller
| editor-first = Tracy
| month = 10
| year = 2009
| publisher = [[Pew Research Center]]
| title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population
| format = PDF
| url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf
| accessdate = 2009-10-08 }}
</ref> They believe in the political and religious [[Islamic leadership|leadership]] of [[Imamah (Shia doctrine)|Imams]] from the progeny of [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], who according to most Shi'a are in a state of ''[[ismah]]'', meaning infallibility. They believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib, as the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, was his rightful successor, and they call him the first ''Imam'' (leader), rejecting the legitimacy of the previous Muslim caliphs. To most Shi'a, an Imam rules by right of divine appointment and holds "absolute spiritual authority" among Muslims, having final say in matters of doctrine and revelation.<ref>See
* Lapidus (2002), p.46
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Imam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Shi'ite | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

Approximately 40% of worldwide Shi'a adherents are concentrated in Iran, with other significant population in Iraq, Pakistan, and India.<ref name="mgmpPRC"/> Shi'a make up the majority of the Muslim population in several countries, including Iran (90–95%), Iraq (65–70%), Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and Lebanon.<ref name="mgmpPRC"/>

Shi'a Islam has several branches, the largest of which is the [[Twelvers]] (''{{transl|ar|ISO|iṯnāʿašariyya}}'') which the label Shi'a generally refers to. Although the Twelver Shi'a share many core practices with the Sunni, the two branches disagree over the proper importance and validity of specific collections of hadith. The Twelver Shi'a follow a legal tradition called [[Ja'fari jurisprudence]].<ref>See:
* Ahmed (1999), pp.44–45
* Nasr (1994), p.466</ref> Other smaller groups include the [[Ismaili]] and [[Zaidiyyah|Zaidi]], who differ from Twelvers in both their line of successors and theological beliefs.<ref>See:
* Kramer (1987), [http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/Alawis.htm Syria's Alawis and Shi''ism pp.237–254]
* [http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/islam/shia/index.html Shia branches]</ref>

===Sufism===
[[File:Whirling Dervishes 2.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Sufism|Sufi]] whirling dervishes in [[Turkey]]]]
{{Main|Sufism}}
[[Sufism]] is a mystical-ascetic form of Islam. By focusing on the more spiritual aspects of religion, Sufis strive to obtain direct experience of God by making use of "intuitive and emotional faculties" that one must be trained to use.<ref>Trimingham (1998), p.1</ref> Sufism and [[Islamic law]] are usually considered to be complementary, although Sufism has been criticized by some Muslims for being an unjustified [[bidah|religious innovation]]. Most Sufi orders, or ''[[tariqa]]s'', can be classified as either Sunni or Shi'a.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2003), p.302
* Malik (2006), p.3
* B. S. Turner (1998), p.145
* {{cite web | url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/aftoc.html | work=Country Studies | publisher=U. S. Library of Congress (Federal Research Division) | title=Afghanistan: A Country Study | accessdate=2007-04-18 | page=150}}</ref> Some Sufi groups can be described as non-Islamic when their teachings are very distinct from Islam.

===Ahmadiyya===

{{Main|Ahmadiyya}}

Ahmadiyya ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|احمدِیہ}}}}) is a religious movement founded towards the end of the [[19th century]] and originating with the life and teachings of [[Mirza Ghulam Ahmad]] (1835–1908). Ghulam Ahmad was an important religious figure who claimed to have fulfilled the prophecies about the world reformer of the [[end times]], who was to herald the [[Eschatology|Eschaton]] as predicted in the traditions of various [[world religions]] and bring about the final triumph of Islam as per Islamic prophecy. He claimed that he was the [[Mujaddid]] (divine reformer) of the 14th [[Islamic century]], the promised [[Messiah]] (“[[Second Coming of Christ]]”) and [[Mahdi]] awaited by Muslims.<ref name="hmgaintro_mma">[http://www.aaiil.org/text/books/mali/callofislam/reformermujaddiddeathjesusmessiahimammahdidajjalggogmagog.shtml “The Fourteenth-Century's Reformer / Mujaddid”, from the “Call of Islam”], by [[Maulana Muhammad Ali]]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/books/3in1/chap2/index.html Claims of Hadhrat Ahmad, Chapter Two]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/books/truth/reflection.html Reflection of all the Prophets]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/library/books/revelation/part_7_section_1.html Future of Revelation, Part 7]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/books/misunderstandingremoved.html The Removal of a Misunderstanding]</ref> Ahmadi emphasis lay in the belief that Islam is the final law for humanity as revealed to [[Muhammad]] and the necessity of restoring to it its true essence and pristine form, which had been lost through the centuries. Thus, Ahmadis view themselves as leading the revival and peaceful propagation of Islam.<ref name="timesonline.co.uk">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4009445.ece The Ahmadi Muslim Community. Who are the Ahmadi Muslims and what do they believe? Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi gives a brief introduction to the Ahmadi branch of Islam.] Times Online. May 27, 2008.</ref> The Ahmadis were among the earliest Muslim communities to arrive in [[Great Britain|Britain]] and other Western countries.<ref name="timesonline.co.uk"/>

===Others===
{{Main|Salafi}}
The recent [[Salafi]] movement, also known as [[Wahhabi]], which sees itself as restorationist and claims to derive its teachings from the original sources of Islam by refuting the established schools of thought of Sunni Islam.
{{Main|Ibadi}}
The [[Kharijites]] are a sect that dates back to the early days of Islam. The only surviving branch of the Kharijites is [[Ibadism]]. Unlike most Kharijite groups, Ibadism does not regard sinful Muslims as unbelievers. The [[Imam]]ate is an important topic in Ibadi legal literature, which stipulates that the leader should be chosen solely on the basis of his knowledge and piety, and is to be deposed if he acts unjustly. Most Ibadi Muslims live in [[Oman]].<ref>See:
* [http://www.uga.edu/islam/ibadis.html UGA.edu], Ibadi Islam: An Introduction
* J. A. Williams (1994), p.173
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=al-Ibāḍiyya | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>. There are communities of Ibadis that took refuge in the [[Mzab]] oases in southern [[Algeria]], the [[Nafusa Mountains]] in western Libya, and in [[Djerba|Djerba Island]] (Tunisia), in order to avoid [[persecution]] in certain periods of history.<ref>[http://www.uga.edu/islam/ibadis.html Valerie J. Hoffman, Ibadi Islam: An Introduction]</ref>
{{Main|Qur'an alone}}
[[Qur'an alone|Quranist]] is a term used to refer to Muslims who reject [[hadith]], or reported traditions of the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]], and follow the [[Qur'an]], a sacred text of Islam, exclusively.<ref>www.submission.org/islam/Islam-American.html</ref>

===Cultural Muslim===
{{Main|Cultural Muslim}}
Generally, a Muslim is defined by faith in the [[religion]] of Islam; however, in the modern world there are religiously unobservant, [[agnostic]] or [[atheist]] individuals who still identify with the [[Muslim culture]] due to [[family]] background, personal experiences or fear of retribution for apostasy, an approach discussed by [[Malise Ruthven]].<ref>http://www.nybooks.com/authors/8876</ref>

==See also==
{{Main|Outline of Islam}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-1-of-3}}
*[[Islamic studies]]
*[[Islam and animals]]
*[[Islam and children]]
*[[Islam and science]]
*[[Islamic jurisprudence]]
*[[Islamic ethics]]
*[[Islamic art]]
*[[Islamic economics]]
*[[Islamic literature]]

{{Col-2-of-3}}
*[[Islam and modernity]]
*[[Islamism]]
*[[Lists of Muslims]]
*[[List of Muslim empires and dynasties]]
*[[List of notable converts to Islam]]
*[[Timeline of Muslim history]]
*[[Prisoner rights in Islam]]

{{Col-3-of-3}}
{{portal}}
{{Wikipedia-Books
|1=Abrahamic religions
|3=Islam
}}

{{Col-end}}

==References==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
=== Footnotes===
{{Reflist|group=note}}
===Books and journals===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite journal | last=Accad | first=Martin | title=The Gospels in the Muslim Discourse of the Ninth to the Fourteenth Centuries: An Exegetical Inventorial Table (Part I) | journal=Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations | volume=14 | issue=1 |year=2003 | id=ISSN 0959-6410}}
* {{cite book | last=Adil | first=Hajjah Amina | coauthors=Shaykh Nazim Adil Al-Haqqani, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani | title=Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam | publisher=Islamic Supreme Council of America | year=2002 | isbn=978-1930409118}}
* {{cite book | last=Ahmed | first=Akbar | title=Islam Today: A Short Introduction to the Muslim World | publisher=I. B. Tauris | edition=2.00 | year=1999 | isbn=978-1860642579}}
* {{cite book | last=Armstrong | first=Karen | title=Muhammad: A Prophet for our Time | publisher=HarperCollins |year=2006 | isbn=006059897-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Brockopp | first=Jonathan E. | title=Islamic Ethics of Life: abortion, war and euthanasia | publisher=University of South Carolina press | year=2003 | isbn=1570034710}}
* {{cite book | last=Cohen-Mor | first=Dalya | title=A Matter of Fate: The Concept of Fate in the Arab World as Reflected in Modern Arabic Literature | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2001 | isbn=0195133986}}
* {{cite book | last=Curtis | first=Patricia A. | year=2005 | title=A Guide to Food Laws and Regulations | publisher=Blackwell Publishing Professional | isbn=978-0813819464}}
* {{cite book | last=Eglash | first=Ron | year=1999 | title=African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design | publisher=Rutgers University Press | isbn=0-8135-2614-0}}
* {{cite book | last=Ernst | first=Carl | authorlink=Carl Ernst | year=2004 | title = Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World | publisher=University of North Carolina Press | isbn=0-8078-5577-4}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John | authorlink=John Esposito | coauthors=John Obert Voll | title=Islam and Democracy | year=1996 | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0-19-510816-7}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John | title=Islam: The Straight Path | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1998 | edition=3rd | isbn=978-0195112344}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John|coauthors=Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad | title=Muslims on the Americanization Path? | year=2000a | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0-19-513526-1}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John |year=2000b | title=Oxford History of Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=978-0195107999}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| year=2002a | title=Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=978-0195168860}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| year=2002b | title=What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0-19-515713-3}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| title=[[The Oxford Dictionary of Islam]] | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | year=2003 | isbn=0-19-512558-4}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| title=Islam: The Straight Path | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2004 | edition=3rd Rev Upd | isbn=978-0195182668}}
* {{cite book | last=Farah | first=Caesar | authorlink=Caesar E. Farah | title=Islam: Beliefs and Observances | publisher=Barron's Educational Series | year=1994 | edition=5th | isbn=978-0812018530}}
* {{cite book | last=Farah | first=Caesar| title=Islam: Beliefs and Observances | publisher=Barron's Educational Series | year=2003 | edition=7th | isbn=978-0764-12226-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Firestone | first=Reuven | title=Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam | publisher= Oxford University Press | year=1999 | isbn=019-5125800}}
* {{cite book | last=Friedmann | first=Yohanan | authorlink=Yohanan Friedmann | title=Tolerance and Coercion in Islam: Interfaith Relations in the Muslim Tradition | publisher= Cambridge University Press | year=2003 | isbn=978-0521026994}}
* {{cite book | last=Ghamidi | first=Javed | authorlink=Javed Ahmed Ghamidi | title=[[Mizan]] | publisher=[[Al-Mawrid|Dar al-Ishraq]] | year=2001 | id={{OCLC|52901690}}}}
* {{cite book | last=Goldschmidt, Jr. | first=Arthur | coauthors=Lawrence Davidson | title=A Concise History of the Middle East | publisher=Westview Press | year=2005 | edition=8th | isbn=978-0813342757}}
* {{cite book | last=Griffith | first=Ruth Marie | coauthors=Barbara Dianne Savage | title=Women and Religion in the African Diaspora: Knowledge, Power, and Performance | publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press | year=2006 | isbn=0801883709}}
* {{cite book | last=Hawting| first=G. R. | authorlink= G.R. Hawting | title=The First Dynasty of Islam: The Umayyad Caliphate AD 661–750 | publisher=Routledge | year=2000 | isbn=0415240735}}
* {{cite book | last=Hedayetullah | first=Muhammad | title=Dynamics of Islam: An Exposition | publisher=Trafford Publishing | year=2006 | isbn=978-1553698425}}
* {{cite book | last=Holt | first=P. M. | coauthors=[[Bernard Lewis]] | title=Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. 1 | year=1977a | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=0521291364}}
* {{cite book | last=Holt | first=P. M. | coauthors=Ann K. S. Lambton, Bernard Lewis | title=Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. 2 | year=1977b | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=0521291372}}
* {{cite book | last=Hourani | first=Albert | authorlink=Albert Hourani | coauthor=[[Malise Ruthven|Ruthven, Malise]] | title=A History of the Arab Peoples | year=2003 | publisher=Belknap Press; Revised edition | isbn=978-0674010178}}
* {{cite book | last=Humphreys | first=Stephen | title=Between Memory and Desire | year=2005 | publisher=University of California Press | isbn=052-0246918}}
* {{cite book | last=Kobeisy | first=Ahmed Nezar | title=Counseling American Muslims: Understanding the Faith and Helping the People | publisher=Praeger Publishers | year=2004 | isbn=978-0313324727}}
* {{cite book | last=Koprulu | first=Mehmed Fuad | coauthors=Leiser, Gary | title=The Origins of the Ottoman Empire | publisher=SUNY Press | year=1992 | isbn=0791408191}}
* {{cite book | last=Kramer | first=Martin | title=Shi'Ism, Resistance, and Revolution | publisher=Westview Press | year=1987 | isbn=978-0813304533}}
* {{cite book | last=Kugle | first=Scott Alan | title=Rebel Between Spirit And Law: Ahmad Zarruq, Sainthood, And Authority in Islam | publisher=Indiana University Press| year=2006 | isbn=0253347114}}
* {{cite book | last=Lapidus| first=Ira | title=A History of Islamic Societies | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2002 | edition=2nd | isbn=978-0521779333}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | authorlink=Bernard Lewis| title=The Jews of Islam | publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul | year=1984 | isbn=0-7102-0462-0}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | title=The Arabs in History | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1993 | isbn=0-1928-5258-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=The Middle East | publisher=Scribner | year=1997 | isbn=978-0684832807}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=Islam in History: Ideas, People, and Events in the Middle East | publisher=Open Court | edition=2nd | year=2001 | isbn=978-0812695182}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East | publisher=Harper Perennial | edition=Reprint | year=2003 | isbn=978-0060516055}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror | publisher=Random House, Inc., New York | year=2004 | isbn=978-0812967852}}
* {{cite book | last=Madelung | first=Wilferd | authorlink=Wilferd Madelung | title=The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=1996 | isbn=0521646960}}
* {{cite book | last=Malik| first=Jamal| coauthors=John R Hinnells, Inc NetLibrary | title=Sufism in the West | publisher= Routledge | year=2006 | isbn=0415274087}}
* {{cite book | last=Menski | first=Werner F. | title=Comparative Law in a Global Context: The Legal Systems of Asia and Africa | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2006 | isbn=0521858593}}
* {{cite journal | last=Mohammad | first=Noor | title=The Doctrine of Jihad: An Introduction | journal=Journal of Law and Religion | volume=3 | issue=2 |year=1985 | doi=10.2307/1051182 | page=381}}
* {{cite book | last=Momen | first=Moojan | title=An Introduction to Shi`i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi`ism | publisher=Yale University Press | year=1987 | isbn=978-0300035315}}
* {{cite book | last=Nasr | first=Seyed Muhammad | title=Our Religions: The Seven World Religions Introduced by Preeminent Scholars from Each Tradition (Chapter 7) | publisher=HarperCollins | year=1994| isbn=0-06067-700-7}}
* {{cite journal | last=Novak | first=David | title=The Mind of Maimonides | journal=[[First Things]] |month=February | year=1999}}
* {{cite book | last=Parrinder | first=Geoffrey | authorlink=Geoffrey Parrinder | title=World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present | publisher=Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited | year=1971 | isbn=0-87196-129-6}}
* {{cite journal | last=Patton | first=Walter M. | title=The Doctrine of Freedom in the Korân | journal=The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures |month=April | year=1900 | volume=16 | issue=3 | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | id=ISBN 9004103147 | doi=10.1086/369367 | page=129}}
* {{cite journal | last=Peters | first=F. E. | authorlink=F. E. Peters | title=The Quest for Historical Muhammad | journal=International Journal of Middle East Studies |year=1991}}
* {{cite book | last=Peters | first=F. E.| title=Islam: A Guide for Jews and Christians | publisher=Princeton University Press | year=2003 | isbn=0-691-11553-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Peters | first=Rudolph | authorlink=Rudolph Peters | title=Jihad in Medieval and Modern Islam | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | year=1977 | isbn = 90-04-04854-5}}
* {{cite book | last=Rippin | first=Andrew | authorlink=Andrew Rippin | title=Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices | publisher=Routledge | edition=2nd | year=2001 | isbn=978-0415217811}}
* {{cite book | last=Ruthven | first=Malise | title=Fundamentalism: The Search for Meaning | publisher= Oxford University Press | year=2005 | isbn = 01-92-80606-8}}
* {{cite book | last=Sahas | first=Daniel J. | title=John of Damascus on Islam: The Heresy of the Ishmaelites | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | year=1997 | isbn=978-9004034952}}
* {{cite book | last=[[Abdulaziz Sachedina|Sachedina]] | first=Abdulaziz | title=The Just Ruler in Shi'ite Islam: The Comprehensive Authority of the Jurist in Imamite Jurisprudence | publisher=Oxford University Press US | year=1998 | isbn=0195119150}}
*{{citejournal|last=Seibert|first=Robert F.|title=Review: Islam and the West: The Making of an Image (Norman Daniel)|journal=Review of Religious Research|year=1994|volume=36|issue=1|doi=10.2307/3511655|page=88|last2=Daniel|first2=Norman}}
* {{cite book | last=Sells | first=Michael Anthony | authorlink=Michael Anthony Sells | coauthors=Emran Qureshi | title=The New Crusades: Constructing the Muslim Enemy | publisher=Columbia University Press | year=2003 | isbn=0231126670}}
* {{cite book | last=Smith | first=Jane I. | title=The Islamic Understanding of Death and Resurrection | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2006 | isbn=978-0195156492}}
* {{cite book | last=Stillman | first=Norman | authorlink=Norman Stillman | title=The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book | publisher=Jewish Publication Society of America | location=Philadelphia | year=1979 | isbn=1-82760-198-1}}
* {{cite book | last=Tabatabae | first=Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn | coauthors=Seyyed Hossein Nasr (translator) | authorlink=Allameh Tabatabaei | title= Shi'ite Islam
|publisher=Suny press| year=1979 | isbn=0-87395-272-3}}
* {{cite book | last=Tabatabae | first=Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn | coauthors=R. Campbell (translator)| title= Islamic teachings: An Overview and a Glance at the Life of the Holy Prophet of Islam | publisher=Green Gold | year=2002 | isbn=0-922817-00-6}}
* {{cite book | last=Teece | first=Geoff | title=Religion in Focus: Islam | publisher=Franklin Watts Ltd | year=2003 | isbn=978-0749647964}}
* {{cite book | last=Tolan | first=John V. | title=Saracens: Islam in the Medieval European Imagination | publisher=Columbia University Press | year=2002}}
* {{cite book | last=Trimingham| first=John Spencer | title=The Sufi Orders in Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1998| isbn=0195120582}}
* {{cite book | last=Tritton | first=Arthur S. | authorlink=Arthur Stanley Tritton| title=The Caliphs and their Non-Muslim Subjects: A Critical Study of the Covenant of Umar | publisher=Frank Cass Publisher | location=London | year=1970 |origyear = 1930 | isbn=0-7146-1996-5}}
* {{cite book | last=Turner | first=Colin | title=Islam: the Basics | publisher=Routledge (UK) | year=2006 | id=ISBN 041534106X}}
* {{cite book | last=Turner | first=Bryan S. | title=Weber and Islam | publisher=Routledge (UK) | year=1998 | isbn=0415174589}}
* {{cite book | last=Waines | first=David | title=An Introduction to Islam | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2003 | isbn=0521539064}}
* {{cite book | last=Warraq | first=Ibn | title=The Quest for Historical Muhammad | publisher=Prometheus | year=2000 | isbn=978-1573927871}}
* {{cite book | last=Warraq | first=Ibn | title=Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out | publisher=Prometheus | year=2003 | isbn=1-59102-068-9}}
* {{cite book | last=Watt | first=W. Montgomery | authorlink=William Montgomery Watt | title=The Formative Period of Islamic Thought | publisher=University Press Edinburgh| year=1973 | isbn=0-85-224254-X}}
* {{cite book | last=Watt | first=W. Montgomery|title=Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman | publisher=Oxford University Press | edition=New | year=1974 | isbn=0-19-881078-4}}
* {{cite book | last=Weiss | first=Bernard G. | title=Studies in Islamic Legal Theory | year=2002 | location=Boston | publisher=Brill Academic publishers | isbn=9004120661}}
* {{cite book | last=Williams | first=John Alden | title=The Word of Islam | year=1994 | publisher=University of Texas Press | isbn=0-292-79076-7}}
* {{cite book | last=Williams | first=Mary E. | title=The Middle East | year=2000 | publisher=Greenhaven Pr | isbn=0737701331}}
{{Refend}}

====Encyclopedias====
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=William H. McNeill, Jerry H. Bentley, David Christian | encyclopedia=Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History | publisher=Berkshire Publishing Group | year=2005 | id=ISBN 978-0974309101}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Gabriel Oussani | encyclopedia=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]] | year=1910}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Paul Lagasse, Lora Goldman, Archie Hobson, Susan R. Norton | encyclopedia=The Columbia Encyclopedia | publisher=Gale Group | year=2000 | edition=6th | id=ISBN 978-1593392369}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica Online|Encyclopaedia Britannica Online]] | publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Erwin Fahlbusch, William Geoffrey Bromiley | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Christianity | publisher=Eerdmans Publishing Company, and Brill| year=2001 | edition=1st| id=ISBN 0-8028-2414-5}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=John Bowden | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Christianity | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2005 | edition=1st | id=ISBN 0-19-522393-4}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=George Thomas Kurian, Graham T. T. Molitor | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of the Future | publisher=MacMillan Reference Books | year=1995 | id=ISBN 978-0028972053}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of Islam Online]] | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | id=ISSN 1573-3912}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Richard C. Martin, Said Amir Arjomand, Marcia Hermansen, Abdulkader Tayob, Rochelle Davis, John Obert Voll | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World | publisher=MacMillan Reference Books | year=2003 | id=ISBN 978-0028656038}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Jane Dammen McAuliffe | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an|Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online]] | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Lindsay Jones | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Religion | publisher=MacMillan Reference Books | year=2005 | edition=2nd | id=ISBN 978-0028657332}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Salamone Frank | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals | publisher=Routledge | edition=1st | year=2004 | id=ISBN 978-0415941808}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Peter N. Stearns | edition=6th | year=2000 | encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of World History Online | publisher=Bartleby}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=[[Josef W. Meri]] | encyclopedia=Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia | publisher=[[Routledge]] | year=2005 | id=ISBN 041-5966906}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=[[Wendy Doniger]] | encyclopedia=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions | publisher=[[Merriam-Webster]] | year=1999 | id=ISBN 087-7790442}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Glasse Cyril | encyclopedia=New Encyclopedia of Islam: A Revised Edition of the Concise Encyclopedia of Islam | publisher=AltaMira Press | year=2003 | id=ISSN 978-0759101906}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Edward Craig | encyclopedia=Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy | publisher=Routledge | year=1998 | edition=1st| id=ISBN 978-0415073103}}
{{Refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | last=Arberry | first=A. J. | authorlink=A. J. Arberry | title=The Koran Interpreted: A Translation | publisher=Touchstone | edition=1st | year=1996 | isbn=978-0684825076}}
* {{cite book | last=Khan | first=Muhammad Muhsin | authorlink=Muhammad Muhsin Khan | coauthors=Al-Hilali Khan, Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din | title=Noble Quran | year=1999 | publisher=Dar-us-Salam Publications | edition=1st | isbn=978-9960740799}}
* {{cite book | last=Kramer (ed.) | first=Martin | authorlink=Martin Kramer | title=The Jewish Discovery of Islam: Studies in Honor of Bernard Lewis | publisher=Syracuse University | year=1999 | isbn=978-9652240408}}
* {{cite book | last=Kuban | first=Dogan | title=Muslim Religious Architecture | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | year=1974 | isbn=9004038132}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | title=Islam and the West | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1994 | isbn=978-0195090611}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=Cultures in Conflict: Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the Age of Discovery | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1996 | isbn=978-0195102833}}
* {{cite book | last=Mubarkpuri | first=Saifur-Rahman | title=[[The Sealed Nectar]]: Biography of the Prophet | publisher=Dar-us-Salam Publications | year=2002 | isbn=978-1591440710}}
* {{cite book | last=Najeebabadi | first=Akbar Shah | title=History of Islam | publisher=Dar-us-Salam Publications | year=2001 | isbn=978-1591440345}}
* {{cite book | last=Nigosian | first=S. A. | title=Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices | publisher=Indiana University Press | year=2004 | edition=New | isbn=978-0253216274}}
* {{cite book | last=Rahman | first=Fazlur | authorlink=Fazlur Rahman | title=Islam | publisher=University of Chicago Press | year=1979 | edition=2nd | isbn=0-226-70281-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Tausch | first=Arno | authorlink=Arno Tausch | title=Muslim Calvinism | publisher=Rozenberg Publishers, Amsterdam | year=2009 | edition=1st | isbn=978-905170995}}
* {{cite book | last=Tausch | first=Arno| title=What 1.3 Billion Muslims Really Think: An Answer to a Recent Gallup Study, Based on the “World Values Survey”. Foreword Mansoor Moaddel, Eastern Michigan University | publisher=Nova Science Publishers, New York| year=2009 | edition=1st | isbn=978-1-60692-731-1}}
* {{cite book | last=Walker | first=Benjamin | authorlink=Benjamin Walker | title=Foundations of Islam: The Making of a World Faith | publisher=Peter Owen Publishers | year=1998 | isbn=978-0720610383}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
;Academic resources
* [http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam.html Patheos Library – Islam]
* [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA University of Southern California Compendium of Muslim Texts]
* [http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/islam Encyclopedia of Islam (Overview of World Religions)]
*[http://www.ethicaldemocracy.org/ Ethical Democracy Journal] views on Islam, other ethical systems and democracy
;Online resource
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9105852/Islam Islam], article at ''Enyclopaedia Britannica Online''
* [http://www.friesian.com/islam.htm Islam], article at ''Friesian.com''
*[http://ideas.repec.org/p/iza/izadps/dp4459.html Asabiyya: Re-Interpreting Value Change in Globalized Societies], article at Repec/Ideas, [[University of Connecticut]] and IZA, Bonn, on Islam and global value change

;Directories
* {{dmoz|Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Islam/}}
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Islam_%28Bookshelf%29 Islam (Bookshelf)] at [[Project Gutenberg]]
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/us/islamus.htm Islam] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''


{{Islam topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Religion topics}}
{{featured article}}

[[Category:Islam|Islam]]

{{Link FA|ceb}}
{{Link FA|hu}}
{{Link FA|id}}
{{Link FA|tr}}
[[ace:Éseulam]]
[[af:Islam]]
[[als:Islam]]
[[am:እስልምና]]
[[ang:Alladōm]]
[[ar:إسلام]]
[[an:Islam]]
[[arc:ܐܣܠܐܡ]]
[[frp:Islame]]
[[ast:Islam]]
[[az:İslam]]
[[bm:Silameya]]
[[bn:ইসলাম]]
[[zh-min-nan:I-su-lân-kàu]]
[[map-bms:Islam]]
[[ba:Ислам]]
[[be:Іслам]]
[[be-x-old:Іслам]]
[[bcl:Islam]]
[[bi:Islam]]
[[bar:Islam]]
[[bo:དབྱི་སི་ལམ་ཆོས་ལུགས།]]
[[bs:Islam]]
[[br:Islam]]
[[bg:Ислям]]
[[ca:Islam]]
[[cv:Ислам]]
[[ceb:Islam]]
[[cs:Islám]]
[[co:Islamu]]
[[cy:Islam]]
[[da:Islam]]
[[pdc:Islaam]]
[[de:Islam]]
[[dv:އިސްލާމް]]
[[et:Islam]]
[[el:Ισλάμ]]
[[es:Islam]]
[[eo:Islamo]]
[[ext:Islam]]
[[eu:Islam]]
[[fa:اسلام]]
[[hif:Islam]]
[[fo:Islam]]
[[fr:Islam]]
[[fy:Islam]]
[[fur:Islam]]
[[ga:An tIoslam]]
[[gd:Islam]]
[[gl:Islam]]
[[gu:ઇસ્લામ ધર્મ]]
[[hak:Yî-sṳ̂-làn-kau]]
[[xal:Лал шаҗн]]
[[ko:이슬람교]]
[[ha:Islama]]
[[haw:Hoʻomana Mohameka]]
[[hy:Իսլամ]]
[[hi:इस्लाम]]
[[hsb:Islam]]
[[hr:Islam]]
[[io:Islamismo]]
[[ig:Islam]]
[[ilo:Islam]]
[[id:Islam]]
[[ia:Islam]]
[[ie:Islam]]
[[os:Пысылмон дин]]
[[is:Íslam]]
[[it:Islam]]
[[he:אסלאם]]
[[jv:Islam]]
[[kl:Islam]]
[[kn:ಇಸ್ಲಾಂ ಧರ್ಮ]]
[[ka:ისლამი]]
[[kk:Исләм]]
[[kw:Islam]]
[[ky:Ислам]]
[[sw:Uislamu]]
[[kg:Kisilamu]]
[[ht:Islamis]]
[[ku:Îslam]]
[[lad:Islam]]
[[krc:Ислам]]
[[lbe:Ислам]]
[[la:Religio Islamica]]
[[lv:Islāms]]
[[lb:Islam]]
[[lt:Islamas]]
[[lij:Islamiximo]]
[[li:Islam]]
[[ln:Islamu]]
[[jbo:musyjda]]
[[hu:Iszlám]]
[[mk:Ислам]]
[[ml:ഇസ്‌ലാം]]
[[mt:Islam]]
[[mr:इस्लाम धर्म]]
[[arz:الاسلام]]
[[mzn:ایسلام]]
[[ms:Islam]]
[[mwl:Eislan]]
[[mn:Ислам]]
[[nah:Islamismo]]
[[nl:Islam]]
[[nds-nl:Islam]]
[[ja:イスラム教]]
[[pih:Islem]]
[[no:Islam]]
[[nn:Islam]]
[[nrm:Islam]]
[[nov:Islam]]
[[oc:Islam]]
[[uz:Islom]]
[[pnb:اسلام]]
[[ps:اسلام]]
[[km:សាសនាឥស្លាម]]
[[tpi:Islam]]
[[nds:Islam]]
[[pl:Islam]]
[[pt:Islão]]
[[crh:İslâm]]
[[ro:Islam]]
[[rm:Islam]]
[[qu:Islam]]
[[ru:Ислам]]
[[sah:Ислам]]
[[se:Islam]]
[[sa:इस्लाम]]
[[sc:Islam]]
[[sco:Islam]]
[[sq:Feja Islame]]
[[scn:Islam]]
[[simple:Islam]]
[[sd:اسلام]]
[[sk:Islam]]
[[sl:Islam]]
[[szl:Islam]]
[[so:Islaam]]
[[sr:Ислам]]
[[sh:Islam]]
[[su:Islam]]
[[fi:Islam]]
[[sv:Islam]]
[[tl:Islam]]
[[ta:இசுலாம்]]
[[kab:Islam]]
[[tt:Íslam]]
[[te:ఇస్లాం మతం]]
[[th:ศาสนาอิสลาม]]
[[tg:Ислом]]
[[tr:İslam]]
[[tk:Yslam]]
[[bug:Islam]]
[[uk:Іслам]]
[[ur:اسلام]]
[[ug:ئىسلام دىنى]]
[[vec:Islam]]
[[vi:Hồi giáo]]
[[fiu-vro:Muhamediusk]]
[[wa:Islam]]
[[zh-classical:回教]]
[[vls:Islam]]
[[war:Islam]]
[[wo:Lislaam]]
[[wuu:回教]]
[[yi:איסלאם]]
[[yo:Ìmàle]]
[[zh-yue:伊斯蘭教]]
[[diq:İslam]]
[[bat-smg:Ėslams]]
[[zh:伊斯兰教]]

Spain

2010-04-05T19:44:47Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion */ 1 to 0.1

{{About|the country}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''Reino de España''
|conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Spain
|common_name = Spain
|image_flag = Flag of Spain.svg
|image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
|image_map = EU-Spain.svg
|map_caption = {{map_caption |location_color=dark green |region=[[Europe]] |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the [[European Union]] |subregion_color=light green |legend=Location Spain EU Europe.png}}|national_motto = {{lang|la|"[[Plus Ultra (motto)|Plus Ultra]]"}}{{spaces|2}}([[Latin]]) "Further Beyond"
|national_anthem = {{lang|es|"[[Marcha Real]]"}}{{spaces|2}}([[Spanish language|Spanish]])<ref group=note>Also serves as the [[Royal anthem]]</ref> "Royal March"
|official_languages = [[Spanish language|Spanish]]<ref group=note>In some [[autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous communities]], [[Aranese]] ([[Occitan language|Occitan]]), [[Basque language|Basque]], [[Catalan language|Catalan/Valencian]], and [[Galician language|Galician]] are co-official languages. [[Bable]] and [[Leonese language|Leonese]] are officially recognised</ref>
|regional_languages = [[Aranese language|Aranese]], [[Basque language|Basque]], [[Catalan language|Catalan/Valencian]] and [[Galician language|Galician]]
|officially_recognised_languages = [[Asturian language|Asturian]] and [[Leonese language|Leonese]]
|ethnic_groups = 88.0% [[Spanish people|Spanish]], 12.0% ([[Romanian people|Romanian]], [[Moroccan people|Moroccan]], [[Ecuador]]ian, [[British people|British]]) other (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/prensa/np551.pdf |title=Spain |publisher=www.focus-migration.de |date=2009-01-01 |accessdate=2009-09-22}}</ref>
|demonym = [[Spanish people|Spanish]], [[Spanish people|Spaniard]]
|capital = [[Madrid]]
|latd=40 |latm=26 |latNS=N |longd=3 |longm=42 |longEW=W
|largest_city = capital
|government_type = [[Parliamentary democracy]] and [[Constitutional monarchy]]
|leader_title1 = [[Spanish monarchy|King]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Spain|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name1 = [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|Juan Carlos I]]
|leader_name2 = [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] ([[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]])
|sovereignty_type = Formation
|sovereignty_note = 15th century
|established_event1 = {{spaces|2}}[[Dynasty|Dynastic]]
|established_date1 = [[Catholic Monarchs|1479]]
|established_event2 = {{spaces|2}}''[[de facto]]''
|established_date2 = [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|1516]]
|established_event3 = {{spaces|2}}''[[de jure]]''
|established_date3 = [[Nueva Planta decrees|1716]]
|established_event4 = {{spaces|2}}[[Spanish transition to democracy|Constitutional democracy]]
|established_date4 = [[Spanish Constitution of 1978|1978]]
|accessionEUdate = 1 January 1986
|EUseats = 54
|area_km2 = 504,030
|area_sq_mi = 195,364 
|area_rank = 51st
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|percent_water = 1.04
|population_estimate = 45,989,016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/jaxiBD/tabla.do?per=01&type=db&divi=EPOB&idtab=2|title=Official Population Figures of Spain. Population on the 1 January 2010|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística de España|accessdate=2010-03-28}}</ref>
|population_estimate_year = 2010
|population_estimate_rank = 27th
|population_density_km2 = 91.2
|population_density_sq_mi = 231 
|population_density_rank = 106th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP = $1.395 trillion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=184&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=33&pr.y=6 |title=Spain|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2009-10-01}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 12th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $30,588<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 28th
|GDP_nominal = $1.602 trillion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank = 9th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $35,116<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 25th
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.955
|HDI_rank = 15th
|HDI_category = very high
|Gini = 32<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2172.html|title=CIA World Factbook|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>
|Gini_year = 2005
|currency = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])<ref group=note>Prior to 1999 (by law, 2002) : [[Spanish Peseta]].</ref>
|currency_code = EUR
|time_zone = [[Central European Time|CET]]<ref group=note>Except in the [[Canary Islands]], which are in the [[Western European Time|WET]] time zone ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]+1 in summer).</ref>
|utc_offset = +1
|time_zone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +2
|date_format = dd.mm.yyyy (Spanish; [[Common Era|CE]])
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.es]]<ref group=note>The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states. Also, the [[.cat]] domain is used in Catalan-speaking territories.</ref>
|calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|34]]
}}
'''Spain''' ({{pron-en|ˈspeɪn|en-us-Spain.ogg}} {{respell|spayn}}; {{lang-es|'''España'''}}, {{IPA-es|esˈpaɲa|pron|Es-España.ogg}}), officially the '''Kingdom of Spain''' ({{lang-es|Reino de España}}), is a [[member state of the European Union]] located in [[Southern Europe|southwestern Europe]] on the [[Iberian Peninsula]].<ref group=note>The [[Constitution of Spain|Spanish constitution]] does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though ''España'' (Spain), ''Estado español'' (Spanish State) and ''Nación española'' (Spanish Nation) are used interchangeably. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an Ordinance published in 1984, declared that "''denominations "Spain" and "Kingdom of Spain" are equally valid to designate the Spain in international treaties...''"</ref> Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the [[Mediterranean Sea]] except for a small land boundary with [[Gibraltar]]; to the north by [[France]], [[Andorra]], and the [[Bay of Biscay]]; and to the northwest and west by the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Portugal]].

Spanish territory also includes the [[Balearic Islands]] in the Mediterranean, the [[Canary Islands]] in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two [[Autonomous cities of Spain|autonomous cities]] in [[North Africa]], [[Ceuta]] and [[Melilla]], that border [[Morocco]]. With an area of 504,030 km², Spain is the second largest country in [[Western Europe]] and the [[European Union]] after France. Since January 1, 2010, Spain has held the [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]].

Because of its location, the territory of Spain was subject to many external influences, often simultaneously, since [[prehistory|prehistoric times]] and through the dawn of Spain as a country. Conversely, the country itself has been an important source of influence to other regions, chiefly during the [[Modern Era]], when it became a [[Spanish empire|global empire]] that has left a legacy of over 400 million Spanish speakers today—making it the world's second [[List of languages by number of native speakers|most spoken language by native speakers]].

Spain is a democracy organised in the form of a parliamentary government under a constitutional [[Monarchy of Spain|monarchy]]. It is a [[developed country]] with the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|ninth or tenth largest economy in the world]] by nominal GDP, and very high [[living standards]] [[List of countries by Human Development Index|(15th highest Human Development Index)]], including the seventeenth-highest [[Quality-of-Life Index|quality of life index rating]] in the world<ref>www1.internationalliving.com/qofl2010/</ref>. It is a member of the [[United Nations]], [[European Union]], [[NATO]], [[OECD]], and [[World Trade Organisation|WTO]].

{{TOC limit|limit=3}}

==Etymology==
The true origins of the name ''España'' and its [[cognates]] "Spain" and "Spanish" are disputed. The ancient [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] name for Iberia, ''[[Hispania]]'', may derive from poetic use of the term ''Hesperia'' to refer to Spain, reflecting [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] perception of [[Italy]] as a "western land" or "land of the setting sun" (''Hesperia'') and Spain, being still further west, as ''Hesperia ultima''.<ref name=anthon>{{cite book
| last = Anthon
| first = Charles
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = A system of ancient and mediæval geography for the use of schools and colleges
| publisher = Harper & Brothers
| year = 1850
| location = New York
| page = 14
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=hm0rAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA14&dq=hesperia&lr=&ei=vlWfSvb1DYnokATLjtFw&client=safari#v=onepage&q=hesperia&f=false
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = }}</ref>

It may also be a derivation of the [[Punic]] ''Ispanihad'' meaning "land of rabbits" or "edge", a reference to Spain's location at the end of the Mediterranean; Roman coins struck in the region from the reign of [[Emperor Hadrian|Hadrian]] show a female figure with a rabbit at her feet.<ref name=burke>{{cite book
| last = Burke
| first = Ulick Ralph
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = A History of Spain from the Earliest Times to the Death of Ferdinand the Catholic, Volume 1
| publisher = Longmans, Green & Co
| date = 2nd edition, 2008
| location = London
| page = 14
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=DuiyyWGg-KEC&pg=PA410&dq=spain+hispania&ei=L1GfSseWNp_4lATVpMWLAQ&client=safari#v=onepage&q=hispania&f=false
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = }}</ref> There are also claims that ''España'' derives from the [[Basque language|Basque]] word ''Ezpanna'' meaning "edge" or "border", another reference to the fact that the Iberian peninsula constitutes the southwest of the European continent.<ref name=anthon />

The humanist [[Antonio de Nebrija]] proposed that the word ''Hispania'' evolved from the [[Iberian language|Iberian]] word [[Hispalis]], meaning "city of the western world".
According to a new research by Jesús Luis Cunchillos published in 2000 with the name of ''Gramática fenicia elemental'' (''Basic phoenician grammar''), the root of the term ''span'' is ''spy'', meaning "to forge metals". Therefore ''i-spn-ya'' would mean "the land where metals are forged".<ref># ↑ Linch, John (director), Fernández Castro, María Cruz (del segundo tomo), Historia de España, El País, volumen II, La península Ibérica en época prerromana, pg. 40. Dossier. La etimología de España; ¿tierra de conejos?, ISBN 978-84-9815-764-2</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Spain}}
[[File:Llívia flors.jpg|thumb|left||[[Llívia]], in [[province of Girona|Girona]]]]

At {{convert|504782|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on|lk=out}}, Spain is the world's [[List of countries and outlying territories by area|51st-largest country]]. It is some {{convert|47000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} smaller than [[France]] and {{convert|81000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} larger than the [[U.S. state]] of [[California]].

[[File:Playa Sardinero - Santander - Spain.jpg|210px|thumb|right|[[Sardinero|El Sardinero beach]], in [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]] ([[Cantabria]])]]
On the west, Spain borders [[Portugal]]; on the south, it borders [[Gibraltar]] (a [[British overseas territory]]) and [[Morocco]], through its cities in North Africa ([[Ceuta]] and [[Melilla]]). On the northeast, along the [[Pyrenees]] mountain range, it borders France and the tiny [[principality]] of [[Andorra]].

Spain also includes the [[Balearic Islands]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], the [[Canary Islands]] in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and a number of uninhabited islands on the Mediterranean side of the [[strait of Gibraltar]], known as {{lang|es|''[[Plazas de soberanía]]''}}, such as the [[Islas Chafarinas|Chafarine]] islands, the [[Isla de Alborán|isle of Alborán]], the "rocks" ({{lang|es|''peñones''}}) of [[Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera|Vélez]] and [[Peñón de Alhucemas|Alhucemas]], and the tiny [[Isla Perejil]]. Along the [[Pyrenees]] in [[Catalonia]], a small [[exclave]] town called [[Llívia]] is surrounded by France. The little [[Pheasant Island]] in the River [[Bidasoa]] is a Spanish-French [[condominium (international law)|condominium]].

Mainland Spain is dominated by high [[plateau]]s and mountain ranges, such as the [[Sierra Nevada (Spain)|Sierra Nevada]]. Running from these heights are several major rivers such as the [[Tagus]], the [[Ebro]], the [[Duero]], the [[Guadiana]] and the [[Guadalquivir]]. [[Alluvial plain]]s are found along the coast, the largest of which is that of the Guadalquivir in [[Andalusia]].

===Climate===
[[File:Spain-climate-en.png|thumb|Spain's climatic areas.]]

Due to Spain's geographical situation and [[orography|orographic]] conditions, the [[Geography of Spain#Climate|climate]] is extremely diverse; discounting the mountain climate, it can be roughly divided into five areas:
* A [[Continental Mediterranean climate]] in the inland areas of the Peninsula (largest city, [[Madrid]]).
* An [[Oceanic climate]] in Galicia and the coastal strip near the Bay of Biscay or (largest city, [[Bilbao]]). This area is often called [[Green Spain]].
* A [[Semiarid climate]] or arid Mediterranean in the southeast (largest city, [[Murcia]]).
* A [[Mediterranean climate]] region extends from the Andalusian plain along the southern and eastern coasts up to the Pyrenees, on the seaward side of the mountain ranges that run near the coast. Also in Ceuta and Melilla (largest city, [[Barcelona]]). Localized [[Subtropical climate]] areas exist in the coasts of Granada and Málaga ([[Costa Tropical]]).
* A [[Subtropical climate]] in the Canary Islands (largest city, [[Las Palmas]]).

[[The Rain in Spain|The rain in Spain]] does ''not'' stay mainly in the plain. It falls mainly in the northern mountains.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maps.howstuffworks.com/spain-annual-precipitation-map.htm |title=HowStuffWorks "Maps of Spain Annual Precipitation" |publisher=Maps.howstuffworks.com |date= |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Spain}}
After a long and hard conquest, the Iberian Peninsula became a region of the Roman Empire known as Hispania. During the early Middle Ages it came under Germanic rule but later was conquered by Muslim invaders. Through a very long and fitful process, the Christian kingdoms in the north gradually rolled back Muslim rule, finally extinguishing its last remnant in Granada in 1492, the same year Columbus reached the Americas. A global empire began which saw Spain become the strongest kingdom in Europe and the leading world power in the 16th century and first half of the 17th century.

Continued wars and other problems however, eventually led to a diminished status. The French invasion of Spain in the early 19th century led to chaos, triggering independence movements that tore apart most of the empire and left the country politically unstable. In the 20th century it suffered a devastating civil war and came under the rule of an authoritarian government, leading to years of stagnation, but finishing in an impressive economic surge. Democracy was restored in 1978 in the form of a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. In 1986, Spain joined the European Union; experiencing a cultural renaissance and steady economic growth.

===Prehistory and pre-Roman peoples===
{{Main|Prehistoric Iberia}}
[[File:Reproduction cave of Altamira 02.jpg|thumb|205px|[[Altamira Cave]] paintings<ref name="timesonline.co.uk">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/specials/artistic_spain/article5904206.ece ]{{Dead link|date=January 2010}}</ref>, in [[Cantabria]]]]
Archaeological research at [[Atapuerca]] indicates the Iberian Peninsula was populated by [[hominid]]s 1.2 million years ago.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6256356.stm|title='First west Europe tooth' found|publisher=BBC|date=30 June 2007|accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref> Modern humans first arrived in Iberia, from the north on foot, about 32,000 years ago.<ref>Typical [[Aurignacian]] items were found in Cantabria (Morín, El Pendo, Castillo), the Basque Country (Santimamiñe) and Catalonia. The radicarbon datations give the following dates: 32,425 and 29,515 BP.</ref> The best known artifacts of these prehistoric human settlements are the famous paintings in the [[Altamira (cave)|Altamira cave]] of Cantabria in northern Spain, which were created about 15,000 [[BCE]] by [[cro-magnon]]s.<ref name="timesonline.co.uk"/>

Archaeological and genetic evidence strongly suggests that the Iberian Peninsula acted as one of three major refugia from which northern Europe was repopulated following the end of the last [[ice age]].

The two main historical peoples of the peninsula were the [[Iberians]] and the [[Celts]], the former inhabiting the Mediterranean side from the northeast to the southwest, the latter inhabiting the Atlantic side, in the north and northwest part of the peninsula. In the inner part of the peninsula, where both groups were in contact, a mixed, distinctive culture—known as [[Celtiberians|Celtiberian]]—was present. In addition, [[Basque people|Basques]] occupied the western area of the Pyrenees mountains. Other ethnic groups existed along the southern coastal areas of present day [[Andalusia]].

Among these southern groups there grew the earliest urban culture in the Iberian Peninsula, that of the semi-mythical southern city of [[Tartessos]] (perhaps pre-1100 BC) in the location of present-day triangle between [[Seville]], [[Huelva]] and [[Jerez]]. The flourishing trade in gold and silver between the people of Tartessos and [[Phoenicia]]ns and [[Greeks]] is documented in the history of [[Strabo]] and in the biblical book of king Solomon. Between about 500 BC and 300 BC, the seafaring Phoenicians and Greeks founded [[colonies in antiquity|trading colonies]] all along the Spanish Mediterranean coast. [[Carthaginian]]s briefly took control of much of the Mediterranean coast in the course of the [[Punic Wars]], until they were eventually defeated and replaced by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]].<ref name="country"/>

===Roman Empire and the Gothic Kingdom===
{{Main|Hispania}}
[[File:Merida Roman Theatre1 cropped revised.jpg|thumb|left|230px|[[Roman theatre (Mérida)|Roman Theatre of Mérida]], in [[province of Badajoz|Badajoz]]]]
During the [[Second Punic War]], an expanding [[Roman Empire]] captured Carthaginian trading colonies along the Mediterranean coast from roughly 210 BC to 205 BC, leading to eventual Roman control of nearly the entire Iberian Peninsula; this lasted over 500 years, bound together by law, language, and the [[Roman road]].<ref name="hispania">{{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 1 Ancient Hispania |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>
[[File:Catedral de Oviedo 3.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Cathedral of San Salvador, Oviedo|Cathedral of the Holy Saviour]], in [[Asturias]]]]

The base Celt and Iberian population remained in various stages of [[Romanization (cultural)|Romanisation]], and local leaders were admitted into the Roman aristocratic class.<ref group=note>The ''[[latifundia]]'' (sing., ''latifundium''), large estates controlled by the aristocracy, were superimposed on the existing Iberian landholding system.</ref><ref name="country">{{cite web |last=Rinehart |first=Robert |coauthors=Seeley, Jo Ann Browning | title = A Country Study: Spain - Hispania |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref> Hispania served as a granary for the Roman market, and its harbors exported [[gold]], [[wool]], [[olive oil]], and [[wine]]. Agricultural production increased with the introduction of irrigation projects, some of which remain in use. Emperors [[Trajan]], [[Theodosius I]], and the philosopher [[Seneca the Younger|Seneca]] were born in Hispania.<ref group=note>The poets [[Martial]], Quintilian and [[Lucan (poet)|Lucan]] were also born in Hispania.</ref>

[[Christianity]] was introduced into Hispania in the 1st century CE and it became popular in the cities in the 2nd century CE.<ref name="country"/> Most of Spain's present languages and religion, and the basis of its laws, originate from this period.<ref name="hispania"/>
Rome's loss of jurisdiction in Hispania began in 409, when the [[Germanic tribes|Germanic]] [[Suevi]] and [[Vandals]], together with the [[Sarmatian]] [[Alans]] crossed the [[Rhine]] and ravaged [[Gaul]] until the [[Visigoths]] drove them into Iberia that same year. The Suevi established a kingdom in what is today modern [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] and northern [[Portugal]].

The Alans' allies, the [[Hasdingi]] Vandals, established a kingdom in [[Gallaecia]], too, occupying largely the same region but extending farther south to the [[Duero]] river. The [[Silingi]] Vandals occupied the region that still bears a form of their name – ''Vandalusia'', modern [[Andalusia]], in Spain. The [[Byzantine]]s established an enclave, [[Spania]], in the south, with the intention of reviving the Roman empire throughout Iberia. Eventually, however, Hispania was reunited under [[Visigothic Kingdom|Visigothic rule]].

===Muslim Iberia===
{{Main|Al-Andalus}}
[[File:Vista de la Alhambra.jpg|thumb||The [[Alhambra|Alhambra palace complex]], in [[Granada]].]]
In the 8th century, nearly all of the [[Iberian Peninsula]] was [[Umayyad conquest of Hispania|conquered]] (711–718) by [[Muslim]] armies (see [[Moors]]) from North Africa. These conquests were part of the expansion of the [[Umayyad]] [[Caliphate|Islamic Empire]].<ref group=note>The Moorish armies continued northwards until they were defeated in central France at the [[Battle of Tours]] in 732.</ref> Only a number of areas in the mountainous north of the Iberian Peninsula managed to resist the initial invasion and they were the starters of the [[Reconquista]]. These areas roughly correspond to modern [[Asturias]], [[Cantabria]], [[Navarre]], northern [[Aragon]] and northern [[Catalonia]].

Under [[Islam in Spain|Islam]], Christians and [[History of the Jews in Spain|Jews]] were recognised as [[People of the Book|"peoples of the book"]], and were free to practice their religion, but faced a number of mandatory discriminations and penalties as [[dhimmis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/Jews_in_Arab_lands_(gen).html|title=The Treatment of Jews in Arab/Islamic Countries|accessdate=2008-08-13}} See also: {{cite web|url=http://www.theforgottenrefugees.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=39|title=The Forgotten Refugees|accessdate=2008-08-13}} and {{cite web|url=http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/IntergroupTO/JewishMuslim/Almohads.htm|title=The Almohads|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> Conversion to [[Islam]] proceeded at a steadily increasing pace. The ''[[muladi]]es'' (Muslims of ethnic [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberian]] origin) are believed to have comprised the majority of the population of Al-Andalus by the end of the 10th century.<ref>[http://libro.uca.edu/ics/ics5.htm Islamic and Christian Spain in the Early Middle Ages. Chapter 5: Ethnic Relations], Thomas F. Glick</ref><ref name="chap2">{{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 2 Al-Andalus |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

[[File:La Giralda de Sevilla.jpg|thumb|left|140px||[[La Giralda]], the bell tower of [[Seville Cathedral]].]]
The Muslim community in the Iberian peninsula was itself diverse and beset by social tensions. The [[Berber people]] of North Africa, who had provided the bulk of the invading armies, [[Berber Revolt|clashed with the Arab leadership]] from the [[Middle East]].<ref group=note>The Berbers soon gave up attempting to settle the harsh lands in the north of the [[Geography of Spain#The Inner Plateau and associated mountains|Meseta Central]] handed to them by the Arab rulers.</ref> Over time, large [[Moorish]] populations became established, especially in the [[Guadalquivir River]] valley, the coastal plain of [[Valencian Community|Valencia]], the [[Ebro River]] valley and (towards the end of this period) in the mountainous region of [[Granada]].<ref name="chap2"/>

[[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]], the capital of the [[caliphate]], was the largest, richest and most sophisticated city in [[western Europe]].<ref group=note>It was not until the 13th century that western [[High Middle Ages|medieval Christendom]] began reaching comparable levels of sophistication, and this was due in to a great extent to the stimulus coming from Muslim Al-Andalus.</ref> Mediterranean trade and cultural exchange flourished. Muslims imported a rich intellectual tradition from the Middle East and North Africa. Muslim and Jewish scholars played an important part in reviving and expanding classical [[Greek culture|Greek learning]] in Western Europe. The [[Romanization (cultural)|Romanized]] cultures of the Iberian peninsula interacted with Muslim and Jewish cultures in complex ways, thus giving the region a distinctive culture.<ref name="chap2"/> Outside the cities, where the vast majority lived, the land ownership system from Roman times remained largely intact as Muslim leaders rarely dispossessed landowners, and the introduction of new crops and techniques led to a remarkable expansion of agriculture.

However, by the 11th century, Muslim holdings had fractured into rival [[Taifa]] kingdoms, allowing the small Christian states the opportunity to greatly enlarge their territories and consolidate their positions.<ref name="chap2"/> The arrival of the [[North Africa]]n Muslim ruling sects of the [[Almoravids]] and the [[Almohads]] restored unity upon Muslim holdings, with a stricter, less tolerant application of [[Islam]], and saw a revival in Muslim fortunes, but after more than a century of successes, including invading the north of the country, finally fell to the increasing military strength of a Christian alliance.<ref name="country"/>

===Fall of Muslim rule and unification===
{{Main|Reconquista}}

[[File:Muralla de Ávila 01.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Ávila, Spain|Ávila]] city walls]]
[[File:Castiello de Lobarre.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Loarre Castle]], in [[province of Huesca|Huesca]]]]
[[File:Alcázar de Segovia 1-7-07.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[Alcázar of Segovia]]]]
The ''Reconquista'' ("Reconquest") is the centuries-long period of expansion of Spain's Christian kingdoms; ''Reconquista'' is viewed as beginning with the battle of [[Covadonga]] in 722 and being concurrent with the period of Muslim rule on the Iberian peninsula. The Christian army's victory over the Muslim forces led to the creation of the Christian [[Kingdom of Asturias]] along the northern coastal mountains. Muslim armies had also moved north of the Pyrenees, but they were defeated at the [[Battle of Tours|Battle of Poitiers]] in France.

Subsequently, they retreated to more secure positions south of the Pyrenees with a frontier marked by the [[Ebro]] and [[Duero]] valleys in Spain. As early as 739 Muslim forces were driven from [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], which was to host one of medieval Europe's holiest sites, [[Santiago de Compostela]]. A little later [[Frankish]] forces established Christian counties south of the Pyrenees; these areas were to grow into kingdoms, in the north-east and the western part of the Pyrenees. These territories included Navarre, Aragon and Catalonia.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rinehart |first=Robert |coauthors=Seeley, Jo Ann Browning | title = A Country Study: Spain - Castile and Aragon |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

In 842, another group of Germanic tribe, [[Viking]]s or [[Norsemen]], invaded the peninsula. They attacked Cadiz in 844.

The breakup of Al-Andalus into the competing Taifa kingdoms helped the expanding Christian kingdoms. The capture of [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]] in 1085 was soon followed by the completion of the Christian powers reconquest of Spain's northern half.<ref group=note>Initially, as the ''Reconquista'' advanced south, different religions were respected and several Castilian kings in subsequent years ([[Ferdinand III of Castile|Ferdinand III]], [[Alfonso X of Castile|Alfonso X]], [[Peter of Castile|Peter I]]) named themselves 'king of the three peoples' or 'king of the three religions'. Only rarely mosques and synagogues were converted into churches before 1492, and some areas of Christian Spain had large Muslim and Jewish populations that were a substantial component in the economic activity. Indeed they brought many of the Moorish influences in art, architecture and food with them.</ref> After a Muslim resurgence in the 12th century, the great Moorish strongholds in the south fell to Christian Spain in the 13th century—[[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]] in 1236 and [[Seville]] in 1248—leaving only the Muslim enclave of [[Granada]] as a [[tributary (political)|tributary state]] in the south.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://libro.uca.edu/rc/rc1.htm|title=Ransoming Captives in Crusader Spain: The Order of Merced on the Christian-Islamic Frontier|accessdate=2008-08-13}} See also: {{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 4 Castile-León in the Era of the Great Reconquest |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

[[Marinid]] invasions from north Africa in the 13th and 14th centuries failed to re-establish Muslim rule. Also in the 13th century, the [[Crown of Aragon]], formed by Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands expanded its reach across the Mediterranean to [[Sicily]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 5 The Rise of Aragón-Catalonia |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref> Around this time the universities of [[University of Palencia|Palencia]] (1212/1263) and [[University of Salamanca|Salamanca]] (1218/1254) were established; among the earliest in Europe. The [[Black Death]] of 1348 and 1349 devastated Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/a-b/blackdeath.html|title=The Black Death|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=[[Channel 4]]}}</ref>

[[File:Losreyescatolicos.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Ferdinand II of Aragon|Ferdinand II]] and [[Isabella I of Castile|Isabella I]]]]
In 1469, the crowns of the Christian kingdoms of [[Crown of Castile|Castile]] and [[Crown of Aragon|Aragon]] were united by the [[Catholic Monarchs|marriage]] of [[Isabella I of Castile]] and [[Ferdinand II of Aragon]]. In 1478 began the final stage of the conquest of [[Canary Islands]] and in 1492, these united kingdoms captured Granada, ending the last remnant of a 781-year [[Timeline of the Muslim presence in the Iberian peninsula|presence of Islamic rule in Iberia]]. The [[Treaty of Granada]] guaranteed religious tolerance toward [[Muslim]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/treaty1492.html|title=The Treaty of Granada, 1492|publisher=Islamic Civilisation|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

The year 1492 also marked the arrival in the [[New World]] of [[Christopher Columbus]], during a voyage funded by Isabella. That same year, [[Sephardi Jews|Spain's Jews]] were ordered to [[converso|convert]] to [[Catholicism]] or face [[Alhambra Decree|expulsion]] from Spanish territories during the [[Spanish Inquisition]].<ref>[http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16200-spanish-inquisition-left-genetic-legacy-in-iberia.html Spanish Inquisition left genetic legacy in Iberia]. New Scientist. December 4, 2008.</ref> Not long after, Muslims were also expelled under the same conditions.<ref group=note>For the related expulsions that followed see [[Morisco]].</ref><ref name="cong">{{cite web |last=Rinehart |first=Robert |coauthors=Seeley, Jo Ann Browning | title = A Country Study: Spain - The Golden Age |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

As [[Renaissance]] [[New Monarchs]], Isabella and Ferdinand centralized royal power at the expense of local nobility, and the word ''España'', whose root is the ancient name ''Hispania'', began to be commonly used to designate the whole of the two kingdoms.<ref name="cong"/>
With their wide-ranging political, legal, religious and military reforms, Spain emerged as the first [[Historical_powers#Spanish_Empire|world power]].

===Imperial Spain===
{{Main|Spanish Empire}}
[[File:Spanish Empire Anachronous 0.PNG|thumb|270px|[[Spanish Empire]]]]
The unification of the crowns of [[Crown of Aragon|Aragon]] and [[Crown of Castille|Castile]] laid the basis for modern Spain and the Spanish Empire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/Imperial.html|title=Imperial Spain|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=University of Calgary}}</ref> Spain was Europe's leading power throughout the [[16th century|16th century]] and most of the [[17th century|17th century]], a position reinforced by trade and wealth from colonial possessions. Spain reached its apogee during the reigns of the first two [[Habsburg Spain|Spanish Habsburgs]] – [[Charles I of Spain|Charles I]] (1516–1556) and [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] (1556–1598). This period also saw the [[Italian Wars]], the [[revolt of the comuneros]], the [[Dutch revolt]], the [[Morisco revolt]], clashes with the [[Ottoman-Habsburg wars|Ottomans]], the [[Anglo-Spanish War (1585)|Anglo-Spanish war]] and wars with [[Early Modern France#The French Renaissance|France]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 13 The [[Spanish Empire]] |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

The Spanish Empire expanded to include great parts of the [[Americas]], islands in the Asia-Pacific area, areas of [[Italy]], cities in [[Northern Africa]], as well as parts of what are now France, Germany, [[Belgium]], [[Luxembourg]], and the [[Netherlands]]. It was the first empire about which it was said that [[the empire on which the sun never sets|the sun never set]].

This was an [[age of discovery]], with daring explorations by sea and by land, the opening-up of new [[trade route]]s across oceans, conquests and the beginnings of European [[colonialism]]. Along with the arrival of [[precious metal]]s,<ref group=note>By the late 16th century American silver accounted for one-fifth of Spanish government's total revenue (the rest came mainly from taxes in Spain, especially Castile) [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761575057_13/spain.html]. From Europe, American silver was shipped to India, China, Levant and the Ottoman Empire. The silver was used to purchase goods, as European manufactured goods were not in demand in Asia and the Middle East. From the mid-17th Century around 28 million kilograms of silver was imported to China. The [[Manila Galleon]] brought in far more silver directly from South American mines to China than the overland [[Silk Road]], or even European trade routes in the Indian Ocean could.</ref> spices, luxuries, and new agricultural plants, Spanish and other brought back knowledge from the New World, playing a leading part in transforming European understanding of the globe.<ref>{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=Hugh |authorlink=Hugh Thomas | title = Rivers of gold: the rise of the Spanish Empire |publisher=George Weidenfeld & Nicholson |year=2003 |location=London |pages=''passim''|isbn=978-0297645634}}</ref> The cultural efflorescence witnessed is now referred to as the [[Spanish Golden Age]]. The rise of [[humanism]], the Protestant Reformation and new geographical discoveries raised issues addressed by the influential intellectual movement now known as the [[School of Salamanca]].

[[File:Spanish Galleon.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A sixteenth century Spanish [[galleon]].]]
In the late 16th century and first half of the 17th century, Spain was confronted by unrelenting challenges from all sides. [[Barbary pirates]] under the aegis of the rapidly growing [[Ottoman empire]], disrupted life in many coastal areas through their [[slave]] raids and renewed the threat of an [[Muslim conquests|Islamic invasion]].<ref group=note>The coastal villages and towns of Spain were frequently attacked by [[Barbary pirates]] from North Africa, who were under the aegis of the [[Ottoman empire]]. The [[Formentera]] was even temporarily left by its population and long stretches of the Spanish and Italian coasts were almost completely abandoned by their inhabitants. In 1514, 1515 and 1521 coasts of the [[Balearic Islands]] and the Spanish mainland were raided by the [[Turkish people|Turkish]] [[privateer]] and [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] admiral [[Hayreddin Barbarossa]]. According to Robert Davis between 1 million and 1.25 million Europeans were captured by [[North African]] pirates and sold as slaves during the 16th and 17th centuries. These [[Arab slave trade|slaves]] were captured mainly from seaside villages in Spain, Italy and [[Portugal]].</ref> This at a time when Spain was often at war with France in Italy and elsewhere.

The [[Protestant Reformation]] schism from the Catholic Church dragged the kingdom ever more deeply into the mire of religiously charged wars. The result was a country forced into ever expanding military efforts across Europe and in the Mediterranean.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/payne15.htm|title=The Seventeenth-Century Decline|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=The Library of Iberian resources online}}</ref>

By the middle decades of a [[war]]- and [[plague (disease)|plague]]-ridden 17th century Europe the Spanish Habsburgs had enmeshed the country in the continent-wide religious-political conflicts. These conflicts drained it of resources and undermined the European economy generally. Spain managed to hold on to most of the scattered [[Habsburg]] empire, and help the imperial forces of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] reverse a large part of the advances made by Protestant forces, but it was finally forced to recognise the [[Portuguese Restoration War|separation of Portugal]] (with whom it had been [[Iberian Union|united]] in a [[personal union|personal union of the crowns]] from 1580 to 1640) and the [[Netherlands]], and eventually suffered some serious military reverses to France in the latter stages of the immensely destructive, Europe-wide [[Thirty Years War]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Payne |first=Stanley G. | title = A History of Spain and Portugal; Ch. 14 Spanish Society and Economics in the Imperial Age |publisher=The Library of Iberian Resources Online |year=1973 |url=http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/spainport1.htm |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

[[File:Vista aerea del Monasterio de El Escorial.jpg|thumb||[[El Escorial]], built in [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]]'s reign, near Madrid.]]

In the latter half of the 17th century, Spain went into a gradual relative decline, during which it surrendered a number of small territories to France. However Spain maintained and enlarged its vast overseas empire, which remained intact until the beginning of the 19th century.

The decline culminated in a controversy over succession to the throne which consumed the first years of the 18th century. The [[War of Spanish Succession]], a wide ranging international conflict combined with a civil war, cost Spain its European possessions and its position as one of the leading powers on the Continent.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rinehart |first=Robert |coauthors=Seeley, Jo Ann Browning | title = A Country Study: Spain - Spain in Decline |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

During this war, a new dynasty originating in France, the [[House of Bourbon|Bourbons]], was installed. Long united only by the Crown, a true Spanish state was established when the first Bourbon king, [[Philip V of Spain]], united the crowns of Castile and Aragon into a single state, abolishing many of the regional privileges and laws (''[[fueros]]'').<ref>{{cite web |last=Rinehart |first=Robert |coauthors=Seeley, Jo Ann Browning | title = A Country Study: Spain - Bourbon Spain |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

The 18th century saw a gradual recovery and an increase in prosperity through much of the empire. The new [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] monarchy drew on the French system of modernising the administration and the economy. [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] ideas began to gain ground among some of the kingdom's elite and monarchy. Military assistance for the rebellious British colonies in the [[American Revolutionary War|American War of Independence]] improved Spain's international standing.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gascoigne |first=Bamber | title = History of Spain: Bourbon dynasty: from AD 1700 |publisher=Library of Congress Country Series |year=1998 |url=http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?HistoryID=ab50&ParagraphID=iss#iss |accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

===Napoleonic rule and its consequences===
{{Main|Mid-nineteenth century Spain}}
[[File:Goya - Second of May 1808.jpg|thumb| ''Second of May, 1808'': the people revolt against the Napoleonic regime]]
In 1793, Spain went to war against the new [[First French Republic|French Republic]], which had overthrown and executed its Bourbon king, [[Louis XVI of France|Louis XVI]]. The war polarised the country in an apparent reaction against the [[Francization|gallicised]] elites. Defeated in the field, Spain made peace with France in 1795 and effectively became a [[client state]] of that country; the following year, it declared war against Britain and Portugal. A disastrous economic situation, along with other factors, led to the [[abdication]] of the Spanish king in favour of [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon's]] brother, [[Joseph Bonaparte]].

This foreign [[puppet monarch]] was widely regarded with scorn. The [[The May 2nd Uprising in Madrid (1808)|2nd of May 1808 revolt]] was one of many [[nationalism|nationalist]] uprisings against the Napoleonic regime across the country.<ref>David A. Bell. "[http://www.historynet.com/wars_conflicts/napoleonic_wars/6361907.html?page=2&c=y Napoleon's Total War]". TheHistoryNet.com</ref> These revolts marked the beginning of what is known to the Spanish as the War of Independence, and to the British as the [[Peninsular War]].<ref>(Gates 2001, p.20)</ref> Napoleon was forced to intervene personally, defeating several badly coordinated Spanish armies and forcing a British army to retreat. However, further military action by Spanish [[guerrilla]]s, armies and [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Wellington's]] British-Portuguese forces, combined with Napoleon's disastrous [[Napoleon's Invasion of Russia|invasion of Russia]], led to the ousting of the French imperial armies from Spain in 1814, and the return of [[Ferdinand VII of Spain|King Ferdinand VII]].<ref>(Gates 2001, p.467)</ref>

The French [[invasion]] proved disastrous for Spain's economy, and left a deeply divided country that was prone to political instability for more than a century. The power struggles of the early 19th century led to the loss of all of Spain's colonies in the Americas (from today's south west USA to Patagonia), with the exception of Cuba and Puerto Rico.

===Spanish–American War===
{{Main|Spanish–American War}}
Amid the instability and economic crisis that afflicted Spain in the 19th century there arose nationalist movements in the Philippines and Cuba. Wars of independence ensued in those colonies and eventually the United States became involved. Despite the commitment and ability shown by some military units, they were so mismanaged by the highest levels of command that the [[Spanish–American War]], fought in the Spring of 1898, did not last long. "El Desastre" (The Disaster), as the war became known in Spain, helped give impetus to the [[Generation of 98]] who were already conducting much critical analysis concerning the country. It also weakened the stability that had been established during Alfonso XII's reign.

===20th century===
The 20th century brought little peace; Spain played a minor part in the [[scramble for Africa]], with the colonisation of [[Western Sahara]], [[Spanish Morocco]] and [[Equatorial Guinea]]. The heavy losses suffered during the [[Rif War (1920)|Rif war]] in Morocco helped to undermine the monarchy. A period of authoritarian rule under General [[Miguel Primo de Rivera]] (1923–1931) ended with the establishment of the [[Second Spanish Republic]]. The Republic offered political autonomy to the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]], [[Catalonia]] and [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]] and gave voting rights to women.
[[File:Spanish War Children001.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Evacuees give the republican salute.]]
The [[Spanish Civil War]] (1936–39) ensued. Three years later the Nationalist forces, led by General [[Francisco Franco]], emerged victorious with the support of [[Nazi Germany]] and [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Fascist Italy]]. The Republican side was supported by the Soviet Union and Mexico and [[International Brigades]], including the American [[Abraham Lincoln Brigade]], but it was not supported officially by the Western powers due to the British-led policy of [[Non-Intervention]].

The Spanish Civil War has been called the [[European Civil War|first battle]] of the [[Second World War]]; [[Spanish State|under Franco, Spain]] was neutral in the Second World War though [[Spain in World War II|sympathetic]] to [[the Axis]].<ref group=note>Over a hundred thousand Spanish Civil War veterans were to give both sides the benefit of their experience throughout the Second World War in Europe, the Eastern Front and North Africa. Many in the [[French Resistance]] and [[French Foreign Legion]] were Spanish as was the [[French 9th Armoured Company (World War II)|9th Armoured Company]] that spearheaded [[Général Leclerc]]'s [[2nd Armored Division (France)|2nd Armoured Division's]] liberation of Paris. On the other side, some 47,000 Spaniards fought against the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[Wehrmacht]]'s [[Blue Division]] (''División Azul'').</ref> The conflict had claimed the lives of over 500,000 people<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/3212605/Spanish-Civil-War-crimes-investigation-launched.html Spanish Civil War crimes investigation launched], Telegraph, October 16, 2008</ref> and had caused the flight of up to a half-million citizens.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2809025.stm Spanish Civil War fighters look back], BBC News, February 23, 2003</ref>

The only legal party under [[Spanish State|Franco's regime]] was the [[Falange|''Falange española tradicionalista y de las JONS'']], formed in 1937; the party emphasised [[Anti-communism|anti-Communism]], [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholicism]] and [[nationalism]]. Nonetheless, since Franco's anti-democratic ideology was opposed to the idea of political parties, the new party was renamed officially a National Movement (''[[Movimiento Nacional]]'') in 1949.

After World War II, Spain was politically and economically isolated, and was kept out of the [[United Nations]] until 1955, when due to [[Cold War|the Cold War]] it became strategically important for the U.S. to create a military presence on the Iberian peninsula, next to the Mediterranean Sea and the [[Strait of Gibraltar]], in order to protect southern Europe. In the 1960s, Spain registered an unprecedented economic growth in what was called the [[Spanish miracle]], which rapidly resumed the long interrupted transition towards a modern industrial economy with a thriving tourism sector and a high degree of human development.

[[File:Constitucion espanola 1978.JPG|thumb|180px|left|[[Spanish Constitution of 1978]]]]

With Franco's death in November 1975, [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|Juan Carlos]] assumed the position of [[King of Spain]] and [[head of state]] in accordance with the law. With the approval of the new [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]] and the [[Spanish transition to democracy|arrival of democracy]], the State [[devolution|devolved]] autonomy to the regions and created an internal organization based on [[autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous communities]]. In the Basque Country, moderate [[Basque nationalism]] coexisted with a radical nationalism supportive of the separatist group [[ETA]], which was formed during Franco's rule.

On 23 February 1981, rebel elements among the security forces seized the Cortes and [[23-F|tried to impose a military-backed government]]. However, the great majority of the military forces remained loyal to King Juan Carlos, who used his personal authority and addressed the usurpers via national TV as commander in chief to put down the bloodless coup attempt.

On 30 May 1982, [[NATO]] gained a new member when, following a referendum, the newly democratic Spain joined the alliance. Also in 1982, the [[Spanish Socialist Workers Party]] (PSOE) came to power, representing the return of a left-wing government after 43 years. In 1986, Spain joined the [[European Community]]; what has now become the [[European Union]]. The PSOE was replaced in government by the [[People's Party (Spain)|Partido Popular]] (PP) after the latter won the 1996 General Elections; at that point the PSOE had served almost 14 consecutive years in office.

The Government of Spain has been involved in a long-running campaign against the separatist and [[terrorist organization]] [[ETA]] ("Basque Homeland and Freedom"), founded in 1959 in opposition to Franco and dedicated to promoting Basque independence through [[violence|violent]] means. They consider themselves a [[guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] organization while they are listed as a [[terrorist]] organization by both the European Union and the United States on their respective watchlists. The current Basque Autonomous government does not endorse ETA's nationalist violence, which has caused over 800 deaths in the past 40 years.

===21st century===
{{See|Spanish society after the democratic transition}}
[[File:Eurocoin.es.100.gif|thumb|A Spanish issued [[euro]]]]

On 1 January 2002, Spain ceased to use the [[Spanish peseta|peseta]] as currency replacing it with the [[euro]], which it shares with 15 other countries in the [[Eurozone]]. Spain has also seen strong economic growth, well above the [[European Union|EU]] average, but well publicised concerns issued by many economic commentators at the height of the boom that the extraordinary property prices and high foreign trade deficits of the boom were likely to lead to a painful economic collapse were confirmed by a severe property led recession that struck the country in 2008/9.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2002/07/11/a10_18.php|title=Economy reaps benefits of entry to the 'club' : Spain's euro bonanza|publisher=International Herald Tribune|accessdate=2008-08-09|date=11 July 2002|author=Pfanner, Eric}} See also: {{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9118701|title=Spain's economy / Plain sailing no longer|publisher=The Economist|date=3 May 2007|accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref>

A [[11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings|series of bombs exploded]] in commuter trains in Madrid, Spain on 11 March 2004. After a five month trial in 2007 it was concluded the bombings were perpetrated by a local Islamist militant group inspired by [[al-Qaeda]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3509426.stm|publisher=BBC|title=Al-Qaeda 'claims Madrid bombings'|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2004-03-14}} See also: {{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7070827.stm|publisher=BBC|title=Madrid bombers get long sentences|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2007-10-31}}</ref> The bombings killed 191 people and wounded more than 1800, and the intention of the perpetrators may have been to influence the outcome of the [[Spanish general election, 2004|Spanish general election]], held three days later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/rielcano/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/Elcano_es/Zonas_es/Imagen+de+Espana/ARI+132-2004|title=Del 11-M al 14-M: estrategia yihadista, elecciones generales y opinión pública|accessdate=2008-08-09|publisher= Fundación Real Instituto Elcano}}</ref>

Though initial suspicions focused on the Basque group [[ETA]], evidence soon emerged indicating possible [[Islamist]] involvement. Because of the proximity of the election, the issue of responsibility quickly became a political controversy, with the main competing parties [[People's Party (Spain)|PP]] and [[PSOE]] exchanging accusations over the handling of the aftermath.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3509744.stm|publisher=BBC|title=Spain votes under a shadow|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2004-03-14}}</ref> At the 14 March elections, PSOE, led by [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]], obtained a large [[plurality (voting)|plurality]], enough to form a new cabinet with Rodríguez Zapatero as the new ''Presidente del Gobierno'' or prime minister of Spain, thus succeeding the former PP administration.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3512222.stm|publisher=BBC|title=Spain awakes to socialist reality|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2004-03-15}}</ref>

==Government==
{{Main|Politics of Spain}}
===Constitution===
{{Main|Spanish Constitution of 1978}}
[[File:Juan Carlos da Espanha.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[King Juan Carlos I]]]]
[[File:José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero - Royal & Zapatero's meeting in Toulouse for the 2007 French presidential election 0205 2007-04-19.jpg|thumb|upright|[[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]], President of the Government.]]
The '''Spanish Constitution of 1978''' is the culmination of the [[Spanish transition to democracy]].
The constitutional history of Spain dates back to the constitution of 1812. Impatient with the pace of democratic political reforms in 1976 and 1977, Spain's new King Juan Carlos, known for his formidable personality, dismissed [[Carlos Arias Navarro]] and appointed the reformer [[Adolfo Suárez]] as President of the Government.<ref name="From Dictatorship to Democracy">John Hooper, ''The New Spainards'', 2001, ''From Dictatorship to Democracy''</ref><ref name="Spain's fast-living king turns 70">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7171971.stm Spain's fast-living king turns 70] BBC News Friday, 4 January 2008 Extracted 18 June 2009</ref> The resulting [[Spanish general election, 1977|general election in 1977]] convened the ''[[Constituent Cortes]]'' (the Spanish Parliament, in its capacity as a constitutional assembly) for the purpose of drafting and approving the constitution of 1978.<ref>http://www.senado.es/constitu_i/index.html|Spanish Constitution in English</ref> After a national a referendum on 6 December 1978, 88% of voters approved of the new constitution.

As a result, Spain is now composed of 17 [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous communities]] and two [[Autonomous Communities#Autonomous cities and "plazas de soberanía"|autonomous cities]] with varying degrees of autonomy thanks to its Constitution, which nevertheless explicitly states the indivisible unity of the Spanish nation as well as that Spain has today no official religion but all are free to practice and believe as they wish.

===Branches of government===
Spain is a [[constitutional monarchy]], with a hereditary [[monarch]] and a [[bicameral parliament]], the ''[[Cortes Generales]]''. The [[executive branch]] consists of a [[Council of Ministers of Spain (9th Legislature)|Council of Ministers]] presided over by the President of Government (comparable to a [[prime minister]]), [[Prime Minister of Spain#Royal Nomination, Congressional Confirmation|nominated and appointed]] by the [[Monarchy of Spain|monarch]] and [[indirectly elected|confirmed]] by the Congress of Deputies following legislative elections. By [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|political custom]] established by King Juan Carlos since the ratification of the 1978 Constitution, the king's nominees have all been from parties who maintain a [[plurality (voting)|plurality]] of seats in the Congress.

The [[legislative branch]] is made up of the [[Congress of Deputies (Spain)|Congress of Deputies]] (''Congreso de los Diputados'') with 350 members, elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional representation to serve four-year terms, and a [[Spanish Senate|Senate]] (''Senado'') with 259 seats of which 208 are directly elected by popular vote and the other 51 appointed by the regional legislatures to also serve four-year terms.
* '''Head of State'''
** [[Monarchy of Spain|King]] [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|Juan Carlos I]], since 22 November 1975
* '''Head of Government'''
** [[Prime Minister of Spain|President of the Government]]: [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]], elected 14 March 2004.
*** [[First Vice President (Spain)|First Vice President]] and Minister of Presidency: [[María Teresa Fernández de la Vega]].
*** [[Second Vice President (Spain)|Second Vice President]] and [[Minister of Economy and Finance (Spain)|Minister of Economy and Finance]]: [[Elena Salgado]].
*** Third Vice President and Minister of Territorial Policy: [[Manuel Chaves González|Manuel Chaves]].
* '''Cabinet'''
** [[Council of Ministers of Spain (9th Legislature)|Council of Ministers]] (Spanish ''Consejo de Ministros'') designated by the president.

The Spanish nation is organizationally composed in the form of called ''Estado de las Autonomías'' ("[[Autonomous Communities|State of Autonomies]]"); it is one of the most [[decentralization|decentralized]] countries in Europe, along with Switzerland, Germany and Belgium;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/06/18/catalonia.vote/index.html|publisher=CNN|title=Catalonians vote for more autonomy|date=18 June 2006|accessdate=2008-08-13}} See also: {{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/57/0,2340,en_2649_201185_34578361_1_1_1_1,00.html|title=Economic Survey: Spain 2005|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development}} and {{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/countries/Spain/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-FactSheet|title=Country Briefings: Spain|accessdate=2008-08-09|publisher=The Economist}} and {{cite web|url=http://www1.worldbank.org/wbiep/decentralization/Swiss%20Expertise/Muralt.pdf|title=Swiss Experience With Decentralized Government|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=[[The World Bank]]}}</ref> for example, all Autonomous Communities have their own elected parliaments, governments, public administrations, budgets, and resources; therefore, health and education systems among others are managed regionally, besides, the Basque Country and Navarre also manage their own public finances based on [[fuero|foral]] provisions. In Catalonia and the Basque Country, a full fledged autonomous police corps replaces some of the State police functions (see [[Mossos d'Esquadra]] and [[Ertzaintza]]).

{{See also|List of Spanish monarchs|Monarchs of Spain family tree}}

===Gender equality in Government===
As of November 2009, the Government of Spain keeps a balanced gender equality ratio. Nine out of the 18 members of the Government are women. Under the administration of [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]], Spain has been described as being "at the vanguard" in gender equality issues and also that "[n]o other modern, democratic, administration outside Scandinavia has taken more steps to place gender issues at the centre of government".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7375230.stm Diverging paths on gender equality], [[BBC News]], 10 May 2008.</ref> The Spanish administration has also promoted gender-based [[positive discrimination]] by approving gender equality legislation in 2007 aimed to provide equality between genders in the Spanish political and economic life (Gender Equality Act).<ref>[http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=36942 SPAIN: No Turning Back from Path to Gender Equality], IPS News, 13 March 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.humanrights-geneva.info/Gender-equality-law-triumphs-in,2707 Gender equality law triumphs in Spain], IPS News, 31 January 2008</ref> However, in the legislative branch, only 127 out of the 350 members of the Congress are women (36,3%). Nowadays, it positions Spain as the 13th country with more women in its [[lower house]]. In the Senate, the ratio is even lower, since there are only 79 women out of 263 (30.0%).<ref>[http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm Women in National Parlaments]</ref> The [[Gender Empowerment Measure]] of Spain in the United Nations [[Human Development Report]] is 0.794, the 12th in the world.<ref>[http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_20072008_EN_Complete.pdf Human Development Report 2007/2008], p.330.</ref>

===Administrative divisions===
{{Autonomous communities of Spain|float=left}}
{{Main|Autonomous communities of Spain|Provinces of Spain}}
The basic institutional law of the autonomous community is the [[Statute of Autonomy]]. The Statutes of Autonomy establish the denomination of the community according to its historical identity, the limits of their territories, the name and organization of the institutions of government and the rights they enjoy according the constitution.<ref>[http://www.constitucion.es/constitucion/lenguas/ingles.html#8 Chapter 3. Autonomous Communities. 147th Article]. ''Spanish Constitution of 1978''. Accessed: 10 December 2007</ref>

The government of all autonomous communities must be based on a division of powers comprising:
* a Legislative Assembly whose members must be elected by [[universal suffrage]] according to the system of [[proportional representation]] and in which all areas that integrate the territory are fairly represented;
* a Government Council, with executive and administrative functions headed by a president, elected by the Legislative Assembly and nominated by the [[King of Spain]];
* a Supreme Court of Justice, under the Supreme Court of the State, which head the judicial organization within the autonomous community.

Besides Andalusia, Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia, which identified themselves as nationalities, other communities have also taken that denomination in accordance to their historical regional identity, such as the Valencian Community,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trobat.com/recursos/estatut-valencia.pdf |title=Estatut |format=PDF |language={{es icon}} |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> the Canary Islands,<ref>[http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/nuevoestatuto/nuevo_est/texto_prop/titulo_pre.html#pre Nuevo Estatuto de Autonomía de Canarias]{{Dead link|date=July 2009}}</ref> the Balearic Islands,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caib.es/webcaib/govern_illes/estatut_autonomia/doc/estatut2007.ca.pdf |title=BOCAe32.QXD |format=PDF |language={{ca icon}} |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> and Aragon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://narros.congreso.es/constitucion/estatutos/estatutos.jsp?com=64&tipo=2&ini=1&fin=10&ini_sub=1&fin_sub=1 |title=Estatuto de Autonomía de Aragón |publisher=Narros.congreso.es |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref>

The autonomous communities have wide legislative and executive autonomy, with their own [[parliament]]s and regional governments.
The distribution of powers may be different for every community, as laid out in their Statutes of Autonomy. There used to be a clear ''[[de facto]]'' distinction between so called "historic" communities (Basque Country, Catalonia, Galicia, Andalusia) and the rest. The "historic" ones initially received more functions, including the ability of the regional presidents to choose the timing of the regional elections (as long as they happen no more than four years apart). As another example, the Basque Country, Navarre and Catalonia have full-range police forces of their own: [[Ertzaintza]] in the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]], [[Policía Foral]] in [[Navarre]] and [[Mossos d'Esquadra]] in [[Catalonia (autonomous community)|Catalonia]]. Other communities have a more limited force or none at all (like the ''Policía Autónoma Andaluza''<ref name="cartujo">{{cite web |url=http://www.cartujo.org/pag(a9).htm | title=Unidad de Policía de la Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía| author=Cartujo.org| accessdate=2007-10-23}} {{es}}</ref> in [[Andalusia]] or the [[BESCAM]] in [[Madrid]]).
However, the recent amendments made to their respective Statute of Autonomy by a series of "ordinary" Autonomous Communities such as the Valencian Community or Aragon have quite dilluted this original de facto distinction.

====Subdivisions====
Autonomous communities are composed of [[Provinces of Spain|province]]s (''provincias''), which serve as the territorial building blocks for the former. In turn, provinces are composed of [[municipalities of Spain|municipalities]] (''municipios''). The existence of these two subdivisions is granted and protected by the constitution, not necessarily by the Statutes of Autonomy themselves. Municipalities are granted autonomy to manage their internal affairs, and provinces are the territorial divisions designed to carry out the activities of the State.<ref>[http://www.constitucion.es/constitucion/lenguas/ingles.html#8 Articles 140 and 141]. Spanish Constitution of 1978</ref>

The current fifty province structure is based—with minor changes—on [[1833 territorial division of Spain|the one created in 1833]] by [[Javier de Burgos]]. The communities of Asturias, Cantabria, La Rioja, the Balearic Islands, Madrid, Murcia and Navarre, having been granted autonomy as single-provinces for historical reasons, are counted as provinces as well.

===Foreign relations===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Spain}}
[[File:Signing of the Maastricht Treaty.jpg|thumb|upright|Spain is a founding member of the [[European Union]] in 1993 and signed the Maastricht Treaty.]]

After the return of [[democracy]] following the death of [[Francisco Franco|Franco]] in 1975, Spain's [[foreign policy]] priorities were to break out of the diplomatic isolation of the [[Spain under Franco|Franco years]] and expand [[diplomatic relations]], enter the [[European Union|European Community]], and define security relations with the West.

As a member of [[NATO]] since 1982, Spain has established itself as a major participant in multilateral international security activities. Spain's EU membership represents an important part of its foreign policy. Even on many international issues beyond [[western Europe]], Spain prefers to coordinate its efforts with its EU partners through the European political cooperation mechanisms.

With the normalization of diplomatic relations with [[North Korea]] in 2001, Spain completed the process of universalizing its diplomatic relations.

Spain has maintained its special identification with [[Latin America]]. Its policy emphasizes the concept of an [[Iberoamerican]] community, essentially the renewal of the historically liberal concept of hispanoamericanismo, or hispanism as it is often referred to in English, which has sought to link the Iberian peninsula with Latin America through language, commerce, history and culture. Spain has been an effective example of transition from dictatorship to democracy for formerly non-democratic South American states, as shown in the many trips that [[King of Spain|Spain's King]] and [[Politics of Spain|Prime Ministers]] have made to the region.

====Territorial disputes====
=====Territory claimed by Spain=====
[[Disputed status of Gibraltar|Spain claims Gibraltar]], a 6 square km [[British overseas territories|Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom]] in the southernmost part of the [[Iberian Peninsula]]. Then a Spanish town, it was conquered by an Anglo-Dutch force in 1704 during the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] on behalf of the [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Archduke Charles]], pretender to the Spanish throne.

The legal situation concerning Gibraltar was settled in 1713 by the [[Treaty of Utrecht]], in which Spain ceded the territory in perpetuity to the British Crown<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mgar.net/docs/utrech.htm|title=Tratado de Utretch - Gibraltar (Spanish)|accessdate=2008-08-09|publisher=mgar.net}}</ref> stating that, should the British abandon this post, it would be offered to Spain first. Ever since the 1940s Spain has called for the return of [[Gibraltar]]. The overwhelming majority of [[Gibraltarians]] strongly oppose this, along with any proposal of shared sovereignty.<ref>
{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2400673.stm
|title=Q&A: Gibraltar's referendum|work=BBC News
|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=8 November 2002
|accessdate=19 February 2010
}}
</ref> UN resolutions call on the United Kingdom and Spain, both EU members, to reach an agreement over the status of Gibraltar.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/218/33/IMG/NR021833.pdf?OpenElement
|title=Resolution 2070: Question of Gibraltar|date=16 December 1965|format=PDF
|publisher=[[United Nations]]
|accessdate=19 February 2010
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/RESOLUTION/GEN/NR0/005/34/IMG/NR000534.pdf?OpenElement
|title=Resolution 2231: Question of Gibraltar|date=20 December 1966|format=PDF
|publisher=[[United Nations]]
|accessdate=19 February 2010
}}
</ref>

However, the Spanish claim handles in a different way the Rock and the city of Gibraltar, ceded by the Treaty of Utrecht, and, on the other hand, the [[Disputed status of the isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain|isthmus]] that connects the Rock to the Spanish mainland. Spain notes that this territory was not ceded by said Treaty and therefore asserts that the "occupation of the isthmus is ilegal and against the principles of the [[International Law]]".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Embajadas/Londres/es/MenuPpal/Gibraltar/Documents/000.001.002.003%20Título.%20Prefacio.Índice.%20Informe%20(27.02.08).doc | title=La cuestión de Gibraltar | publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain | date=January 2008 | accessdate=2010-01-03 | language=[[Spanish language|Spanish]]}}</ref> The United Kingdom relies on ''de facto'' arguments of possession by [[prescription (law)|prescription]] in relation to the isthmus,<ref>{{cite book | title=Gibraltar: British or Spanish? | author=[[Peter Gold]] | publisher=Routledge | year=2005 | isbn=0-415-34795-5 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=u9YH_fLPu1MC |page=4}}</ref> as there has been "continuous possession [of the isthmus] over a long period".<ref>{{cite web | author=UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | year=1999 | url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/OT13.pdf | title=Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories. Appendix 1: Profiles for Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands & Gibraltar | format=PDF | work=Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories | accessdate=2005-12-19}}</ref>

Spain claims the sovereignty over the [[Perejil Island]], a small, uninhabited rocky [[islet]] located in the South shore of the [[Strait of Gibraltar]]. The island lies 250 meters just off the coast of [[Morocco]], 8 km from [[Ceuta]] and 13.5 km from mainland Spain. Its sovereignty is disputed between Spain and [[Morocco]]. It was the subject of an armed incident between the two countries in 2002. The incident ended when both countries agreed to return to the [[status quo|status quo ante]] which existed prior to the Moroccan occupation of the island. The islet is now deserted and without any sign of sovereignty.

=====Spanish territories claimed by other countries=====
[[Morocco]] claims the Spanish cities of [[Ceuta]] and [[Melilla]] and the [[plazas de soberanía]] islets off the northern coast of Africa. [[Portugal]] does not recognise Spain's sovereignty over the territory of [[Olivenza]].
[[File:FAS-ESP.svg|thumb|upright|Emblem of Spanish [[Armed Forces]]]]

===Military===
{{Main|Spanish Armed Forces}}
The [[armed forces]] of Spain are known as the Spanish Armed Forces ({{lang-es|Fuerzas Armadas Españolas}}). Their [[Commander-in-chief]] is the [[King of Spain]], [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|Juan Carlos I]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.casareal.es/laCorona/laCorona-iden-idweb.html|title=Article 62 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978|publisher=Official site of the Royal Household of HM the King|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

The [[Spanish Armed Forces]] are divided into three branches:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senado.es/constitu_i/index.html|title=Article 8 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978|publisher=Official site of the Spanish Senate|accessdate=2008-11-29}}</ref>
* [[Spanish Army|Army (''Ejército de Tierra'')]]
* [[Spanish Navy|Navy (''Armada'')]]
* [[Spanish Air Force|Air Force (''Ejército del Aire'')]]


== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Spain|Renewable energy in Spain}}
{{wrapper}}
|[[File:Vista de Madrid desde Callao 01.jpg|thumb|[[Madrid]]: [[Cuatro Torres Business Area]]]]
|-
|[[File:Barcelona Finanse Center (skyline).jpg|thumb|[[Barcelona]]: finance center]]
|-
|[[File:Pontfayw2.jpg|thumb|upright|The city of [[Valencia, Spain|Valencia]]]]
|-
|[[File:Basilica del Pilar-sunset.jpg|thumb|right|[[Zaragoza]] on the Ebro, at sunset.]]
|}

According to the [[World Bank]], Spain's economy is the ninth largest worldwide and the fifth largest in Europe. It is also the third largest world investor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ottawaregion.com/media_lib/Doing_Business_Archive_Presentations/Doing_Business_in_Spain_Legal_Environment.pdf |title=Doing Business in Spain |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref>

The centre-right government of former prime minister [[José María Aznar]] had worked successfully to gain admission to the group of countries launching the [[euro]] in 1999. [[Unemployment]] stood at 7.6% in October 2006, a rate that compared favorably to many other European countries, and especially with the early 1990s when it stood at over 20%. Perennial weak points of Spain's economy include high inflation,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/1592/Spain%92s_economy_.html|title=Spain's Economy: Closing the Gap|publisher=[[OECD]] Observer|month=May | year=2005|accessdate=2008-08-15}}</ref> a large [[underground economy]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=3E2579A7-6002-4048-97BB-46679C5D8A88|title=Going Underground: America's Shadow Economy|publisher=FrontPage magazine|month=January | year=2005|accessdate=2008-08-15}}</ref> and an education system which OECD reports place among the poorest for developed countries, together with the United States and UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/51/21/37392840.pdf|title=OECD report for 2006|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-09|publisher=OECD}}</ref>

However, the property bubble that had begun building from 1997, fed by historically low interest rates and an immense surge in immigration, imploded in 2008, leading to a rapidly weakening economy and soaring unemployment. By the end of May 2009 unemployment had already reached 18.7% (37% for youths).<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2009/07/02/euro-zone-unemployment-may.html Euro zone unemployment reaches 15 million]. CBCNews.ca. July 2, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/5742937/The-unemployment-timebomb-is-quietly-ticking.html The unemployment timebomb is quietly ticking]. Telegraph. July 4, 2009.</ref>

The Spanish economy had been credited for having avoided the virtual zero growth rate of some of its largest partners in the EU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.oecd.org/WBOS/ViewHTML.aspx?QueryName=198&QueryType=View&Lang=en|title=OECD figures|publisher=OECD|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> In fact, the country's economy had created more than half of all the new jobs in the European Union over the five years ending 2005, a process that is rapidly being reversed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jul/26/spain.gilestremlett|title=Economic statistics|publisher=Guardian|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> The Spanish economy had been until recently regarded as one of the most dynamic within the EU, attracting significant amounts of foreign investment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.la-moncloa.es/NR/rdonlyres/2E85E75E-E2D9-4148-B1DF-950B06696A6C/74823/Chapter_2.PDF|title=Official report on Spanish recent Macroeconomics, including tables and graphics|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=La Moncloa}}</ref>
During the last four decades the Spanish tourism industry has grown to become the second biggest in the world, worth approximately 40 billion Euros, about 5% of GDP, in 2006.<ref name="guru">{{cite web|url=http://www.theglobalguru.com/article.php?id=60&offer=GURU001|title="Global Guru" analysis|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=The Global Guru}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bde.es/informes/be/boleco/coye.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=[[Bank of Spain]]|title=Economic report|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

More recently, the Spanish economy had benefited greatly from the [[real estate bubble|global real estate boom]], with construction representing an astonishing 16% of GDP and 12% of employment in its final year.<ref name="guru"/> According to calculations by the German newspaper ''[[Die Welt]]'', Spain had been on course to overtake countries like Germany in per capita income by 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europeanfoundation.org/docs/id210.pdf|title=No camp grows on both Right and Left|format=PDF|publisher=European Foundation Intelligence Digest|accessdate=2008-08-09}}</ref> However, the downside of the now defunct real estate boom was a corresponding rise in the levels of personal debt; as prospective homeowners had struggled to meet asking prices, the average level of household debt tripled in less than a decade. This placed especially great pressure upon lower to middle income groups; by 2005 the median ratio of indebtedness to income had grown to 125%, due primarily to expensive boom time mortgages that now often exceed the value of the property.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bde.es/informes/be/boleco/2005/be0507e.pdf|title=Bank of Spain Economic Bulletin 07/2005|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Bank of Spain}}</ref>

In 2008/2009 the credit crunch and world recession manifested itself in Spain through a massive downturn in the property sector. Fortunately, Spain's banks and financial services avoided the more severe problems of their counterparts in the USA and UK, due mainly to a stringently enforced conservative financial regulatory regime. The Spanish financial authorities had not forgotten the country's own banking crisis of 1979 and an earlier real estate precipitated banking crisis of 1993. Indeed, Spain's largest bank, Banco Santander, took part in the UK government's bail-out of part of the UK banking sector.<ref>[[Charles Emrys Smith|Charles Smith]], article: "Spain", in Wankel, C. (ed.) ''Encyclopedia of Business in Today's World'', California, USA, 2009.</ref>

A European Commission forecast had predicted Spain would enter a [[Late 2000s recession|recession]] by the end of 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cf5d0f08-7f49-11dd-a3da-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1|title=Recession to hit Germany, UK and Spain|publisher=[[Financial Times]]|date=2008-09-10|accessdate=2008-09-11}}</ref> According to Spain’s Finance Minister, “Spain faces its deepest recession in half a century”.<ref>[http://www.spanishnews.es/20090118-spain-faces-deepest-recession-in-50-years/id=142/ Spain faces deepest recession in 50 years], Spanish News, January 18, 2009</ref> Spain's government forecast the [[unemployment]] rate would rise to 16% in 2009. The [[ESADE]] business school predicts 20%.<ref>[http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12987582 Mounting joblessness in Spain | And worse to come], The Economist, January 22, 2009</ref>

==Transportation==
{{Main|Transport in Spain}}
Spanish road system is mainly centralized, with 6 highways connecting [[Madrid]] to [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]], [[Catalonia]], [[Valencian Community|Valencia]], [[Andalusia]], [[Extremadura]] and [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]]. Additionally, there are highways along the Atlantic ([[Ferrol]] to [[Vigo]]), Cantabrian ([[Oviedo]] to [[San Sebastián]]) and Mediterranean ([[Girona]] to [[Almeria]]) coasts.

Spain currently has a total of 1272 km of high speed train linking [[Málaga]], [[Seville]], [[Madrid]], [[Barcelona]] and [[Valladolid]]. Should the aims of the ambitious [[AVE]] program (Spanish high speed trains) be met, by 2020 Spain will have 7000 km (4300 mi) of high-speed trains linking almost all provincial cities to Madrid in less than 3 hours and Barcelona within 4 hours.

The busiest airport in Spain is the airport of [[Madrid Airport|Madrid]] (Barajas), with 50,8 million passengers in 2008, being the [[World's busiest airports by passenger traffic|world's 11th busiest airport]]. The airport of [[Barcelona Airport|Barcelona]] (El prat) is also important with 30 million passangers in 2008. Other airports are located in [[Zaragoza Airport|Zaragoza]], [[Málaga Airport|Málaga]], [[Valencia Airport|Valencia]], [[Seville Airport|Seville]], [[Asturias Airport|Asturias]] (near [[Avilés]]) and [[Bilbao Airport|Bilbao]].

Spain aims to put 1 million [[electric car]]s on the road by 2014 as part of the government’s plan to save energy and boost [[energy efficiency]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/algae-based-biofuels-in-plain--003362.php |title=Algae Based Biofuels in Plain English: Why it Matters, How it Works. (algae algaebiofuels carbonsequestration valcent vertigro algaebasedbiofuels ethanol) |publisher=Triplepundit.com |date=July 30, 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-19}}</ref> The Minister of Industry [[Miguel Sebastian]] said that "the electric vehicle is the future and the engine of an industrial revolution." <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/spain-to-put-1-million-electri-003363.php |title=Spain to Put 1 million Electric Cars on the Road|publisher=Triplepundit.com |date=July 30, 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-19}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Spain}}
{{See also|List of Spanish autonomous communities by population}}
[[File:EspDens2.jpg|thumb|350px|Geographical distribution of the Spanish population in 2008]]

Native Spaniards have a culture and ancestry similar to other south-western European peoples, particularly to neighbouring Portugal. There are clear historical and cultural connections with other [[Mediterranean people]]s as well as with those of [[Atlantic Europe|Atlantic]], [[Western Europe|Western]], and [[Northern Europe]].

In 2008 the population of Spain officially reached 46 million people, as recorded by the ''Padrón municipal''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=%2Ft20/e260&file=inebase&L=1|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística (National Statistics Institute)|title=Population Figures|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> Spain's population density, at 91/km² (235/sq mi), is lower than that of most Western European countries and its distribution across the country is very unequal. With the exception of the region surrounding the capital, [[Madrid]], the most populated areas lie around the coast.

The population of Spain doubled during the 20th century, principally due to the spectacular demographic boom in the 1960s and early 1970s. The pattern of growth was extremely uneven, however, due to large-scale internal migration from the rural interior to the industrial cities during this period. Eleven of Spain's fifty provinces saw an absolute decline in population over the century.

After the [[List of countries and territories by fertility rate|birth rate]] plunged in the 1980s and Spain's population growth rate dropped, the population again trended upward, based initially on the return of many [[Spaniards]] who had emigrated to other European countries during the 1970s, and more recently, fueled by large numbers of [[immigrants]], mostly from [[Latin America]] (39%), [[Eastern Europe]] (15%), [[North Africa]] (16%) and [[Sub-Saharan Africa]] (4%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/axi?AXIS_PATH=/inebase/temas/t20/e245/p04/a2005/l0/&FILE_AXIS=00000010.px&CGI_DEFAULT=/inebase/temas/cgi.opt&COMANDO=SELECCION&CGI_URL=/inebase/cgi/|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística|title=Población extranjera por sexo, país de nacionalidad y edad|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> In 2005, Spain instituted a three-month amnesty program through which certain hitherto undocumented aliens were granted legal residency.

A sizeable portion of foreign residents in Spain (21%) also comes from other Western and Central European countries. These are mostly British, French, German, Dutch, and Norwegian.
These people reside primarily on the Mediterranean ''costas'' and Balearic islands, where many are choosing to live their retirement or [[telework]].

Substantial populations descended from [[Spanish people|Spanish]] colonists and immigrants exist in other parts of the world, most notably in [[Latin America]]. Beginning in the late 15th century, large numbers of Iberian colonists settled in what became Latin America and at present most [[white Latin American]]s (about one-third of the total population) are of Spanish or Portuguese origin. In the 16th century perhaps 240,000 Spaniards emigrated, mostly to [[Peru]] and [[Mexico]].<ref>[http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/history/migration/chapter53.html Migration to Latin America]. Universiteit Leiden.</ref> They were joined by 450,000 in the next century.<ref>{{citation|url= http://www.millersville.edu/~columbus/data/art/AXTELL01.ART |title= The Columbian Mosaic in Colonial America |first= James |last= Axtell |journal= Humanities |date= September/October 1991 |volume= 12 |issue= 5 |pages= 12–18 |accessdate= 2008-10-08 }}</ref> Between 1846 and 1932 nearly 5 million Spaniards went to the Americas, especially to [[Argentina]] and [[Brazil]].<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/557573/Spain/70267/People Spain — People]. Britannica Online Encyclopedia.</ref> From 1960 to 1975, approximately two million Spaniards migrated to other Western European countries. During the same time period, about 300,000 people left Spain for Latin America.<ref>[http://www.focus-migration.de/Spain_Update_08_200.5420.0.html?&L=1 Spain]. Focus–Migration.</ref>

===Metropolitan areas===
[[File:Spain met.png|thumb|350px|Map of the main metropolitan areas]]
{{wrapper}}
|[[File:Cathedral and Archivo de Indias - Seville.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The city of [[Seville]].]]
|-
|[[File:Girona riverside HDR.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The city of [[Girona]].]]
|-
|[[File:Vista de la Catedral de Santiago de Compostela.JPG|200px|thumb|right|The city of [[Santiago de Compostela]].]]
|-
|[[File:Ciudad de Burgos.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The city of [[Burgos]].]]
|-
|[[File:Toledo Skyline Panorama, Spain - Dec 2006.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The city of [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]].]]
|-
|[[File:Palma de Mallorca-cathedral.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The city of [[Palma, Majorca|Palma of Mallorca]].]]
|-
|[[File:Puerto de Alicante.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The city of [[Alicante]].]]
|}

''See also [[List of metropolitan areas in Spain by population]]''
Source: [[European Spatial Planning Observation Network|ESPON]], 2007<ref>
{{cite book |publisher=[[European Spatial Planning Observation Network|ESPON]] |author=IGEAT |coauthors=IGSO, LATTS, TSAC |title=ESPON project 1.4.3: Study on Urban Functions: Final Report |date=March 2007 |isbn=2-9600467-2-2 |url=http://www.espon.eu/mmp/online/website/content/projects/261/420/file_2420/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf |accessdate=2009-04-09 }}
</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:right;"
!Pos.|| City(ies) || Region || Prov. || population
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 1 || '''[[Madrid]]''' || [[Madrid]] || Madrid ||5,263,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 2 || '''[[Barcelona]]''' || [[Catalonia]] || Barcelona || 4,251,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 3 || '''[[Valencia, Spain|Valencia]]''' || [[Valencian Community]] || Valencia || 1,499,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 4 || '''[[Seville]]''' || [[Andalusia]] || Seville || 1,262,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 5 || '''[[Bilbao]]''' || [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] || Biscay || 947,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 6 || '''[[Málaga]]''' || [[Andalusia]] || Málaga || 844,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 7 || '''[[Oviedo]]–[[Gijón]]''' || [[Asturias]] || Asturias || 844,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 8 || '''[[Alicante]]–[[Elche]]''' || [[Valencian Community]] || Alicante || 793,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 9 || '''[[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]] ||''' [[Canarias]] || Las Palmas de Gran Canaria || 640,000
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 10 || '''[[Zaragoza]] ||''' [[Aragon]] || Zaragoza || 639,000
|}

===Main cities===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:right;"
!Pos.|| City || Region || Prov. || population
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 1 || '''[[Madrid]]''' || [[Madrid]] || Madrid || 3,213,271
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 2 || '''[[Barcelona]]''' || [[Catalonia]] || Barcelona || 1,615,908
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 3 || '''[[Valencia, Spain|Valencia]]''' || [[Valencian Community]] || Valencia || 810,064
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 4 || '''[[Seville]]''' || [[Andalusia]] || Seville || 699,759
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 5 || '''[[Zaragoza]]''' || [[Aragon]] || Zaragoza || 666,129
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 6 || '''[[Málaga]]''' || [[Andalusia]] || Málaga || 566,447
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 7 || '''[[Murcia]]''' || [[Murcia]] || Murcia || 430,571
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 8 || '''[[Palma de Mallorca]]''' || [[Balearic Islands]] || Palma de Mallorca || 396,570
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 9 || '''[[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria|Las Palmas]] ||''' [[Canary Islands]] || Las Palmas || 381,123
|- style="text-align:right;"
| 10 || '''[[Bilbao]]''' || [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] || Biscay || 353,340
|}

===Peoples===
{{Main|Spanish people|Nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain}}
The [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]], in its second article, recognises historic entities ("nationalities", a carefully chosen word in order to avoid the more politically charged "nations") and regions, within the context of the Spanish nation. For some people, Spain's identity consists more of an overlap of different regional identities than of a sole Spanish identity. Indeed, some of the regional identities may even conflict with the Spanish one.{{Clarify|date=February 2009}} Distinct cultural groups within Spain include the [[Basque people|Basques]], [[Catalan people|Catalans]], [[Galician people|Galicians]] and [[Castilian people|Castilians]], between others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2878.htm|title=Kingdom of Spain: People|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=US Department of State}}</ref>

It is this last feature of "shared identity" between the more local level or Autonomous Community and the Spanish level which makes the identity question in Spain complex and far from univocal.

===Minority groups===
Spain has a number of descendants of populations from former colonies (especially [[Equatorial Guinea]]) and immigrants from several [[Sub-Saharan]] and [[Caribbean]] countries have been recently settling in Spain. There are also sizeable numbers of [[Asia]]n immigrants, most of whom are of [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]], [[Filipino people|Filipino]], [[Middle East]]ern, [[Pakistan]]i and [[India]]n origins; the population of Spaniards of Latin American descent is sizeable as well and a fast growing segment. Other growing groups are [[British people|Britons]], 760,000 in 2006, [[Germans]] and other immigrants from the rest of Europe.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6161705.stm|title=Immigration statistics|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2006-12-11}}</ref>

The arrival of the ''[[Roma in Spain|Gitanos]]'', a [[Romani people]], began in the 16th century; estimates of the Spanish Gitano population fluctuate around 700,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eumap.org/reports/2002/eu/international/sections/spain/2002_m_spain.pdf|format=PDF|title=The Situation of Roma in Spain|accessdate=2008-08-14|publisher=Open Society Institute}}</ref> The ''[[Merchero]]s'' (also Quinquis) are a minority group, formerly nomadic, that share a lot of the way of life of Gitanos. Their origin is unclear.

===Immigration===
{{Main|Immigration to Spain}}
According to the Spanish government there were 4.5 million foreign residents in Spain in 2007; independent estimates put the figure at 4.8 million people, or 11% of the total population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifrc.org/publicat/wdr2006/|title=World Disasters Report 2006|publisher=Red Cross|accessdate=2008-08-14}}</ref> According to residence permit data for 2005, about 500,000 were [[Morocco|Moroccan]], another 500,000 were [[Ecuador]]ian, more than 200,000 were [[Romania]]n, and 260,000 were [[Colombia]]n. Other sizeable foreign communities are [[United Kingdom|British]] (8%), French (8%), [[Argentina|Argentine]] (6%), German (6%) and [[Bolivia]]n (3%). Spain has more than 200,000 migrants from West and Central Africa.<ref>"[http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/295183,financial-crisis-reveals-vulnerability-of-spains-immigrants--feature.html Financial crisis reveals vulnerability of Spain's immigrants - Feature]". The Earth Times. November 18, 2009.</ref> Since 2000, Spain has experienced high [[population growth]] as a result of immigration flows, despite a birth rate that is only half the replacement level. This sudden and ongoing inflow of immigrants, particularly those arriving clandestinely by sea, has caused noticeable social tension.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/prodyser/pubweb/anuario06/anu06_02demog.pdf|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística|title=Avance del Padrón Municipal a 1 de enero de 2006. Datos provisionales|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13}} See also: {{cite web|url=http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/hispanic/world_international/pns_immigration_shift_1204.asp|title=Immigration Shift: Many Latin Americans Choosing Spain Over U.S.|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=IMDiversity, Inc}} and {{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_21/b4035066.htm|title=Spain: Immigrants Welcome|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Business Week}} and {{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14628564/site/newsweek/print/1/displaymode/1098/|title=Immigrants Fuel Europe's Civilization Clash|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=MSNBC}} and {{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/22/news/spain.php|title=Spanish youth clash with immigrant gangs|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=International Herald Tribune}}</ref>

Within the EU, Spain has the second highest immigration rate in percentage terms after [[Cyprus]], but by a great margin, the highest in absolute numbers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-NK-06-001/EN/KS-NK-06-001-EN.PDF|publisher=Eurostat|title=Population in Europe in 2005|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref> There are a number of reasons for the high level of immigration, including Spain's cultural ties with [[Latin America]], its geographical position, the porosity of its borders, the large size of its underground economy and the strength of the agricultural and construction sectors, which demand more low cost labour than can be offered by the national workforce.

Another statistically significant factor is the large number of residents of EU origin typically retiring to Spain's Mediterranean coast. In fact, Spain was Europe's largest absorber of migrants from 2002 to 2007, with its immigrant population more than doubling as 2.5 million people arrived.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/um?M=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp08%2F&O=pcaxis&N=&L=0|title=Population series from 1998|publisher=[[Instituto Nacional de Estadística de España|INE]] Spanish Statistical Institute|accessdate=2008-08-14}}</ref> According to the Financial Times, Spain is the most favoured destination for West Europeans considering a move from their own country and seeking jobs elsewhere in the EU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1406161495|publisher=News.bg|title=Europeans Favour Spain for Expat Jobs|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

The number of immigrants in Spain has grown up from 500,000 people in 1996 to 5.2 million in 2008 out of a total population of 46 million.<ref>[http://www.workpermit.com/news/2007-10-10/spain/spanish-immigration-budget-increases.htm Spain to increase immigration budget], October 10, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3527 Spain’s Immigration System Runs Amok], September 17, 2008</ref> In 2005 alone, a regularisation programme increased the legal immigrant population by 700,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/may/09/spain.gilestremlett |title=Spain grants amnesty to 700,000 migrants |publisher=Guardian |date= |accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> [[Economy of Spain|Unemployment]] among immigrants has risen 67% in 2007. Spain's new ''Plan of Voluntary Return'' encourages immigrants to leave Spain for three years and offers up to €25,000, but so far, only 186 Ecuadorans have signed up to return.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1852000,00.html Spain Tries to Buy Out Immigrants], TIME, October 20, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081009.MELTDOWNSPAIN09/TPStory/?query= Madrid to pay surplus immigrant tradesman to go home, come back later], globeandmail.com, October 9, 2008</ref> In the program's first two months last year, just 1,400 immigrants took up the offer.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123275552359911807.html Spain's Jobs Crisis Leaves Immigrants Out of Work], The Wall Street Journal, January 24, 2009</ref>

[[File:Languages of Spain.svg|thumb|right|300px|'''The languages of Spain''' (simplified)
{| style="width:100%; background:none;"
| align=top |{{legend|#f30000|'''[[Spanish language|Spanish]]''' official and spoken all over the country}}
{{legend|#e090e0|'''[[Catalan language|Catalan/Valencian]]''', co-official}}
{{legend|#356585|'''[[Basque language|Basque]]''', co-official}}
{{legend|#ffffbb|'''[[Galician language|Galician]]''', co-official}}
| align=top |
{{legend|#55ee99|'''[[Aranese language|Aranese]]''', co-official (dialect of [[Occitan language|Occitan]])}}
{{legend|#009f00|'''[[Asturian language|Asturian]]''', recognised}}
{{legend|#2070ff|'''[[Aragonese language|Aragonese]]''', unofficial}}
{{legend|#eee400|'''[[Leonese language|Leonese]]''', unofficial}}
{{legend|#107010|'''[[Extremaduran language|Extremaduran]]''', unofficial}}
{{legend|#906010|'''[[Fala language|Fala]]''', unofficial}}
|}]]

===Languages===
{{Main|Languages of Spain}}
[[Spanish language|Spanish]] ({{lang|es|''español''}} or {{lang|es|''castellano''}}, ''Castilian'') is spoken all over the country and so is the only language with official status nationwide. But a number of [[regional languages]] have been declared co-official, along with Spanish, in the constituent communities where they are spoken:
* [[Basque language|Basque]] ({{lang|eu|''euskera''}}) (2%) in the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] and [[Navarre]];
* [[Catalan language|Catalan]] ({{lang|eu|''català''}}) (17%) in [[Catalonia]] and the [[Balearic Islands]]; [[Valencian]] (''valencià''), a distinct variant of Catalan, is official in the [[Valencian Community]];
* [[Galician language|Galician]] ({{lang|gl|''galego''}}) (7%)<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sp.html CIA - The World Factbook -- Spain]</ref> in [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]].

There are also some other surviving [[Romance languages|Romance]] [[minority language]]s such as the Astur-Leonese group, which includes two languages in Spain: [[Asturian language|Asturian]] (officially called "[[Bable]]") which has protected status in [[Asturias]], and [[Leonese language|Leonese]], which is protected in Castile and León. Aragonese is vaguely recognized in [[Aragon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jgpa.es/portal.do?TR=C&IDR=45|title=Junta General del Principado de Asturias|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Junta General del Principado de Asturias}}</ref> Unlike Basque, Catalan/Valencian and Galician, these languages do not have any official status. This might be due to their very small number of speakers, a less significant written tradition in comparison to Catalan or Galician, and lower self-awareness of their speakers which traditionally meant lack of strong popular demand for their recognition in the regions in which they are spoken.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.proel.org/lenguas2.html|title=Languages of Spain map|accessdate=2008-08-15|publisher=Proel}}</ref>

In the [[North Africa]]n Spanish city of [[Melilla]], [[Tarifit]] is spoken by a significant part of the population. In the tourist areas of the Mediterranean coast and the islands, [[English language|English]] and [[German language|German]] are widely spoken by tourists, foreign residents, and tourism workers.

==Culture==
[[File:Hemispheric - Valencia, Spain - Jan 2007.jpg|thumb|left|The Hemispheric at the [[Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències]], Valencia.]]
{{Main|Culture of Spain|UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain}}
Spain is known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history.
Spanish culture has its origins in the [[Iberians|Iberian]], [[Celtiberians|Celtiberian]], [[Roman Empire|Latin]], [[Visigothic]], [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]], and [[Islam]]ic cultures.

The definition of a national Spanish culture has been characterized by tension between the centralized state, dominated in recent centuries by [[Castile (historical region)|Castile]], and numerous regions and minority peoples. In addition, the history of the nation and its Mediterranean and Atlantic environment have played strong roles in shaping its culture. After Italy, Spain has the second highest number of [[UNESCO World Heritage Sites]] in the world, with a total of 40.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list|title=World Heritage List|publisher=UNESCO|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{bar box
|title=Spain religiosity
|titlebar=#ddd
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|Christianity|blue|76}}
{{bar percent|Irreligion / others|gray|20}}
{{bar percent|Islam|green|2.3}}
{{bar percent|Judaism|purple|0.1}}
{{bar percent|Others|pink|1.7}}
}}
{{Main|Religion in Spain}}
{{See|History of the Jews in Spain}}

[[Roman Catholic]]ism has long been the main religion of Spain, though it no longer has official status. According to a July 2009 study by the Spanish Center of Sociological Research about 76% of Spaniards self-identify as [[Roman Catholicism|Catholics]], 2% other faith, and about 20% identify with [[irreligion|no religion]]. Most Spaniards do not participate regularly in religious services. This same study shows that of the Spaniards who identify themselves as religious, 58% hardly ever or never go to church, 17% go to church some times a year, 9% some time per month and 15% every Sunday or multiple times per week.<ref name=CIS>{{cite web|url=http://www.cis.es/cis/opencms/-Archivos/Marginales/2800_2819/2811/es2811.pdf|title=Barómetro julio 2009, Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, Jul 2009|accessdate=2009-10-16}}</ref>

But according to a December 2006 study, 48% of the population declared a belief in a supreme being, while 41% described themselves as atheist or agnostic.<ref>[http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/14255 Religion Important for Americans, Italians], Angus Reid Global Monitor, December 30, 2006</ref> Altogether, about 22% of the entire Spanish population attends religious services at least once per month.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mas.lne.es/documentos/archivos/20-11-06-cis.pdf|publisher=Centre of Sociological Investigations|title=October poll, questions 32 and 32a|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>
Though Spanish society has become considerably more secular in recent decades, the influx of Latin American immigrants, who tend to be strong Catholic practitioners, has helped the Catholic Church to recover.

[[File:Basílica de Santiago 02.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Santiago de Compostela Cathedral]], the destination of the [[Way of St. James]]]]

Several Protestant denominations exist in the country, all of them with fewer than 50,000 members. [[Evangelism]] has been better received among [[Romani people|Gypsies]] than among the general population; pastors have integrated [[flamenco]] music in their liturgy. Taken together, all self-described "Evangelicals" slightly surpass [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] (105,000) in number. In addition, about 41,000 residents of Spain are members of the [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/spain|title=Spain|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

[[File:Catedral de Segovia02.jpg|thumb|235px|left|A view of the [[Segovia Cathedral]] with its old walls.]]
The recent waves of [[immigration]] have also led to an increasing number of [[Muslim]]s, who number approximately one million in Spain. Presently, [[Islam]] is the second largest religion in Spain, accounting for approximately 2.3% of the total population.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4385768.stm#spain|publisher=BBC|title=Muslims in Europe: Country guide|accessdate=2008-08-13 | date=2005-12-23}}</ref>
Since their expulsion in 1492, Muslims did not live in Spain for centuries. Late 19th-century colonial expansion in northwestern Africa gave some number of residents in the [[Spanish Morocco]] and the [[Western Sahara]] full citizenship. Their ranks have since been bolstered by recent immigration, especially from Morocco.

[[Judaism]] was practically non-existent in Spain from the 1492 expulsion until the 19th century, when Jews were again permitted to enter the country. Currently there are around 62,000 Jews in Spain, or less than 0.1% of the total population. Most are arrivals in the past century, while some are descendants of earlier Spanish Jews. Approximately 80,000 [[Judaism|Jews]] are thought to have lived in Spain on the eve of the [[Spanish Inquisition]].<ref>{{citebook|title=The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision|year=1999|publisher=[[Yale University Press]]|authorlink=Henry Kamen|last=Kamen|first=Henry|pages=29–31}}</ref> This figure seems too low. Compare with estimates in the Wikipedia article, "Jews in Spain."

===Schools===
{{Main|Education in Spain}}
State education in Spain is free and compulsory from the age of 6 to 16. The current education system was established by an educational law of 1990, Ley Orgánica de Ordenación General del Sistema Educativo - Law on the General Organization of the Educational System.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spainexchange.com/educator_info/spain_education.php|title=Spain Education System|publisher=SpainExchange.com|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>
[[File:Don Quijote and Sancho Panza.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Miguel de Cervantes]]' [[Don Quixote]] is considered to be the [[novel|first modern novel]].<ref name="The top 100 books of all time">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/may/08/books.booksnews|title=The top 100 books of all time|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-08-14}}</ref>]]

===Literature===
{{Main|Spanish literature}}
The term Spanish literature refers to [[literature]] written in the [[Spanish language]], including literature composed in Spanish by writers not necessarily from Spain. For Spanish American literature specifically, see [[Latin American literature]]. Due to historic, geographic and generational diversity, Spanish literature has known a great number of influences and it is very diverse. Some major literary movements can be identified within it.

[[Miguel de Cervantes]] is probably Spain's most famous author and his [[Don Quixote]] is considered the most emblematic work in the canon of Spanish literature and a founding classic of Western literature.<ref name="The top 100 books of all time"/>

===Institut d'Estudis Catalans===
{{Main|Institut d'Estudis Catalans}}
The Institut d'Estudis Catalans (Institute for Catalan Studies, or IEC, in [[Catalan language|Catalan]]) is an academic institution which seeks to undertake research and study into "all elements of Catalan culture." The IEC is known principally for its work in standardizing the Catalan language. The IEC is based in [[Barcelona]], the capital of [[Catalonia]]. Officially the IEC provides standards for Catalonia proper, [[Northern Catalonia]] (located in [[France]]), the [[Balearic Islands]], and the [[Principality of Andorra]] (the only country where Catalan is the sole official language). The [[Valencian Community|Valencian Region]] south of Catalonia has its own language academy, the [[Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua]]. In an area known as the [[Franja de Ponent]], the eastern edge of [[Aragon]] adjacent to Catalonia where Catalan is spoken, the rules are used de facto although Catalan is not an official language.

===Real Academia Española===
{{Main|Real Academia Española}}
The Real Academia Española ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "Royal Spanish Academy"; RAE) is the institution responsible for regulating the [[Spanish language]]. It is based in [[Madrid]], but is affiliated with national language academies in 21 [[Hispanophone|Spanish-speaking nations]] through the [[Association of Spanish Language Academies]]. Its emblem is a fiery crucible, and its [[motto]] is ''Limpia, fija y da esplendor'' ("It cleans, sets, and gives splendor").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rae.es/rae/gestores/gespub000001.nsf/voTodosporId/CEDF300E8D943D3FC12571360037CC94?OpenDocument&i=0|title=Origins|publisher=Real Academia Española|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

===Art===
[[File:Guggenheim-bilbao-jan05.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Guggenheim Museum Bilbao|Guggenheim Museum]] in Bilbao]]
{{Main|Spanish art}}
Artists from Spain have been highly influential in the development of various European [[art movement|artistic movements]]. Due to historical, geographical and generational diversity, Spanish art has known a great number of influences. The Moorish heritage in Spain, especially in [[Andalusia]], is still evident today in cities like [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]], [[Seville]], and [[Granada]]. European influences include Italy, Germany and France, especially during the [[Baroque]] and [[Neoclassicism|Neoclassical]] periods.

===Cinema===
{{Main|Cinema of Spain}}
Spanish cinema has achieved major international success including [[Academy Award|Oscars]] for recent films such as [[Pan's Labyrinth]] and [[Volver]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Jordan|first=Barry|coauthors=Rikki Morgan-Tamosunas|title=Contemporary spanish cinema|publisher=[[Manchester University Press]]|year=1998}}</ref> In the long history of Spanish cinema, the great filmmaker [[Luis Buñuel]] was the first to achieve world recognition, followed by [[Pedro Almodóvar]] in the 1980s. Spanish cinema has also seen international success over the years with films by [[film director|directors]] like [[Segundo de Chomón]], [[Florián Rey]], [[Luis García Berlanga]], [[Carlos Saura]], [[Julio Medem]] and [[Alejandro Amenábar]].

===Architecture===
[[File:Plaza de Cibeles (Madrid) 07.jpg|thumb|right|215px|The [[Plaza de Cibeles]] in Madrid]]
{{Main|Spanish architecture}}
Spanish architecture refers to [[architecture]] carried out during any era in what is now modern-day Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings within the current geographical limits of Spain before this name was given to those territories, whether they were called [[Hispania]], [[Al-Andalus]], or were formed of several Christian kingdoms.

[[File:Sagradafamilia-overview.jpg|thumb|168px|left|Nativity facade of the [[Sagrada Família]] Temple in Barcelona]]
Due to its historical and geographical diversity, Spanish architecture has drawn from a host of influences. An important provincial city founded by the Romans and with an extensive [[Roman era]] infrastructure, [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]] became the cultural capital, including fine Arabic style architecture, during the time of the Islamic [[Umayyad dynasty]].<ref>{{citebook|first=Jo|last=Cruz|title=Western Views of Islam in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Perception and Other|editor=Edited by David R. Blanks and Michael Frassetto|location=New York|publisher=Saint Martin's Press|year=1999|pages=56}}</ref> Later Arab style architecture continued to be developed under successive Islamic dynasties, ending with the [[Nasrid]], which built its famed palace complex in [[Granada]].

Simultaneously, the Christian kingdoms gradually emerged and developed their own styles; developing a pre-Romanesque style when for a while isolated from contemporary mainstream European architectural influences during the earlier Middle Ages, they later integrated the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] and [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] streams. There was then an extraordinary flowering of the gothic style that resulted in numerous instances being built throughout the entire territory. The [[Mudéjar]] style, from the 12th to 17th centuries, was developed by introducing Arab style motifs, patterns and elements into European architecture.

[[File:El Capricho JPG.jpg|thumb|200px|right|El Capricho, in the rural town of [[Comillas]], Cantabria]]
The arrival of [[Modernism]] in the academic arena produced much of the architecture of the 20th century. An influential style centered in [[Barcelona]], known as [[modernisme]], produced a number of important architects, of which [[Gaudí]] is one. The [[International style (architecture)|International style]] was led by groups like [[GATEPAC]]. Spain is currently experiencing a revolution in [[contemporary architecture]] and [[:Category:Spanish architects|Spanish architects]] like [[Rafael Moneo]], [[Santiago Calatrava]], [[Ricardo Bofill]] as well as many others have gained worldwide renown.

===Music===
{{Main|Music of Spain}}
Spanish music is often considered abroad to be synonymous with [[flamenco]], an Andalusian musical genre, which, contrary to popular belief, is not widespread outside that region. Various regional styles of [[folk music]] abound in Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Castile, the Basque Country, Galicia and Asturias. Pop, rock, hip hop and heavy metal are also popular.

In the field of [[classical music]], Spain has produced a number of noted [[composers]] such as [[Isaac Albéniz]], [[Manuel de Falla]] and [[Enrique Granados]] and singers and performers such as [[José Carreras]], [[Montserrat Caballé]], [[Plácido Domingo]], [[Alicia de Larrocha]], [[Alfredo Kraus]], [[Pau Casals]], [[Ricardo Viñes]], [[José Iturbi]], [[Pablo de Sarasate]], [[Jordi Savall]] and [[Teresa Berganza]]. In Spain there are over forty professional orchestras, including the [[Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona]], [[Orquesta Nacional de España]] and the [[Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid]]. Major [[opera houses]] include the [[Teatro Real]],the [[Gran Teatre del Liceu]], [[Teatro Arriaga]] and the [[El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía]].

===Cuisine===
{{Main|Spanish cuisine}}
[[File:Paella de marisco 01.jpg|thumb|The [[paella]], typical of the whole Spain]]
Spanish cuisine consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep [[Mediterranean]] roots. Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to a unique cuisine. In particular, three main divisions are easily identified:
* ''Mediterranean'' Spain – all such coastal regions, from Catalonia to Andalusia: heavy use of seafood, such as ''pescaíto frito''. Several cold soups like [[gazpacho]] and also many rice-based dishes like [[paella]] and [[arroz negro]].
* ''Inner'' Spain – Castile and Madrid: hot, thick soups such as the bread and garlic-based ''Castilian soup'', along with substantious stews such as [[cocido madrileño]]. Food is traditionally conserved by salting, like [[Spanish ham]], or immersed in [[olive oil]], like [[Manchego cheese]].
[[File:Chocolate with churros.jpg|150px|thumb|left|The [[Churro]]s are famous desserts, usually eaten alongside hot chocolate.]]
* ''Atlantic'' Spain – the whole Northern coast, from Galicia to Navarre: vegetable and fish-based stews like ''pote gallego'' and [[marmitako]]. Also, the lightly cured [[Lacón Gallego|lacón]] ham.

===Sport===
{{Main|Sport in Spain}}
Sport in Spain has been dominated by [[soccer|football]] since the early 20th century. [[Basketball]], [[tennis]], [[cycling]], [[team handball|handball]], [[motorcycling]] and, lately, [[Formula One]] are also important due to presence of Spanish champions in all these disciplines. Today, Spain is a major world sports power, especially since the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] that were hosted in [[Barcelona]] and promoted a great variety of sports in the country. The tourism industry has led to an improvement in sports infrastructure, especially for [[water sports]], [[golf]] and [[skiing]].

===Public holidays===
{{Main|Public holidays in Spain}}
Public holidays celebrated in Spain include a mix of religious ([[Roman Catholic]]), national and regional observances. Each municipality is allowed to declare a maximum of 14 [[public holiday]]s per year; up to nine of these are chosen by the national government and at least two are chosen locally.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bank-holidays.com/holidays_2007_58.htm|title=Bank holidays in Spain|publisher=bank-holidays.com|accessdate=2008-08-13}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Spain|Flag of Spain.svg}}
{{Main|Outline of Spain}}
* [[List of Spain-related topics]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note|colwidth=30em}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
* {{citebook|author=Gates, David|title=The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=2001|isbn=0-306-81083-2|pages=20}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
; Government

* [http://www.060.es/ administracion.es] e-government Portal
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-s/spain.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]
* [http://www.casareal.es/index-iden-idweb.html Casa Real.es] Spanish Royal Family
* [http://www.la-moncloa.es/default?idioma=en-GB La Moncloa.es] Prime Minister
* [http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso Congreso de los Diputados] Congress of Deputies
* [http://www.senado.es/home_i.html El Senado] Senate
* [http://www.maec.es/es/home/Paginas/HomeEs.aspx Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores] Ministry of Foreign Affairs
* [http://www.aeat.es/ Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria] Tax Agency
* [http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/um?L=0 INEBase] National Institute of Statistics

; General information

* [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/557573/Spain Spain] from [[Encyclopaedia Britannica]]
* [http://www.economist.com/countries/Spain/ Country Briefing] from the [[The Economist]]
* {{CIA World Factbook link|sp|Spain}}
* [http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/sp/ Spain] from the [[United States Department of State]]
* [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html Country Study] from the U.S. [[Library of Congress]] (December 1988)
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/spain.htm Spain] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Spain}}
* {{wikiatlas|Spain}}
* [http://www.maps.data-spain.com/ Maps] satellite images, relief maps, outlines and themed maps of Spanish autonomous communities, provinces and municipalities

; Travel
* [http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/?Language=en Official Website of Tourism in Spain]
* [http://visiteurope.com/Discover/Countries/Spain Discover Spain on visiteurope.com]
* {{wikitravel}}

; Other

* [http://www.expatica.com/es/main.html Local Spanish news and features]
* [http://www.iberianature.com/ IberiaNature] A guide to the environment, geography, climate, wildlife, natural history and landscape of Spain
* [http://www.proel.org/lenguas.html Languages of Spain]
* [http://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/History_of_Spain:_Primary_Documents History of Spain Primary history documents]
* [http://www.datesofhistory.com/Spain.index.html Dates in Spanish history]
 
{{Geographic Location (8-way)
| Northwest = ''[[Atlantic Ocean]]''
| North = ''[[Celtic Sea]]'' • {{flag|France}} ''[[Bay of Biscay]]''
| Northeast = {{flag|France}} • {{flag|Andorra}}
| West = {{flag|Portugal}}
| Centre = {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Outline of Spain|Spain]]
| East = ''[[Mediterranean Sea]]'' • {{flag|Italy}}
| Southwest = {{flag|Portugal}} ''[[Atlantic Ocean]]''
| South = {{flag|Gibraltar}} • ''[[Mediterranean Sea]]'' {{flag|Morocco}}
| Southeast = ''[[Mediterranean Sea]]'' {{flag|Algeria}}}}
{{Spain topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Countries of Europe}}
{{Countries and territories bordering the Mediterranean Sea}}
{{Monarchies}}
{{Members of the European Union (EU)}}
{{Council of Europe}}
{{WTO}}
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development}}
{{Latin Union}}

[[Category:Spain| ]]
[[Category:European countries]]
[[Category:European Union member states]]
[[Category:Bicontinental countries]]
[[Category:Countries of the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:Countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Spanish-speaking countries]]
[[Category:Constitutional monarchies]]
[[Category:Liberal democracies]]
[[Category:Western Europe]]
[[Category:Member states of the Union for the Mediterranean]]

{{Link FA|ia}}
{{Link FA|ko}}
{{Link FA|mr}}
{{Link FA|nah}}
{{Link FA|tt}}
{{Link FA|vi}}

[[ace:Seupanyo]]
[[af:Spanje]]
[[als:Spanien]]
[[am:እስፓንያ]]
[[ang:Spēonland]]
[[ar:إسبانيا]]
[[an:Espanya]]
[[arc:ܐܣܦܢܝܐ]]
[[roa-rup:Ispania]]
[[frp:Èspagne]]
[[ast:España]]
[[gn:Epaña]]
[[ay:Ispaña]]
[[az:İspaniya]]
[[bn:স্পেন]]
[[zh-min-nan:Se-pan-gâ]]
[[be:Іспанія]]
[[be-x-old:Гішпанія]]
[[bcl:Espanya]]
[[bi:Spain]]
[[bar:Spanien]]
[[bo:ཞི་པན་ཡ།]]
[[bs:Španija]]
[[br:Spagn]]
[[bg:Испания]]
[[ca:Espanya]]
[[cv:Испани]]
[[ceb:Espanya]]
[[cs:Španělsko]]
[[ch:España]]
[[cbk-zam:España]]
[[co:Spagna]]
[[cy:Sbaen]]
[[da:Spanien]]
[[pdc:Schpaani]]
[[de:Spanien]]
[[dv:އިސްޕެއިން]]
[[nv:Dibé Diníí Bikéyah]]
[[dsb:Špańska]]
[[dz:སིཔཱེན་]]
[[et:Hispaania]]
[[el:Ισπανία]]
[[es:España]]
[[eo:Hispanio]]
[[ext:España]]
[[eu:Espainia]]
[[ee:Spain]]
[[fa:اسپانیا]]
[[hif:Spain]]
[[fo:Spania]]
[[fr:Espagne]]
[[fy:Spanje]]
[[fur:Spagne]]
[[ga:An Spáinn]]
[[gv:Yn Spaainey]]
[[gd:An Spàinn]]
[[gl:España]]
[[gan:西班牙]]
[[gu:સ્પેઇન]]
[[got:𐌷𐌴𐌹𐍃𐍀𐌰𐌽𐌾𐌰]]
[[hak:Sî-pân-ngà]]
[[xal:Эспанмудн Орн Нутг]]
[[ko:스페인]]
[[haw:Sepania]]
[[hy:Իսպանիա]]
[[hi:स्पेन]]
[[hsb:Španiska]]
[[hr:Španjolska]]
[[io:Hispania]]
[[ilo:España]]
[[bpy:স্পেন]]
[[id:Spanyol]]
[[ia:Espania]]
[[ie:Hispania]]
[[iu:ᓯᐸᐃᓐ/sipain]]
[[ik:Spaña]]
[[os:Испани]]
[[zu:ISpaniya]]
[[is:Spánn]]
[[it:Spagna]]
[[he:ספרד]]
[[jv:Spanyol]]
[[kl:Spanien]]
[[kn:ಸ್ಪೇನ್]]
[[pam:Espanya]]
[[krc:Испания]]
[[ka:ესპანეთი]]
[[ks:Spēna]]
[[csb:Szpańskô]]
[[kk:Испания]]
[[kw:Spayn]]
[[rw:Esipanye]]
[[ky:Испания]]
[[sw:Hispania]]
[[kv:Испания]]
[[kg:Espania]]
[[ht:Espay]]
[[ku:Spanya]]
[[lad:Espanya]]
[[la:Hispania]]
[[lv:Spānija]]
[[lb:Spuenien]]
[[lt:Ispanija]]
[[lij:Spagna]]
[[li:Spanje]]
[[ln:Espania]]
[[jbo:sangu'e]]
[[lmo:Spagna]]
[[hu:Spanyolország]]
[[mk:Шпанија]]
[[mg:Espaina]]
[[ml:സ്പെയിൻ]]
[[mt:Spanja]]
[[mi:Pāniora]]
[[mr:स्पेन]]
[[arz:اسپانيا]]
[[mzn:ئەسپانون]]
[[ms:Sepanyol]]
[[mwl:Spanha]]
[[mn:Испани]]
[[nah:Caxtillān]]
[[na:Pain]]
[[nl:Spanje]]
[[nds-nl:Spanje]]
[[ne:स्पेन]]
[[new:स्पेन]]
[[ja:スペイン]]
[[nap:Spagna]]
[[ce:Испани]]
[[pih:Spain]]
[[no:Spania]]
[[nn:Spania]]
[[nrm:Espangne]]
[[nov:Spania]]
[[oc:Espanha]]
[[uz:Ispaniya]]
[[pnb:سپین]]
[[pap:Spaña]]
[[ps:اسپانيا]]
[[pcd:Éspaingne]]
[[pms:Spagna]]
[[tpi:Spen]]
[[nds:Spanien]]
[[pl:Hiszpania]]
[[pnt:Ισπανία]]
[[pt:Espanha]]
[[kaa:İspaniya]]
[[crh:İspaniya]]
[[ty:Paniora]]
[[ro:Spania]]
[[rmy:Spaniya]]
[[rm:Spagna]]
[[qu:Ispaña]]
[[ru:Испания]]
[[sah:Испания]]
[[se:Spánia]]
[[sm:Spania]]
[[sa:स्पेन]]
[[sc:Ispagna]]
[[sco:Spain]]
[[stq:Spanien]]
[[st:Spain]]
[[sq:Spanja]]
[[scn:Spagna]]
[[simple:Spain]]
[[ss:Sipeyini]]
[[sk:Španielsko]]
[[cu:Їспані́ꙗ]]
[[sl:Španija]]
[[szl:Szpańijo]]
[[ckb:ئیسپانیا]]
[[sr:Шпанија]]
[[sh:Španija]]
[[fi:Espanja]]
[[sv:Spanien]]
[[tl:Espanya]]
[[ta:எசுப்பானியா]]
[[kab:Spanya]]
[[roa-tara:Spagne]]
[[tt:Испания]]
[[te:స్పెయిన్]]
[[tet:España]]
[[th:ประเทศสเปน]]
[[tg:Испониё]]
[[to:Sepeni]]
[[chr:ᏍᏆᏂ]]
[[tr:İspanya]]
[[udm:Испания]]
[[uk:Іспанія]]
[[ur:ہسپانیہ]]
[[ug:Ispaniye]]
[[za:Sihbanhyaz]]
[[vec:Spagna]]
[[vi:Tây Ban Nha]]
[[vo:Spanyän]]
[[fiu-vro:Hispaania]]
[[zh-classical:西班牙]]
[[vls:Spanje]]
[[war:Espanya]]
[[wo:Ispaañ]]
[[wuu:西班牙]]
[[ts:Spaniya]]
[[yi:שפאניע]]
[[yo:Spéìn]]
[[zh-yue:西班牙]]
[[diq:İspanya]]
[[zea:Spanje]]
[[bat-smg:Ėspanėjė]]
[[zh:西班牙]]

Guinea

2010-04-02T03:50:02Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion */ change context

{{distinguish2|[[Guinea (region)]], [[Equatorial Guinea]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[New Guinea]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Guyana]], [[French Guiana]], or [[Ghana]]}}
{{Otheruses}}
{{pp-move-indef|small=yes}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''République de Guinée''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Guinea
|common_name = Guinea
|image_flag = Flag of Guinea.svg
|image_coat = Guinea-Stemma.png
|image_map = LocationGuinea.svg
|national_motto = ''"Travail, Justice, Solidarité"''{{spaces|2}}([[French language|French]]) "Work, Justice, Solidarity"
|national_anthem = ''[[Liberté]]''{{spaces|2}}(French) "Freedom"
|official_languages = [[French language|French]]
|languages_type = [[Vernacular|Vernacular languages]]
|languages = [[Pular language|Pular]], [[Mandinka language|Mandinka]] and [[Susu language|Susu]]
|demonym = Guinean
|capital = [[Conakry]]
|latd=9 |latm=31 |latNS=N |longd=13 |longm=42 |longEW=W
|largest_city = capital
|government_type = [[Military junta]]
|leader_title1 = [[List of Presidents of Guinea|Acting President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Sékouba Konaté]]
|leader_title2 = [[List of heads of government of Guinea|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Jean-Marie Doré]]
|area_rank = 78th
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|area_km2 = 245,857
|area_sq_mi = 94,926 
|percent_water = negligible
|population_estimate = 10,057,975<ref name=cia>{{cite web |author=Central Intelligence Agency |authorlink=Central Intelligence Agency |publisher=[[The World Factbook]]|title=Guinea |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gv.html |year=2009|accessdate=January 28, 2010}}</ref>
|population_estimate_rank = 81st
|population_estimate_year = July 2009
|population_census = 7,156,406
|population_census_year = 1996
|population_density_km2 = 40.9
|population_density_sq_mi = 106.1 
|population_densty_rank = 164th
|GDP_PPP = $10.422 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=656&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=59&pr.y=18 |title=Guinea|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2009-10-01}}</ref> 
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,014<ref name=imf2/> 
|GDP_nominal = $4.517 billion<ref name=imf2/> 
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $439<ref name=imf2/> 
|sovereignty_type = [[Independence]]
|established_event1 = from [[French Union|France]]¹
|established_date1 = October 2, 1958
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.456
|HDI_rank = 160th
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI_category = low
|Gini = 40.3
|Gini_year = 1994
|Gini_category = medium
|FSI = 101.3 {{increase}} 2.3
|FSI_year = 2007
|FSI_rank = 9th
|FSI_category = Alert
|currency = [[Guinean franc]]
|currency_code = GNF
|country_code =
|time_zone =
|utc_offset = +0
|time_zone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.gn]]
|calling_code = 224
}}

'''Guinea''' ({{pron-en|ˈɡɪni}}, which is officially the '''Republic of Guinea''' {{lang-fr|République de Guinée}}), is a country in [[West Africa]]. Formerly known as [[French Guinea]] (''Guinée française''), it is today sometimes called '''Guinea-Conakry''' to distinguish it from its neighbor [[Guinea-Bissau]].<ref>See, for example, [http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/countries/Guinea-Conakry.html Univ. of Iowa map], [http://www.musicvideos.the-real-africa.com/guinea/ Music Videos of Guinea Conakry – Clips Guineens], [http://netministries.org/see/churches/ch00472 The Anglican Diocese of Guinea – Conakry], [http://www.cfi.fr/partenaires_en.php3?id_rubrique=24&id_article=473 Canal France International's English-language page for Guinea Conakry]</ref> [[Conakry]] is the capital, the seat of the national government, and the largest city.

Guinea has almost {{convert|246000|km2|sqmi|0}}. It forms a crescent by curving from its western border on the [[Atlantic Ocean]] toward the east and the south. Guinea shares its northern border with Guinea-Bissau, [[Senegal]], and [[Mali]]. Guinea shares its southern border with [[Sierra Leone]], [[Liberia]], and [[Côte d'Ivoire]]. The [[Niger River]] arises in Guinea and runs eastward.

Guinea is home to twenty-four ethnic groups. The most prominent groups are the [[Fula people|Fula]], [[Mandinka people|Mandinka]], and [[Susu people|Susu]].

==History==
{{Main|History of Guinea}}
Guinea belonged to a series of empires until [[France]] colonized it in the 1890s, and made it part of [[French West Africa]].<ref name = "HON">{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofnations.net/africa/guinea.html |title=History of Guinea |publisher=Historyofnations.net |date= |accessdate=2010-03-28}}</ref> Guinea declared its independence from France on 2 October 1958.<ref name = "HON"/> Since its independence, Guinea has had autocratic rulers who have made Guinea one of the poorest countries.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Zounmenou
| first = David
| title = Guinea: Hopes for Reform Dashed Again
| publisher = allAfrica.com
| date = 2 January 2009
| url = http://allafrica.com/stories/200901020524.html
| accessdate = 27 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_GIN.html |title=UN Human Development Report 2009 |publisher=Hdrstats.undp.org |date= |accessdate=2010-03-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ross |first=Will |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7647962.stm |title=Africa | Guineans mark '50 years of poverty' |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-10-02 |accessdate=2010-03-28}}</ref>
[[File:22novemberdetail.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Monument to commemorate the 1970 military victory over the Mercenaries invasion]]

===Governments since independence===
{{Main|Politics of Guinea}}

[[Ahmed Sékou Touré]] became President upon Guinea's independence. By violent repression, he ruled until 26 March 1984.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Suleiman
| first = Rashid
| title = African Dictators – Ahmed Sékou Touré: The ‘Father of Coups’
| publisher = PoliticalArticles.Net
| date = 6 October 2008
| url = http://www.politicalarticles.net/blog/2008/10/06/african-dictators-ahmed-sekou-toure-the-father-of-coups/
| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| last = Walker
| first = Peter
| title = Q&A: Guinea
| publisher = guardian.co.uk
| date = 23 December 2008
| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/23/guinea-ahmed-sekou-conte-lansana-toure
| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref> By a ''coup d'état'', [[Lansana Conté]] became the President after Touré. By despotic means, Conté clung to power until his death in 2008. He was unable to improve the desperate economic plight into which Touré had plunged the country.<ref>{{cite web
| last = McGreal
| first = Chris
| title = Lansana Conté profile: Death of an African 'Big Man'
| publisher = guardian.co.uk
| date = 23 December 2008
| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/23/lansana-conte-profile

| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref>

On 23 December 2008, [[Moussa Dadis Camara]] seized control of Guinea as the head of a [[Military junta|junta]].<ref>{{cite web
| last = Walker
| first = Peter
| title = Army steps in after Guinea president Lansana Conté dies
| publisher = guardian.co.uk
| date = 23 December 2008
| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/23/guinea-dictator-lansana-conte-dies
| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref> On 28 September 2009, the junta ordered its soldiers to attack people who had gathered to protest any attempt by Camara to become President.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Guinea massacre toll put at 157
| publisher = BBC
| date = 29 September 2009
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8280603.stm
| accessdate = 23 December 2009 | location=London}}</ref> The soldiers went on a rampage of rape, mutilation, and murder.<ref name = "NYT">{{cite news
| last = MacFarquhar
| first = Neil
| title = U.N. Panel Calls for Court in Guinea Massacre
| publisher = The New York Times
| date = 21 December 2009
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/world/africa/22guinea.html
| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref>

On 3 December 2009, an aide shot Camara during a dispute about the rampage of September 2009. Camara went to Morocco for medical care.<ref name = "NYT"/><ref>{{cite web
| title = Guinean soldiers look for ruler's dangerous rival
| publisher = malaysianews.net
| date = 5 December 2009
| url = http://www.malaysianews.net/story/573838
| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref> Vice-President (and defense minister) [[Sékouba Konaté]] flew back from [[Lebanon]] to run the country in Camara's absence.<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/16/content_12658142.htm Guinea's presidential guard explains assassination motive]. [[Xinhua]]. December 16, 2009.</ref>

On January 12, 2010 Camara was flown from Morocco to [[Burkina Faso]].<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100112/ap_on_re_af/af_burkina_faso_guinea_leader Brahima Ouedraogo, "Guinea leader arrives in Burkina Faso", Associated Press/Yahoo News (Jan 12 2009)]{{dead link|date=March 2010}}</ref> After meeting in [[Ouagadougou]] on January 13 and 14, Camara, Konaté and [[Blaise Compaoré]], President of Burkina Faso, produced a formal statement of twelve principles promising a return of Guinea to civilian rule within six months. It was agreed that the military would not contest the forthcoming elections, and Camara would continue his convalescence outside Guinea.<ref>{{cite web|author=celine says: |url=http://www.newstimeafrica.com/archives/10414 |title="In Full: Declaration Made in Burkina Faso Between Dadis Camara and Sekouba Konate", ''Newstime Africa'' (January 16 2010) |publisher=Newstimeafrica.com |date= |accessdate=2010-03-28}}</ref> On 21 January 2010 the military junta appointed [[Jean-Marie Doré]] as Prime Minister of a six-month transition government, leading up to elections.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE60K1L120100121?type=marketsNews "Guinea junta officially names Dore prime minister"], Reuters, 21 January 2010.</ref>

==Regions and prefectures==
{{Main|Regions of Guinea|Prefectures of Guinea|Sub-prefectures of Guinea}}
[[File:Guinea Regions.png|thumb|250px|Regions of Guinea]]
{{MapLibrary|Guinea_sat.png|Guinea}}

The Republic Guinea covers {{convert|245857|km2|sqmi|0}} of West Africa about [[10th parallel north|10 degrees north]] of the equator. Guinea is divided into four natural regions with distinct human, geographic, and climatic characteristics:

* Maritime Guinea (''La Guinée Maritime'') covers 18% of the country
* Mid-Guinea (''La Moyenne-Guinée'') covers 20% of the country
* Upper-Guinea (''La Haute-Guinée'') covers 38% of the country
* Forested Guinea (''Guinée Forestière'') covers 23% of the country, and is both forested and mountainous

Guinea is divided into seven [[Regions of Guinea|administrative regions]] and subdivided into thirty-three [[Prefectures of Guinea|prefectures]]. The national capital, Conakry, ranks as a special zone.

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Region!!Capital!!Population
|-
|[[Kankan Region]] ||[[Kankan]]||540,427
|-
|[[Kindia Region]] ||[[Kindia]]||520,807
|-
|[[Nzérékoré Region]] ||[[Nzérékoré]]||660,400
|-
|[[Labé Region]] ||[[Labé]]||480,740
|-
|[[Faranah Region]] ||[[Faranah]]||440,500
|-
|[[Mamou Region]]||[[Mamou]]||434,600
|}

*The capital [[Conakry]] with a population of 2,782,630 ranks as a special zone

==Geography==
[[File:GuineaMap.png|thumb|250px|Map of Guinea]]
{{Main|Geography of Guinea}}

At {{convert|94919|sqmi|km2|0}}, Guinea is roughly the size of the [[United Kingdom]] and slightly smaller than the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oregon]]. There are {{convert|200|mi|km|0}} of coastline and a total land border of {{convert|2112|mi|km|0}}. Its neighbours are [[Côte d'Ivoire]] (Ivory Coast), [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[Liberia]], [[Mali]], [[Senegal]] and [[Sierra Leone]].

The country is divided into four main regions: the [[Guinean forest-savanna mosaic|Basse-Coté lowlands]], populated mainly by the Susu ethnic group; the cooler, mountainous [[Fouta Djallon]] that run roughly north-south through the middle of the country, populated by Peuls, the Sahelian Haute-Guinea to the northeast, populated by [[Mandinka people|Malinké]], and the forested jungle regions in the southeast, with several ethnic groups. Guinea's mountains are the source for the Niger, the Gambia, and Senegal Rivers, as well as the numerous rivers flowing to the sea on the west side of the range in Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.

The highest point in Guinea is [[Mont Nimba]] at {{convert|5748|ft|m|0}}. Although the Guinean and Ivorian sides of the [[Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve|Nimba Massif]] are a [[UNESCO]] [[Strict Nature Reserve]], the portion of the so-called [[Guinean Backbone]] continues into [[Liberia]], where it has been mined for decades; the damage is quite evident in the [[Nzérékoré Region]] at {{Coord|7|32|17|N|8|29|50|W|region:GN_type:landmark}}.

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Guinea}}

Guinea has abundant natural resources including 25% or more of the world's known [[bauxite]] reserves. Guinea also has diamonds, gold, and other metals. The country has great potential for [[hydroelectric power]]. Bauxite and [[alumina]] are currently the only major exports. Other industries include processing plants for [[beer]], juices, soft drinks and [[tobacco]]. Agriculture employs 80% of the nation's labor force. Under French rule, and at the beginning of independence, Guinea was a major exporter of [[bananas]], [[pineapples]], [[coffee]], [[peanut]]s, and [[palm oil]].

===Mining===
Richly endowed with minerals, Guinea possesses over 25 billion [[tonne]]s (metric tons) of [[bauxite]] – and perhaps up to one-half of the world's reserves. In addition, Guinea's mineral wealth includes more than 4-billion tonnes of high-grade [[iron ore]], significant [[diamond]] and [[gold]] deposits, and undetermined quantities of [[uranium]]. Guinea has considerable potential for growth in agricultural and fishing sectors. Soil, water, and climatic conditions provide opportunities for large-scale irrigated farming and agro industry. Possibilities for investment and commercial activities exist in all these areas, but Guinea's poorly developed infrastructure and rampant [[Political corruption|corruption]] continue to present obstacles to large-scale investment projects.

Joint venture bauxite mining and alumina operations in northwest Guinea historically provide about 80% of Guinea's [[foreign exchange reserves|foreign exchange]]. The ''[[Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinea]]'' (CBG) is the main player in the bauxite industry. CBG is a joint venture, 49% owned by the Guinean Government and 51% by an international consortium led by [[Alcoa]] and [[Alcan]]. CBG exports about 14 million tonnes of high-grade bauxite annually. The ''Compagnie des Bauxites de Kindia'' (CBK), a joint venture between the Government of Guinea and Russki Alumina, produces some 2.5 million [[tonne]]s annually, nearly all of which is exported to [[Russia]] and [[Eastern Europe]]. [[Dian Dian]], a Guinean/[[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] joint bauxite venture, has a projected production rate of {{convert|1000000|t|ST LT|0|abbr=on|lk=on}} per year, but is not expected to begin operations for several years. The [[Alumina Company of Guinea|''Alumina Compagnie de Guinée'']] (ACG), which took over the former [[Friguia Consortium]], produced about 2.4 million tonnes in 2004 as raw material for its alumina refinery. The refinery exports about 750,000 tonnes of alumina. Both Global Alumina and Alcoa-Alcan have signed conventions with the Government of Guinea to build large alumina refineries with a combined capacity of about 4 million tonnes per year.

Diamonds and gold also are mined and exported on a large scale. AREDOR, a joint diamond-mining venture between the Guinean Government (50%) and an [[Australian]], [[British people|British]], and [[Swiss]] [[consortium]], began production in 1984 and mined diamonds that are 90% gem quality. Production stopped from 1993 until 1996, when [[First City Mining of Canada]] purchased the international portion of the consortium. The bulk of diamonds are mined artisanally. The largest gold mining operation in Guinea is a joint venture between the government and [[Ashanti Gold Fields]] of [[Ghana]]. SMD also has a large gold mining facility in Lero near the Malian border. Other concession agreements have been signed for iron ore, but these projects await preliminary exploration and financing results.

===Problems and reforms===
The Guinean Government adopted policies in the 1990s to return commercial activity to the private sector, promote investment, reduce the role of the state in the economy, and improve the administrative and judicial framework. Guinea has the potential to develop, if the government carries out its announced policy reforms, and if the private sector responds appropriately. So far, corruption and [[favoritism]], lack of long-term political stability, and lack of a transparent budgeting process continue to dampen foreign investor interest in major projects in Guinea.

Reforms since 1985 include eliminating restrictions on agriculture and foreign trade, liquidation of some [[parastatal]]s, the creation of a realistic [[exchange rate]], increased spending on education, and cutting the government bureaucracy. In July 1996, President [[Lansana Conté]] appointed a new government, which promised major economic reforms, including financial and judicial reform, rationalization of public expenditures, and improved government revenue collection. Under 1996 and 1998 [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF)/[[World Bank]] agreements, Guinea continued fiscal reforms and privatization, and shifted governmental expenditures and internal reforms to the education, health, infrastructure, banking, and justice sectors.

The government revised the private investment code in 1998 to stimulate economic activity in the spirit of free enterprise. The code does not discriminate between foreigners and nationals and allows for repatriation of profits. While the code restricts development of Guinea's hydraulic resources to projects in which Guineans have majority shareholdings and management control, it does contain a clause permitting negotiations of more favorable conditions for investors in specific agreements. Foreign investments outside Conakry are entitled to more favorable terms. A national investment commission has been formed to review all investment proposals. Guinea and the [[United States]] have an investment guarantee agreement that offers political risk insurance to American investors through the [[Overseas Private Investment Corporation]] (OPIC). In addition, Guinea has inaugurated an arbitration court system, which allows for the quick resolution of commercial disputes.

Cabinet changes in 1999, which increased corruption, economic mismanagement, and excessive government spending, combined to slow the momentum for economic reform. The informal sector continues to be a major contributor to the economy.

Until June 2001, private operators managed the production, distribution, and fee-collection operations of water and electricity under performance-based contracts with the Government of Guinea. However, the two utilities are plagued by inefficiency and corruption. Foreign private investors in these operations departed the country in frustration.

In 2002, the [[IMF]] suspended Guinea's [[Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility]] (PRGF) because the government failed to meet key performance criteria. In reviews of the PRGF, the World Bank noted that Guinea had met its spending goals in targeted social priority sectors. However, spending in other areas, primarily defense, contributed to a significant fiscal deficit. The loss of IMF funds forced the government to finance its debts through Central Bank advances. The pursuit of unsound economic policies has resulted in imbalances that are proving hard to correct.

Under then-Prime Minister Diallo, the government began a rigorous reform agenda in December 2004 designed to return Guinea to a PRGF with the IMF. Exchange rates have been allowed to float, price controls on gasoline have been loosened, and government spending has been reduced while tax collection has been improved. These reforms have not reduced inflation, which hit 27% in 2004 and 30% in 2005. Currency depreciation is also a concern. The Guinea franc was trading at 2550 to the dollar in January 2005. It hit 5554 to the dollar by October 2006.

Despite the opening in 2005 of a new road connecting Guinea and Mali, most major roadways remain in poor repair, slowing the delivery of goods to local markets. Electricity and water shortages are frequent and sustained, and many businesses are forced to use expensive power generators and fuel to stay open.

Even though there are many problems plaguing Guinea's economy, not all foreign investors are reluctant to come to Guinea. Global Alumina's proposed alumina refinery has a price tag above $2 billion. Alcoa and Alcan are proposing a slightly smaller refinery worth about $1.5 billion. Taken together, they represent the largest private investment in [[sub-Saharan Africa]] since the [[Chad-Cameroon Petroleum Development and Pipeline Project|Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline]]. Also, Hyperdynamics Corporation, an American oil company, signed an agreement in 2006 to develop Guinea's offshore Senegal Basin oil deposits in a 31,000 square mile concession; it is pursuing seismic exploration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hyperdynamics.com/media/HDY-JV-Partner-Opportunity-Brochure-082208.pdf|title=Joint Venture Opportunity Offshore the West Coast of Africa}}Hyperdynamics Corporation (2008)</ref>

On 13 October 2009, Guinean Mines Minister Mahmoud Thiam announced that the [[Chinese International Fund]] would invest more than $7bn (£4.5bn) in infrastructure. In return, he said the firm would be a "strategic partner" in all mining projects in the mineral-rich nation. He said the firm would help build ports, railway lines, power plants, low-cost housing and even a new administrative centre in the capital, [[Conakry]]. However, analysts say that the timing of the deal is likely to stir controversy, as the legitimacy of Guinea's government is under question.<ref>{{cite news|title=Guinea confirms huge China deal|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8304418.stm|date = 2009-10-13|accessdate = 2009-10-13|publisher=[[BBC News Online]] | location=London}}</ref>

===Oil===
Africa's west coast is now ripe for oil development, and Guinea is actively being courted in this endeavor. Hyperdynamics Corporation (Sugarland, TX) and Guinea signed a [[Production sharing agreement]] in 2006, and have been diligently exploring. Many large oil companies claim that this area, which Guinea centers, might be able to supply the United States with nearly 30% of its oil within ten years.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}}

==Transportation==
{{Main|Transport in Guinea}}
{{See|Rail transport in Guinea}}
The [[railway]] which operated from Conakry to [[Kankan]] ceased operating in the mid-1980s {{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}. Domestic air services are intermittent. Most vehicles in Guinea are 20+ years old, and cabs are any four-door vehicle which the owner has designated as being for hire. Locals, nearly entirely without vehicles of their own, rely upon these taxis (which charge per seat) and small buses to take them around town and across the country. There is some river traffic on the Niger and Milo rivers. Horses and donkeys pull carts, primarily to transport construction materials.

Iron mining at [[Simandou]] in the southeast beginning in 2007 and at [[Kalia, Faranah|Kalia]] in the east is likely to result in the construction of a new heavy-duty [[standard gauge]] railway and deepwater port.

==Demography==
{{Main|Demography of Guinea}}
[[File:Guinee Fouta Djalon Doucky.jpg|thumb|Guinean children]]
The population of Guinea is estimated at 10.2 million. Conakry, the capital and largest city, is the hub of Guinea's economy, commerce, education, and culture.

===Languages===

The official language of Guinea is [[French language|French]]. Other significant languages spoken are [[Maninka language|Maninka]] (Malinke), [[Susu language|Susu]], [[Fula language|Pular]] (Fulfulde or Fulani), [[Kissi language|Kissi]], [[Kpelle language|Kpelle]], and [[Loma language|Loma]].

===Ethnicity===
The population of Guinea comprises about 24 ethnic groups. The [[Fula people|Fulani]], also known as Fula or Peul or Peuhl, comprise 40% of the population and are mostly found in the [[Futa Jallon|Futa Jallon region]]. The [[Mandinka people|Mandinka]], also known as Mandingo or Malinké, comprise 30% of the population and are mostly found in eastern Guinea concentrated around the [[Kankan Prefecture|Kankan]] and [[Kissidougou Prefecture|Kissidougou]] prefectures. The [[Soussou]], comprising 20%, are predominantly in western areas around the capital [[Conakry]], [[Forécariah]], and [[Kindia]]. Smaller ethnic groups make up the remaining 10% of the population, including [[Kpelle people|Kpelle]], [[Kissi]], [[Zialo]] and others. Non-Africans total about 10,000 (mostly Lebanese, French, and other Europeans).<ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2824.htm Guinea (08/09)]. U.S. Department of State.</ref>

===Religion===
{{See|Islam in Guinea}}
[[File:Conakrymosque.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Conakry Grand Mosque]] in Guinea, one of the largest mosques in [[West Africa]]]]
[[Islam]] is the majority religion. Approximately 85% of the population is Muslim, while 10% is [[Christianity|Christian]], and 5% holds traditional animist beliefs. Muslims are generally [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]]; there are relatively few [[Shi'a Islam|Shi'a]]. Christian groups include [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]], [[Anglicanism|Anglicans]], [[Baptists]], [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventists]], and other [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] groups. [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] are active in the country and recognized by the Government. There is a small [[Bahá'í Faith|Baha'i]] community. There are small numbers of [[Hinduism|Hindus]], [[Buddhism|Buddhists]], and traditional Chinese religious groups among the [[expatriate]] community.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108372.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2008: Guinea]. United States [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor]] (December 29, 2008). ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [[public domain]].''</ref>

==Military==
{{Main|Military of Guinea}}

The Guinean armed forces are divided into four branches. By far the largest branch of the armed forces, with about 15,000 personnel, the army is mainly responsible for protecting the state borders, the security of administered territories, and defending Guinea's national interests. Air force personnel total about 700. The force's equipment includes several Russian-supplied fighter planes and transports. The navy has about 900 personnel and operates several small [[patrol craft]] and barges. A branch of the Guinean Armed Forces responsible for internal security. Its members are not [[police officers]].

==Healthcare==
Guinea has been reorganizing its health system since the [[Bamako Initiative]] of 1987 formally promoted community-based methods of increasing accessibility of drugs and health care services to the population, in part by implementing user fees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eldis.org/healthsystems/userfees/background.htm |title=User fees for health: a background |publisher= |accessdate=2006-12-28}}</ref> The new strategy dramatically increased accessibility through community-based healthcare (including community ownership and local budgeting), resulting in more efficient and equitable provision of services. A comprehensive strategy was extended to all areas of health care, with subsequent improvement in health indicators and improvement in health care efficiency and cost.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10173105&dopt=Abstract |title=Implementation of the Bamako Initiative: strategies in Benin and Guinea |publisher= |accessdate=2006-12-28}}</ref>
Guinea's public health code is defined by Law No. L/97/021/AN of 19 June 1997 promulgating the Public Health Code. The law provides for the protection and promotion of health and for the rights and duties of the individual, the family, and community throughout the territory of the Republic of Guinea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/idhl-rils/results.cfm?language=english&type=ByCountry&strRefCode=Guin&strTopicCode=IA |title=WHO – International Digest Of Health Legislation – Guinea – IA. Constitutional provisions relating to health, general health codes or public health laws, human rights, and other fundamental provisions |accessdate=2007-09-30 |publisher=World Health Organisation }}</ref>

===HIV/AIDS in Guinea===
The first cases of [[HIV]]/[[AIDS]] were reported in 1986. Though levels of AIDS are significantly lower than in a number of other [[African]] countries, as of 2005, Guinea was considered by the [[World Health Organization]] to face a generalized epidemic.

An estimated 170,000 adults and children were infected at the end of 2004. The spread of the epidemic was attributed to factors such as proximity to high-prevalence countries, a large refugee population, internal displacement and subregional instability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/hiv/HIVCP_GIN.pdf |title=Status of HIV/AIDS in Guinea, 2005 |accessdate=2007-09-30 |year=2005 |format=PDF |publisher=World Health Organisation }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/GlobalAtlas/predefinedReports/EFS2006/EFS_PDFs/EFS2006_GN.pdf |title=Epidemiological Fact Sheets: HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections, December 2006 |accessdate=2007-09-30 |date=2006-12 |format=PDF |publisher=World Health Organisation }}</ref>

==Culture==
{{seealso|List of African writers (by country)#Guinea}}
Like other West African countries, Guinea has a rich musical tradition. The group [[Bembeya Jazz]] became popular in the 1960s after Guinean independence.

===Music===
{{main|Music of Guinea}}

===Sports===
Guinea's main sport is [[association football]] (soccer), and although the [[Guinea national football team|national team]] has never made the [[FIFA World Cup]], it has appeared at eight [[African Nations Cup]] finals; it was runner-up in 1976 and reached the quarter-finals in 2004, 2006 and 2008. [[swimming (sport)|Swimming]] is popular near the capital, Conakry, and [[hiking]] is possible in the [[Fouta Djallon]] region. However, the official national sport is [[Table Tennis]].

==Tourism==
Guinea is a country with a lot of trees and body of water, so a lot of people from the countinent of europe, travel there frequently and sometimes even immigrate. And it tends that many of the the europeans that move in guinea, live close to the beach for sport and great view of waves.

==Violence==
Since its independence in 1958, guinea has had alot of problems with violence. The first president of guinea has done a lot of things that were likelly to be done by a dictator, which he almost was, eventhough Guinea has elections. One of the most non-governmental crimes know, might be the one of Tamba Toundouféndouno, Denka Mansaré, Ibrahima Bangoura and Mohamed Cissé, this mens where accused of armed robbery, killing and many more crimes, they were sentenced to a death penalty, and were exucuted in a inhumman way. Many of the people might had to confess under pressure, they were executed in different locations, but did some time in a prision, in kindia. Almost all of them were born in the 1970's.

==See also==
{{Main|Outline of Guinea|Index of Guinea-related articles}}
*[[List of Guineans]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1032311.stm Country Profile] from [[BBC News]]
*{{CIA World Factbook link|gv|Guinea}}
*[http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/guinea.htm Guinea] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
*{{dmoz|Regional/Africa/Guinea}}
*{{wikiatlas|Guinea}}

; Government
*[http://www.guinee.gov.gn/ Official site of the Guinean government] {{fr icon}}
*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-g/guinea.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]
* [http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/117/article_5279.asp Moussa Dadis Camara speaks to Radio France Internationale after Conakry massacre]

; News media
*[http://aminata.com/ Aminata.com] Online news source concerning Guinea {{fr icon}}
*[http://www.guineenews.org/ Guinéenews] Latest news about Guinea – Updated breaking news about the Republic of Guinea. {{fr icon}}

; Tourism
*{{wikitravel}}

; Other
*[http://www.coraconnection.com/ Cora Connection] West African music resources
*[http://www.guineaconnection.com/ DrumConnection] Representing Traditional Guinean teachings through Drumming, Dance and Song
* [http://www.xpeditions.be/publication/konkoba/konkoba.html Spinning around the source. Slumbering stories in and around Siguiri.] Article by Rachel Laget based on anthropological field research. (www.xpeditions.eu)
*[http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/AFLIT/CountryGuineaEN.html#clien Guinean literature at a glance]
*[http://www.nigercurrents.ca Niger Currents: Exploring life and technology along the Niger River]
*[http://www.africa.it/guinea/mappa.asp Map of Guinea]
{{Template group
|title = Geographic locale
|list =
{{Countries of Africa}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{Member states of the African Union}}
{{South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone}}
{{La Francophonie}}
{{OIC}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = Languages
|list =
{{Niger-Congo-speaking}}
}}
[[Category:Guinea| ]]
[[Category:African countries]]
[[Category:African Union member states]]
[[Category:Countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Economic Community of West African States]]
[[Category:French-speaking countries]]
[[Category:Least Developed Countries]]
[[Category:Member states of La Francophonie]]
[[Category:Organisation of the Islamic Conference members]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1958]]



[[ace:Guinea]]
[[af:Guinee]]
[[als:Guinea]]
[[am:ጊኔ]]
[[ar:غينيا]]
[[an:Guinea]]
[[frp:Guinê]]
[[ast:Guinea]]
[[bm:Gine]]
[[bn:গিনি]]
[[zh-min-nan:Guinée]]
[[be:Гвінея]]
[[be-x-old:Ґвінэя]]
[[bcl:Guineya]]
[[bo:གི་ནེ།]]
[[bs:Gvineja]]
[[br:Ginea]]
[[bg:Гвинея]]
[[ca:República de Guinea]]
[[ceb:Guinea]]
[[cs:Guinea]]
[[cy:Guinée]]
[[da:Guinea]]
[[de:Guinea]]
[[dv:ގީނިއާ]]
[[nv:Gíní]]
[[et:Guinea]]
[[el:Γουινέα]]
[[es:Guinea]]
[[eo:Gvineo]]
[[eu:Ginea]]
[[ee:Guinea]]
[[fa:گینه]]
[[hif:Guinea]]
[[fr:Guinée]]
[[fy:Guinee]]
[[ff:Gine]]
[[ga:An Ghuine]]
[[gv:Yn Ghuinea]]
[[gd:Gini]]
[[gl:Guinea - Guinée]]
[[ko:기니]]
[[ha:Gine]]
[[hy:Գվինեա]]
[[hi:गिनी]]
[[hr:Gvineja]]
[[io:Guinea]]
[[bpy:গিনি]]
[[id:Guinea]]
[[ia:Guinea]]
[[ie:Guinea]]
[[os:Гвиней]]
[[is:Gínea]]
[[it:Guinea]]
[[he:גינאה]]
[[jv:Guinea]]
[[pam:Guinea]]
[[ka:გვინეა]]
[[kk:Гиния]]
[[kw:Gyni]]
[[sw:Guinea]]
[[kg:Ginea]]
[[ht:Gine]]
[[la:Guinea]]
[[lv:Gvineja]]
[[lb:Guinea]]
[[lt:Gvinėja]]
[[lij:Guinea]]
[[li:Guinee]]
[[ln:Gine-Konakry]]
[[lmo:Guinea]]
[[hu:Guinea]]
[[ml:ഗിനി]]
[[mr:गिनी]]
[[ms:Guinea]]
[[mn:Гвиней]]
[[nah:Guinea]]
[[na:Guinea]]
[[nl:Guinee]]
[[ja:ギニア]]
[[pih:Gini]]
[[no:Guinea]]
[[nn:Guinea]]
[[nov:Gini]]
[[oc:Guinèa]]
[[uz:Gvineya]]
[[pms:Guinea]]
[[nds:Guinea]]
[[pl:Gwinea]]
[[pt:Guiné]]
[[crh:Gvineya]]
[[ro:Guineea]]
[[qu:Khiniya]]
[[ru:Гвинея]]
[[sah:Гуинея]]
[[se:Guinea]]
[[sm:Guinea]]
[[sa:गिनी]]
[[sc:Guinea]]
[[stq:Guinea]]
[[sq:Guineja]]
[[scn:Guinia]]
[[simple:Guinea]]
[[sk:Guinea (štát)]]
[[sl:Gvineja]]
[[szl:Gwinyjo]]
[[sr:Гвинеја]]
[[sh:Gvineja]]
[[fi:Guinea]]
[[sv:Guinea]]
[[tl:Guniya]]
[[ta:கினி]]
[[tt:Гвинея]]
[[th:ประเทศกินี]]
[[tg:Гвинея]]
[[tr:Gine]]
[[tk:Gwineýa]]
[[uk:Гвінея]]
[[ur:جمہوریہ گنی]]
[[ug:ۋىنېيە]]
[[vec:Guinea]]
[[vi:Guinée]]
[[vo:Gineyän]]
[[fiu-vro:Ginea]]
[[war:Guinea]]
[[wo:Gine]]
[[ts:Guinea]]
[[yo:Guinea]]
[[diq:Gine]]
[[bat-smg:Gvėniejė]]
[[zh:几内亚]]

Demographics of Serbia

2010-04-01T15:44:45Z

Elbasan101: reflecting international view of contestation of Kosovo

This article is about the [[demographics|demographic]] features of the [[population]] of [[Serbia]], including [[population density]], [[Ethnic group|ethnicity]], education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Serbia is populated mostly by [[Serbs]]. Significant [[minority group|minorities]] include [[Albanians]] (who are a majority in [[Kosovo]]), [[Magyars|Hungarians]], [[Bosniaks]], [[Roma (Romani subgroup)|Roma]], [[Croats]], [[Slovaks]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Romanians]], etc. Serbia consists of three territories: the contested province of [[Kosovo]] (which has declared independence but not recognised by Serbia), the province of [[Vojvodina]] and [[Central Serbia]]. The two provinces are ethnically diverse, which is a result of the division of the country between the [[Muslim]] [[Ottoman Empire]] in the south and [[Catholic]] [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] in the north.

The northern province of [[Vojvodina]] is the most developed part of the country in terms of economic strength. Together with the [[Former Yugoslavia|former Yugoslav republics]] of [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]] and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], Vojvodina was under the administration of [[Austria-Hungary]] before the [[First World War]]. Vojvodina is one of the most ethnically diverse territories in [[Europe]], with more than 25 different national communities.

Hungary has praised Serbia's treatment of minorities, commending the cultural autonomy and use of minority languages in Serbia.<ref>http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=03&dd=13&nav_id=65772</ref>

==Ethnic composition of Serbia (2002 census)==
[[File:Serbia ethnic02.png|right|thumb|Ethnic map of Serbia, based on municipality data]]
Serbia has a mixed population that varies in the three regions, [[Kosovo]], [[Vojvodina]] and [[Central Serbia]]. Serbs are the largest ethnic group in Central Serbia and Vojvodina while they are a minority in Kosovo. In Central Serbia, Serbs represents 89.5 percent of the population, and Bosnian-Serbs are the second largest minority with 2.5 percent, followed by Roma-Serbs and Albanian-Serbs. In Vojvodina, Serbs represent 65 percent of the population while [[Hungarians in Vojvodina|Hungarian-Serbs]] are the second largest ethnic group, representing 14% of provincial population. Kosovo is mainly populated by ethnic Albanians who make up 87 percent of the population. Serbs are the second largest ethnic group in Kosovo with seven percent of the population, while Gorani, Roma, and Turks, represents six percent of the population combined.

{{bar box
|width=300px
|title=Serbia (excluding Kosovo) in 2002
|titlebar=#ddd
|bars=
{{bar percent|Serbs|yellow|82.9}}
{{bar percent|Hungarians|green|3.9}}
{{bar percent|Bosniaks|lightgreen|1.8}}
{{bar percent|Roma|red|1.4}}
{{bar percent|Yugoslavs|blue|1.1}}
{{bar percent|other|gray|8.9}}
}}

{{bar box
|width=300px
|title=Central Serbia in 2002
|titlebar=#ddd
|bars=
{{bar percent|Serbs|yellow|89.5}}
{{bar percent|Bosniaks|lightgreen|2.5}}
{{bar percent|Roma|red|1.4}}
{{bar percent|Albanians|magenta|1.1}}
{{bar percent|other|gray|5.5}}
}}

{{bar box
|width=300px
|title=Vojvodina in 2002
|titlebar=#ddd
|bars=
{{bar percent|Serbs|yellow|65.1}}
{{bar percent|Hungarians|green|14.3}}
{{bar percent|Slovaks|orange|2.8}}
{{bar percent|Croats|teal|2.8}}
{{bar percent|Yugoslavs|blue|2.4}}
{{bar percent|Montenegrins|cyan|1.6}}
{{bar percent|Romanians|purple|1.5}}
{{bar percent|Roma|red|1.4}}
{{bar percent|other|gray|8}}
}}

{{bar box
|width=300px
|title=Kosovo (2000 estimate)
|titlebar=#ddd
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Albanians]]|magenta|87}}
{{bar percent|Serbs|blue|7}}
{{bar percent|Gorani|lightgreen|3}}
{{bar percent|Roma|red|2}}
{{bar percent|Turks|darkred|1}}
}}

==Ethnic composition of Central Serbia and Vojvodina (2002 census)==
[[Image:National costume and dance Csárdás.jpg|thumb|right|[[Hungarians in Vojvodina|Hungarians]] are the second largest ethnic group in [[Vojvodina]] with a population of 290,207.]]

The ethnic composition of [[Central Serbia]] and [[Vojvodina]], according to the 2002 census<ref name="popis2002">{{Sr icon}} {{PDFlink|[http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/axd/Zip/VJN3.pdf Official Results of Serbian Census 2003–Population]|441 [[Kibibyte|KiB]]}}, pp. 12-13</ref>:

{| border=1 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 class="toccolours" style="align: left; margin: 0.5em 0 0 0; border-style: solid; border: 1px solid #7f7f7f; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |
| colspan=2 style="background:#F5F5DC;" align="center" | '''Serbia (excluding Kosovo)'''
| colspan=2 style="background:#F5F5DC;" align="center" | '''[[Central Serbia]]'''
| colspan=2 style="background:#F5F5DC;" align="center" | '''[[Vojvodina]]'''
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" align="center" | Number
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" align="center" | %
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" align="center" | Number
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" align="center" | %
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" align="center" | Number
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" align="center" | %
|-
| style="background:#c1c1c1;" | TOTAL
| style="background:#c1c1c1;" | 7,498,001
| style="background:#c1c1c1;" | 100
| style="background:#c1c1c1;" | 5,466,009
| style="background:#c1c1c1;" | 100
| style="background:#c1c1c1;" | 2,031,992
| style="background:#c1c1c1;" | 100
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Serbs]]
| 6,212,838
| 82.86
| 4,891,031
| 89.48
| 1,321,807
| 65.05
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Montenegrins]]
|69,049
|0.92
|33,536
|0.61
|35,513
|1.75
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Yugoslavs]]
|80,721
|1.08
|30,840
|0.56
|49,881
|2.45
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Albanians]]
|61,647
|0.82
|59,952
|1.1
|1,695
|0.08
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Bosniaks]]
|136,087
|1.82
|135,670
|2.48
|417
|0.02
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Bulgarians]]
|20,497
|0.27
|18,839
|0.34
|1,658
|0.08
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Bunjevci]]
|20,012
|0.27
|246
|0
|19,766
|0.97
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Gorani (Kosovo)|Gorani]]
|4,581
|0.06
|3,975
|0.07
|606
|0.03
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Croats]]
|70,602
|0.94
|14,056
|0.26
|56,546
|2.78
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]]
|25,847
|0.35
|14,062
|0.26
|11,785
|0.58
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Muslims by nationality|Muslims]] (by nationality)
|19,503
|0.26
|15,869
|0.29
|3,634
|0.18
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Roma (Romani subgroup)|Roma]] and [[Sinti]]
|108,193
|1.44
|79,136
|1.45
|29,057
|1.43
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Vlachs of Serbia]]
|40,054
|0.53
|39,953
|0.73
|101
|0
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Romanians of Serbia]]
|34,576
|0.46
|4,157
|0.08
|30,419
|1.5
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Germans]]
|3,901
|0.05
|747
|0.01
|3,154
|0.16
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Ruthenes]]
|15,905
|0.21
|279
|0.01
|15,626
|0.77
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Russians]]
|2,588
|0.03
|1,648
|0.03
|940
|0.05
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Slovaks]]
|59,021
|0.79
|2,384
|0.04
|56,637
|2.79
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Slovenes]]
|5,104
|0.07
|3,099
|0.06
|2,005
|0.1
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Czechs]]
|2,211
|0.03
|563
|0.01
|1,648
|0.08
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Ukrainians]]
|5,354
|0.07
|719
|0.01
|4,635
|0.23
|->
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | [[Hungarians]]
|293,299
|3.91
|3,092
|0.06
|290,207
|14.28
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | Others (i.e. [[Armenians]], Serbian [[Jews]], [[Greeks]], [[Turkish people|Turks]] and [[Egyptians (Balkans)|Egyptians]]).
|11,711
|0.16
|6,400
|0.12
|5,311
|0.26
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | Unspecified
|107,732
|1.44
|52,716
|0.97
|55,016
|2.71
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" | Unknown
|75,483
|1.01
|51,709
|0.95
|23,774
|1.17
|}

== Demographic statistics ==
The following demographic statistics are from the [[CIA World Factbook]], unless otherwise indicated.

===Population===
10,159,046 (2008 est.)

===Median age===
*total: 37.5 years
**male: 36.1 years
**female: 39 years

===Life expectancy at birth===
*''total population:'' 75.3 years
**''male:'' 72.7 years
**''female:'' 78 years (2008 est.)

===Total fertility rate===
1.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)

===Nationality===
*''noun:'' [[Serbs|Serb]](s)
*''adjective:'' Serbian

===Religions===
(2002 census)
*[[Eastern Orthodox]] — 84.1%
*[[Muslim]] — 4.82%
*[[Roman Catholic]] — 6.24%
*[[Protestant]] — 1.44%

===Languages===
*Official: [[Serbian Language|Serbian]] (official nationwide)
*[[Vojvodina]]: [[Serbian Language|Serbian]], [[Romanian Language|Romanian]], [[Hungarian Language|Hungarian]], [[Slovak Language|Slovak]], [[Rusyn language|Rusyn]], and [[Croatian Language|Croatian]]
*[[Kosovo]]: [[Serbian Language|Serbian]], [[Albanian Language|Albanian]]

===Literacy===
(includes data for [[Montenegro]])

''definition:'' age 15 and over can read and write
*''total population:'' 96.4%
**''male:'' 98.9%
**''female:'' 94.1% (2002 est.)

== Number of liveborn children and deaths in Serbia (excluding Kosovo) ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!
! Births
! Deaths
! Birth rate
! Death rate
|-
| 1998
| align="right" | 76,330
| align="right" | 99,376
| align="right" | 10.09
| align="right" | 13.13
|-
| 1999
| align="right" | 72,222
| align="right" | 101,444
| align="right" | 9.58
| align="right" | 13.45
|-
| 2000
| align="right" | 73,764
| align="right" | 104,042
| align="right" | 9.81
| align="right" | 13.84
|-
| 2001
| align="right" | 78,435
| align="right" | 99,008
| align="right" | 10.45
| align="right" | 13.20
|-
| 2002
| align="right" | 78,101
| align="right" | 102,785
| align="right" | 10.41
| align="right" | 13.70
|-
| 2003
| align="right" | 79,025
| align="right" | 103,946
| align="right" | 10.56
| align="right" | 13.90
|-
| 2004
| align="right" | 78,186
| align="right" | 104,320
| align="right" | 10.48
| align="right" | 13.98
|-
| 2005
| align="right" | 72,180
| align="right" | 106,771
| align="right" | 9.74
| align="right" | 14.41
|-
| 2006
| align="right" | 70,997
| align="right" | 102,884
| align="right" | 9.58
| align="right" | 13.88
|-
| 2007
| align="right" | 67,483
| align="right" | 102,805
| align="right" | 9.17
| align="right" | 13.93
|-
| 2008
| align="right" | 69,083
| align="right" | 102,711
| align="right" | 9.42
| align="right" | 14.00
|}

==See also==
* [[Demographic history of Serbia]]
* [[Demographic history of Vojvodina]]
* [[Demographic history of Kosovo]]
* [[Ethnic groups of Vojvodina]]
* [[Jews in Serbia]]

==References==
<references/>
*{{cite journal
|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia
|title=Final results of the Census 2002
|url=http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/zip/esn31.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-07-25
|issn=0353-9555
|journal=Communication
|volume=295
|date=2002-12-24
}}
*{{cite book
|author=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia
|title=Србија у бројкама 2003.
|url=http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/Pod/srb2003s.pdf
|format=PDF
|accessdate=2007-07-25
|year=2003
|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia
|location=Belgrade
|language=Serbian
}}

{{Ethnic groups in Serbia}}
{{Demographics of Europe}}

[[Category:Serbian society]]
[[Category:Demographics by country|Serbia]]
[[Category:Demographics of Serbia| ]]

[[bg:Население на Сърбия]]
[[cs:Obyvatelstvo Srbska]]
[[es:Demografía de Serbia]]
[[fr:Démographie de la Serbie]]
[[gl:Demografía de Serbia]]
[[hr:Stanovništvo Srbije]]
[[it:Demografia della Serbia]]
[[lt:Serbijos demografija]]
[[pt:Demografia da Sérvia]]
[[ro:Demografia Serbiei]]
[[ru:Население Сербии]]
[[sq:Demografia e Serbisë]]
[[sr:Демографија Србије]]

Guinea

2010-04-01T12:07:57Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion */ no sourcing to back claims

{{distinguish2|[[Guinea (region)]], [[Equatorial Guinea]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[New Guinea]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Guyana]], [[French Guiana]], or [[Ghana]]}}
{{Otheruses}}
{{pp-move-indef|small=yes}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''République de Guinée''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Guinea
|common_name = Guinea
|image_flag = Flag of Guinea.svg
|image_coat = Guinea-Stemma.png
|image_map = LocationGuinea.svg
|national_motto = ''"Travail, Justice, Solidarité"''{{spaces|2}}([[French language|French]]) "Work, Justice, Solidarity"
|national_anthem = ''[[Liberté]]''{{spaces|2}}(French) "Freedom"
|official_languages = [[French language|French]]
|languages_type = [[Vernacular|Vernacular languages]]
|languages = [[Pular language|Pular]], [[Mandinka language|Mandinka]] and [[Susu language|Susu]]
|demonym = Guinean
|capital = [[Conakry]]
|latd=9 |latm=31 |latNS=N |longd=13 |longm=42 |longEW=W
|largest_city = capital
|government_type = [[Military junta]]
|leader_title1 = [[List of Presidents of Guinea|Acting President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Sékouba Konaté]]
|leader_title2 = [[List of heads of government of Guinea|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Jean-Marie Doré]]
|area_rank = 78th
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|area_km2 = 245,857
|area_sq_mi = 94,926 
|percent_water = negligible
|population_estimate = 10,057,975<ref name=cia>{{cite web |author=Central Intelligence Agency |authorlink=Central Intelligence Agency |publisher=[[The World Factbook]]|title=Guinea |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gv.html |year=2009|accessdate=January 28, 2010}}</ref>
|population_estimate_rank = 81st
|population_estimate_year = July 2009
|population_census = 7,156,406
|population_census_year = 1996
|population_density_km2 = 40.9
|population_density_sq_mi = 106.1 
|population_densty_rank = 164th
|GDP_PPP = $10.422 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=656&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=59&pr.y=18 |title=Guinea|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2009-10-01}}</ref> 
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,014<ref name=imf2/> 
|GDP_nominal = $4.517 billion<ref name=imf2/> 
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $439<ref name=imf2/> 
|sovereignty_type = [[Independence]]
|established_event1 = from [[French Union|France]]¹
|established_date1 = October 2, 1958
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.456
|HDI_rank = 160th
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI_category = low
|Gini = 40.3
|Gini_year = 1994
|Gini_category = medium
|FSI = 101.3 {{increase}} 2.3
|FSI_year = 2007
|FSI_rank = 9th
|FSI_category = Alert
|currency = [[Guinean franc]]
|currency_code = GNF
|country_code =
|time_zone =
|utc_offset = +0
|time_zone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.gn]]
|calling_code = 224
}}

'''Guinea''' ({{pron-en|ˈɡɪni}}, which is officially the '''Republic of Guinea''' {{lang-fr|République de Guinée}}), is a country in [[West Africa]]. Formerly known as [[French Guinea]] (''Guinée française''), it is today sometimes called '''Guinea-Conakry''' to distinguish it from its neighbor [[Guinea-Bissau]].<ref>See, for example, [http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/countries/Guinea-Conakry.html Univ. of Iowa map], [http://www.musicvideos.the-real-africa.com/guinea/ Music Videos of Guinea Conakry – Clips Guineens], [http://netministries.org/see/churches/ch00472 The Anglican Diocese of Guinea – Conakry], [http://www.cfi.fr/partenaires_en.php3?id_rubrique=24&id_article=473 Canal France International's English-language page for Guinea Conakry]</ref> [[Conakry]] is the capital, the seat of the national government, and the largest city.

Guinea has almost {{convert|246000|km2|sqmi|0}}. It forms a crescent by curving from its western border on the [[Atlantic Ocean]] toward the east and the south. Guinea shares its northern border with Guinea-Bissau, [[Senegal]], and [[Mali]]. Guinea shares its southern border with [[Sierra Leone]], [[Liberia]], and [[Côte d'Ivoire]]. The [[Niger River]] arises in Guinea and runs eastward.

Guinea is home to twenty-four ethnic groups. The most prominent groups are the [[Fula people|Fula]], [[Mandinka people|Mandinka]], and [[Susu people|Susu]].

==History==
{{Main|History of Guinea}}
Guinea belonged to a series of empires until [[France]] colonized it in the 1890s, and made it part of [[French West Africa]].<ref name = "HON">{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofnations.net/africa/guinea.html |title=History of Guinea |publisher=Historyofnations.net |date= |accessdate=2010-03-28}}</ref> Guinea declared its independence from France on 2 October 1958.<ref name = "HON"/> Since its independence, Guinea has had autocratic rulers who have made Guinea one of the poorest countries.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Zounmenou
| first = David
| title = Guinea: Hopes for Reform Dashed Again
| publisher = allAfrica.com
| date = 2 January 2009
| url = http://allafrica.com/stories/200901020524.html
| accessdate = 27 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_GIN.html |title=UN Human Development Report 2009 |publisher=Hdrstats.undp.org |date= |accessdate=2010-03-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ross |first=Will |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7647962.stm |title=Africa | Guineans mark '50 years of poverty' |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-10-02 |accessdate=2010-03-28}}</ref>
[[File:22novemberdetail.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Monument to commemorate the 1970 military victory over the Mercenaries invasion]]

===Governments since independence===
{{Main|Politics of Guinea}}

[[Ahmed Sékou Touré]] became President upon Guinea's independence. By violent repression, he ruled until 26 March 1984.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Suleiman
| first = Rashid
| title = African Dictators – Ahmed Sékou Touré: The ‘Father of Coups’
| publisher = PoliticalArticles.Net
| date = 6 October 2008
| url = http://www.politicalarticles.net/blog/2008/10/06/african-dictators-ahmed-sekou-toure-the-father-of-coups/
| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| last = Walker
| first = Peter
| title = Q&A: Guinea
| publisher = guardian.co.uk
| date = 23 December 2008
| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/23/guinea-ahmed-sekou-conte-lansana-toure
| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref> By a ''coup d'état'', [[Lansana Conté]] became the President after Touré. By despotic means, Conté clung to power until his death in 2008. He was unable to improve the desperate economic plight into which Touré had plunged the country.<ref>{{cite web
| last = McGreal
| first = Chris
| title = Lansana Conté profile: Death of an African 'Big Man'
| publisher = guardian.co.uk
| date = 23 December 2008
| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/23/lansana-conte-profile

| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref>

On 23 December 2008, [[Moussa Dadis Camara]] seized control of Guinea as the head of a [[Military junta|junta]].<ref>{{cite web
| last = Walker
| first = Peter
| title = Army steps in after Guinea president Lansana Conté dies
| publisher = guardian.co.uk
| date = 23 December 2008
| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/23/guinea-dictator-lansana-conte-dies
| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref> On 28 September 2009, the junta ordered its soldiers to attack people who had gathered to protest any attempt by Camara to become President.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Guinea massacre toll put at 157
| publisher = BBC
| date = 29 September 2009
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8280603.stm
| accessdate = 23 December 2009 | location=London}}</ref> The soldiers went on a rampage of rape, mutilation, and murder.<ref name = "NYT">{{cite news
| last = MacFarquhar
| first = Neil
| title = U.N. Panel Calls for Court in Guinea Massacre
| publisher = The New York Times
| date = 21 December 2009
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/world/africa/22guinea.html
| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref>

On 3 December 2009, an aide shot Camara during a dispute about the rampage of September 2009. Camara went to Morocco for medical care.<ref name = "NYT"/><ref>{{cite web
| title = Guinean soldiers look for ruler's dangerous rival
| publisher = malaysianews.net
| date = 5 December 2009
| url = http://www.malaysianews.net/story/573838
| accessdate = 23 December 2009}}</ref> Vice-President (and defense minister) [[Sékouba Konaté]] flew back from [[Lebanon]] to run the country in Camara's absence.<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/16/content_12658142.htm Guinea's presidential guard explains assassination motive]. [[Xinhua]]. December 16, 2009.</ref>

On January 12, 2010 Camara was flown from Morocco to [[Burkina Faso]].<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100112/ap_on_re_af/af_burkina_faso_guinea_leader Brahima Ouedraogo, "Guinea leader arrives in Burkina Faso", Associated Press/Yahoo News (Jan 12 2009)]{{dead link|date=March 2010}}</ref> After meeting in [[Ouagadougou]] on January 13 and 14, Camara, Konaté and [[Blaise Compaoré]], President of Burkina Faso, produced a formal statement of twelve principles promising a return of Guinea to civilian rule within six months. It was agreed that the military would not contest the forthcoming elections, and Camara would continue his convalescence outside Guinea.<ref>{{cite web|author=celine says: |url=http://www.newstimeafrica.com/archives/10414 |title="In Full: Declaration Made in Burkina Faso Between Dadis Camara and Sekouba Konate", ''Newstime Africa'' (January 16 2010) |publisher=Newstimeafrica.com |date= |accessdate=2010-03-28}}</ref> On 21 January 2010 the military junta appointed [[Jean-Marie Doré]] as Prime Minister of a six-month transition government, leading up to elections.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE60K1L120100121?type=marketsNews "Guinea junta officially names Dore prime minister"], Reuters, 21 January 2010.</ref>

==Regions and prefectures==
{{Main|Regions of Guinea|Prefectures of Guinea|Sub-prefectures of Guinea}}
[[File:Guinea Regions.png|thumb|250px|Regions of Guinea]]
{{MapLibrary|Guinea_sat.png|Guinea}}

The Republic Guinea covers {{convert|245857|km2|sqmi|0}} of West Africa about [[10th parallel north|10 degrees north]] of the equator. Guinea is divided into four natural regions with distinct human, geographic, and climatic characteristics:

* Maritime Guinea (''La Guinée Maritime'') covers 18% of the country
* Mid-Guinea (''La Moyenne-Guinée'') covers 20% of the country
* Upper-Guinea (''La Haute-Guinée'') covers 38% of the country
* Forested Guinea (''Guinée Forestière'') covers 23% of the country, and is both forested and mountainous

Guinea is divided into seven [[Regions of Guinea|administrative regions]] and subdivided into thirty-three [[Prefectures of Guinea|prefectures]]. The national capital, Conakry, ranks as a special zone.

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Region!!Capital!!Population
|-
|[[Kankan Region]] ||[[Kankan]]||540,427
|-
|[[Kindia Region]] ||[[Kindia]]||520,807
|-
|[[Nzérékoré Region]] ||[[Nzérékoré]]||660,400
|-
|[[Labé Region]] ||[[Labé]]||480,740
|-
|[[Faranah Region]] ||[[Faranah]]||440,500
|-
|[[Mamou Region]]||[[Mamou]]||434,600
|}

*The capital [[Conakry]] with a population of 2,782,630 ranks as a special zone

==Geography==
[[File:GuineaMap.png|thumb|250px|Map of Guinea]]
{{Main|Geography of Guinea}}

At {{convert|94919|sqmi|km2|0}}, Guinea is roughly the size of the [[United Kingdom]] and slightly smaller than the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oregon]]. There are {{convert|200|mi|km|0}} of coastline and a total land border of {{convert|2112|mi|km|0}}. Its neighbours are [[Côte d'Ivoire]] (Ivory Coast), [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[Liberia]], [[Mali]], [[Senegal]] and [[Sierra Leone]].

The country is divided into four main regions: the [[Guinean forest-savanna mosaic|Basse-Coté lowlands]], populated mainly by the Susu ethnic group; the cooler, mountainous [[Fouta Djallon]] that run roughly north-south through the middle of the country, populated by Peuls, the Sahelian Haute-Guinea to the northeast, populated by [[Mandinka people|Malinké]], and the forested jungle regions in the southeast, with several ethnic groups. Guinea's mountains are the source for the Niger, the Gambia, and Senegal Rivers, as well as the numerous rivers flowing to the sea on the west side of the range in Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.

The highest point in Guinea is [[Mont Nimba]] at {{convert|5748|ft|m|0}}. Although the Guinean and Ivorian sides of the [[Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve|Nimba Massif]] are a [[UNESCO]] [[Strict Nature Reserve]], the portion of the so-called [[Guinean Backbone]] continues into [[Liberia]], where it has been mined for decades; the damage is quite evident in the [[Nzérékoré Region]] at {{Coord|7|32|17|N|8|29|50|W|region:GN_type:landmark}}.

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Guinea}}

Guinea has abundant natural resources including 25% or more of the world's known [[bauxite]] reserves. Guinea also has diamonds, gold, and other metals. The country has great potential for [[hydroelectric power]]. Bauxite and [[alumina]] are currently the only major exports. Other industries include processing plants for [[beer]], juices, soft drinks and [[tobacco]]. Agriculture employs 80% of the nation's labor force. Under French rule, and at the beginning of independence, Guinea was a major exporter of [[bananas]], [[pineapples]], [[coffee]], [[peanut]]s, and [[palm oil]].

===Mining===
Richly endowed with minerals, Guinea possesses over 25 billion [[tonne]]s (metric tons) of [[bauxite]] – and perhaps up to one-half of the world's reserves. In addition, Guinea's mineral wealth includes more than 4-billion tonnes of high-grade [[iron ore]], significant [[diamond]] and [[gold]] deposits, and undetermined quantities of [[uranium]]. Guinea has considerable potential for growth in agricultural and fishing sectors. Soil, water, and climatic conditions provide opportunities for large-scale irrigated farming and agro industry. Possibilities for investment and commercial activities exist in all these areas, but Guinea's poorly developed infrastructure and rampant [[Political corruption|corruption]] continue to present obstacles to large-scale investment projects.

Joint venture bauxite mining and alumina operations in northwest Guinea historically provide about 80% of Guinea's [[foreign exchange reserves|foreign exchange]]. The ''[[Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinea]]'' (CBG) is the main player in the bauxite industry. CBG is a joint venture, 49% owned by the Guinean Government and 51% by an international consortium led by [[Alcoa]] and [[Alcan]]. CBG exports about 14 million tonnes of high-grade bauxite annually. The ''Compagnie des Bauxites de Kindia'' (CBK), a joint venture between the Government of Guinea and Russki Alumina, produces some 2.5 million [[tonne]]s annually, nearly all of which is exported to [[Russia]] and [[Eastern Europe]]. [[Dian Dian]], a Guinean/[[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] joint bauxite venture, has a projected production rate of {{convert|1000000|t|ST LT|0|abbr=on|lk=on}} per year, but is not expected to begin operations for several years. The [[Alumina Company of Guinea|''Alumina Compagnie de Guinée'']] (ACG), which took over the former [[Friguia Consortium]], produced about 2.4 million tonnes in 2004 as raw material for its alumina refinery. The refinery exports about 750,000 tonnes of alumina. Both Global Alumina and Alcoa-Alcan have signed conventions with the Government of Guinea to build large alumina refineries with a combined capacity of about 4 million tonnes per year.

Diamonds and gold also are mined and exported on a large scale. AREDOR, a joint diamond-mining venture between the Guinean Government (50%) and an [[Australian]], [[British people|British]], and [[Swiss]] [[consortium]], began production in 1984 and mined diamonds that are 90% gem quality. Production stopped from 1993 until 1996, when [[First City Mining of Canada]] purchased the international portion of the consortium. The bulk of diamonds are mined artisanally. The largest gold mining operation in Guinea is a joint venture between the government and [[Ashanti Gold Fields]] of [[Ghana]]. SMD also has a large gold mining facility in Lero near the Malian border. Other concession agreements have been signed for iron ore, but these projects await preliminary exploration and financing results.

===Problems and reforms===
The Guinean Government adopted policies in the 1990s to return commercial activity to the private sector, promote investment, reduce the role of the state in the economy, and improve the administrative and judicial framework. Guinea has the potential to develop, if the government carries out its announced policy reforms, and if the private sector responds appropriately. So far, corruption and [[favoritism]], lack of long-term political stability, and lack of a transparent budgeting process continue to dampen foreign investor interest in major projects in Guinea.

Reforms since 1985 include eliminating restrictions on agriculture and foreign trade, liquidation of some [[parastatal]]s, the creation of a realistic [[exchange rate]], increased spending on education, and cutting the government bureaucracy. In July 1996, President [[Lansana Conté]] appointed a new government, which promised major economic reforms, including financial and judicial reform, rationalization of public expenditures, and improved government revenue collection. Under 1996 and 1998 [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF)/[[World Bank]] agreements, Guinea continued fiscal reforms and privatization, and shifted governmental expenditures and internal reforms to the education, health, infrastructure, banking, and justice sectors.

The government revised the private investment code in 1998 to stimulate economic activity in the spirit of free enterprise. The code does not discriminate between foreigners and nationals and allows for repatriation of profits. While the code restricts development of Guinea's hydraulic resources to projects in which Guineans have majority shareholdings and management control, it does contain a clause permitting negotiations of more favorable conditions for investors in specific agreements. Foreign investments outside Conakry are entitled to more favorable terms. A national investment commission has been formed to review all investment proposals. Guinea and the [[United States]] have an investment guarantee agreement that offers political risk insurance to American investors through the [[Overseas Private Investment Corporation]] (OPIC). In addition, Guinea has inaugurated an arbitration court system, which allows for the quick resolution of commercial disputes.

Cabinet changes in 1999, which increased corruption, economic mismanagement, and excessive government spending, combined to slow the momentum for economic reform. The informal sector continues to be a major contributor to the economy.

Until June 2001, private operators managed the production, distribution, and fee-collection operations of water and electricity under performance-based contracts with the Government of Guinea. However, the two utilities are plagued by inefficiency and corruption. Foreign private investors in these operations departed the country in frustration.

In 2002, the [[IMF]] suspended Guinea's [[Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility]] (PRGF) because the government failed to meet key performance criteria. In reviews of the PRGF, the World Bank noted that Guinea had met its spending goals in targeted social priority sectors. However, spending in other areas, primarily defense, contributed to a significant fiscal deficit. The loss of IMF funds forced the government to finance its debts through Central Bank advances. The pursuit of unsound economic policies has resulted in imbalances that are proving hard to correct.

Under then-Prime Minister Diallo, the government began a rigorous reform agenda in December 2004 designed to return Guinea to a PRGF with the IMF. Exchange rates have been allowed to float, price controls on gasoline have been loosened, and government spending has been reduced while tax collection has been improved. These reforms have not reduced inflation, which hit 27% in 2004 and 30% in 2005. Currency depreciation is also a concern. The Guinea franc was trading at 2550 to the dollar in January 2005. It hit 5554 to the dollar by October 2006.

Despite the opening in 2005 of a new road connecting Guinea and Mali, most major roadways remain in poor repair, slowing the delivery of goods to local markets. Electricity and water shortages are frequent and sustained, and many businesses are forced to use expensive power generators and fuel to stay open.

Even though there are many problems plaguing Guinea's economy, not all foreign investors are reluctant to come to Guinea. Global Alumina's proposed alumina refinery has a price tag above $2 billion. Alcoa and Alcan are proposing a slightly smaller refinery worth about $1.5 billion. Taken together, they represent the largest private investment in [[sub-Saharan Africa]] since the [[Chad-Cameroon Petroleum Development and Pipeline Project|Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline]]. Also, Hyperdynamics Corporation, an American oil company, signed an agreement in 2006 to develop Guinea's offshore Senegal Basin oil deposits in a 31,000 square mile concession; it is pursuing seismic exploration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hyperdynamics.com/media/HDY-JV-Partner-Opportunity-Brochure-082208.pdf|title=Joint Venture Opportunity Offshore the West Coast of Africa}}Hyperdynamics Corporation (2008)</ref>

On 13 October 2009, Guinean Mines Minister Mahmoud Thiam announced that the [[Chinese International Fund]] would invest more than $7bn (£4.5bn) in infrastructure. In return, he said the firm would be a "strategic partner" in all mining projects in the mineral-rich nation. He said the firm would help build ports, railway lines, power plants, low-cost housing and even a new administrative centre in the capital, [[Conakry]]. However, analysts say that the timing of the deal is likely to stir controversy, as the legitimacy of Guinea's government is under question.<ref>{{cite news|title=Guinea confirms huge China deal|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8304418.stm|date = 2009-10-13|accessdate = 2009-10-13|publisher=[[BBC News Online]] | location=London}}</ref>

===Oil===
Africa's west coast is now ripe for oil development, and Guinea is actively being courted in this endeavor. Hyperdynamics Corporation (Sugarland, TX) and Guinea signed a [[Production sharing agreement]] in 2006, and have been diligently exploring. Many large oil companies claim that this area, which Guinea centers, might be able to supply the United States with nearly 30% of its oil within ten years.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}}

==Transportation==
{{Main|Transport in Guinea}}
{{See|Rail transport in Guinea}}
The [[railway]] which operated from Conakry to [[Kankan]] ceased operating in the mid-1980s {{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}. Domestic air services are intermittent. Most vehicles in Guinea are 20+ years old, and cabs are any four-door vehicle which the owner has designated as being for hire. Locals, nearly entirely without vehicles of their own, rely upon these taxis (which charge per seat) and small buses to take them around town and across the country. There is some river traffic on the Niger and Milo rivers. Horses and donkeys pull carts, primarily to transport construction materials.

Iron mining at [[Simandou]] in the southeast beginning in 2007 and at [[Kalia, Faranah|Kalia]] in the east is likely to result in the construction of a new heavy-duty [[standard gauge]] railway and deepwater port.

==Demography==
{{Main|Demography of Guinea}}
[[File:Guinee Fouta Djalon Doucky.jpg|thumb|Guinean children]]
The population of Guinea is estimated at 10.2 million. Conakry, the capital and largest city, is the hub of Guinea's economy, commerce, education, and culture.

===Languages===

The official language of Guinea is [[French language|French]]. Other significant languages spoken are [[Maninka language|Maninka]] (Malinke), [[Susu language|Susu]], [[Fula language|Pular]] (Fulfulde or Fulani), [[Kissi language|Kissi]], [[Kpelle language|Kpelle]], and [[Loma language|Loma]].

===Ethnicity===
The population of Guinea comprises about 24 ethnic groups. The [[Fula people|Fulani]], also known as Fula or Peul or Peuhl, comprise 40% of the population and are mostly found in the [[Futa Jallon|Futa Jallon region]]. The [[Mandinka people|Mandinka]], also known as Mandingo or Malinké, comprise 30% of the population and are mostly found in eastern Guinea concentrated around the [[Kankan Prefecture|Kankan]] and [[Kissidougou Prefecture|Kissidougou]] prefectures. The [[Soussou]], comprising 20%, are predominantly in western areas around the capital [[Conakry]], [[Forécariah]], and [[Kindia]]. Smaller ethnic groups make up the remaining 10% of the population, including [[Kpelle people|Kpelle]], [[Kissi]], [[Zialo]] and others. Non-Africans total about 10,000 (mostly Lebanese, French, and other Europeans).<ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2824.htm Guinea (08/09)]. U.S. Department of State.</ref>

===Religion===
{{See|Islam in Guinea}}
[[File:Conakrymosque.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Conakry Grand Mosque]] in Guinea, one of the largest mosques in [[West Africa]]]]
[[Islam]] is the dominant religion. Approximately 85% of the population is Muslim, while 10% is [[Christianity|Christian]], and 5% holds traditional animist beliefs. Muslims are generally [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]]; there are relatively few [[Shi'a Islam|Shi'a]]. Christian groups include [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]], [[Anglicanism|Anglicans]], [[Baptists]], [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventists]], and other [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] groups. [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] are active in the country and recognized by the Government. There is a small [[Bahá'í Faith|Baha'i]] community. There are small numbers of [[Hinduism|Hindus]], [[Buddhism|Buddhists]], and traditional Chinese religious groups among the [[expatriate]] community.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108372.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2008: Guinea]. United States [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor]] (December 29, 2008). ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [[public domain]].''</ref>

==Military==
{{Main|Military of Guinea}}

The Guinean armed forces are divided into four branches. By far the largest branch of the armed forces, with about 15,000 personnel, the army is mainly responsible for protecting the state borders, the security of administered territories, and defending Guinea's national interests. Air force personnel total about 700. The force's equipment includes several Russian-supplied fighter planes and transports. The navy has about 900 personnel and operates several small [[patrol craft]] and barges. A branch of the Guinean Armed Forces responsible for internal security. Its members are not [[police officers]].

==Healthcare==
Guinea has been reorganizing its health system since the [[Bamako Initiative]] of 1987 formally promoted community-based methods of increasing accessibility of drugs and health care services to the population, in part by implementing user fees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eldis.org/healthsystems/userfees/background.htm |title=User fees for health: a background |publisher= |accessdate=2006-12-28}}</ref> The new strategy dramatically increased accessibility through community-based healthcare (including community ownership and local budgeting), resulting in more efficient and equitable provision of services. A comprehensive strategy was extended to all areas of health care, with subsequent improvement in health indicators and improvement in health care efficiency and cost.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10173105&dopt=Abstract |title=Implementation of the Bamako Initiative: strategies in Benin and Guinea |publisher= |accessdate=2006-12-28}}</ref>
Guinea's public health code is defined by Law No. L/97/021/AN of 19 June 1997 promulgating the Public Health Code. The law provides for the protection and promotion of health and for the rights and duties of the individual, the family, and community throughout the territory of the Republic of Guinea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/idhl-rils/results.cfm?language=english&type=ByCountry&strRefCode=Guin&strTopicCode=IA |title=WHO – International Digest Of Health Legislation – Guinea – IA. Constitutional provisions relating to health, general health codes or public health laws, human rights, and other fundamental provisions |accessdate=2007-09-30 |publisher=World Health Organisation }}</ref>

===HIV/AIDS in Guinea===
The first cases of [[HIV]]/[[AIDS]] were reported in 1986. Though levels of AIDS are significantly lower than in a number of other [[African]] countries, as of 2005, Guinea was considered by the [[World Health Organization]] to face a generalized epidemic.

An estimated 170,000 adults and children were infected at the end of 2004. The spread of the epidemic was attributed to factors such as proximity to high-prevalence countries, a large refugee population, internal displacement and subregional instability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/hiv/HIVCP_GIN.pdf |title=Status of HIV/AIDS in Guinea, 2005 |accessdate=2007-09-30 |year=2005 |format=PDF |publisher=World Health Organisation }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/GlobalAtlas/predefinedReports/EFS2006/EFS_PDFs/EFS2006_GN.pdf |title=Epidemiological Fact Sheets: HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections, December 2006 |accessdate=2007-09-30 |date=2006-12 |format=PDF |publisher=World Health Organisation }}</ref>

==Culture==
{{seealso|List of African writers (by country)#Guinea}}
Like other West African countries, Guinea has a rich musical tradition. The group [[Bembeya Jazz]] became popular in the 1960s after Guinean independence.

===Music===
{{main|Music of Guinea}}

===Sports===
Guinea's main sport is [[association football]] (soccer), and although the [[Guinea national football team|national team]] has never made the [[FIFA World Cup]], it has appeared at eight [[African Nations Cup]] finals; it was runner-up in 1976 and reached the quarter-finals in 2004, 2006 and 2008. [[swimming (sport)|Swimming]] is popular near the capital, Conakry, and [[hiking]] is possible in the [[Fouta Djallon]] region. However, the official national sport is [[Table Tennis]].

==See also==
{{Main|Outline of Guinea|Index of Guinea-related articles}}
*[[List of Guineans]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/country_profiles/1032311.stm Country Profile] from [[BBC News]]
*{{CIA World Factbook link|gv|Guinea}}
*[http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/guinea.htm Guinea] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
*{{dmoz|Regional/Africa/Guinea}}
*{{wikiatlas|Guinea}}

; Government
*[http://www.guinee.gov.gn/ Official site of the Guinean government] {{fr icon}}
*[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-g/guinea.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]
* [http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/117/article_5279.asp Moussa Dadis Camara speaks to Radio France Internationale after Conakry massacre]

; News media
*[http://aminata.com/ Aminata.com] Online news source concerning Guinea {{fr icon}}
*[http://www.guineenews.org/ Guinéenews] Latest news about Guinea – Updated breaking news about the Republic of Guinea. {{fr icon}}

; Tourism
*{{wikitravel}}

; Other
*[http://www.coraconnection.com/ Cora Connection] West African music resources
*[http://www.guineaconnection.com/ DrumConnection] Representing Traditional Guinean teachings through Drumming, Dance and Song
* [http://www.xpeditions.be/publication/konkoba/konkoba.html Spinning around the source. Slumbering stories in and around Siguiri.] Article by Rachel Laget based on anthropological field research. (www.xpeditions.eu)
*[http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/AFLIT/CountryGuineaEN.html#clien Guinean literature at a glance]
*[http://www.nigercurrents.ca Niger Currents: Exploring life and technology along the Niger River]
*[http://www.africa.it/guinea/mappa.asp Map of Guinea]
{{Template group
|title = Geographic locale
|list =
{{Countries of Africa}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{Member states of the African Union}}
{{South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone}}
{{La Francophonie}}
{{OIC}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = Languages
|list =
{{Niger-Congo-speaking}}
}}
[[Category:Guinea| ]]
[[Category:African countries]]
[[Category:African Union member states]]
[[Category:Countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Economic Community of West African States]]
[[Category:French-speaking countries]]
[[Category:Least Developed Countries]]
[[Category:Member states of La Francophonie]]
[[Category:Organisation of the Islamic Conference members]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1958]]



[[ace:Guinea]]
[[af:Guinee]]
[[als:Guinea]]
[[am:ጊኔ]]
[[ar:غينيا]]
[[an:Guinea]]
[[frp:Guinê]]
[[ast:Guinea]]
[[bm:Gine]]
[[bn:গিনি]]
[[zh-min-nan:Guinée]]
[[be:Гвінея]]
[[be-x-old:Ґвінэя]]
[[bcl:Guineya]]
[[bo:གི་ནེ།]]
[[bs:Gvineja]]
[[br:Ginea]]
[[bg:Гвинея]]
[[ca:República de Guinea]]
[[ceb:Guinea]]
[[cs:Guinea]]
[[cy:Guinée]]
[[da:Guinea]]
[[de:Guinea]]
[[dv:ގީނިއާ]]
[[nv:Gíní]]
[[et:Guinea]]
[[el:Γουινέα]]
[[es:Guinea]]
[[eo:Gvineo]]
[[eu:Ginea]]
[[ee:Guinea]]
[[fa:گینه]]
[[hif:Guinea]]
[[fr:Guinée]]
[[fy:Guinee]]
[[ff:Gine]]
[[ga:An Ghuine]]
[[gv:Yn Ghuinea]]
[[gd:Gini]]
[[gl:Guinea - Guinée]]
[[ko:기니]]
[[ha:Gine]]
[[hy:Գվինեա]]
[[hi:गिनी]]
[[hr:Gvineja]]
[[io:Guinea]]
[[bpy:গিনি]]
[[id:Guinea]]
[[ia:Guinea]]
[[ie:Guinea]]
[[os:Гвиней]]
[[is:Gínea]]
[[it:Guinea]]
[[he:גינאה]]
[[jv:Guinea]]
[[pam:Guinea]]
[[ka:გვინეა]]
[[kk:Гиния]]
[[kw:Gyni]]
[[sw:Guinea]]
[[kg:Ginea]]
[[ht:Gine]]
[[la:Guinea]]
[[lv:Gvineja]]
[[lb:Guinea]]
[[lt:Gvinėja]]
[[lij:Guinea]]
[[li:Guinee]]
[[ln:Gine-Konakry]]
[[lmo:Guinea]]
[[hu:Guinea]]
[[ml:ഗിനി]]
[[mr:गिनी]]
[[ms:Guinea]]
[[mn:Гвиней]]
[[nah:Guinea]]
[[na:Guinea]]
[[nl:Guinee]]
[[ja:ギニア]]
[[pih:Gini]]
[[no:Guinea]]
[[nn:Guinea]]
[[nov:Gini]]
[[oc:Guinèa]]
[[uz:Gvineya]]
[[pms:Guinea]]
[[nds:Guinea]]
[[pl:Gwinea]]
[[pt:Guiné]]
[[crh:Gvineya]]
[[ro:Guineea]]
[[qu:Khiniya]]
[[ru:Гвинея]]
[[sah:Гуинея]]
[[se:Guinea]]
[[sm:Guinea]]
[[sa:गिनी]]
[[sc:Guinea]]
[[stq:Guinea]]
[[sq:Guineja]]
[[scn:Guinia]]
[[simple:Guinea]]
[[sk:Guinea (štát)]]
[[sl:Gvineja]]
[[szl:Gwinyjo]]
[[sr:Гвинеја]]
[[sh:Gvineja]]
[[fi:Guinea]]
[[sv:Guinea]]
[[tl:Guniya]]
[[ta:கினி]]
[[tt:Гвинея]]
[[th:ประเทศกินี]]
[[tg:Гвинея]]
[[tr:Gine]]
[[tk:Gwineýa]]
[[uk:Гвінея]]
[[ur:جمہوریہ گنی]]
[[ug:ۋىنېيە]]
[[vec:Guinea]]
[[vi:Guinée]]
[[vo:Gineyän]]
[[fiu-vro:Ginea]]
[[war:Guinea]]
[[wo:Gine]]
[[ts:Guinea]]
[[yo:Guinea]]
[[diq:Gine]]
[[bat-smg:Gvėniejė]]
[[zh:几内亚]]

Talk:Islam

2010-03-31T19:29:58Z

Elbasan101: /* cia factbook = sunni = 75% */

{{skiptotoctalk}}
{{talkheader|search=yes}}
{{notaforum}}
{{ArticleHistory
|action1=FAC
|action1date=19:55, 11 November 2005
|action1link=Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Islam/archive1
|action1result=not promoted
|action1oldid=28049819

|action2=PR
|action2date=17 May 2006
|action2link=Wikipedia:Peer review/Islam/archive1
|action2oldid=53774303

|action3=PR
|action3date=20 October 2006
|action3link=Wikipedia:Peer review/Islam/archive2
|action3oldid=82618558

|action4=PR
|action4date=20 November 2006
|action4link=Wikipedia:Peer review/Islam/archive3
|action4oldid=89117159

|action5=GAN
|action5date=11 December 2006
|action5link=Talk:Islam/Archive 18#GA nomination failed
|action5result=failed
|action5oldid=93657287

|action6=GAN
|action6date=2007-05-03
|action6link=Talk:Islam/Archive 19#Good Article: Passed .28congrats.21.29
|action6result=listed
|action6oldid=127894486

|action7=FAC
|action7date=2007-05-22
|action7link=Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Islam
|action7result=promoted
|action7oldid=132771804

|action8=FAR
|action8date=06:02, 9 January 2008
|action8link=Wikipedia:Featured article review/Islam/archive1
|action8result=kept
|action8oldid=182762516

|maindate=July 1, 2007
|aciddate=2006-11-18
|currentstatus=FA
}}
{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Islam}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|
{{WPReligion|class=FA}}
{{WikiProject Islam|class=FA|importance=top}}
{{WPMA|class=FA|importance=top}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=FA|category=Philrelig|VA=yes|coresup=yes}}
}}
{{external peer review|date=April 30, 2007|org=The Denver Post|comment="quite impressed"; "looks like something that might have been done by a young graduate student, or assistant professor, or two or three"; "clinical and straightforward, but not boring"; "where important translations of Arabic language or fine religious distinctions are required, Wikipedia acquits itself well." Please [[Wikipedia:External peer review/Denver Post|examine the findings]].}}
{{todo}}
{{auto archiving notice|bot=MiszaBot|age=30|dounreplied=yes}}
{{User:HBC Archive Indexerbot/OptIn
|target=Talk:Islam/Archive index
|mask=Talk:Islam/Archive <#>
|leading_zeros=0
|indexhere=yes}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{aan|type=content}}
|maxarchivesize = 200K
|counter = 25
|minthreadsleft = 10
|minthreadstoarchive = 1
|algo = old(30d)
|archive = Talk:Islam/Archive %(counter)d
}}

== Islam is now the largest religion in the world ==

Could someone update the article to reflect as of 2009 Islam is now the number 1 religion in the world.
As reported by fox news and AP Sunday, March 30, 2008 the Vatican confirms. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,343336,00.html

Thanks Raymond —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Elextrixman|Elextrixman]] ([[User talk:Elextrixman|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Elextrixman|contribs]]) 05:14, 7 February 2010 (UTC) 
:That doesn't mean what you think it means. Islam (with all its sects/denominations) is greater than Catholicism, a sect/denomination of greater Christianity. The comparison doesn't very much make sense. --[[User:Ari89|Ari]] ([[User talk:Ari89|talk]]) 06:14, 7 February 2010 (UTC)
::Exactly. Since when is Roman Catholicism a religion? --'''[[User:Benne|Benne]]''' ['bɛnə] ([[User_talk:Benne|talk]]) 06:25, 7 February 2010 (UTC)

== Islam in America ==

Why is there nothing on Islam in America? I have access to journals at my school containing information about it. How can I add to the article? —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Rommette|Rommette]] ([[User talk:Rommette|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Rommette|contribs]]) 19:47, 16 February 2010 (UTC) 

:Actually a better place to add information would be in the [[Islam in the United States]] article. Regards-[[User:Shahab|Shahab]] ([[User talk:Shahab|talk]]) 09:03, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

== The article reads like an advertisment ==

Every time I logged in more and more controversial topics (but nonetheless important for any religion) are removed and replaced with want-to-believe POV versions if at all.
maybe cap the amount of religious sympathizers editing the articles? [[User:Shiftadot|Shiftadot]] ([[User talk:Shiftadot|talk]]) 09:02, 26 February 2010 (UTC)
note - don't delete this edit , this is very constructive and related to the article. [[User:Shiftadot|Shiftadot]] ([[User talk:Shiftadot|talk]]) 09:44, 26 February 2010 (UTC) I mean it.
:It would help if you would provide examples as to what is the POV material you are referring to that has been inserted-[[User:Shahab|Shahab]] ([[User talk:Shahab|talk]]) 10:17, 26 February 2010 (UTC)

== Misleading photo caption.(?) ==

The caption under the picture of a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf states that Islam forbids women to show their hair in Public, shouldn’t this be clarified more? Qur’anic scholars have debated whether the book truly says this, and also some sects of Islam state that Women do not have to cover their hair and would argue that Islam does not prohibit it. Thoughts? --[[User:Misortie|大輔泉]] ([[User talk:Misortie|talk]]) 18:38, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

Yes Allah says in Surah Al-Noor Chapter 24 Verse 31 "And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts and do not display their ornaments except what appears thereof And let them wear their head-coverings over their bosoms And not display their ornaments except to their husbands or their fathers..."

So to clarify:
1. In public Muslim women have to cover their body except their face, hands, and wrists.

2. At home they are allowed to dress more freely (appropiately of course) to ONLY their family members and the full list of applicable family members is described in the verse because the family will not look at the women with "evil eyes" or bad intentions as opposed to going out in public where, as we all know, people (moslty men-some women lol) have bad intentions when women expose their body as opposed to women that don't.

And to note: Men are also instructed to lower their gaze when a women attracts them or to prevent impure thoughts from entering their minds- Surah Al-Noor chapter 24 Verse 30 "Say to the believing men that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts That is purer for them Surely Allah is Aware of what they do"

So the men "hijab" is given before the women "hijab"

I hope I clarified it for you and for anyone else who reads this. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Ahminh|Ahminh]] ([[User talk:Ahminh|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Ahminh|contribs]]) 20:16, 17 March 2010 (UTC) 

:Ahminh, nowhere in the sura you cited doesn it mention hair, face, hands or wrists. The only body parts explicitly mentioned as private parts and bosoms. The sura also gives fathers and husbands as the only exceptions, but in practice the whole family is included (as well as doctors in most places). So, obviously, it is open to interpretation. Indeed, I have spoken to many women who consider themselves Muslim, but believe that completely covering the hair is not required, but that the sura only asks for modesty. [[User:Ashmoo|Ashmoo]] ([[User talk:Ashmoo|talk]]) 00:52, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

Ashmoo, it does mention the hair "head-coverings over their bosoms"-the head has hair on it so it does mention hair. Please give references as to what you said- you did not provide a single reference (pertaining to doctor and "whole" family). I understand what your experience with Muslim women has been (as to what they told you) and I agree that the surah speaks about modesty-however it does not ask. Nowhere in the surah is the word "ask' to be found- Allah says to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) "And SAY..." . Also Allah says to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Surah Al-Ahzaab Ch.33 Verse 59 "O prophet! tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad)...". I know that many people have different opinions but Allah gives a general dress code for women when they are abroad. Some women cover EVERYTHING including their face, hands, and wrists; while others don't cover their face or hands or wrists-just because some do things differently does not mean they are wrong but they should stick to the general dress code. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Ahminh|Ahminh]] ([[User talk:Ahminh|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Ahminh|contribs]]) 03:40, 26 March 2010 (UTC) 
:Yes, well my actual point was that different Muslims interpret the surahs differently. Wikipedia doesn't allow interpretaion of primary texts. This means that the article can't include pronouncements about what surahs 'actually' mean, but only sourced interpretations by 3rd parties. [[User:Ashmoo|Ashmoo]] ([[User talk:Ashmoo|talk]]) 14:26, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

== Islam (Not-Known Facts) ==

Islam is the most respected,most old and most following religion.
Although many people describe it badly but,Islam is indeed better.
Islam teaches not to expose themselves(Private Parts),To Be truthful and live peacefully.
And,Many terrorists are Muslims but why are you talking badly about his/her religion.
Live peacefully and remember,Please:
In this world,There are not Bad Muslims,Nor Good Muslims,Not Bad Hindus,Nor Good Hindus,Not Bad Christians,Nor Good Christians,But Only Two Type of People:"Good and Bad".
There is no word before the above lines("Good and Bad").
Please remember.. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:RukhsarFaiz|RukhsarFaiz]] ([[User talk:RukhsarFaiz|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/RukhsarFaiz|contribs]]) 13:19, 5 March 2010 (UTC) 
:Actually Zorostrianism has a longer history than Islam, being tracked in history to almost 3 millenia ago. And sayings its the most respected is POV for sure, and sources are needed for saying its the most followed. [[Special:Contributions/206.75.198.6|206.75.198.6]] ([[User talk:206.75.198.6|talk]]) 15:29, 15 March 2010 (UTC)

Islam's history did not just begin when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) introduced the Quran. Allah's first human prophet on this Earth (according to Quran and Muslim beliefs) was Adam (PBUH) who was the first human and Allah gave him guidance (teachings also). Just because science has not found evidence of Adam's teachings does not mean they do not exist. People thought the world was flat-that changed; people thought the earth was the center-that changed; people did not believe in black holes-that obviously changed. Just because they traced Zoronstrianism does not mean it is older than Islam. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Ahminh|Ahminh]] ([[User talk:Ahminh|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Ahminh|contribs]]) 19:45, 17 March 2010 (UTC) 
:Wikipedia articles are based upon science not religion and thus do not recognize Adam as the "first human". --[[User:NeilN|'''NeilN''']] ''[[User talk:NeilN|talk to me]]'' 21:22, 17 March 2010 (UTC)
::Actually, to this is not necessarily true, to quote [[WP:V]]: "The threshold for inclusion in Wikipedia is verifiability, not truth—what counts is whether readers can verify that material added to Wikipedia has already been published by a reliable source (see below), not whether editors think it is true." Correct me if I am wrong, but the practical application of this would be: "The adherents of such-and-such religion believe that..." or "the text of any given religion says..." just as: "Dr. scientist say the theory of such-and-such is true because of..."--[[User:Supertouch|Supertouch]] ([[User talk:Supertouch|talk]]) 22:10, 17 March 2010 (UTC)
:::Yes, you are correct in that the article could state "Followers of Islam believe that their religion is the oldest..." (with a cite to a scholarly source). --[[User:NeilN|'''NeilN''']] ''[[User talk:NeilN|talk to me]]'' 22:22, 17 March 2010 (UTC)

== Sects are NOT part of Islam ==

The section about Islam having sects is very misleading and wrong. Islam PROHIBITS having sects; Quran Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 159 "Surely they who divided their religion into parts and became sects, you have no concern with them. Their affair is only with Allah, then He will inform them of what they did."

There are no sects in Islam; those who make them are wrong and are not following the Quran- thus it is not part of Islam and SHOULD be removed as it is very misleading.

Just to clarify:

Islam has no sects- no Sunni, Shia, Wahhabi, or anything else
And I quoted from the Quran to prove that.

PLEASE REMOVE IT!! Many people use Wikipedia and see it as a reliable source and when they see that part in the "Islam" article they will believe that there are sects in Islam.

NO SECTS! (one more time :D) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Ahminh|Ahminh]] ([[User talk:Ahminh|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Ahminh|contribs]]) 17:15, 15 March 2010 (UTC) 
:Are you referring to the Denominations section? If so, the Quran may prohibit them but they obviously exist. --[[User:NeilN|'''NeilN''']] ''[[User talk:NeilN|talk to me]]'' 17:00, 17 March 2010 (UTC)

Yes and I would like to add a comment at the beginning of the denominations section AND at the beginning of the article stating that sects are not part of Islam; Quran Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 159 and Surah Al-Imran Chapter 3 Verse 103.

Islam forbids sects and I am aware that there are many sects which Muslims are part of but they are wrong and I am trying to do my part to help them realize that sects ARE NOT part of Islam. Many of the people just listen to their parents and preachers that they must be (for example) Sunni or Shia or Wahabbi; however there may be a dispute and someone may want to visit Wikipedia (like the rest of the world nowadays) to see what the article says or anyone who wants to research Islam may use this article and I just want them to see the truth.

{{tlf|editsemiprotected}}
{{EP|n}}

:You need to state the '''exact''' wording of the text you want to add. "Sects are not part of Islam" is not nuanced enough and won't fly because they obviously exist. Note that the article should not rely solely on the Koran or other religious teachings to describe what Islam is - it also has to describe what has actually happened. --[[User:NeilN|'''NeilN''']] ''[[User talk:NeilN|talk to me]]'' 21:16, 17 March 2010 (UTC)

Okay the exact wording is: "Although sects are part of many Muslim communities, they are not actually part of the fundamental teachings of the Quran/Islam (whichever word looks better). (And then the source and I wont write the entire quotation here but it would be on the actual comment) Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 159 and Surah Al-Imran Chapter 3 Verse 103."

That comment could go in the beginning and at the denominations in the article. Actually (speaking peacefully not matter-of-fact) Islam is SOLELY based on the Quran and Hadees/teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)-it is a religion not a current event and its teachings will never change; Islam is best described by the Quran not current events because that gets into the POV area (based on the reporter). I agree that it should have what has happened (sects etc.) but I wanted to add the comment to show people that sects are not part of the Islamic Religion even though Muslims are part of them —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/98.195.178.86|98.195.178.86]] ([[User talk:Ahminh|talk]]) 02:01, 18 March 2010 (UTC) 

:I've paraphrased the text found in [[Islamic schools and branches]] and inserted into the two areas you specified. Not sure if it belongs in the opening paragraph but other editors can weigh in on that. --[[User:NeilN|'''NeilN''']] ''[[User talk:NeilN|talk to me]]'' 02:31, 18 March 2010 (UTC)

:Neill, you should realize that there are hadiths which assert that there will be 73 sects in islam. i made such an edit but it was removed. Maybe you could find an appropriate reference and insert it onto the 'islam denominations' page. thanks[[User:Jigglyfidders|Jigglyfidders]] ([[User talk:Jigglyfidders|talk]]) 17:47, 31 March 2010 (UTC)

Okay thanks it looks pretty good unless someone wants to suggest some more things.
Once again, thank you. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/98.195.178.86|98.195.178.86]] ([[User talk:Ahminh|talk]]) 05:12, 18 March 2010 (UTC) 

== Community ==

The following sentence is from the lede: "Religious practices include the Five Pillars of Islam, which are five duties that unite Muslims into a community." (cite from Esposito). Probably there's nothing misleading about the sentence, but it seems to confuse two things. Muslims follow the Five Pillars and other practices. Yes, they share these practices in common. But from a social science standpoint, communities are created through identity and perception by those inside the group and those outside the group. Does anyone else agree that this sentence could use a little work?--[[User:达伟|达伟]] ([[User talk:达伟|talk]]) 23:57, 15 March 2010 (UTC)

Can somebody please delete the word 'poetic' from "The Qur'an is divided into 114 suras, or chapters, which combined, contain 6,236 āyāt, or poetic verses." since the Quran is not a poem of any sort and it was called a poem by the early arabs as an insult. This is from chapter 2.2

thank you [[User:Kabamaro|Kabamaro]] ([[User talk:Kabamaro|talk]]) 21:24, 19 March 2010 (UTC)

== Islam means Peace ==

In addition to the sources I will add - I will use some logic; Islam doesn't correspond to one meaning or understanding. As it is the case with many words in every language, Islam also has more than one meaning associated with it. It does mean submission to the will of God, but it also means Peace: When muslims greet each other, whether they are muslims or not, they are meant to send a Salution of Peace - [in Arabic] Assalam-o-Alikum - which literally means Peace be upon you, not submission upon you, which doesn't make sense. Salam means Peace, which derives the word Islam too. Is there no space for logic in Wiki? [[User:Peaceworld111|Peaceworld111]] ([[User talk:Peaceworld111|talk]]) 20:45, 24 March 2010 (UTC)

:The thing is, the word "Islam" contains two concepts- "peace" (or "wholeness", so we're talking about a particular, personal type of peace here) AND "submission"- there is no single English word of equivalent meaning. [[User:David Trochos|David Trochos]] ([[User talk:David Trochos|talk]]) 17:27, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

== Peace? ==

[[User:Peaceworld111]] has been aggressively trying to add "Islam means peace" to the meaning and etymology section. This problematic for a number of reasons:
# It contradicts common knowledge of the Arabic language—see for example the [[Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic]]
# Even if he were to add this with a reference, that reference contradicts much more reliable references such as the above
# The reference is not a reliable source as it is the website for an organization and a POV organization at that as it is a website for the Ahmadiyyah sect
# the user misunderstood what that source was saying: ''Islam means peace'' is NOT a linguistic definition but a proclamation that Islam is peaceful religion
--[[User:Supertouch|Supertouch]] ([[User talk:Supertouch|talk]]) 22:29, 24 March 2010 (UTC)

In my opinion, to be re-added we'll first need a reference to a proper etymological work. --[[User:NeilN|'''NeilN''']] ''[[User talk:NeilN|talk to me]]'' 22:47, 24 March 2010 (UTC)

== Five Basic Institutions of Islam ==

Tawhid is the eternal message of Islam. The central concept of Tawhid is “Allah is One and He likes Unity”. Its formula is Laa Ilaaha Illa-Allah, there is no sovereign except Allah. Its corollaries are one, Ummah – one world fraternity of mankind and one world kingdom of Allah.

Islam is the Ordained World Order, of allegiance to Sovereign Allah, to the World Government of Allah, run by the muttaqin to serve, and not to rule, mankind in His world kingdom.

One Sovereign – There is no Sovereign except Allah (Al-Qur-aan, 37:35/47:19)

Note:
ILAH – Sovereign. “There is no sovereign except Allah”, this is the great formula of Sovereignty in Islam. In fact, this is the message of the Eternal Qur-aan – the core, the essence, of the revelation. The Sovereignty of Allah is the rallying point of world humanity as is the march past around the Qabah at Makkah.

One Humanity – Humanity is One brotherhood (Al-Qur-aan, 21:92/23:52)

One World – The indivisible kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah [The Sole Sovereign of this indivisible kingdom] (Al-Qur-aan, 3:189)

There are five basic institutions on which the world edifice of Islam is reared up –

1. Imaan – Motive force to heroic performance in allegiance to Sovereign Allah, to attain world unity, world peace and plenty for all. Innal lazeena aamanu wa ‘amelus salehat therefore means ‘indeed those who have activated the motive force for heroism and perform heroic deeds to attain Islam – to attain world allegiance to Sovereign Allah and thereby attain world unity and world peace and plenty for all in the world kingdom of Allah.

About Imaan, we have this guidance from the prophet: ‘Whoso from amongst you sees an outrage being committed, he should prevent it with his hand (using force); if he cannot do it, he should use his tongue to prevent it; if he cannot do this even, then at heart, 9he should treat is as abominable and shun it). But this is a case of the weakest Imaan.

Imaan fires enthusiasm inspirits the will to conquer and inculcates contempt of death to reach the target of world unity and world peace.

The belief in the Universal Sovereignty of Allah and the Uswa-i-Hasanah, that is, the ideal life-pattern and life-examples of Muhammad, (sm) the Messenger of Allah, to show mankind the effective way to implement this Sovereignty.

2. Salaat – The forman service of allegiance to Sovereign Allah and of self-dedication to the World-Order of Islam.

3. Siyaam – Practice of self-abnegation, self-purgation and self-purification through services of allegiance and rigid fasting during daylight hours, and thereby receive inspiration for more and more welfare services to promote unity, peace and plenty.

It is the ordained process of self-purification to keep the body and sould in a state of perfect trim.

4. Zakaat – The compulsory state levy at prescribed rates on the annual net savings after meeting all kinds of liabilities and expenditures.

Unused and un-invested surplus (al-‘afw), however, is to be surrendered to, and to be collected by, the state of Islam, which guarantees security of means and employment on a world basis to all. These measures have been enacted to finance the welfare programme of the state to eradicate and banish poverty, ignorance and all kinds of maladies from the world.

5. Hajj – The Annual March Past of humanity around the ‘Kabah and the Annual World Moot at ‘Arafah, and Muzdalifah and the Annual Campaigns and the Annual Social Dinners at the plateau of Mina to demonstrate and keep alive the sense of unity of the human race. The Hajj is an institution which inspires mankind to live as world citizens.

The World-Order is the goal of the forward spirits of the 20th century. People should, therefore, study the Eternal Qur-aan and the Uswa-i-Hasanah – the ideal implementation of the universal principles of the Eternal Qur’aan – minutely for this grand purpose. For, Islam, according to the eternal revealed principles in the Qur-aan, is the World-Order.

[Excerpts collated from ‘The Clarion Call of the Eternal Qur’aan’ (1991), by Muhammad Khalilur Rahman].

[[User:Nasireddin|Md. Nasireddin Ghani]] ([[User talk:Nasireddin|talk]]) 17:49, 28 March 2010 (UTC)

== cia factbook = sunni = 75% ==

{{tlf|editsemiprotected}}
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html
this peer-reviewed article claims sunni's make up 75%. i think the Islam page asserting over 85% Sunni was written by a boastful exaggerating biased sunni.

i think 75% sunni proportion makes more sense, because if Salafis, quranists, shia, ahmadiyya, sufis etc. add up, they are unlikely to ony make up nearly 10% of muslims, which is what the islam article says.

the following percentages make more sense
shias, 15% (mostly iraq, iran)
salafi 5% (mostly saudi arabia)
sufi+ quranist+ ahmadiyya = 5% (widespread)
sunni 75%

could someone make this change please on the following pages;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni_Islam
{{unsigned|Jigglyfidders}}

:I didn't read this, but you are an autoconfirmed user, you can edit semi-protected articles. Why are you using this template? --[[User:JokerXtreme|JokerXtreme]] ([[User talk:JokerXtreme|talk]]) 16:56, 31 March 2010 (UTC)

Jigglyfidders

"I think" is not scientific basis for statistics or what "makes more sense". Salafists consider themselves sunni, and are largely considered to be part of the sunni fold- the others I would beleive are seperate...but you need to back them up with something more...furthermore there are many statitics Pew Reserach is the latest (quite reliable) one. and by the sounds of it you yourself dont seem to be far off these "boastful exaggerating biased sunni"...BPOV works both ways and unless something of substance is provided changes are not likely to stay for long--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 19:29, 31 March 2010 (UTC)

Rwanda

2010-03-31T18:50:45Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion */

{{fixbunching|beg}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = {{lang|rw|''Repubulika y'u Rwanda''}} {{lang|fr|''République du Rwanda''}}
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Rwanda
|common_name = Rwanda
|image_flag = Flag_of_Rwanda.svg
|image_coat = Coat of arms of Rwanda.svg
|national_motto = ''Ubumwe, Umurimo, Gukunda Igihugu'' "Unity, Work, Patriotism"
|image_map = LocationRwanda.svg
|national_anthem = "{{lang|rw|''[[Rwanda nziza]]''}}"
|official_languages = [[Kinyarwanda]], [[French language|French]], [[English language|English]]
|languages_type = [[Lingua Franca|Vernacular language]]
|languages = [[Swahili]]
|demonym = Rwandan, Rwandese
|capital = [[Kigali]]
|latd=1 |latm=56.633 |latNS=S
|longd=30 |longm=3.567 |longEW=E
|government_type = [[Republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[List of Presidents of Rwanda|President]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Rwanda|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name1 = [[Paul Kagame]]
|leader_name2 = [[Bernard Makuza]]
|largest_city = Kigali
|area_km2 = 26,338
|area_sq_mi = 10,169 
|area_rank = 147th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|percent_water = 5.3
|population_estimate = 10,746,311<ref name=cia>{{cite web |author=Central Intelligence Agency |authorlink=CIA |publisher=[[The World Factbook]]|title=Rwanda |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rw.html |year=2009|accessdate=January 12, 2010}}</ref>
|population_estimate_year = January 2010
|population_estimate_rank = 80th
|population_census = 10,264,947<ref name=unpop2>{{cite paper | url=http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008_text_tables.pdf | title=World Population Prospects, Table A.8| version=2008 revision | format=.PDF |page=19| publisher=United Nations | author=Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division | year=2009 | accessdate= 2009-03-12}}</ref>
|population_census_year = 2010
|population_density_km2 = 401.4
|population_density_sq_mi = 1029.9 
|population_density_rank = 29th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP = $10.004 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=714&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=57&pr.y=18 |title=Rwanda|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2009-10-01}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank =
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,043<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
|GDP_nominal_rank =
|GDP_nominal = $4.459 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $465<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}}0.460
|HDI_rank = 167th
|HDI_category = low
|Gini = 45.1
|Gini_year = 2003
|Gini_category = medium
|sovereignty_type = [[Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = from [[Belgium]]
|established_event1 = Date
|established_date1 = July 1, 1962
|currency = [[Rwandan franc]]
|currency_code = RWF
|time_zone = [[Central Africa Time|CAT]]
|utc_offset = +2
|time_zone_DST = ''not observed''
|utc_offset_DST = +2
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.rw]]
|calling_code = 250
|footnotes = 1 Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.
}}
{{fixbunching|end}}

The '''Republic of Rwanda''' ({{IPA-en|ruːˈændə}} {{respell|r'''oo'''|AN|də}} or {{IPA|/rəˈwɑːndə/}} {{respell|rə|WAHN|də}}; [[Kinyarwanda]] pronunciation {{IPA2|ɾwanda|}} or {{IPA2|ɾɡwanda}}), known as the ''Land of a Thousand Hills'', is a [[landlocked country]] located in the [[African Great Lakes|Great Lakes region]] of eastern-central [[Africa]], bordered by [[Uganda]], [[Burundi]], the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] and [[Tanzania]].

Although close to the [[equator]], the country has a cool temperate climate due to its high elevation. The terrain consists mostly of grassy uplands and gently rolling hills. Abundant wildlife, including rare [[mountain gorilla]]s, have resulted in tourism becoming one of the biggest sectors of the country's economy.

Rwanda has received considerable international attention due to its [[Rwandan Genocide|1994 genocide]], in which an estimated 800,000 people were killed.<ref>See, e.g., [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1288230.stm Rwanda: How the genocide happened], [[BBC]], April 1, 2004, which gives an estimate of 800,000, and [http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/subjindx/121rwan.htm OAU sets inquiry into Rwanda genocide], Africa Recovery, Vol. 12 1#1 (August 1998), page 4, which estimates the number at between 500,000 and 1,000,000.</ref> Since then the country has made a recovery and is now considered as a model for [[developing countries]]. In 2009 a CNN report labeled Rwanda as Africa's biggest success story, having achieved stability, economic growth (average income has tripled in the past ten years) and international integration.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/07/17/zakaria.rwanda/index.html CNN: Africa's Biggest Success Story, Zakaria "]</ref> The government is widely seen as one of the more efficient and honest ones in Africa. In 2007 ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine published an article titled "Why CEOs Love Rwanda." <ref>Gunther, Marc. "[http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/28/news/companies/pluggedin_Gunther_Rwanda.fortune/index.htm Fortune: Why CEO's Love Rwanda]." ''[[CNN]]''/''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]''. April 3, 2007. Retrieved on March 31, 2010.</ref>
The capital, [[Kigali]], is the first city in Africa to awarded the Habitat Scroll of Honor Award in the recognition of its "cleanliness, security and urban conservation model." <ref>[http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?typeid=19&catid=564&cid=6586 UN Habitat. "]</ref> In 2008, Rwanda became the first country to elect a national legislature in which a majority of members were women.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/26/AR2008102602197.html Siuberski, Philippe. "]</ref> Rwanda joined the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] on 29 November 2009 as its [[List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations|fifty-fourth member]],<ref name="rwanda">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/world/africa/29rwanda.html |title=Rwanda Joins British Commonwealth |author=Josh Kron |publisher=''[[The New York Times]]'' |date=2009-11-29 |accessdate=2009-11-29}}</ref> making the country one of only two in the Commonwealth without a [[British Empire|British colonial past]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8384930.stm BBC News - Rwanda becomes a member of the Commonwealth]</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Rwanda}}
===Pre-colonial period===
It is not known when the territory of present day Rwanda was first inhabited, but it is thought that humans moved into the area following the [[Last glacial period|last ice age]] either in the [[Neolithic]] period, around ten thousand years ago, or in the long humid period which followed, up to around 3000 BC.<ref name="Bradt2006p6">Briggs and Booth 2006 p6</ref><ref>Chrétien p44</ref> Archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of sparse settlement by [[hunter gatherer]]s in the late [[stone age]], followed by a larger population of early [[Iron Age]] settlers, who produced dimpled [[pottery]] and iron tools.<ref name="Bradt2006p6" /><ref>Dorsey p36</ref><ref>Chrétien p45</ref>

These early inhabitants were the ancestors of the [[Twa]], a group of aboriginal [[Pygmy]] hunter-gatherers, who still live in Rwanda today.<ref name="Bradt2006p6" /> Eventually these settlers were joined by [[Bantu peoples|Bantu]] farmers from the west, known as the [[Hutu]]s.<ref name="Bradt2006p6" /> The exact dates of this are not certain, with estimates varying from 700 BC up to the beginning of the [[Christian era]], around 1 AD.<ref name="Bradt2006p6" /><ref>Chrétien p43-44</ref><ref>H. J. M. Claessen, Peter Skalník. "The Study of the State". Mouton, 1981. 17. ISBN 9-0279-3348-0</ref> The Hutus, with their sedentary farming lifestyle, soon outnumbered the Twas and began to take over their traditional hunting grounds, forcing them to retreat into the forests.<ref name="Bradt2006p7">Briggs and Booth 2006 p7</ref>

Later a third group, the [[cattle]]-raising Tutsi, migrated to the area. The [[Tutsi]] were generally taller than the Hutus and the Twas, and were distinct in physical appearance.<ref name="Bradt2006p7" /><ref name="Prunier16">Prunier p16</ref> It is not known when the Tutsi arrived and from where they came, but there is evidence that they were of [[Cushitic]] origin, coming from the [[Horn of Africa]].<ref name="Prunier16" /> Over time, the distinction between the three groups became blurred and some sources question whether they are truly of separate racial or ethnic stock.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Rwandan Conflict: Origin, Development, Exit Strategies|url=http://www.nurc.gov.rw/documents/researches/rwandan%20_conflict.pdf}}</ref>

Considerable controversy surrounds the origins and the organization of Rwandan society before the arrival of Europeans, however, and the Rwandan government disputes European historical records and scientific evidence of migrations and cultural society within the region.<ref name="nurc.gov.rw">{{cite web|title="The Origin of Rwandan Conflict|url=http://www.nurc.gov.rw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63:the-origin-of-rwandan-conflict&catid=35:reseaches&Itemid=40|publisher=Rwandan Government: National Unity and Reconciliation Committee}}</ref> Even in pre-colonial Rwanda, however, the Kinyarwanda language was widely spoken. A traditional local justice system called ''Gacaca'' predominated in much of the region as an institution for resolving conflict and rendering justice. The Tutsi king ([[mwami]]) became the ultimate judge and arbiter for those cases over which he had jurisdiction. Through this system, stability was achieved in large areas of what is now Rwanda.<ref>{{cite web|author=|Zac Nsenga, Rwandan Government Ambassador to United States|url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmniaf/303/303we32.htm|title=RECONCILIATION: AN EXPERIENCE FROM RWANDA (Memorandum submitted by Dr Zac Nsenga, Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda, to Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs)|date=2004-12-29|publisher=Parliament of the U.K.}}</ref>

===Colonial era===
After signing treaties with chiefs in the [[Tanganyika]] region in 1884-1885, Germany claimed Tanganyika, Rwanda and Burundi as its own territory. [[Gustav Adolf von Götzen|Count von Götzen]] met the Tutsi Mwami (king) for the first time in 1894. However, with only 2,500 soldiers in [[German East Africa|East Africa]], Germany did little to change societal structures in much of the region, especially in Rwanda. After the Mwami's death in 1895, a period of unrest followed. Germans and missionaries then began to enter the country from Tanganyika in 1897-98.

By 1899 the Germans exerted some influence by placing advisors at the courts of local chiefs. Much of the Germans' time was spent fighting uprisings in Tanganyika, especially the [[Maji Maji Rebellion|Maji Maji war]] of 1905-1907. On May 14, 1910 the European Convention of Brussels fixed the borders of [[Uganda]], [[Belgian Congo]], and [[German East Africa]] which included Tanganyika and [[Ruanda-Urundi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS052.pdf|format=PDF|title=International Boundary Study: Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) -- Rwanda Boundary|accessdate=2006-06-05|date=1965-06-15|publisher=Department of State, Washington, D.C., US}}</ref> In 1911, the Germans helped the [[Tutsi]] put down a rebellion of [[Hutu]]s in the northern part of Rwanda who did not wish to submit to central Tutsi control.

In 1916, during World War I, Belgian forces advanced from the Congo into Germany's East African colonies. After Germany lost the War, Belgium accepted the [[League of Nations Mandate]] of 1923 to govern Ruanda-Urundi along with the Congo, while Great Britain accepted Tanganyika and other German colonies. After World War II, Ruanda-Urundi became a [[United Nations trust territory|United Nations (UN) "trust territory"]] administered by Belgium. The Belgian involvement in the region was far more direct than German involvement and extended its interests into education and agricultural supervision. The latter was especially important in the face of two droughts and subsequent famines in 1928-29 and in 1943. These famines forced large migrations of Rwandans to neighboring Congo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/13662/sample/9780521813662ws.pdf|format=PDF|title=Re-imagining Rwanda: Conflict, Survival and Disinformation in the Twentieth Century|accessdate=2006-06-05|date=2002-03-01|publisher=School of Oriental and African Studies, University of England (Cambridge University Press)}}</ref> In 1933 ethnic identification cards were used to classify one's ethnicity.

The Belgian colonizers also accepted the existing class system, featuring a minority Tutsi upper class and lower classes of Hutus and Tutsi commoners. However, in 1926 the Belgians abolished the local posts of "land-chief", "cattle-chief" and "military chief", and in doing so they stripped the Hutu of their limited local power over land. In the 1920s, under military threat, the Belgians finally helped to bring the northwest Hutu kingdoms, who had maintained local control of land not subject to the Mwami, under the Tutsi royalty's central control.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/13662/sample/9780521813662ws.pdf|format=PDF|title=Re-imagining Rwanda: Conflict, Survival and Disinformation in the Twentieth Century|accessdate=2006-06-05|date=2002-03-01|publisher=School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (Cambridge University Press)}}</ref> These two actions [[Disfranchisement|disenfranchised]] the Hutu. Large, centralized land holdings were then divided into smaller chiefdoms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fig.net/pub/fig_2002/Ts7-7/TS7_7_rurangwa.pdf|format=PDF|title=Perspective of Land Reform in Rwanda|accessdate=2006-06-05|date=2002-04-26|publisher=Ministry of Lands, Human Settlement, and Environmental Protection, Kigali, Rwanda}}</ref>

The fragmenting of Hutu lands angered [[Yuhi IV of Rwanda|Mwami Yuhi IV]], who had hoped to further centralize his power enough to rid himself of the Belgians. In 1931 Tutsi plots against the Belgian administration resulted in the Belgians deposing the Tutsi Mwami Yuhi. This caused the Tutsis to take up arms against the Belgians, but because of their fear of the Belgians' military superiority, they did not openly revolt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrcberkeley.org/download/Rwanda-Curriculum-English1.pdf|format=PDF|title=The Teaching of the History of Rwanda: A Participatory Approach (A Reference Book for Secondary Schools in Rwanda)|accessdate=2007-06-05|date=2007-03-01|publisher=Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Research, Kigali, Rwanda, and UC Berkeley Human Rights Center, Berkeley, US}}</ref>

The Roman Catholic Church and Belgian colonial authorities considered the Hutus and Tutsis different ethnic races based on their physical differences and patterns of migration. However, because of the existence of many wealthy Hutu who shared the financial (if not physical) stature of the Tutsi, the Belgians used an expedient method of classification based on the number of cattle a person owned. Anyone with ten or more cattle was considered a member of the aristocratic Tutsi class. From 1935 on, "Tutsi", "Hutu" and "Twa" were indicated on identity cards. The Roman Catholic Church, being the primary educator in the country, subscribed to and reinforced the differences between Hutu and Tutsi, developing separate educational systems for each. In the 1940s and 1950s the vast majority of students were Tutsi. In 1943, Mwami Mutari III became the first Tutsi monarch to convert to Catholicism.

The [[Belgian colonial empire|Belgian colonialists]] continued to depend on the Tutsi aristocracy to collect taxes and enforce Belgian policies. It maintained the dominance of the Tutsi in local colonial administration and expanded the Tutsi system of labor for colonial purposes. The United Nations later decried this policy and demanded a greater [[Representation (politics)|self-representation]] of the Hutu in local affairs. In 1954 the Tutsi monarchy of Ruanda-Urundi demanded independence from Belgian rule. At the same time it agreed to abolish the system of indentured servitude ([[ubuhake|''ubuhake'' and ''uburetwa'']]) the Tutsis had practiced over the Hutu until then.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, a wave of [[Pan-Africanism]] swept through Central Africa, with leaders such as [[Julius Nyerere]] in [[Tanzania]] and [[Patrice Lumumba]] in the Congo. Anti-colonial sentiment stirred throughout central Africa, and a socialist platform of African unity and equality for all Africans was forwarded. Nyerere himself wrote about the elitism of educational systems,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-nye.htm|title=Julius Nyerere: Lifelong Learning and Informal Education|accessdate=2007-05-27|date=2007-05-27|publisher=infed (Informal Education website), London, UK}}</ref> which Hutus interpreted as an indictment of the elitist educations provided for Tutsis in their own country.

Encouraged by the Pan-Africanists, Hutu advocates in the Catholic Church, and by Christian Belgians (who were increasingly influential in the Congo), Hutu sentiment against the aristocratic Tutsi was increasingly inflamed. The United Nations mandates, the Tutsi overlord class, and the Belgian colonialists themselves added to the growing unrest. The Hutu "emancipation" movement was soon spearheaded by Gregoire Kayibanda, founder of [[Parmehutu]], who wrote his "Hutu Manifesto" in 1957. The group quickly became militarized.

In reaction, in 1959 the UNAR party was formed by Tutsis who desired an immediate independence for Ruanda-Urundi, to be based on the existing Tutsi monarchy. This group also became quickly militarized. Skirmishes began between UNAR and PARMEHUTU groups. Then in July 1959, the Tutsi Mwami (King) [[Mutara III]] Charles was believed by Rwandan Tutsis to have been assassinated when he died following a routine vaccination by a Flemish physician in Bujumbura. His younger half-brother then became the next Tutsi monarch, Mwami (King) [[Kigeli V]].

In November 1959, Tutsi forces beat up a Hutu politician, [[Dominique Mbonyumutwa]], and rumors of his death set off a violent backlash against the Tutsi known as "the wind of destruction." Thousands of Tutsis were killed and many thousands more, including the Mwami, fled to neighboring Uganda before Belgian commandos arrived to quell the violence. Several Belgians were subsequently accused by Tutsi leaders of abetting the Hutus in the violence. Tutsi [[refugee]]s also fled to the South Kivu province of the Congo, where they called themselves ''Banyamulenge''. They eventually became a primary force in the First and Second Congo Wars.

In 1960, the Belgian government agreed to hold democratic municipal elections in Ruanda-Urundi, in which Hutu representatives were elected by the Hutu majorities. This precipitous change in the power structure threatened the centuries-old system by which Tutsi superiority had been maintained through monarchy. An effort to create an independent Ruanda-Urundi with Tutsi-Hutu power sharing failed, largely due to escalating violence. The Belgian government, with UN urging, therefore decided to divide Ruanda-Urundi into two separate countries, Rwanda and Burundi. Each had elections in 1961 in preparation for independence.

In 1961, Rwandans voted, by referendum and with the support of the Belgian colonial government, to abolish the Tutsi monarchy and instead establish a republic. [[Dominique Mbonyumutwa]], who had survived his previous attack, was named the first president of the transitional government. This attack was the pretext used to explain that Tutsis were dangerous and had to be killed. [[Burundi]], by contrast, established a [[constitutional monarchy]], and in the 1961 elections leading up to independence, [[Louis Rwagasore]], the son of the Tutsi Mwami and a popular politician and anti-colonial agitator, was elected as Prime Minister. However, he was soon assassinated. The monarchy, with the aid of the military, therefore assumed control of the country, and allowed no further elections until 1965.

Between 1961 and 1962, Tutsi guerrilla groups staged attacks into Rwanda from neighboring countries. Rwandan Hutu-based troops responded and thousands more were killed in the clashes.

On July 1, 1962, Belgium, with UN supervision, granted full independence to the two countries. Rwanda was created as a republic governed by the majority Party of the Hutu Emancipation Movement (Parmehutu), which had gained full control of national politics by this time. In 1963, a Tutsi guerrilla invasion into Rwanda from Burundi unleashed another anti-Tutsi backlash by the Hutu government in Rwanda, and an estimated 14,000 people were killed. In response, a previous economic union between Rwanda and Burundi was dissolved and tensions between the two countries worsened. Rwanda also now became a Hutu-dominated one-party state. In excess of 70,000 people had been killed.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} It was thought for a while that [[British Royal Marines]] then stationed in Tanzania might be sent to Rwanda to stop the horrific loss of life there.{{By whom|date=March 2009}}

===Post-independence===
[[File:DF-SC-83-02204.jpg|thumb|right|[[Juvénal Habyarimana]] during a visit to the United States, 1980]]
[[Gregoire Kayibanda]], founder of Parmehutu (and a Hutu) was the first president (from 1962 to 1973), followed by [[Juvenal Habyarimana]] (who was president from 1973 to 1994). The latter, also a Hutu (from the northwest of Rwanda), took power from Kayibanda in a 1973 coup, claiming the government to have been ineffective and riddled with favoritism.

He installed his own political party into government. Thereafter political parties were banned and one party rule effected. Rwanda enjoyed relative economic prosperity during the early part of his regime due to rising coffee and tea prices, the country's main exports, however only a small political elite connected to the President and his family would benefit from the country's growing prosperity.

=== Civil War and Genocide===

{{Main|Rwandan Civil War}}

In the 1980s the economic situation worsened and the incumbent president, [[Juvénal Habyarimana]], began losing popularity. At the same time, Tutsi refugees in Uganda - supported by some moderate Hutus - were forming the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Their aim was to secure their right to return to their homeland and threatened to wage an armed struggle. Habyarimana chose to exploit this threat as a way to bring dissident Hutus back to his side, and Tutsis inside Rwanda were accused of being RPF collaborators.

In 1990 the [[Rwandan Patriotic Front]] (RPF), a rebel group, composed mostly of the Tutsi refugees, invaded northern Rwanda from [[Uganda]]. The [[Rwandan Civil War]], fought between the Hutu regime, with support from [[Francophone]] [[Francophone Africa|nations of Africa]] and France itself,<ref>Wallis, Andrew. ''Silent accomplice''. 2006, page 38-41</ref><ref>Walter, Barbara F. and Snyder, Jack L. ''Civil Wars, Insecurity, and Intervention''. 1999, page 135</ref> and the RPF, with support from Uganda, vastly increased the ethnic tensions in the country and led to the rise of Hutu Power, an ideology that asserted that the Tutsi intended to enslave Hutus and thus must be resisted at all costs. Despite continuing ethnic strife, including the displacement of large numbers of Hutu in the north by the rebels and periodic localized extermination of Tutsi to the south, pressure on the government of Juvénal Habyarimana resulted in a cease-fire in 1993 and the preliminary implementation of the [[Arusha Accords]].

On April 6, 1994 Rwandan President Habyarimana and the Burundian President were killed when Habyarimana's plane was shot down near Kigali Airport. Hutu extremists, suspecting that the Rwandan president was finally about to implement the Arusha Peace Accords, are believed to have been behind the attack.<ref>[http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2010/01/the-mutsinzi-report-on-the-rwandan-genocide.html New Yorker: The Mutsinzi Report on the Rwandan Genocide, Philip Gourevitch"]</ref><ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/evil/etc/slaughter.html PBS: 100 Days of Slaughter, A chronology of US/UN inaction"]</ref> The shooting down of the plane served as the trigger for the Genocide. In the course of the next few months the [[Hutu]] majority in Rwanda organized and implemented the mass slaughter of the [[Tutsi]] minority. Hundreds of thousands of Rwanda's Tutsis and Hutu political moderates were killed on the orders of the Hutu dominated government under the [[Hutu Power]] ideology. Over the course of approximately 100 days, from the [[Assassination of Habyarimana and Ntaryamira|assassination]] of [[Juvénal Habyarimana]] on 6 April through mid-July, at least 500,000 people were killed.<ref name=A>{{cite book|last=Des Forges|first=Alison|title=Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda|publisher=Human Rights Watch|year=1999|location=|pages=|url=http://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/rwanda|isbn=1-56432-171-1|accessdate=2007-01-12}}</ref> Estimates of the [[death toll]] have ranged between 500,000 and 1,000,000,<ref>See, e.g., [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1288230.stm Rwanda: How the genocide happened], [[BBC]], April 1, 2004, which gives an estimate of 800,000, and [http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/subjindx/121rwan.htm OAU sets inquiry into Rwanda genocide], Africa Recovery, Vol. 12 1#1 (August 1998), page 4, which estimates the number at between 500,000 and 1,000,000. 7 out of every 10 Tutsis were killed.</ref> or as much as 20% of the total population of the country.

The [[Assassination of Habyarimana and Ntaryamira|assassination of Habyarimana]] in April 1994 was the proximate cause of the mass killings of Tutsis and pro-peace Hutus. They were carried out primarily by two Hutu militias associated with political parties: the [[Interahamwe]] and the [[Impuzamugambi]]. The genocide was directed by a Hutu power group known as the [[Akazu]]. The killing also marked the end of the peace agreement meant to end the war and the Tutsi RPF restarted their offensive, eventually defeating the army and seizing control of the country.

===Post-civil war===

Approximately two million Hutus, participants in the genocide, and the bystanders, with anticipation of Tutsi retaliation, fled from Rwanda, to [[Burundi]], [[Tanzania]], [[Uganda]], and for the most part [[Zaire]]. Thousands of them died in epidemics of diseases common to the squalor of refugee camps, such as [[cholera]] and [[dysentery]].<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.unhcr.org/publ/PUBL/3ebf9bb60.pdf Ch. 10: "The Rwandan genocide and its aftermath"]}} in ''State of the World's Refugees 2000'', [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]]</ref> The United States staged the [[Operation Support Hope]] airlift from July to September 1994 to stabilize the situation in the camps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/support_hope.htm|title=Operation Support Hope|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|date=2005-04-27 |accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref>

After the victory of the RPF, the size of UNAMIR (henceforth called UNAMIR 2) was increased to its full strength, remaining in Rwanda until March 8, 1996.<ref>[http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/co_mission/unamir.htm Homepage] for the [[United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda]], un.org</ref>

In October 1996, an uprising by the ethnic Tutsi [[Banyamulenge]] people in eastern Zaire marked the beginning of the [[First Congo War]], and led to a return of more than 600,000 to Rwanda during the last two weeks of November. This massive repatriation was followed at the end of December 1996 by the return of 500,000 more from Tanzania after they were ejected by the Tanzanian government. Various successor organizations to the Hutu militants operated in eastern DR Congo until May 22, 2009.

===Political development===
After its military victory in July 1994, the [[Rwandan Patriotic Front]] organized a coalition government similar to that established by President [[Juvénal Habyarimana]] in 1992. Called The Broad Based Government of National Unity, its fundamental law is based on a combination of the constitution, the Arusha accords, and political declarations by the parties. The [[MRND]] party was outlawed. Political organizing was banned until 2003. The first post-war presidential and legislative elections were held in August and September 2003 respectively.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}

The current government prohibits discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race or religion. The government has also passed laws prohibiting emphasis on Hutu or Tutsi identity in most types of political activity.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}

In March 1998, on a visit to Rwanda, U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] spoke to the crowd assembled on the tarmac at [[Kigali Airport]]: "We come here today partly in recognition of the fact that we in the United States and the world community did not do as much as we could have and should have done to try to limit what occurred" in Rwanda.<ref>Power, Samantha. "Bystanders to Genocide." Atlantic Monthly. Sept. 2001.<http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200109/power-genocide>.</ref> Four years after the genocide, Clinton issued what is now known as the "Clinton apology," acknowledging his failure to efficiently deal with the situation in Rwanda, but not formally apologizing for inaction by the U.S. government or the international community.

In March 2000, after removing [[Pasteur Bizimungu]], [[Paul Kagame]] became President of Rwanda. On August 25, 2003 Kagame won the first national elections since the RPF took power in 1994.

===Rebuilding===

[[File:Kagame.jpg|thumb|President [[Paul Kagame]] in 2006]]
A new constitution, written by the Kagame government, was then adopted by referendum in 2003. The first post-war presidential and legislative elections were held in August and September 2003, respectively. The stated RPF-led government goals were to promote reconciliation and unity among all Rwandans through the new constitution by forbidding any political activity or discrimination based on race, ethnicity or religion. Right of return to Rwandans displaced between 1959 and 1994, was enshrined in the constitution and the constitution guarantees "All persons originating from Rwanda and their descendants shall, upon their request, be entitled to Rwandan nationality" and "No Rwandan shall be banished from the country."<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.cjcr.gov.rw/eng/constitution_eng.doc|title=The Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda|accessdate=2007-06-04|date=2003-05-26|publisher=Government of Rwanda, Kigali}}</ref>

By law, at least a third of the Parliamentary representation must be female. In the parliamentary election of September 2008, 56% of seats were won by women.<ref>[http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=736 "Rwandan Women Secure 56% of Parliamentary Seats in Historic Election Result"]. United Nations Development Fund for Women. Retrieved on 2009-01-30.</ref>

The [[Senate]] has at least 26 members, each with a term of eight years. Eight posts are appointed by the president. 12 are elected representatives of the former 11 provinces and the city of Kigali. Four members are designated by the Forum of Political Organizations (a quasi-governmental organization that currently is an arm of the dominant political party); one member is a university lecturer or researcher elected by the public universities; one member is a university lecturer or researcher elected by the private universities. Any past President has permanent membership in the Senate. Under this scheme, up to 12 appointees to the Senate are appointed by the President and his party. The elected members must be approved by the Supreme Court. The 14 Supreme Court members are designated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Chamber of Deputies has 80 members, each with a 5 year term; 24 posts are reserved for women and are elected by province; 53 posts can be men or women and are also are elected by local elections; 2 posts are elected by the National Youth Council; 1 post is elected by Federation of the Associations of the Disabled.

The President and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies must be from different political parties. The President is elected every seven years, and may serve a maximum of two terms. In 2006, however, the structure of the country was reorganized. It is unclear how this affects current elected representation proportions.

The current Rwandan government, led by [[Paul Kagame]], has been praised by many for establishing security and promoting reconciliation and economic development, but is also criticized by some for being overly militant and opposed to dissent. The country now has many international visitors and is regarded as the safest country in East and Central Africa.

With new independent radio stations and other media arising, Rwanda is attempting a [[freedom of the press|free press]], but the Government has been criticized for cracking down on journalists who have questioned the government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=20737|title=Rwanda - 2007 Annual Report|date=2007-05-02|publisher=[[Reporters Without Borders]], Paris, France}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opcofamerica.org/press_freedom/letters/080207_rwandaletter.php|title=OPC Letter to Rwanda|date=2007-02-15|publisher=Overseas Press Club of America, New York, USA}}</ref>

On 2 December 2009, Rwanda became the first country to be declared [[demining|free of landmines]] under the [[Ottawa Treaty]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8388822.stm|title=Rwanda – first landmine-free country|date=2 December 2009|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2 December 2009}}</ref>

===Rebuilding the economy===

The government initiated an economic stabilization and recovery program in 1994, which led to a major economic turnaround over the period between 1994 and 2001. The government restructured the country's external debt through the Paris Club, secured a three-year support loan from IMF/World Bank, abolished export taxes, initiated rehabilitation of the banking sector, liberalized trade, currency and wage regimes, achieved full current account convertibility, firmed up the independence of the Central Bank, and launched the restructuring and privatisation of public entities.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}

Between 1994 and 1997, the GDP growth rate rose by nearly 70%. In the following years, growth remained relatively high (between 6% and 9%). The last three years have also seen spectacular GDP growth at an average rate of over 8%. In 2008 Rwanda registered double digit growth at 11.2%.

[[File:Rw-map.png|thumb|right|260px|Map of Rwanda]]

==Administrative divisions==
{{Main|Provinces of Rwanda|Districts of Rwanda}}
Rwanda is divided into five [[Provinces of Rwanda|provinces]] ({{lang|rw|''intara''}}) and subdivided into thirty [[Districts of Rwanda|districts]] ({{lang|rw|''akarere''}}). The provinces are:
* [[Northern Province, Rwanda|Northern Province]]
* [[Eastern Province, Rwanda|Eastern Province]]
* [[Southern Province, Rwanda|Southern Province]]
* [[Western Province, Rwanda|Western Province]]
* [[Kigali Province, Rwanda|Kigali Province]]

Prior to 1 January 2006, Rwanda was composed of twelve provinces (known as prefectures up to 2001), but these were abolished in full and redrawn as part of a program of decentralization and reorganization.

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Rwanda}}
{{MapLibrary|Rwanda_sat.png|left|Rwanda}}
[[File:Nyabarongo.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The [[Nyabarongo]] river flowing through Rwanda to Lake Victoria and the [[Nile]] river.]]
This small country, slightly smaller than the [[United States|US]] [[U.S. State|state]] of [[Massachusetts]] or half the size of [[Scotland]], is located near the center of Africa, a few degrees south of the [[Equator]]. It is separated from the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] by [[Lake Kivu]] and the [[Ruzizi River]] valley to the west; it is bounded on the north by [[Uganda]], to the east by [[Tanzania]], and to the south by [[Burundi]]. The capital, [[Kigali]], is located in the center of the country.

Rwanda's countryside is covered by grasslands and small farms extending over rolling hills, with areas of rugged mountains that extend southeast from a chain of volcanoes in the northwest. The divide between the [[Congo River|Congo]] and [[Nile]] drainage systems extends from north to south through western Rwanda at an average elevation of almost {{convert|9000|ft|m|0}}.

On the western slopes of this ridgeline, the land slopes abruptly toward [[Lake Kivu]] and the Ruzizi River valley, and constitutes part of the [[Great Rift Valley]]. This western section of the country lies within the [[Albertine Rift montane forests]] [[ecoregion]].

The eastern slopes are more moderate, with rolling hills extending across central uplands at gradually reducing altitudes, to the plains, swamps, and lakes of the eastern border region. Therefore the country is also fondly known as "Land of a Thousand Hills" ({{lang|fr|''Pays des mille collines''}}). In 2006, a British-led exploration announced that they had located the longest headstream of the [[River Nile]] in [[Nyungwe Forest]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/4864782.stm|title=Team reaches Nile's 'true source'|accessdate=2006-12-04|date=2006-03-31|publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Rwanda}}

The transport system in Rwanda centres primarily around the road network, with paved roads between the capital, Kigali and most other major cities and towns in the country.<ref name="Bradt2006p63">Briggs and Booth 2006, p63</ref> Rwanda is also linked by road to other countries in [[East Africa]], notably to the port of [[Mombasa]] via [[Kampala]] and [[Nairobi]], which provides Rwanda's most important trade route.<ref>[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/22/36/34879173.pdf TRANSIT TRANSPORT COORDINATION AUTHORITY OF THE NORTHERN CORRIDOR] ''TRANSIT TRANSPORT COORDINATION AUTHORITY OF THE NORTHERN CORRIDOR''</ref> The country has an [[Kigali International Airport|international airport]] at Kigali, serving one domestic and several international destinations.<ref name="Bradt2006p35">Briggs and Booth 2006, p35</ref><ref name="Bradt2006p62">Briggs and Booth 2006, p62</ref> There is no public water transport between the port cities on Lake Kivu, although a limited private service exists.<ref name="Bradt2006p64">Briggs and Booth 2006, p64</ref> A large amount of investment in the transport infrastructure has been made by the government since the 1994 genocide, with aid from the [[USA]], [[European Union]], [[Japan]] and others.

[[File:Rwandair Express.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Rwandair Express]], [[Kigali International Airport]], Rwanda.]]
The principal form of [[public transport]] in the country is [[share taxi]], with express routes linking the major cities and local services serving most villages along the main roads of the country. [[Coach (vehicle)|Coach]] services are available to various destinations in neighbouring countries.
[[Image:KigaliAirport.jpg|thumb|325px|right|[[Kigali International Airport]]]]

In 2006, the Chinese government proposed funding a study for the building of a railway link from [[Bujumbura]] in Burundi to [[Kigali]] in Rwanda to [[Isaka]] in Tanzania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://railwaysafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=563&Itemid=35|title=China to Assist Rwanda|date=2006-09-07|publisher=Railways Africa, Gauteng, South Africa}}</ref> A delegation from the American railroad [[BNSF Railway|BNSF]] also met with President Paul Kagame to discuss a route from Kigali to Isaka and at the same time the government announced that it had selected a German consulting company to undertake pilot work for the proposed rail line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200704250668.html|title=Rwanda: Kagame Meets Railway Expert|date=2007-04-27|work=The New Times|location=Kigali, Rwanda}}</ref>

==Communications==
For now, Rwanda leads the region in terms of ICT adoption and infrastructure development. The country has a 100% mobile telecommunication coverage.
Three Mobile phone operators (MTN, RwandaTel & TIGO) provide 3G mobile phone and internet services.

In 2009, WiBro technology was launched in Kigali enabling users to access high speed wireless Internet from any part of the city.

The postal system is mostly reliable. Those wishing to receive post must register and pay for annually, a Post Office Box at the Post Office.

There is one national television station: Rwanda Television which broadcasts feeds from various international broadcasters during the day. The evening programming largely consists of locally produced news programming repeated in Kinyarwanda, English and French.

Subscription-based satellite television is easily available. There are currently two operators: South African based DSTV and China based Star Communications.

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Rwanda}}
[[Image:MarabaPacket2.jpg|thumb|right|130px|Coffee, such as this bag of [[Maraba Coffee]], is one of Rwanda's major cash crops.]]
Rwanda's economy suffered heavily during the 1994 genocide, with widespread loss of life, failure to maintain the infrastructure, looting and neglect of important cash crops causing a large drop in GDP and destroying the country's ability to attract private and external investment.<ref name="CIA">https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rw.html The World Factbook - Rwanda] United States [[Central Intelligence Agency]]</ref> The country has since strengthened, with per-capita GDP ([[Purchasing power parity|PPP]]) estimated at [[Geary-Khamis dollar|$]]951 in 2008,<ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=38&pr.y=13&sy=2008&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=714&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= Gross domestic product based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) per capita GDP, Rwanda, 1994] [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/index.aspx World Economic Outlook Database, April 2008], [[International Monetary Fund]]</ref> compared with just $390 in 1994.<ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=63&pr.y=14&sy=1994&ey=1994&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=714&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= Gross domestic product based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) per capita GDP, Rwanda, 2008] [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/index.aspx World Economic Outlook Database, April 2008], [[International Monetary Fund]]</ref> Major export markets include China, Germany and the United States.<ref name="CIA" /> The currency is the [[Rwandan franc]] and the economy is managed by the central [[National Bank of Rwanda]], although Rwanda recently joined the [[East African Community]] and there are plans for a common [[East African shilling (new)|East African shilling]], which could be in place by 2010.<ref>[http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1689901,00.html East African currency coming] [[News24]], South Africa</ref>

Rwanda is a country of few natural resources, and the economy is based mostly on semi-subsistence agriculture by local farmers using simple tools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/w5836e/w5836e00.htm|title=Special Report on Rwanda, July 97|accessdate=2009-02-04|work=CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO RWANDA|publisher=[[Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|FAO]]/[[World Food Programme|WFP]]|date=1997-07-01}}</ref> An estimated 90% of the working population farms, and agriculture comprised an estimated 39.4% of GDP in 2006.<ref name="CIA" /> Since the mid 1980s, farm sizes have and food production have been decreasing, due in part to the resettlement of displaced people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://earthtrends.wri.org/text/agriculture-food/country-profile-153.html|title=Agriculture and Food COUNTRY PROFILE - Rwanda|accessdate=2009-02-04|work=EarthTrends: The Environmental Information Portal |publisher=[[Earth Resources Institute]] |year=2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.traveldocs.com/rw/economy.htm |title=Rwanda - Economy |accessdate=2009-02-04 |publisher=Travel Document Systems, Inc}}</ref> Thus despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with population growth, requiring food imports.<ref name="CIA" /> Crops grown in the country include [[coffee]], [[tea]], [[pyrethrum]], [[banana]]s, [[bean]]s, [[sorghum]] and [[potatoes]]. Coffee and tea are the major cash crops for export, with the high altitudes, steep slopes and volcanic soils providing favourable conditions. Reliance on agricultural exports makes Rwanda vulnerable to shifts in their prices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp236_e.htm|title=Continued reforms and technical assistance should help Rwanda in its efforts to achieve a dynamic economy|accessdate=2009-02-04|work=TRADE POLICY REVIEW: RWANDA|publisher=[[World Trade Organization]]|date=2004-09-30}}</ref>

[[Image:Gorilla mother and baby at Volcans National Park.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The [[mountain gorilla]] is Rwanda's leading tourist attraction]]
Livestock are raised throughout the country, with animal husbandry contributing around 8.8% of GDP in 2006.<ref name="MinAgriLivestock">{{cite web |url=http://www.minagri.gov.rw/article.php3?id_article=23 |title=Livestock production |accessdate=2009-02-05 |publisher=Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture |date=2006-06-10 }}</ref> Animals raised in Rwanda include [[cow]]s, [[goat]]s, [[sheep]], [[pig]]s, [[chicken]] and [[rabbit]]s, with geographical variation in the numbers of each.<ref name="MinAgriLivestock" /> Production systems are mostly traditional, although there are a few intensive dairy farms around Kigali.<ref name="MinAgriLivestock" /> Shortage of land, water shortage, insufficient and poor quality feed and regular disease epidemics with insufficient veterinary service are major constraints, restricting output in this sector. Fishing takes place on the country's lakes, but stocks are very depleted and live fish are now being imported in an attempt to revive the industry.<ref>{{cite news |first=Berna |last=Namata |title=Rwanda to restock water bodies with fisheries |url=http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13758&article=1108&week=45 |publisher=[[The New Times]] |date=2008-12-28 |accessdate=5 February 2009 }}</ref>

The industrial sector is small and uncompetitive.<ref name="WFP">{{cite web|url=http://www.wfp.org/country_brief/indexcountry.asp?country=646|title=World Hunger - Rwanda|accessdate=2006-12-04|publisher=[[World Food Program]]}}</ref> Products manufactured include cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes.<ref name="CIA" /> Despite being a landlocked country of few natural resources, Rwanda's mining industry is an important contributor, generating [[United States dollar|US$]]93 million in 2008.<ref name="NewTimesMining">{{cite web |url=http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13776&article=12470 |title=Mining industry generated $93 million in 2008 |accessdate=2009-02-04 |publisher=[[The New Times]] |date=2009-01-15 }}</ref> Minerals mined include [[cassiterite]], [[coltan]], [[wolfram]], and [[gold]] and [[coltan]], which is used in the manufacture of electronic and communication devices such as mobile phones.<ref name="NewTimesMining" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.int/drcongo/war/coltan.htm |title=What Is Coltan? |accessdate=2009-02-04 |author=Imtiyaz Delawala |work=Nightline |publisher=[[ABC news]] |date=2001-09-07 }}</ref>

[[Tourism in Rwanda|Tourism]] is one of the fastest growing sectors and is now the country's leading foreign exchange earner, generating US$214 million in 2008, up by 54% on the previous year.<ref name="ORTPN">{{cite web |url=http://www.rwandatourism.com/tourism_performance_2008.htm |title=Tourism and Conservation Performance in 2008 |accessdate=2009-02-07 |publisher=Rwanda Tourist Board (ORTPN) |date=2009-01-06 }}</ref> Despite the genocide, the country is increasingly perceived internationally as a safe destination,<ref name="Bradt2001pviii">Briggs and Booth 2001, Introduction viii</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1007.html |title=Rwanda - Country Specific Information |accessdate=2009-02-07 |work=[http://travel.state.gov International Travel Information] |publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]] |date=2009-02-06 }}</ref> and one million people are estimated to have visited the country in 2008, up from 826,374 in 2007.<ref name="ORTPN" /> The country's most popular tourist activity is the tracking of [[mountain gorilla]]s, which takes place in the [[Volcanoes National Park]].<ref name="Bradt2001pviii" /><ref>Briggs and Booth 2006, p204</ref> Other attractions include [[Nyungwe Forest]], home to [[chimpanzee]]s, [[Black-and-white colobus|Ruwenzori colobus]] and other [[primate]]s,<ref>Briggs and Booth 2006, p140-141</ref> the resorts of [[Lake Kivu]],<ref>Briggs and Booth 2006, p165</ref> and [[Akagera National Park|Akagera]], a small [[savanna reserve]] in the east of the country.<ref>Briggs and Booth 2006, p229</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Rwanda}}
[[File:Rwandan children at Volcans National Park.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Rural children.]]
Most Rwandans speak [[Kinyarwanda]], one of the country's three official languages, and in market towns many people speak [[Swahili language|Swahili]]. Educated Rwandans speak French and English. In 2008 the Rwandan government announced that English would become the primary language of instruction in schools, replacing French as the primary language of instruction.

This change was initiated to ensure further integration with the global economic community. Rwanda was admitted in November 2009 to membership of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].<ref name=Adieu>{{cite news
| author = Stephanie McCrummen
| title = Rwandans Say Adieu to Français
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/27/AR2008102703165.html
| work = The Washington Post
| location = Washington, D.C.
| page = A10
| date= 2008-10-28
| accessdate = 2008-11-08
}}</ref>

==== Religion ====
{{Main|Religion in Rwanda}}
{{bar box
|title=[[Religion in Rwanda]]<ref name=DOS/>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=religion
|right1=percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Roman Catholic]]|Purple|56.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Protestant]]|Blue|37.1}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|4.6}}
{{bar percent| [[Irreligion|Irreligious]]|Yellow|1.7}}
{{bar percent|[[indigenous religion|Indigenous]]|Orange|0.1}}
}}

Most Rwandans are Christian, with significant changes since the genocide.

A 2006 study reported that 56.5 percent of the population were Catholic (with a 6.9% increase since the 2001 survey), 37.1 percent Protestant (of which 11.1 percent are Seventh Day Adventists, and 14,000 Jehovah's Witnesses), 4.6 percent Muslim, 1.7 claimed no religious beliefs, and 0.1 percent practiced traditional indigenous beliefs<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90115.htm U.S. Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report 2007]</ref>.

Figures from 2001 survey were 49.6 % Catholic, 43.9 % Protestant, 4.6 % Muslim, 1.7 % no religious beliefs, and 0.1 % traditional indigenous beliefs. This represented a 19.9 percent increase in the number of Protestants, a 7.6 percent drop in the number of Catholics, and a 3.5 percent increase in the number of Muslims from the U.N. Population Fund survey in 1996.

There has been a proliferation of small, usually Christian-linked schismatic religious groups since the 1994 Genocide.<ref name=DOS>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35377.htm U.S. Department of State]</ref>
The figures for Protestants include the growing number of members of Jehovah's Witnesses and evangelical Protestant groups. There also is a small population of [[Baha'i]]s and Jews.<ref>[http://www.pluralism.org/news/article.php?id=8966 Thousands Outraged at Aquittal [sic] in '94 Bombing of Jewish Community Center (Argentina)]</ref><ref>[http://www.bahainews.ca/en/071010umutoni Rwandan genocide survivor visits Canada | Canadian Bahá’í News Service]</ref>

The Muslim community may have grown in part because Muslims are reported to have saved the lives of many Tutsis from Hutu attacks.<ref name="WashingtonPost"/><ref name="Tiemessen"/> Some estimate the Muslim population of the country to be as high as 14%.<ref name="BBC">
{{cite news
| author = Robert Walke
| title = Rwanda's religious reflections
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3561365.stm
| publisher = BBC
| date= 2004-04-01
| accessdate = 2008-08-23
}}</ref><ref name="WashingtonPost">
{{cite news
| author = Emily Wax
| title = Islam Attracting Many Survivors of Rwanda Genocide
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53018-2002Sep22.html
| publisher = The Washington Post
| location = Washington, D.C.
| page = A10
| date= 2002-11-23
| accessdate = 2007-12-04
}}</ref><ref name="Tiemessen">
Tiemessen, Alana (2005) ''[http://www.cpsa-acsp.ca/papers-2005/tiemessen.pdf From Genocide to Jihad: Islam and Ethnicity in Post-Genocide Rwanda].'' Paper presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Political Science Association, London, Ontario.</ref><ref>
[http://www.islamawareness.net/Fastest/rwanda2.html Times Daily]</ref>

According to the ''World Refugee Survey 2008'', published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Rwanda hosted 54,200 refugees and asylum seekers in 2007. Approximately 51,300 refugees and asylum seekers were from the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] and 2,900 from [[Burundi]].<ref name="World Refugee Survey 2008">{{cite news|title=World Refugee Survey 2008|publisher=U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants|date=2008-06-19|url=http://www.refugees.org/survey}}</ref>

===Health===
Fertility is at about six births per woman.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org">[http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/data_sheets/cty_ds_RWA.html Human Development Report 2009 - Rwanda]</ref> [[HIV]] prevalence was at about 3 % of the 15-49 year olds in 2005.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> Public expenditure was at 4.3 % of the [[GDP]] in 2004, whereas private expenditure was 3.2 %.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> There were 5 physicians per 100,000 people in 2000-2004.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> [[Infant mortality]] was at 118 per 1,000 live births in 2005.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/>

==Culture==
{{Expand section|date=December 2009}}
{{See also|Human rights in Rwanda}}
=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Rwanda}}

=== LGBT rights ===
{{Main|LGBT rights in Rwanda}}
[[Homosexuality]] is legal in Rwanda, although no specific laws regarding homosexuality exist.<ref name="Spartacus International Gay Guide 2007">Spartacus International Gay Guide, page 1216. Bruno Gmunder Verlag, 2007.</ref>

On December 16, 2009, Rwanda discussed legislation that would criminalize homosexuality, proposing 5–10 years imprisonment.<ref>[http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2009/12/africas-culture-war-the-fight-over-ugandas-antigay-bill.html Africa’s Culture War: The Fight Over Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill - The World Newser]</ref> This legislation is similar to the controversial [[Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill|Anti-Homosexuality Bill]] in the neighboring country of Uganda, which would penalize homosexuals with imprisonment and (in cases of relations with a minor or a disabled person, in cases where the "offender" is [[HIV]]-positive and in cases of repeated homosexual acts)<ref>[http://ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/anti-gay-bill-uganda-challenges-catholics-take-stand Anti-gay bill in Uganda challenges Catholics to take a stand | National Catholic Reporter]</ref> the death penalty.

==Education==
Net primary enrollment rate was at 74 % in 2004.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> Public expenditure was at 3.8 % of the GDP in 2002-2005.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> A significant minority of the adult population of Rwanda is [[Literacy|illiterate]], particularly women.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> Public primary education has become fee-free.<ref>[http://www.mineduc.gov.rw/spip.php?article21 Republic Of Rwanda - Ministry of Education]</ref> [[Kinyarwanda]], French and English are taught generally.<ref>[http://www.mineduc.gov.rw/spip.php?article72 Site en travaux]</ref> Rwanda has several universities.<ref>[http://www.mineduc.gov.rw/spip.php?article277 Site en travaux]</ref>

===Primary and Secondary===

See [[List of schools in Rwanda]]

===Post Secondary Institutions===

There are 20 places of higher education in Rwanda with 6 public and 14 private<ref>[http://www.rwandagateway.org/education/article.php3?id_article=99 Rwandan Development Gateway]</ref>:

''Public''
* [[Kigali Institute of Science and Technology]] (est. 1998 by [[UNDP]]) <ref>[http://www.kist.ac.rw/ Kigali Institute of Science and Technology]</ref>
* [[National University of Rwanda]] (1963)
* [[Umutara Polytechnic]] (2004)
* [[Kigali Institute of Education]]
* [[Kigali Health Institute]]
* [[Higher Agriculture and Veterinary Institute]]
* [[School of Finance and Banking]]

''Private''

* Adventist University of Central Africa
* Kigali Independent University
* Kigali Lay Adventist University
* Gitwe Institute of Education
* Kibungo University of Agriculture, Technology and Education
* Kabgayi Catholic University
* Butare Protestant Theological College
* International College of Accountancy and Management
* Nyakibanda Major Seminary
* Byumba Polytechnic Institute
* Rwanda Pentecostal University
* Kigali Professional Institute
== International rankings ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Organization
! Survey
! Ranking
|-
| Institute for Economics and Peace [http://www.economicsandpeace.org]
| [[Global Peace Index]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi/home.php |title=Vision of Humanity |publisher=Vision of Humanity |date= |accessdate=2010-02-04}}</ref>
| 86 out of 144
|-
| [[United Nations Development Programme]]
| [[Human Development Index]]
| 167 out of 182
|-
| [[Transparency International]]
| [[Corruption Perceptions Index]]
| 89 out of 180
|}

==See also==
{{Main|Outline of Rwanda|Index of Rwanda-related articles}}
* [[History of Rwanda]]
* [[Rwandan Genocide]]
* [[International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda]]
* [[Politics of Rwanda]]
* [[Education in Rwanda]]
* [[Geography of Rwanda]]
* [[Transport in Rwanda]]
* [[Economy of Rwanda]]
* [[Demographics of Rwanda]]
* [[Religion in Rwanda]]
* [[Rwandan parliamentary election, 2008]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

===Cited texts===
{{refbegin}}
* Briggs, Philip & Booth, Janice (2006) ''Rwanda - The Bradt Travel Guide''. 3rd ed. London: Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 1841621803
* Chrétien, Jean-Pierre (2003) ''The Great Lakes of Africa: Two Thousand Years of History'' Hardcover ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. ISBN 189095134X
* Dorsey, Learthen (1994) ''Historical Dictionary of Rwanda''. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0810828200
* Munyakazi, Augustine & Ntagaramba, Johnson Funga (2005). ''Atlas of Rwanda'' French ed. Oxford: Macmillan Education. ISBN 0333954513
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Rwanda}}
;Government
* [http://www.gov.rw/ The Republic of Rwanda] official government site
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-r/rwanda.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]

;General
* {{CIA World Factbook link|rw|Rwanda}}
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/rwanda.htm Rwanda] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Africa/Rwanda}}
* {{wikiatlas|Rwanda}}

;Travel
* [http://www.rwandatourism.com Rwanda Tourism] official Rwanda Tourism Board site
* [http://www.kwitizina.org Kwita Izina web site] Kwita Izina -the Official Baby Gorilla Naming
* [http://www.rwandair.co.uk Airline web site UK]

;Ceremony site
* {{wikitravel}}

{{Template group
|title = Articles Related to Rwanda
|list =
{{Rwanda topics|state=expanded}}
{{Template group
|title = [[File:Gnome-globe.svg|25px]]{{nbsp}}Geographic locale
|list =
'''[[Geographic coordinate system|Lat. and Long.]] {{Coord|1|56|38|S|30|3|34|E|display=inline}} (Kigali)'''
{{Countries of Africa}}
{{Former German colonies}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{African Union (AU)}}
{{La Francophonie}}
{{Commonwealth of Nations}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = Languages
|list =
{{Niger-Congo-speaking}}
{{English official language clickable map}}
}}
}}


[[Category:Rwanda| ]]
[[Category:African countries]]
[[Category:African Union member states]]
[[Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations]]
[[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]]
[[Category:French-speaking countries]]
[[Category:Swahili-speaking countries and territories]]
[[Category:Bantu countries and territories]]
[[Category:Landlocked countries]]
[[Category:Least Developed Countries]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1962]]



[[ace:Rwanda]]
[[af:Rwanda]]
[[als:Ruanda]]
[[am:ሩዋንዳ]]
[[ar:رواندا]]
[[an:Ruanda]]
[[frp:Rouanda]]
[[ast:Ruanda]]
[[az:Ruanda]]
[[bm:Rwanda]]
[[bn:রুয়ান্ডা]]
[[zh-min-nan:Rwanda]]
[[be:Руанда]]
[[be-x-old:Руанда]]
[[bcl:Ruanda]]
[[bo:རུ་ཝན་ཌ།]]
[[bs:Ruanda]]
[[br:Rwanda]]
[[bg:Руанда]]
[[ca:Rwanda]]
[[ceb:Rwanda]]
[[cs:Rwanda]]
[[cy:Rwanda]]
[[da:Rwanda]]
[[de:Ruanda]]
[[dv:ރުވާންޑާ]]
[[nv:Wánda Dineʼé Bikéyah]]
[[et:Rwanda]]
[[el:Ρουάντα]]
[[es:Ruanda]]
[[eo:Ruando]]
[[eu:Ruanda]]
[[fa:رواندا]]
[[hif:Rwanda]]
[[fo:Ruanda]]
[[fr:Rwanda]]
[[fy:Rûanda]]
[[ga:Ruanda]]
[[gv:Rooandey]]
[[gd:Ruanda]]
[[gl:Ruanda - Rwanda]]
[[ko:르완다]]
[[hy:Ռուանդա]]
[[hi:रवांडा]]
[[hr:Ruanda]]
[[io:Ruanda]]
[[ilo:Rwanda]]
[[bpy:রুয়ান্ডা]]
[[id:Rwanda]]
[[ia:Ruanda]]
[[ie:Rwanda]]
[[os:Руандæ]]
[[is:Rúanda]]
[[it:Ruanda]]
[[he:רואנדה]]
[[jv:Rwanda]]
[[kn:ರ್ವಾಂಡ]]
[[pam:Rwanda]]
[[ka:რუანდა]]
[[kk:Руанда]]
[[kw:Rwanda]]
[[rw:Rwanda]]
[[rn:Rwanda]]
[[sw:Rwanda]]
[[kg:Rwanda]]
[[ht:Rwanda]]
[[ku:Rwanda]]
[[la:Ruanda]]
[[lv:Ruanda]]
[[lb:Ruanda]]
[[lt:Ruanda]]
[[lij:Ruanda]]
[[ln:Rwanda]]
[[lmo:Ruanda]]
[[hu:Ruanda]]
[[mk:Руанда]]
[[ml:റുവാണ്ട]]
[[mt:Rwanda]]
[[mr:र्‍वान्डा]]
[[arz:رواندا]]
[[ms:Rwanda]]
[[mn:Руанда]]
[[nah:Ruanda]]
[[nl:Rwanda]]
[[ja:ルワンダ]]
[[pih:R'wanda]]
[[no:Rwanda]]
[[nn:Rwanda]]
[[nov:Rwanda]]
[[oc:Rwanda]]
[[mhr:Руанда]]
[[uz:Ruanda]]
[[pnb:روانڈا]]
[[ps:راوانډا]]
[[pms:Ruanda]]
[[nds:Ruanda]]
[[pl:Rwanda]]
[[pt:Ruanda]]
[[crh:Ruanda]]
[[ro:Rwanda]]
[[qu:Rwanda]]
[[ru:Руанда]]
[[sah:Руанда]]
[[se:Rwanda]]
[[sa:रवाण्डा]]
[[sc:Ruanda]]
[[stq:Ruanda]]
[[sq:Ruanda]]
[[scn:Ruanna]]
[[simple:Rwanda]]
[[sk:Rwanda]]
[[sl:Ruanda]]
[[szl:Rwanda]]
[[so:Ruwanda]]
[[sr:Руанда]]
[[sh:Ruanda]]
[[fi:Ruanda]]
[[sv:Rwanda]]
[[tl:Ruwanda]]
[[ta:ருவாண்டா]]
[[te:రువాండా]]
[[th:ประเทศรวันดา]]
[[ti:ሩዋንዳ]]
[[tg:Руанда]]
[[tr:Ruanda]]
[[uk:Руанда]]
[[ur:روانڈا]]
[[ug:رۋاندا]]
[[vec:Ruanda]]
[[vi:Rwanda]]
[[vo:Ruandän]]
[[fiu-vro:Rwanda]]
[[war:Rwanda]]
[[wo:Ruwandaa]]
[[ts:Rwanda]]
[[yo:Rwanda]]
[[zh-yue:盧安達]]
[[diq:Rwanda]]
[[bat-smg:Ruanda]]
[[zh:卢旺达]]

Rwanda

2010-03-31T18:50:07Z

Elbasan101: /* Religion */ slopy wording

{{fixbunching|beg}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = {{lang|rw|''Repubulika y'u Rwanda''}} {{lang|fr|''République du Rwanda''}}
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Rwanda
|common_name = Rwanda
|image_flag = Flag_of_Rwanda.svg
|image_coat = Coat of arms of Rwanda.svg
|national_motto = ''Ubumwe, Umurimo, Gukunda Igihugu'' "Unity, Work, Patriotism"
|image_map = LocationRwanda.svg
|national_anthem = "{{lang|rw|''[[Rwanda nziza]]''}}"
|official_languages = [[Kinyarwanda]], [[French language|French]], [[English language|English]]
|languages_type = [[Lingua Franca|Vernacular language]]
|languages = [[Swahili]]
|demonym = Rwandan, Rwandese
|capital = [[Kigali]]
|latd=1 |latm=56.633 |latNS=S
|longd=30 |longm=3.567 |longEW=E
|government_type = [[Republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[List of Presidents of Rwanda|President]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Rwanda|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name1 = [[Paul Kagame]]
|leader_name2 = [[Bernard Makuza]]
|largest_city = Kigali
|area_km2 = 26,338
|area_sq_mi = 10,169 
|area_rank = 147th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|percent_water = 5.3
|population_estimate = 10,746,311<ref name=cia>{{cite web |author=Central Intelligence Agency |authorlink=CIA |publisher=[[The World Factbook]]|title=Rwanda |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rw.html |year=2009|accessdate=January 12, 2010}}</ref>
|population_estimate_year = January 2010
|population_estimate_rank = 80th
|population_census = 10,264,947<ref name=unpop2>{{cite paper | url=http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008_text_tables.pdf | title=World Population Prospects, Table A.8| version=2008 revision | format=.PDF |page=19| publisher=United Nations | author=Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division | year=2009 | accessdate= 2009-03-12}}</ref>
|population_census_year = 2010
|population_density_km2 = 401.4
|population_density_sq_mi = 1029.9 
|population_density_rank = 29th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP = $10.004 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=714&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=57&pr.y=18 |title=Rwanda|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2009-10-01}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank =
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,043<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
|GDP_nominal_rank =
|GDP_nominal = $4.459 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $465<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}}0.460
|HDI_rank = 167th
|HDI_category = low
|Gini = 45.1
|Gini_year = 2003
|Gini_category = medium
|sovereignty_type = [[Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = from [[Belgium]]
|established_event1 = Date
|established_date1 = July 1, 1962
|currency = [[Rwandan franc]]
|currency_code = RWF
|time_zone = [[Central Africa Time|CAT]]
|utc_offset = +2
|time_zone_DST = ''not observed''
|utc_offset_DST = +2
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.rw]]
|calling_code = 250
|footnotes = 1 Estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.
}}
{{fixbunching|end}}

The '''Republic of Rwanda''' ({{IPA-en|ruːˈændə}} {{respell|r'''oo'''|AN|də}} or {{IPA|/rəˈwɑːndə/}} {{respell|rə|WAHN|də}}; [[Kinyarwanda]] pronunciation {{IPA2|ɾwanda|}} or {{IPA2|ɾɡwanda}}), known as the ''Land of a Thousand Hills'', is a [[landlocked country]] located in the [[African Great Lakes|Great Lakes region]] of eastern-central [[Africa]], bordered by [[Uganda]], [[Burundi]], the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] and [[Tanzania]].

Although close to the [[equator]], the country has a cool temperate climate due to its high elevation. The terrain consists mostly of grassy uplands and gently rolling hills. Abundant wildlife, including rare [[mountain gorilla]]s, have resulted in tourism becoming one of the biggest sectors of the country's economy.

Rwanda has received considerable international attention due to its [[Rwandan Genocide|1994 genocide]], in which an estimated 800,000 people were killed.<ref>See, e.g., [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1288230.stm Rwanda: How the genocide happened], [[BBC]], April 1, 2004, which gives an estimate of 800,000, and [http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/subjindx/121rwan.htm OAU sets inquiry into Rwanda genocide], Africa Recovery, Vol. 12 1#1 (August 1998), page 4, which estimates the number at between 500,000 and 1,000,000.</ref> Since then the country has made a recovery and is now considered as a model for [[developing countries]]. In 2009 a CNN report labeled Rwanda as Africa's biggest success story, having achieved stability, economic growth (average income has tripled in the past ten years) and international integration.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/07/17/zakaria.rwanda/index.html CNN: Africa's Biggest Success Story, Zakaria "]</ref> The government is widely seen as one of the more efficient and honest ones in Africa. In 2007 ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine published an article titled "Why CEOs Love Rwanda." <ref>Gunther, Marc. "[http://money.cnn.com/2007/03/28/news/companies/pluggedin_Gunther_Rwanda.fortune/index.htm Fortune: Why CEO's Love Rwanda]." ''[[CNN]]''/''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]''. April 3, 2007. Retrieved on March 31, 2010.</ref>
The capital, [[Kigali]], is the first city in Africa to awarded the Habitat Scroll of Honor Award in the recognition of its "cleanliness, security and urban conservation model." <ref>[http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?typeid=19&catid=564&cid=6586 UN Habitat. "]</ref> In 2008, Rwanda became the first country to elect a national legislature in which a majority of members were women.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/26/AR2008102602197.html Siuberski, Philippe. "]</ref> Rwanda joined the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] on 29 November 2009 as its [[List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations|fifty-fourth member]],<ref name="rwanda">{{Cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/world/africa/29rwanda.html |title=Rwanda Joins British Commonwealth |author=Josh Kron |publisher=''[[The New York Times]]'' |date=2009-11-29 |accessdate=2009-11-29}}</ref> making the country one of only two in the Commonwealth without a [[British Empire|British colonial past]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8384930.stm BBC News - Rwanda becomes a member of the Commonwealth]</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Rwanda}}
===Pre-colonial period===
It is not known when the territory of present day Rwanda was first inhabited, but it is thought that humans moved into the area following the [[Last glacial period|last ice age]] either in the [[Neolithic]] period, around ten thousand years ago, or in the long humid period which followed, up to around 3000 BC.<ref name="Bradt2006p6">Briggs and Booth 2006 p6</ref><ref>Chrétien p44</ref> Archaeological excavations have revealed evidence of sparse settlement by [[hunter gatherer]]s in the late [[stone age]], followed by a larger population of early [[Iron Age]] settlers, who produced dimpled [[pottery]] and iron tools.<ref name="Bradt2006p6" /><ref>Dorsey p36</ref><ref>Chrétien p45</ref>

These early inhabitants were the ancestors of the [[Twa]], a group of aboriginal [[Pygmy]] hunter-gatherers, who still live in Rwanda today.<ref name="Bradt2006p6" /> Eventually these settlers were joined by [[Bantu peoples|Bantu]] farmers from the west, known as the [[Hutu]]s.<ref name="Bradt2006p6" /> The exact dates of this are not certain, with estimates varying from 700 BC up to the beginning of the [[Christian era]], around 1 AD.<ref name="Bradt2006p6" /><ref>Chrétien p43-44</ref><ref>H. J. M. Claessen, Peter Skalník. "The Study of the State". Mouton, 1981. 17. ISBN 9-0279-3348-0</ref> The Hutus, with their sedentary farming lifestyle, soon outnumbered the Twas and began to take over their traditional hunting grounds, forcing them to retreat into the forests.<ref name="Bradt2006p7">Briggs and Booth 2006 p7</ref>

Later a third group, the [[cattle]]-raising Tutsi, migrated to the area. The [[Tutsi]] were generally taller than the Hutus and the Twas, and were distinct in physical appearance.<ref name="Bradt2006p7" /><ref name="Prunier16">Prunier p16</ref> It is not known when the Tutsi arrived and from where they came, but there is evidence that they were of [[Cushitic]] origin, coming from the [[Horn of Africa]].<ref name="Prunier16" /> Over time, the distinction between the three groups became blurred and some sources question whether they are truly of separate racial or ethnic stock.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Rwandan Conflict: Origin, Development, Exit Strategies|url=http://www.nurc.gov.rw/documents/researches/rwandan%20_conflict.pdf}}</ref>

Considerable controversy surrounds the origins and the organization of Rwandan society before the arrival of Europeans, however, and the Rwandan government disputes European historical records and scientific evidence of migrations and cultural society within the region.<ref name="nurc.gov.rw">{{cite web|title="The Origin of Rwandan Conflict|url=http://www.nurc.gov.rw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63:the-origin-of-rwandan-conflict&catid=35:reseaches&Itemid=40|publisher=Rwandan Government: National Unity and Reconciliation Committee}}</ref> Even in pre-colonial Rwanda, however, the Kinyarwanda language was widely spoken. A traditional local justice system called ''Gacaca'' predominated in much of the region as an institution for resolving conflict and rendering justice. The Tutsi king ([[mwami]]) became the ultimate judge and arbiter for those cases over which he had jurisdiction. Through this system, stability was achieved in large areas of what is now Rwanda.<ref>{{cite web|author=|Zac Nsenga, Rwandan Government Ambassador to United States|url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmniaf/303/303we32.htm|title=RECONCILIATION: AN EXPERIENCE FROM RWANDA (Memorandum submitted by Dr Zac Nsenga, Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda, to Select Committee on Northern Ireland Affairs)|date=2004-12-29|publisher=Parliament of the U.K.}}</ref>

===Colonial era===
After signing treaties with chiefs in the [[Tanganyika]] region in 1884-1885, Germany claimed Tanganyika, Rwanda and Burundi as its own territory. [[Gustav Adolf von Götzen|Count von Götzen]] met the Tutsi Mwami (king) for the first time in 1894. However, with only 2,500 soldiers in [[German East Africa|East Africa]], Germany did little to change societal structures in much of the region, especially in Rwanda. After the Mwami's death in 1895, a period of unrest followed. Germans and missionaries then began to enter the country from Tanganyika in 1897-98.

By 1899 the Germans exerted some influence by placing advisors at the courts of local chiefs. Much of the Germans' time was spent fighting uprisings in Tanganyika, especially the [[Maji Maji Rebellion|Maji Maji war]] of 1905-1907. On May 14, 1910 the European Convention of Brussels fixed the borders of [[Uganda]], [[Belgian Congo]], and [[German East Africa]] which included Tanganyika and [[Ruanda-Urundi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS052.pdf|format=PDF|title=International Boundary Study: Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire) -- Rwanda Boundary|accessdate=2006-06-05|date=1965-06-15|publisher=Department of State, Washington, D.C., US}}</ref> In 1911, the Germans helped the [[Tutsi]] put down a rebellion of [[Hutu]]s in the northern part of Rwanda who did not wish to submit to central Tutsi control.

In 1916, during World War I, Belgian forces advanced from the Congo into Germany's East African colonies. After Germany lost the War, Belgium accepted the [[League of Nations Mandate]] of 1923 to govern Ruanda-Urundi along with the Congo, while Great Britain accepted Tanganyika and other German colonies. After World War II, Ruanda-Urundi became a [[United Nations trust territory|United Nations (UN) "trust territory"]] administered by Belgium. The Belgian involvement in the region was far more direct than German involvement and extended its interests into education and agricultural supervision. The latter was especially important in the face of two droughts and subsequent famines in 1928-29 and in 1943. These famines forced large migrations of Rwandans to neighboring Congo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/13662/sample/9780521813662ws.pdf|format=PDF|title=Re-imagining Rwanda: Conflict, Survival and Disinformation in the Twentieth Century|accessdate=2006-06-05|date=2002-03-01|publisher=School of Oriental and African Studies, University of England (Cambridge University Press)}}</ref> In 1933 ethnic identification cards were used to classify one's ethnicity.

The Belgian colonizers also accepted the existing class system, featuring a minority Tutsi upper class and lower classes of Hutus and Tutsi commoners. However, in 1926 the Belgians abolished the local posts of "land-chief", "cattle-chief" and "military chief", and in doing so they stripped the Hutu of their limited local power over land. In the 1920s, under military threat, the Belgians finally helped to bring the northwest Hutu kingdoms, who had maintained local control of land not subject to the Mwami, under the Tutsi royalty's central control.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/13662/sample/9780521813662ws.pdf|format=PDF|title=Re-imagining Rwanda: Conflict, Survival and Disinformation in the Twentieth Century|accessdate=2006-06-05|date=2002-03-01|publisher=School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (Cambridge University Press)}}</ref> These two actions [[Disfranchisement|disenfranchised]] the Hutu. Large, centralized land holdings were then divided into smaller chiefdoms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fig.net/pub/fig_2002/Ts7-7/TS7_7_rurangwa.pdf|format=PDF|title=Perspective of Land Reform in Rwanda|accessdate=2006-06-05|date=2002-04-26|publisher=Ministry of Lands, Human Settlement, and Environmental Protection, Kigali, Rwanda}}</ref>

The fragmenting of Hutu lands angered [[Yuhi IV of Rwanda|Mwami Yuhi IV]], who had hoped to further centralize his power enough to rid himself of the Belgians. In 1931 Tutsi plots against the Belgian administration resulted in the Belgians deposing the Tutsi Mwami Yuhi. This caused the Tutsis to take up arms against the Belgians, but because of their fear of the Belgians' military superiority, they did not openly revolt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrcberkeley.org/download/Rwanda-Curriculum-English1.pdf|format=PDF|title=The Teaching of the History of Rwanda: A Participatory Approach (A Reference Book for Secondary Schools in Rwanda)|accessdate=2007-06-05|date=2007-03-01|publisher=Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Research, Kigali, Rwanda, and UC Berkeley Human Rights Center, Berkeley, US}}</ref>

The Roman Catholic Church and Belgian colonial authorities considered the Hutus and Tutsis different ethnic races based on their physical differences and patterns of migration. However, because of the existence of many wealthy Hutu who shared the financial (if not physical) stature of the Tutsi, the Belgians used an expedient method of classification based on the number of cattle a person owned. Anyone with ten or more cattle was considered a member of the aristocratic Tutsi class. From 1935 on, "Tutsi", "Hutu" and "Twa" were indicated on identity cards. The Roman Catholic Church, being the primary educator in the country, subscribed to and reinforced the differences between Hutu and Tutsi, developing separate educational systems for each. In the 1940s and 1950s the vast majority of students were Tutsi. In 1943, Mwami Mutari III became the first Tutsi monarch to convert to Catholicism.

The [[Belgian colonial empire|Belgian colonialists]] continued to depend on the Tutsi aristocracy to collect taxes and enforce Belgian policies. It maintained the dominance of the Tutsi in local colonial administration and expanded the Tutsi system of labor for colonial purposes. The United Nations later decried this policy and demanded a greater [[Representation (politics)|self-representation]] of the Hutu in local affairs. In 1954 the Tutsi monarchy of Ruanda-Urundi demanded independence from Belgian rule. At the same time it agreed to abolish the system of indentured servitude ([[ubuhake|''ubuhake'' and ''uburetwa'']]) the Tutsis had practiced over the Hutu until then.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, a wave of [[Pan-Africanism]] swept through Central Africa, with leaders such as [[Julius Nyerere]] in [[Tanzania]] and [[Patrice Lumumba]] in the Congo. Anti-colonial sentiment stirred throughout central Africa, and a socialist platform of African unity and equality for all Africans was forwarded. Nyerere himself wrote about the elitism of educational systems,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-nye.htm|title=Julius Nyerere: Lifelong Learning and Informal Education|accessdate=2007-05-27|date=2007-05-27|publisher=infed (Informal Education website), London, UK}}</ref> which Hutus interpreted as an indictment of the elitist educations provided for Tutsis in their own country.

Encouraged by the Pan-Africanists, Hutu advocates in the Catholic Church, and by Christian Belgians (who were increasingly influential in the Congo), Hutu sentiment against the aristocratic Tutsi was increasingly inflamed. The United Nations mandates, the Tutsi overlord class, and the Belgian colonialists themselves added to the growing unrest. The Hutu "emancipation" movement was soon spearheaded by Gregoire Kayibanda, founder of [[Parmehutu]], who wrote his "Hutu Manifesto" in 1957. The group quickly became militarized.

In reaction, in 1959 the UNAR party was formed by Tutsis who desired an immediate independence for Ruanda-Urundi, to be based on the existing Tutsi monarchy. This group also became quickly militarized. Skirmishes began between UNAR and PARMEHUTU groups. Then in July 1959, the Tutsi Mwami (King) [[Mutara III]] Charles was believed by Rwandan Tutsis to have been assassinated when he died following a routine vaccination by a Flemish physician in Bujumbura. His younger half-brother then became the next Tutsi monarch, Mwami (King) [[Kigeli V]].

In November 1959, Tutsi forces beat up a Hutu politician, [[Dominique Mbonyumutwa]], and rumors of his death set off a violent backlash against the Tutsi known as "the wind of destruction." Thousands of Tutsis were killed and many thousands more, including the Mwami, fled to neighboring Uganda before Belgian commandos arrived to quell the violence. Several Belgians were subsequently accused by Tutsi leaders of abetting the Hutus in the violence. Tutsi [[refugee]]s also fled to the South Kivu province of the Congo, where they called themselves ''Banyamulenge''. They eventually became a primary force in the First and Second Congo Wars.

In 1960, the Belgian government agreed to hold democratic municipal elections in Ruanda-Urundi, in which Hutu representatives were elected by the Hutu majorities. This precipitous change in the power structure threatened the centuries-old system by which Tutsi superiority had been maintained through monarchy. An effort to create an independent Ruanda-Urundi with Tutsi-Hutu power sharing failed, largely due to escalating violence. The Belgian government, with UN urging, therefore decided to divide Ruanda-Urundi into two separate countries, Rwanda and Burundi. Each had elections in 1961 in preparation for independence.

In 1961, Rwandans voted, by referendum and with the support of the Belgian colonial government, to abolish the Tutsi monarchy and instead establish a republic. [[Dominique Mbonyumutwa]], who had survived his previous attack, was named the first president of the transitional government. This attack was the pretext used to explain that Tutsis were dangerous and had to be killed. [[Burundi]], by contrast, established a [[constitutional monarchy]], and in the 1961 elections leading up to independence, [[Louis Rwagasore]], the son of the Tutsi Mwami and a popular politician and anti-colonial agitator, was elected as Prime Minister. However, he was soon assassinated. The monarchy, with the aid of the military, therefore assumed control of the country, and allowed no further elections until 1965.

Between 1961 and 1962, Tutsi guerrilla groups staged attacks into Rwanda from neighboring countries. Rwandan Hutu-based troops responded and thousands more were killed in the clashes.

On July 1, 1962, Belgium, with UN supervision, granted full independence to the two countries. Rwanda was created as a republic governed by the majority Party of the Hutu Emancipation Movement (Parmehutu), which had gained full control of national politics by this time. In 1963, a Tutsi guerrilla invasion into Rwanda from Burundi unleashed another anti-Tutsi backlash by the Hutu government in Rwanda, and an estimated 14,000 people were killed. In response, a previous economic union between Rwanda and Burundi was dissolved and tensions between the two countries worsened. Rwanda also now became a Hutu-dominated one-party state. In excess of 70,000 people had been killed.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} It was thought for a while that [[British Royal Marines]] then stationed in Tanzania might be sent to Rwanda to stop the horrific loss of life there.{{By whom|date=March 2009}}

===Post-independence===
[[File:DF-SC-83-02204.jpg|thumb|right|[[Juvénal Habyarimana]] during a visit to the United States, 1980]]
[[Gregoire Kayibanda]], founder of Parmehutu (and a Hutu) was the first president (from 1962 to 1973), followed by [[Juvenal Habyarimana]] (who was president from 1973 to 1994). The latter, also a Hutu (from the northwest of Rwanda), took power from Kayibanda in a 1973 coup, claiming the government to have been ineffective and riddled with favoritism.

He installed his own political party into government. Thereafter political parties were banned and one party rule effected. Rwanda enjoyed relative economic prosperity during the early part of his regime due to rising coffee and tea prices, the country's main exports, however only a small political elite connected to the President and his family would benefit from the country's growing prosperity.

=== Civil War and Genocide===

{{Main|Rwandan Civil War}}

In the 1980s the economic situation worsened and the incumbent president, [[Juvénal Habyarimana]], began losing popularity. At the same time, Tutsi refugees in Uganda - supported by some moderate Hutus - were forming the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Their aim was to secure their right to return to their homeland and threatened to wage an armed struggle. Habyarimana chose to exploit this threat as a way to bring dissident Hutus back to his side, and Tutsis inside Rwanda were accused of being RPF collaborators.

In 1990 the [[Rwandan Patriotic Front]] (RPF), a rebel group, composed mostly of the Tutsi refugees, invaded northern Rwanda from [[Uganda]]. The [[Rwandan Civil War]], fought between the Hutu regime, with support from [[Francophone]] [[Francophone Africa|nations of Africa]] and France itself,<ref>Wallis, Andrew. ''Silent accomplice''. 2006, page 38-41</ref><ref>Walter, Barbara F. and Snyder, Jack L. ''Civil Wars, Insecurity, and Intervention''. 1999, page 135</ref> and the RPF, with support from Uganda, vastly increased the ethnic tensions in the country and led to the rise of Hutu Power, an ideology that asserted that the Tutsi intended to enslave Hutus and thus must be resisted at all costs. Despite continuing ethnic strife, including the displacement of large numbers of Hutu in the north by the rebels and periodic localized extermination of Tutsi to the south, pressure on the government of Juvénal Habyarimana resulted in a cease-fire in 1993 and the preliminary implementation of the [[Arusha Accords]].

On April 6, 1994 Rwandan President Habyarimana and the Burundian President were killed when Habyarimana's plane was shot down near Kigali Airport. Hutu extremists, suspecting that the Rwandan president was finally about to implement the Arusha Peace Accords, are believed to have been behind the attack.<ref>[http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2010/01/the-mutsinzi-report-on-the-rwandan-genocide.html New Yorker: The Mutsinzi Report on the Rwandan Genocide, Philip Gourevitch"]</ref><ref>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/evil/etc/slaughter.html PBS: 100 Days of Slaughter, A chronology of US/UN inaction"]</ref> The shooting down of the plane served as the trigger for the Genocide. In the course of the next few months the [[Hutu]] majority in Rwanda organized and implemented the mass slaughter of the [[Tutsi]] minority. Hundreds of thousands of Rwanda's Tutsis and Hutu political moderates were killed on the orders of the Hutu dominated government under the [[Hutu Power]] ideology. Over the course of approximately 100 days, from the [[Assassination of Habyarimana and Ntaryamira|assassination]] of [[Juvénal Habyarimana]] on 6 April through mid-July, at least 500,000 people were killed.<ref name=A>{{cite book|last=Des Forges|first=Alison|title=Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda|publisher=Human Rights Watch|year=1999|location=|pages=|url=http://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/rwanda|isbn=1-56432-171-1|accessdate=2007-01-12}}</ref> Estimates of the [[death toll]] have ranged between 500,000 and 1,000,000,<ref>See, e.g., [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1288230.stm Rwanda: How the genocide happened], [[BBC]], April 1, 2004, which gives an estimate of 800,000, and [http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/subjindx/121rwan.htm OAU sets inquiry into Rwanda genocide], Africa Recovery, Vol. 12 1#1 (August 1998), page 4, which estimates the number at between 500,000 and 1,000,000. 7 out of every 10 Tutsis were killed.</ref> or as much as 20% of the total population of the country.

The [[Assassination of Habyarimana and Ntaryamira|assassination of Habyarimana]] in April 1994 was the proximate cause of the mass killings of Tutsis and pro-peace Hutus. They were carried out primarily by two Hutu militias associated with political parties: the [[Interahamwe]] and the [[Impuzamugambi]]. The genocide was directed by a Hutu power group known as the [[Akazu]]. The killing also marked the end of the peace agreement meant to end the war and the Tutsi RPF restarted their offensive, eventually defeating the army and seizing control of the country.

===Post-civil war===

Approximately two million Hutus, participants in the genocide, and the bystanders, with anticipation of Tutsi retaliation, fled from Rwanda, to [[Burundi]], [[Tanzania]], [[Uganda]], and for the most part [[Zaire]]. Thousands of them died in epidemics of diseases common to the squalor of refugee camps, such as [[cholera]] and [[dysentery]].<ref>{{PDFlink|[http://www.unhcr.org/publ/PUBL/3ebf9bb60.pdf Ch. 10: "The Rwandan genocide and its aftermath"]}} in ''State of the World's Refugees 2000'', [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]]</ref> The United States staged the [[Operation Support Hope]] airlift from July to September 1994 to stabilize the situation in the camps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/support_hope.htm|title=Operation Support Hope|publisher=GlobalSecurity.org|date=2005-04-27 |accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref>

After the victory of the RPF, the size of UNAMIR (henceforth called UNAMIR 2) was increased to its full strength, remaining in Rwanda until March 8, 1996.<ref>[http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/co_mission/unamir.htm Homepage] for the [[United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda]], un.org</ref>

In October 1996, an uprising by the ethnic Tutsi [[Banyamulenge]] people in eastern Zaire marked the beginning of the [[First Congo War]], and led to a return of more than 600,000 to Rwanda during the last two weeks of November. This massive repatriation was followed at the end of December 1996 by the return of 500,000 more from Tanzania after they were ejected by the Tanzanian government. Various successor organizations to the Hutu militants operated in eastern DR Congo until May 22, 2009.

===Political development===
After its military victory in July 1994, the [[Rwandan Patriotic Front]] organized a coalition government similar to that established by President [[Juvénal Habyarimana]] in 1992. Called The Broad Based Government of National Unity, its fundamental law is based on a combination of the constitution, the Arusha accords, and political declarations by the parties. The [[MRND]] party was outlawed. Political organizing was banned until 2003. The first post-war presidential and legislative elections were held in August and September 2003 respectively.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}

The current government prohibits discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race or religion. The government has also passed laws prohibiting emphasis on Hutu or Tutsi identity in most types of political activity.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}

In March 1998, on a visit to Rwanda, U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] spoke to the crowd assembled on the tarmac at [[Kigali Airport]]: "We come here today partly in recognition of the fact that we in the United States and the world community did not do as much as we could have and should have done to try to limit what occurred" in Rwanda.<ref>Power, Samantha. "Bystanders to Genocide." Atlantic Monthly. Sept. 2001.<http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200109/power-genocide>.</ref> Four years after the genocide, Clinton issued what is now known as the "Clinton apology," acknowledging his failure to efficiently deal with the situation in Rwanda, but not formally apologizing for inaction by the U.S. government or the international community.

In March 2000, after removing [[Pasteur Bizimungu]], [[Paul Kagame]] became President of Rwanda. On August 25, 2003 Kagame won the first national elections since the RPF took power in 1994.

===Rebuilding===

[[File:Kagame.jpg|thumb|President [[Paul Kagame]] in 2006]]
A new constitution, written by the Kagame government, was then adopted by referendum in 2003. The first post-war presidential and legislative elections were held in August and September 2003, respectively. The stated RPF-led government goals were to promote reconciliation and unity among all Rwandans through the new constitution by forbidding any political activity or discrimination based on race, ethnicity or religion. Right of return to Rwandans displaced between 1959 and 1994, was enshrined in the constitution and the constitution guarantees "All persons originating from Rwanda and their descendants shall, upon their request, be entitled to Rwandan nationality" and "No Rwandan shall be banished from the country."<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.cjcr.gov.rw/eng/constitution_eng.doc|title=The Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda|accessdate=2007-06-04|date=2003-05-26|publisher=Government of Rwanda, Kigali}}</ref>

By law, at least a third of the Parliamentary representation must be female. In the parliamentary election of September 2008, 56% of seats were won by women.<ref>[http://www.unifem.org/news_events/story_detail.php?StoryID=736 "Rwandan Women Secure 56% of Parliamentary Seats in Historic Election Result"]. United Nations Development Fund for Women. Retrieved on 2009-01-30.</ref>

The [[Senate]] has at least 26 members, each with a term of eight years. Eight posts are appointed by the president. 12 are elected representatives of the former 11 provinces and the city of Kigali. Four members are designated by the Forum of Political Organizations (a quasi-governmental organization that currently is an arm of the dominant political party); one member is a university lecturer or researcher elected by the public universities; one member is a university lecturer or researcher elected by the private universities. Any past President has permanent membership in the Senate. Under this scheme, up to 12 appointees to the Senate are appointed by the President and his party. The elected members must be approved by the Supreme Court. The 14 Supreme Court members are designated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The Chamber of Deputies has 80 members, each with a 5 year term; 24 posts are reserved for women and are elected by province; 53 posts can be men or women and are also are elected by local elections; 2 posts are elected by the National Youth Council; 1 post is elected by Federation of the Associations of the Disabled.

The President and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies must be from different political parties. The President is elected every seven years, and may serve a maximum of two terms. In 2006, however, the structure of the country was reorganized. It is unclear how this affects current elected representation proportions.

The current Rwandan government, led by [[Paul Kagame]], has been praised by many for establishing security and promoting reconciliation and economic development, but is also criticized by some for being overly militant and opposed to dissent. The country now has many international visitors and is regarded as the safest country in East and Central Africa.

With new independent radio stations and other media arising, Rwanda is attempting a [[freedom of the press|free press]], but the Government has been criticized for cracking down on journalists who have questioned the government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=20737|title=Rwanda - 2007 Annual Report|date=2007-05-02|publisher=[[Reporters Without Borders]], Paris, France}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opcofamerica.org/press_freedom/letters/080207_rwandaletter.php|title=OPC Letter to Rwanda|date=2007-02-15|publisher=Overseas Press Club of America, New York, USA}}</ref>

On 2 December 2009, Rwanda became the first country to be declared [[demining|free of landmines]] under the [[Ottawa Treaty]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8388822.stm|title=Rwanda – first landmine-free country|date=2 December 2009|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2 December 2009}}</ref>

===Rebuilding the economy===

The government initiated an economic stabilization and recovery program in 1994, which led to a major economic turnaround over the period between 1994 and 2001. The government restructured the country's external debt through the Paris Club, secured a three-year support loan from IMF/World Bank, abolished export taxes, initiated rehabilitation of the banking sector, liberalized trade, currency and wage regimes, achieved full current account convertibility, firmed up the independence of the Central Bank, and launched the restructuring and privatisation of public entities.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}

Between 1994 and 1997, the GDP growth rate rose by nearly 70%. In the following years, growth remained relatively high (between 6% and 9%). The last three years have also seen spectacular GDP growth at an average rate of over 8%. In 2008 Rwanda registered double digit growth at 11.2%.

[[File:Rw-map.png|thumb|right|260px|Map of Rwanda]]

==Administrative divisions==
{{Main|Provinces of Rwanda|Districts of Rwanda}}
Rwanda is divided into five [[Provinces of Rwanda|provinces]] ({{lang|rw|''intara''}}) and subdivided into thirty [[Districts of Rwanda|districts]] ({{lang|rw|''akarere''}}). The provinces are:
* [[Northern Province, Rwanda|Northern Province]]
* [[Eastern Province, Rwanda|Eastern Province]]
* [[Southern Province, Rwanda|Southern Province]]
* [[Western Province, Rwanda|Western Province]]
* [[Kigali Province, Rwanda|Kigali Province]]

Prior to 1 January 2006, Rwanda was composed of twelve provinces (known as prefectures up to 2001), but these were abolished in full and redrawn as part of a program of decentralization and reorganization.

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Rwanda}}
{{MapLibrary|Rwanda_sat.png|left|Rwanda}}
[[File:Nyabarongo.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The [[Nyabarongo]] river flowing through Rwanda to Lake Victoria and the [[Nile]] river.]]
This small country, slightly smaller than the [[United States|US]] [[U.S. State|state]] of [[Massachusetts]] or half the size of [[Scotland]], is located near the center of Africa, a few degrees south of the [[Equator]]. It is separated from the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] by [[Lake Kivu]] and the [[Ruzizi River]] valley to the west; it is bounded on the north by [[Uganda]], to the east by [[Tanzania]], and to the south by [[Burundi]]. The capital, [[Kigali]], is located in the center of the country.

Rwanda's countryside is covered by grasslands and small farms extending over rolling hills, with areas of rugged mountains that extend southeast from a chain of volcanoes in the northwest. The divide between the [[Congo River|Congo]] and [[Nile]] drainage systems extends from north to south through western Rwanda at an average elevation of almost {{convert|9000|ft|m|0}}.

On the western slopes of this ridgeline, the land slopes abruptly toward [[Lake Kivu]] and the Ruzizi River valley, and constitutes part of the [[Great Rift Valley]]. This western section of the country lies within the [[Albertine Rift montane forests]] [[ecoregion]].

The eastern slopes are more moderate, with rolling hills extending across central uplands at gradually reducing altitudes, to the plains, swamps, and lakes of the eastern border region. Therefore the country is also fondly known as "Land of a Thousand Hills" ({{lang|fr|''Pays des mille collines''}}). In 2006, a British-led exploration announced that they had located the longest headstream of the [[River Nile]] in [[Nyungwe Forest]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/4864782.stm|title=Team reaches Nile's 'true source'|accessdate=2006-12-04|date=2006-03-31|publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Rwanda}}

The transport system in Rwanda centres primarily around the road network, with paved roads between the capital, Kigali and most other major cities and towns in the country.<ref name="Bradt2006p63">Briggs and Booth 2006, p63</ref> Rwanda is also linked by road to other countries in [[East Africa]], notably to the port of [[Mombasa]] via [[Kampala]] and [[Nairobi]], which provides Rwanda's most important trade route.<ref>[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/22/36/34879173.pdf TRANSIT TRANSPORT COORDINATION AUTHORITY OF THE NORTHERN CORRIDOR] ''TRANSIT TRANSPORT COORDINATION AUTHORITY OF THE NORTHERN CORRIDOR''</ref> The country has an [[Kigali International Airport|international airport]] at Kigali, serving one domestic and several international destinations.<ref name="Bradt2006p35">Briggs and Booth 2006, p35</ref><ref name="Bradt2006p62">Briggs and Booth 2006, p62</ref> There is no public water transport between the port cities on Lake Kivu, although a limited private service exists.<ref name="Bradt2006p64">Briggs and Booth 2006, p64</ref> A large amount of investment in the transport infrastructure has been made by the government since the 1994 genocide, with aid from the [[USA]], [[European Union]], [[Japan]] and others.

[[File:Rwandair Express.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Rwandair Express]], [[Kigali International Airport]], Rwanda.]]
The principal form of [[public transport]] in the country is [[share taxi]], with express routes linking the major cities and local services serving most villages along the main roads of the country. [[Coach (vehicle)|Coach]] services are available to various destinations in neighbouring countries.
[[Image:KigaliAirport.jpg|thumb|325px|right|[[Kigali International Airport]]]]

In 2006, the Chinese government proposed funding a study for the building of a railway link from [[Bujumbura]] in Burundi to [[Kigali]] in Rwanda to [[Isaka]] in Tanzania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://railwaysafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=563&Itemid=35|title=China to Assist Rwanda|date=2006-09-07|publisher=Railways Africa, Gauteng, South Africa}}</ref> A delegation from the American railroad [[BNSF Railway|BNSF]] also met with President Paul Kagame to discuss a route from Kigali to Isaka and at the same time the government announced that it had selected a German consulting company to undertake pilot work for the proposed rail line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200704250668.html|title=Rwanda: Kagame Meets Railway Expert|date=2007-04-27|work=The New Times|location=Kigali, Rwanda}}</ref>

==Communications==
For now, Rwanda leads the region in terms of ICT adoption and infrastructure development. The country has a 100% mobile telecommunication coverage.
Three Mobile phone operators (MTN, RwandaTel & TIGO) provide 3G mobile phone and internet services.

In 2009, WiBro technology was launched in Kigali enabling users to access high speed wireless Internet from any part of the city.

The postal system is mostly reliable. Those wishing to receive post must register and pay for annually, a Post Office Box at the Post Office.

There is one national television station: Rwanda Television which broadcasts feeds from various international broadcasters during the day. The evening programming largely consists of locally produced news programming repeated in Kinyarwanda, English and French.

Subscription-based satellite television is easily available. There are currently two operators: South African based DSTV and China based Star Communications.

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Rwanda}}
[[Image:MarabaPacket2.jpg|thumb|right|130px|Coffee, such as this bag of [[Maraba Coffee]], is one of Rwanda's major cash crops.]]
Rwanda's economy suffered heavily during the 1994 genocide, with widespread loss of life, failure to maintain the infrastructure, looting and neglect of important cash crops causing a large drop in GDP and destroying the country's ability to attract private and external investment.<ref name="CIA">https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rw.html The World Factbook - Rwanda] United States [[Central Intelligence Agency]]</ref> The country has since strengthened, with per-capita GDP ([[Purchasing power parity|PPP]]) estimated at [[Geary-Khamis dollar|$]]951 in 2008,<ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=38&pr.y=13&sy=2008&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=714&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= Gross domestic product based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) per capita GDP, Rwanda, 1994] [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/index.aspx World Economic Outlook Database, April 2008], [[International Monetary Fund]]</ref> compared with just $390 in 1994.<ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=63&pr.y=14&sy=1994&ey=1994&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=714&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= Gross domestic product based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) per capita GDP, Rwanda, 2008] [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/index.aspx World Economic Outlook Database, April 2008], [[International Monetary Fund]]</ref> Major export markets include China, Germany and the United States.<ref name="CIA" /> The currency is the [[Rwandan franc]] and the economy is managed by the central [[National Bank of Rwanda]], although Rwanda recently joined the [[East African Community]] and there are plans for a common [[East African shilling (new)|East African shilling]], which could be in place by 2010.<ref>[http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1689901,00.html East African currency coming] [[News24]], South Africa</ref>

Rwanda is a country of few natural resources, and the economy is based mostly on semi-subsistence agriculture by local farmers using simple tools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/w5836e/w5836e00.htm|title=Special Report on Rwanda, July 97|accessdate=2009-02-04|work=CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO RWANDA|publisher=[[Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|FAO]]/[[World Food Programme|WFP]]|date=1997-07-01}}</ref> An estimated 90% of the working population farms, and agriculture comprised an estimated 39.4% of GDP in 2006.<ref name="CIA" /> Since the mid 1980s, farm sizes have and food production have been decreasing, due in part to the resettlement of displaced people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://earthtrends.wri.org/text/agriculture-food/country-profile-153.html|title=Agriculture and Food COUNTRY PROFILE - Rwanda|accessdate=2009-02-04|work=EarthTrends: The Environmental Information Portal |publisher=[[Earth Resources Institute]] |year=2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.traveldocs.com/rw/economy.htm |title=Rwanda - Economy |accessdate=2009-02-04 |publisher=Travel Document Systems, Inc}}</ref> Thus despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with population growth, requiring food imports.<ref name="CIA" /> Crops grown in the country include [[coffee]], [[tea]], [[pyrethrum]], [[banana]]s, [[bean]]s, [[sorghum]] and [[potatoes]]. Coffee and tea are the major cash crops for export, with the high altitudes, steep slopes and volcanic soils providing favourable conditions. Reliance on agricultural exports makes Rwanda vulnerable to shifts in their prices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp236_e.htm|title=Continued reforms and technical assistance should help Rwanda in its efforts to achieve a dynamic economy|accessdate=2009-02-04|work=TRADE POLICY REVIEW: RWANDA|publisher=[[World Trade Organization]]|date=2004-09-30}}</ref>

[[Image:Gorilla mother and baby at Volcans National Park.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The [[mountain gorilla]] is Rwanda's leading tourist attraction]]
Livestock are raised throughout the country, with animal husbandry contributing around 8.8% of GDP in 2006.<ref name="MinAgriLivestock">{{cite web |url=http://www.minagri.gov.rw/article.php3?id_article=23 |title=Livestock production |accessdate=2009-02-05 |publisher=Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture |date=2006-06-10 }}</ref> Animals raised in Rwanda include [[cow]]s, [[goat]]s, [[sheep]], [[pig]]s, [[chicken]] and [[rabbit]]s, with geographical variation in the numbers of each.<ref name="MinAgriLivestock" /> Production systems are mostly traditional, although there are a few intensive dairy farms around Kigali.<ref name="MinAgriLivestock" /> Shortage of land, water shortage, insufficient and poor quality feed and regular disease epidemics with insufficient veterinary service are major constraints, restricting output in this sector. Fishing takes place on the country's lakes, but stocks are very depleted and live fish are now being imported in an attempt to revive the industry.<ref>{{cite news |first=Berna |last=Namata |title=Rwanda to restock water bodies with fisheries |url=http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13758&article=1108&week=45 |publisher=[[The New Times]] |date=2008-12-28 |accessdate=5 February 2009 }}</ref>

The industrial sector is small and uncompetitive.<ref name="WFP">{{cite web|url=http://www.wfp.org/country_brief/indexcountry.asp?country=646|title=World Hunger - Rwanda|accessdate=2006-12-04|publisher=[[World Food Program]]}}</ref> Products manufactured include cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes.<ref name="CIA" /> Despite being a landlocked country of few natural resources, Rwanda's mining industry is an important contributor, generating [[United States dollar|US$]]93 million in 2008.<ref name="NewTimesMining">{{cite web |url=http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13776&article=12470 |title=Mining industry generated $93 million in 2008 |accessdate=2009-02-04 |publisher=[[The New Times]] |date=2009-01-15 }}</ref> Minerals mined include [[cassiterite]], [[coltan]], [[wolfram]], and [[gold]] and [[coltan]], which is used in the manufacture of electronic and communication devices such as mobile phones.<ref name="NewTimesMining" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.int/drcongo/war/coltan.htm |title=What Is Coltan? |accessdate=2009-02-04 |author=Imtiyaz Delawala |work=Nightline |publisher=[[ABC news]] |date=2001-09-07 }}</ref>

[[Tourism in Rwanda|Tourism]] is one of the fastest growing sectors and is now the country's leading foreign exchange earner, generating US$214 million in 2008, up by 54% on the previous year.<ref name="ORTPN">{{cite web |url=http://www.rwandatourism.com/tourism_performance_2008.htm |title=Tourism and Conservation Performance in 2008 |accessdate=2009-02-07 |publisher=Rwanda Tourist Board (ORTPN) |date=2009-01-06 }}</ref> Despite the genocide, the country is increasingly perceived internationally as a safe destination,<ref name="Bradt2001pviii">Briggs and Booth 2001, Introduction viii</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1007.html |title=Rwanda - Country Specific Information |accessdate=2009-02-07 |work=[http://travel.state.gov International Travel Information] |publisher=[[U.S. Department of State]] |date=2009-02-06 }}</ref> and one million people are estimated to have visited the country in 2008, up from 826,374 in 2007.<ref name="ORTPN" /> The country's most popular tourist activity is the tracking of [[mountain gorilla]]s, which takes place in the [[Volcanoes National Park]].<ref name="Bradt2001pviii" /><ref>Briggs and Booth 2006, p204</ref> Other attractions include [[Nyungwe Forest]], home to [[chimpanzee]]s, [[Black-and-white colobus|Ruwenzori colobus]] and other [[primate]]s,<ref>Briggs and Booth 2006, p140-141</ref> the resorts of [[Lake Kivu]],<ref>Briggs and Booth 2006, p165</ref> and [[Akagera National Park|Akagera]], a small [[savanna reserve]] in the east of the country.<ref>Briggs and Booth 2006, p229</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Rwanda}}
[[File:Rwandan children at Volcans National Park.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Rural children.]]
Most Rwandans speak [[Kinyarwanda]], one of the country's three official languages, and in market towns many people speak [[Swahili language|Swahili]]. Educated Rwandans speak French and English. In 2008 the Rwandan government announced that English would become the primary language of instruction in schools, replacing French as the primary language of instruction.

This change was initiated to ensure further integration with the global economic community. Rwanda was admitted in November 2009 to membership of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].<ref name=Adieu>{{cite news
| author = Stephanie McCrummen
| title = Rwandans Say Adieu to Français
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/27/AR2008102703165.html
| work = The Washington Post
| location = Washington, D.C.
| page = A10
| date= 2008-10-28
| accessdate = 2008-11-08
}}</ref>

==== Religion ====
{{Main|Religion in Rwanda}}
{{bar box
|title=[[Religion in Rwanda]]<ref name=DOS/>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=religion
|right1=percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Roman Catholic]]|Purple|56.5}}
{{bar percent|[[Protestant]]|Blue|37.1}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|4.6}}
{{bar percent| [[Irreligion|Irreligious]]|Yellow|1.7}}
{{bar percent|[[indigenous religion|Indigenous]]|Orange|0.1}}
}}

Most Rwandans are Christian, with significant changes since the genocide.

A 2006 study reported that 56.5 percent of the population were Catholic (with a 6.9% increase since the 2001 survey), 37.1 percent Protestant (of which 11.1 percent are Seventh Day Adventists, and 14,000 Jehovah's Witnesses), 4.6 percent Muslim, 1.7 claimed no religious beliefs, and 0.1 percent practiced traditional indigenous beliefs<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90115.htm U.S. Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report 2007]</ref>.

Figures from 2001 survey were 49.6 % Catholic, 43.9 % Protestant, 4.6 % Muslim, 1.7 % no religious beliefs, and 0.1 % traditional indigenous beliefs. This represented a 19.9 percent increase in the number of Protestants, a 7.6 percent drop in the number of Catholics, and a 3.5 percent increase in the number of Muslims from the U.N. Population Fund survey in 1996.

There has been a proliferation of small, usually Christian-linked schismatic religious groups since the 1994 Genocide.<ref name=DOS>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35377.htm U.S. Department of State]</ref>
The figures for Protestants include the growing number of members of Jehovah's Witnesses and evangelical Protestant groups. There also is a small population of [[Baha'i]]s and Jews.<ref>[http://www.pluralism.org/news/article.php?id=8966 Thousands Outraged at Aquittal [sic] in '94 Bombing of Jewish Community Center (Argentina)]</ref><ref>[http://www.bahainews.ca/en/071010umutoni Rwandan genocide survivor visits Canada | Canadian Bahá’í News Service]</ref>

The Muslim community may have grown in part because Muslims reported to have saved the lives of many Tutsis from Hutu attacks.<ref name="WashingtonPost"/><ref name="Tiemessen"/> Some estimate the Muslim population of the country to be as high as 14%.<ref name="BBC">
{{cite news
| author = Robert Walke
| title = Rwanda's religious reflections
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3561365.stm
| publisher = BBC
| date= 2004-04-01
| accessdate = 2008-08-23
}}</ref><ref name="WashingtonPost">
{{cite news
| author = Emily Wax
| title = Islam Attracting Many Survivors of Rwanda Genocide
| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53018-2002Sep22.html
| publisher = The Washington Post
| location = Washington, D.C.
| page = A10
| date= 2002-11-23
| accessdate = 2007-12-04
}}</ref><ref name="Tiemessen">
Tiemessen, Alana (2005) ''[http://www.cpsa-acsp.ca/papers-2005/tiemessen.pdf From Genocide to Jihad: Islam and Ethnicity in Post-Genocide Rwanda].'' Paper presented at the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Political Science Association, London, Ontario.</ref><ref>
[http://www.islamawareness.net/Fastest/rwanda2.html Times Daily]</ref>

According to the ''World Refugee Survey 2008'', published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Rwanda hosted 54,200 refugees and asylum seekers in 2007. Approximately 51,300 refugees and asylum seekers were from the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] and 2,900 from [[Burundi]].<ref name="World Refugee Survey 2008">{{cite news|title=World Refugee Survey 2008|publisher=U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants|date=2008-06-19|url=http://www.refugees.org/survey}}</ref>

===Health===
Fertility is at about six births per woman.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org">[http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/data_sheets/cty_ds_RWA.html Human Development Report 2009 - Rwanda]</ref> [[HIV]] prevalence was at about 3 % of the 15-49 year olds in 2005.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> Public expenditure was at 4.3 % of the [[GDP]] in 2004, whereas private expenditure was 3.2 %.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> There were 5 physicians per 100,000 people in 2000-2004.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> [[Infant mortality]] was at 118 per 1,000 live births in 2005.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/>

==Culture==
{{Expand section|date=December 2009}}
{{See also|Human rights in Rwanda}}
=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Rwanda}}

=== LGBT rights ===
{{Main|LGBT rights in Rwanda}}
[[Homosexuality]] is legal in Rwanda, although no specific laws regarding homosexuality exist.<ref name="Spartacus International Gay Guide 2007">Spartacus International Gay Guide, page 1216. Bruno Gmunder Verlag, 2007.</ref>

On December 16, 2009, Rwanda discussed legislation that would criminalize homosexuality, proposing 5–10 years imprisonment.<ref>[http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2009/12/africas-culture-war-the-fight-over-ugandas-antigay-bill.html Africa’s Culture War: The Fight Over Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill - The World Newser]</ref> This legislation is similar to the controversial [[Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill|Anti-Homosexuality Bill]] in the neighboring country of Uganda, which would penalize homosexuals with imprisonment and (in cases of relations with a minor or a disabled person, in cases where the "offender" is [[HIV]]-positive and in cases of repeated homosexual acts)<ref>[http://ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/anti-gay-bill-uganda-challenges-catholics-take-stand Anti-gay bill in Uganda challenges Catholics to take a stand | National Catholic Reporter]</ref> the death penalty.

==Education==
Net primary enrollment rate was at 74 % in 2004.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> Public expenditure was at 3.8 % of the GDP in 2002-2005.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> A significant minority of the adult population of Rwanda is [[Literacy|illiterate]], particularly women.<ref name="hdrstats.undp.org"/> Public primary education has become fee-free.<ref>[http://www.mineduc.gov.rw/spip.php?article21 Republic Of Rwanda - Ministry of Education]</ref> [[Kinyarwanda]], French and English are taught generally.<ref>[http://www.mineduc.gov.rw/spip.php?article72 Site en travaux]</ref> Rwanda has several universities.<ref>[http://www.mineduc.gov.rw/spip.php?article277 Site en travaux]</ref>

===Primary and Secondary===

See [[List of schools in Rwanda]]

===Post Secondary Institutions===

There are 20 places of higher education in Rwanda with 6 public and 14 private<ref>[http://www.rwandagateway.org/education/article.php3?id_article=99 Rwandan Development Gateway]</ref>:

''Public''
* [[Kigali Institute of Science and Technology]] (est. 1998 by [[UNDP]]) <ref>[http://www.kist.ac.rw/ Kigali Institute of Science and Technology]</ref>
* [[National University of Rwanda]] (1963)
* [[Umutara Polytechnic]] (2004)
* [[Kigali Institute of Education]]
* [[Kigali Health Institute]]
* [[Higher Agriculture and Veterinary Institute]]
* [[School of Finance and Banking]]

''Private''

* Adventist University of Central Africa
* Kigali Independent University
* Kigali Lay Adventist University
* Gitwe Institute of Education
* Kibungo University of Agriculture, Technology and Education
* Kabgayi Catholic University
* Butare Protestant Theological College
* International College of Accountancy and Management
* Nyakibanda Major Seminary
* Byumba Polytechnic Institute
* Rwanda Pentecostal University
* Kigali Professional Institute
== International rankings ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Organization
! Survey
! Ranking
|-
| Institute for Economics and Peace [http://www.economicsandpeace.org]
| [[Global Peace Index]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi/home.php |title=Vision of Humanity |publisher=Vision of Humanity |date= |accessdate=2010-02-04}}</ref>
| 86 out of 144
|-
| [[United Nations Development Programme]]
| [[Human Development Index]]
| 167 out of 182
|-
| [[Transparency International]]
| [[Corruption Perceptions Index]]
| 89 out of 180
|}

==See also==
{{Main|Outline of Rwanda|Index of Rwanda-related articles}}
* [[History of Rwanda]]
* [[Rwandan Genocide]]
* [[International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda]]
* [[Politics of Rwanda]]
* [[Education in Rwanda]]
* [[Geography of Rwanda]]
* [[Transport in Rwanda]]
* [[Economy of Rwanda]]
* [[Demographics of Rwanda]]
* [[Religion in Rwanda]]
* [[Rwandan parliamentary election, 2008]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

===Cited texts===
{{refbegin}}
* Briggs, Philip & Booth, Janice (2006) ''Rwanda - The Bradt Travel Guide''. 3rd ed. London: Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 1841621803
* Chrétien, Jean-Pierre (2003) ''The Great Lakes of Africa: Two Thousand Years of History'' Hardcover ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. ISBN 189095134X
* Dorsey, Learthen (1994) ''Historical Dictionary of Rwanda''. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0810828200
* Munyakazi, Augustine & Ntagaramba, Johnson Funga (2005). ''Atlas of Rwanda'' French ed. Oxford: Macmillan Education. ISBN 0333954513
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Rwanda}}
;Government
* [http://www.gov.rw/ The Republic of Rwanda] official government site
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-r/rwanda.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]

;General
* {{CIA World Factbook link|rw|Rwanda}}
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/rwanda.htm Rwanda] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Africa/Rwanda}}
* {{wikiatlas|Rwanda}}

;Travel
* [http://www.rwandatourism.com Rwanda Tourism] official Rwanda Tourism Board site
* [http://www.kwitizina.org Kwita Izina web site] Kwita Izina -the Official Baby Gorilla Naming
* [http://www.rwandair.co.uk Airline web site UK]

;Ceremony site
* {{wikitravel}}

{{Template group
|title = Articles Related to Rwanda
|list =
{{Rwanda topics|state=expanded}}
{{Template group
|title = [[File:Gnome-globe.svg|25px]]{{nbsp}}Geographic locale
|list =
'''[[Geographic coordinate system|Lat. and Long.]] {{Coord|1|56|38|S|30|3|34|E|display=inline}} (Kigali)'''
{{Countries of Africa}}
{{Former German colonies}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{African Union (AU)}}
{{La Francophonie}}
{{Commonwealth of Nations}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = Languages
|list =
{{Niger-Congo-speaking}}
{{English official language clickable map}}
}}
}}


[[Category:Rwanda| ]]
[[Category:African countries]]
[[Category:African Union member states]]
[[Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations]]
[[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]]
[[Category:French-speaking countries]]
[[Category:Swahili-speaking countries and territories]]
[[Category:Bantu countries and territories]]
[[Category:Landlocked countries]]
[[Category:Least Developed Countries]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1962]]



[[ace:Rwanda]]
[[af:Rwanda]]
[[als:Ruanda]]
[[am:ሩዋንዳ]]
[[ar:رواندا]]
[[an:Ruanda]]
[[frp:Rouanda]]
[[ast:Ruanda]]
[[az:Ruanda]]
[[bm:Rwanda]]
[[bn:রুয়ান্ডা]]
[[zh-min-nan:Rwanda]]
[[be:Руанда]]
[[be-x-old:Руанда]]
[[bcl:Ruanda]]
[[bo:རུ་ཝན་ཌ།]]
[[bs:Ruanda]]
[[br:Rwanda]]
[[bg:Руанда]]
[[ca:Rwanda]]
[[ceb:Rwanda]]
[[cs:Rwanda]]
[[cy:Rwanda]]
[[da:Rwanda]]
[[de:Ruanda]]
[[dv:ރުވާންޑާ]]
[[nv:Wánda Dineʼé Bikéyah]]
[[et:Rwanda]]
[[el:Ρουάντα]]
[[es:Ruanda]]
[[eo:Ruando]]
[[eu:Ruanda]]
[[fa:رواندا]]
[[hif:Rwanda]]
[[fo:Ruanda]]
[[fr:Rwanda]]
[[fy:Rûanda]]
[[ga:Ruanda]]
[[gv:Rooandey]]
[[gd:Ruanda]]
[[gl:Ruanda - Rwanda]]
[[ko:르완다]]
[[hy:Ռուանդա]]
[[hi:रवांडा]]
[[hr:Ruanda]]
[[io:Ruanda]]
[[ilo:Rwanda]]
[[bpy:রুয়ান্ডা]]
[[id:Rwanda]]
[[ia:Ruanda]]
[[ie:Rwanda]]
[[os:Руандæ]]
[[is:Rúanda]]
[[it:Ruanda]]
[[he:רואנדה]]
[[jv:Rwanda]]
[[kn:ರ್ವಾಂಡ]]
[[pam:Rwanda]]
[[ka:რუანდა]]
[[kk:Руанда]]
[[kw:Rwanda]]
[[rw:Rwanda]]
[[rn:Rwanda]]
[[sw:Rwanda]]
[[kg:Rwanda]]
[[ht:Rwanda]]
[[ku:Rwanda]]
[[la:Ruanda]]
[[lv:Ruanda]]
[[lb:Ruanda]]
[[lt:Ruanda]]
[[lij:Ruanda]]
[[ln:Rwanda]]
[[lmo:Ruanda]]
[[hu:Ruanda]]
[[mk:Руанда]]
[[ml:റുവാണ്ട]]
[[mt:Rwanda]]
[[mr:र्‍वान्डा]]
[[arz:رواندا]]
[[ms:Rwanda]]
[[mn:Руанда]]
[[nah:Ruanda]]
[[nl:Rwanda]]
[[ja:ルワンダ]]
[[pih:R'wanda]]
[[no:Rwanda]]
[[nn:Rwanda]]
[[nov:Rwanda]]
[[oc:Rwanda]]
[[mhr:Руанда]]
[[uz:Ruanda]]
[[pnb:روانڈا]]
[[ps:راوانډا]]
[[pms:Ruanda]]
[[nds:Ruanda]]
[[pl:Rwanda]]
[[pt:Ruanda]]
[[crh:Ruanda]]
[[ro:Rwanda]]
[[qu:Rwanda]]
[[ru:Руанда]]
[[sah:Руанда]]
[[se:Rwanda]]
[[sa:रवाण्डा]]
[[sc:Ruanda]]
[[stq:Ruanda]]
[[sq:Ruanda]]
[[scn:Ruanna]]
[[simple:Rwanda]]
[[sk:Rwanda]]
[[sl:Ruanda]]
[[szl:Rwanda]]
[[so:Ruwanda]]
[[sr:Руанда]]
[[sh:Ruanda]]
[[fi:Ruanda]]
[[sv:Rwanda]]
[[tl:Ruwanda]]
[[ta:ருவாண்டா]]
[[te:రువాండా]]
[[th:ประเทศรวันดา]]
[[ti:ሩዋንዳ]]
[[tg:Руанда]]
[[tr:Ruanda]]
[[uk:Руанда]]
[[ur:روانڈا]]
[[ug:رۋاندا]]
[[vec:Ruanda]]
[[vi:Rwanda]]
[[vo:Ruandän]]
[[fiu-vro:Rwanda]]
[[war:Rwanda]]
[[wo:Ruwandaa]]
[[ts:Rwanda]]
[[yo:Rwanda]]
[[zh-yue:盧安達]]
[[diq:Rwanda]]
[[bat-smg:Ruanda]]
[[zh:卢旺达]]

Islam

2010-03-28T21:31:26Z

Elbasan101: Undid revision 352609103 by Cmmmm (talk)

{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{Contains Arabic text}}
[[File:Kaaba at night.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Kaaba]], located in [[Mecca]] ([[Saudi Arabia]]) is the center of Islam. It is where [[Muslim]]s from all over the world travel to and gather there to [[prayer|pray]] in [[unity]].]]
{{Islam}}
:''For other meanings, including people named 'Islam', see [[Islam (disambiguation)]].''
'''Islam''' ({{lang-ar|'''الإسلام'''}} ''al-’islām,'' {{IPA-ar|ʔislæːm|pron|ar-al_islam.ogg}}<ref group=note>There are ten pronunciations of ''Islam'' in English, differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress, whether the ''s'' is {{IPA-en|z|}} or {{IPA|/s/}}, and whether the ''a'' is pronounced {{IPA|/ɑː/}} as in ''father,'' {{IPA|/æ/}} as in ''cat,'' or (when the stress is on the ''i'') {{IPA|/ə/}} as in the ''a'' of ''sofa'' (Merriam Webster). The most common are {{IPA-en|ˈɪzləm, ˈɪsləm, ɪzˈlɑːm, ɪsˈlɑːm|}} (Oxford English Dictionary, Random House) and {{IPA-en|ˈɪzlɑːm, ˈɪslɑːm|}} (American Heritage Dictionary).</ref>) is the [[Abrahamic]] [[religion]] articulated by the [[Qur’an]], a [[Religious text#Islam|text]] considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of the [[Tawhid|one, incomparable]] [[God in Islam|God]] ({{lang-ar|'''الله'''}}, [[Allāh]]), and by the [[Prophets of Islam|Prophet of Islam]] [[Muhammad]]'s demonstrations and real-life examples (called the [[Sunnah]], collected through narration of his [[Sahaba|companions]] in collections of [[Hadith]]). ''Islam'' literally means "[[Surrender (spirituality and psychology)#In Islam|submission]] (to [[God]])."<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/notislam/misconceptions.html#HEADING1 USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts]</ref> ''Muslim'', the word for an adherent of Islam, is the active participle of the same verb of which ''Islām'' is the infinitive (see [[S-L-M#Islam|Islam (term)]]).<ref name="EoI-Islam">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier |accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref><ref name="Lanes Lexicon">{{cite web|url=http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume4/00000137.pdf|title=Lane's lexicon |accessdate=2007-07-03|format=PDF}}</ref>

Muslims regard their religion as the completed and universal version of a primordial, monotheistic faith revealed at many times and places before, including, notably, to the [[Prophets in Islam|prophets]] [[Islamic view of Abraham|Abraham]], [[Islamic view of Moses|Moses]] and [[Islamic view of Jesus|Jesus]]. Islamic tradition holds that previous messages and revelations have been [[Tahrif|changed and distorted]] over time.<ref name="Distorted">See: * Accad (2003): According to Ibn Taymiya, although only some Muslims accept the textual veracity of the entire Bible, most Muslims will grant the veracity of most of it. * Esposito (1998), pp.6,12* Esposito (2002b), pp.4–5* F. E. Peters (2003), p.9* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=F. Buhl | coauthors=A. T. Welch | accessdate=2007-05-02}}* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Tahrif | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=Hava Lazarus-Yafeh | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> Religious practices include the [[Five Pillars of Islam]], which are five obligatory acts of worship.<ref>Esposito (2002b), p.17</ref> [[Sharia|Islamic law]] ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: {{lang|ar|'''شريعة'''}} {{transl|ar|Šarīʿah}}) touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, encompassing everything from [[Islamic banking|banking]] and [[Islamic military jurisprudence|warfare]] to [[zakat|welfare]] and the [[sociology in medieval Islam#Ecological_responsibility_and_environmentalism|environment]].<ref>See: * Esposito (2002b), pp.111,112,118* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Shari'ah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The vast majority of Muslims belong to one of two major denominations, the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] (87–90%) and [[Shia Islam|Shi'a]] (10–13%).<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.4,11">Miller (2009), pp.4,11</ref> Islam is the predominant religion in the [[Middle East]], [[North Africa]], and large part of [[Asia]].<ref>[http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/31/3731-004.gif Britannica], [http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/02016/images/map_of_religions.png Think Quest], [http://www.wadsworth.com/religion_d/special_features/popups/maps/matthews_world/images/w001.jpg Wadsworth.com]</ref> Sizable communities are also found in [[China]] and [[Russia]], and parts of the [[Balkans]] and the [[Caribbean]]. About 13% of Muslims live in [[Indonesia]], the largest Muslim country,<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.8,17">Miller (2009), pp.8,17</ref> 31% in the [[Indian Subcontinent]],<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.8,17"/> and 20% in [[Arab world|Arab countries]].<ref>See:* Esposito (2002b), p.21* Esposito (2004), pp.2,43 * Miller (2009), pp.9,19</ref> Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world. With approximately 1.57 billion Muslims<ref name="executive summary">{{citation|url=http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=450|title=Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population: Main Page|publisher=[[Pew Research Center]]}}</ref> (see [[Islam by country]]), Islam is the [[major religious groups|second-largest religion in the world]] and arguably the [[Claims to be the fastest growing religion|fastest growing religion in the world]].<ref>[[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] – [http://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/faithtoday.html Islam Today] (Islam, followed by more than a billion people today, is the world's fastest growing religion and will soon be the world's largest.)</ref><ref>[http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/religion/2008/04/07/no-god-but-god.html ''No God But God''] by Thomas W. Lippman of [[U.S. News & World Report]]. April 7, 2008.''"Islam is the youngest, the fastest growing, and in many ways the least complicated of the world's great monotheistic faiths. It is a unique religion based on its own holy book, but it is also a direct descendant of Judaism and Christianity, incorporating some of the teachings of those religions—modifying some and rejecting others."''</ref><ref>[http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/religion/2008/04/07/understanding-islam.html ''Understanding Islam''] by Susan Headden of U.S. News & World Report. April 7, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3835 The world's fastest growing religions]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html#Islam |title=Major Religions of the World — Ranked by Number of Adherents |accessdate=2007-07-03 |work= }}</ref>

==Etymology and meaning==
{{Main|S-L-M#Islam|l1=S-L-M}}
The word ''Islam'' is a [[verbal noun]] originating from the [[triliteral]] root ''s-l-m'', and is derived from the [[Arabic grammar#Verb|Arabic verb]] ''Aslama'', which means "to accept, surrender or submit." Thus, Islam means acceptance of and submission to God, and believers must demonstrate this by worshiping him, following his commands, and avoiding [[polytheism]]. Islam also means "Peace". The word is given a number of meanings in the Qur'an. In some verses (''[[ayat]]''), the quality of Islam as an internal conviction is stressed: "Whomsoever God desires to guide, He expands his breast to Islam."<ref>{{cite quran|6|125|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|61|7|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|39|22|style=ref}}</ref>{{Syn|date=November 2009}}

Other verses connect ''islām'' and ''[[Deen (Arabic term)|dīn]]'' (usually translated as "religion"): "Today, I have perfected your religion (''dīn'') for you; I have completed My blessing upon you; I have approved Islam for your religion."<ref>{{cite quran|5|3|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|3|19|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|3|83|style=ref}}</ref> Still others{{Who|date=November 2009}} describe Islam as an action of returning to God—more than just a verbal affirmation of faith.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|9|74|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|49|14|style=ref}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> Another technical meaning in Islamic thought is as one part of a triad of ''islam'', ''[[Iman (concept)|imān]]'' (faith), and ''[[ihsan|ihsān]]'' (excellence) where it represents acts of worship (''`[[ibadah|ibādah]]'') and Islamic law (''[[sharia]]'').<ref>Cyril Glassé, ''The Concise Encyclopedia of Islam'', p. 192</ref>

==Articles of faith==
{{Main|Aqidah|Iman (concept)|l2=Iman}}

The Qur'an states that all Muslims must believe in God, his revelations, his [[Islamic view of angels|angels]], his [[Prophets in Islam|messengers]], and in the "[[Qiyamah|Day of Judgment]]".<ref>{{cite quran|2|4|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|2|285|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|4|136|style=ref}}</ref>{{Syn|date=November 2009}} Also, there are other beliefs that differ between [[Kalam|particular sects]]. The [[Sunni]] concept of predestination is called [[Qadr (doctrine)|divine decree]],<ref>{{Muslim|1|1}}</ref> while the [[Shi'a]] version is called [[Adalah|divine justice]].{{Syn|date=November 2009}} Unique to the Shi'a is the doctrine of ''[[Imamah (Shia doctrine)|Imamah]]'', or the political and spiritual leadership of the [[Imam]]s.<ref>See:
* Farah (2003), p.109
* Momen (1987), p.176</ref>

Muslims believe that God [[revelation|revealed]] his final message to humanity through the Islamic prophet Muhammad via the [[Gabriel|archangel Gabriel]] (''Jibrīl''). For them, Muhammad was God's final prophet and the Qur'an is the holy book of revelations he received over more than two decades.<ref>Esposito (2004), pp.17,18,21</ref> In Islam, prophets are men selected by God to be his messengers. Muslims believe that prophets are human and not divine, though some are able to perform miracles to prove their claim. Islamic prophets are considered to be the closest to perfection of all humans, and are uniquely the recipients of divine [[revelation]]—either directly from God or through angels. The Qur'an mentions the names of numerous figures considered [[prophets in Islam]], including [[Adam (Bible)|Adam]], [[Islamic view of Noah|Noah]], [[Abraham]], [[Islamic view of Moses|Moses]] and [[Jesus in Islam|Jesus]], among others.<ref>See:
* Momem (1987), p.176
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-20}}</ref> Islamic theology says that all of God's messengers since Adam preached the message of Islam—submission to the will of God.<ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=5LacP0-C6MEC&pg=PT156&dq=all+of+God%27s+messengers+since+Adam+preached+the+message+of+Islam&ei=e3f9SozPFJaGkASUj83XDg#v=onepage&q=all%20of%20God's%20messengers%20since%20Adam%20preached%20the%20message%20of%20Islam&f=false Islam, Muslims, and America: understanding the basis of their conflict]. Arshad Khan. Publisher: Algora Publishing, 2003. Pg 136. ISBN 087586242X, 9780875862422</ref><ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=JzUnrNHHp5wC&pg=PA53&dq=all+of+God%27s+messengers+since+Adam+preached+the+message+of+Islam&ei=e3f9SozPFJaGkASUj83XDg#v=onepage&q=all%20of%20God's%20messengers%20since%20Adam%20preached%20the%20message%20of%20Islam&f=false Title Perspectives on Mankind's Search for Meaning]. Walter Taminang. Pg 53. Publisher: Lulu.com, 2008.ISBN 0615219810, 9780615219813</ref> According to the Quran <ref>{{cite web|url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/koran/koran-idx?type=proximity&q1=Imran&operator1=Near&amt1=80&q2=Ibrahim&operator2=Near&amt2=80&q3=&size=First+100 |title=The Koran |publisher=Quod.lib.umich.edu |date= |accessdate=2009-12-12}}</ref> the will of God is brought to the nations by the descendants of Abraham and [[Imran (father of Maryam)|Imran]]. Islam is described in the Qur'an as "the primordial nature upon which God created mankind",<ref>{{cite quran|30|30|style=ref}}</ref> and the Qur'an states that the [[proper name]] ''Muslim'' was given by Abraham.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|22|78|style=ref}}
* "Islam", ''Encyclopedia of Religion''</ref>

As a historical phenomenon, Islam originated in [[Arabia]] in the early 7th century.<ref>"Islam", ''Encyclopedia of Religion''</ref> Islamic texts depict Judaism and Christianity as prophetic successor traditions to the teachings of Abraham. The Qur'an calls [[Jew]]s and [[Christian]]s "[[People of the Book]]" (''ahl al-kitāb''), and distinguishes them from polytheists. Muslims believe that parts of the previously revealed scriptures, the ''[[Tawrat]]'' ([[Torah]]) and the ''[[Injil]]'' ([[Gospels]]), had become [[tahrif|distorted]]—either in interpretation, in text, or both.<ref name="Distorted" />

===God===
{{Main|God in Islam}}
[[File:Dcp7323-Edirne-Eski Camii Allah-ds.svg|thumb|left|100px|[[Allah]] means [[God in Islam|God in Arabic]]]]
{{See also|Oneness of God (Islam)|Allah}}
Islam's fundamental theological concept is ''[[tawhīd]]''—the belief that there is only one god. The Arabic term for God is ''Allāh''; most scholars believe it was derived from a contraction of the words ''[[al-]]'' (the) and ''{{transl|ar|ISO|[[ʾilāh]]}}'' (deity, masculine form), meaning "the god" (''{{transl|ar|ISO|al-ilāh}}''), but others trace its origin to the Aramaic ''Alāhā''.<ref>See:
* "Islam and Christianity", ''Encyclopedia of Christianity'' (2001): Arabic-speaking [[Christian]]s and [[Jew]]s also refer to God as ''Allāh''.
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Allah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> The first of the Five Pillars of Islam, ''tawhīd'' is expressed in the ''[[shahadah]]'' (testification), which declares that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is God's messenger. In traditional Islamic theology, God is beyond all comprehension; Muslims are not expected to visualize God but to worship and adore him as a protector. Although Muslims believe that [[Jesus]] was a prophet, they reject the Christian doctrine of the [[Trinity]] and divinity of Jesus, comparing it to polytheism. In Islamic theology, [[Jesus]] was just a man and not the son of God;<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Tathlith, Trinity | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=David Thomas | accessdate=2007-05-11}}: Contrary to Muslim understanding, some scholars have suggested that the Qur'an only opposes certain deviant forms of Trinitarian belief.</ref> God is described in a chapter (''[[sura]]'') of the Qur'an as "…God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him."<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|112|1|end=4|style=ref}}
* Esposito (2002b), pp.74–76
* Esposito (2004), p.22
* Griffith (2006), p.248
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Allah, Tawhid | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | author=D. Gimaret | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Qur'an===
{{Main|Islamic holy books|Qur'an}}
{{See also|Origin and development of the Qur'an}}
[[Image:FirstSurahKoran.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Al-Fatiha|first sura]] in a Qur'anic manuscript by [[Hattat Aziz Efendi]]]]

Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the literal word of God; it is the central [[religious text]] of Islam.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Qur'an| encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}</ref> Muslims believe that the verses of the Qur'an were revealed to Muhammad by God through the angel Gabriel on many occasions between 610 and his death on June 8, 632. The Qur'an was reportedly written down by Muhammad's companions (''[[sahabah]]'') while he was alive, although the prime method of transmission was orally. It was compiled in the time of [[Abu Bakr]], the first [[caliph]], and was standardized under the administration of [[Uthman]], the third caliph. From textual evidence [[Islamic studies]] scholars find that the Qur'an of today has not changed significantly since it was standardized<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/bukhari/061.sbt.html#006.061.510 USC.edu]</ref><ref>See:
* William Montgomery Watt in ''The Cambridge History of Islam'', p.32
* Richard Bell, William Montgomery Watt, ''Introduction to the Qur'an'', p.51
* F. E. Peters (1991), pp.3–5: "Few have failed to be convinced that … the Quran is … the words of Muhammad, perhaps even dictated by him after their recitation."</ref>

The Qur'an is divided into 114 [[sura]]s, or chapters, which combined, contain 6,236 ''[[ayah|āyāt]]'', or verses. The chronologically earlier suras, revealed at Mecca, are primarily concerned with ethical and spiritual topics. The later Medinan suras mostly discuss social and moral issues relevant to the Muslim community.<ref>See:
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Qur'an | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}

</ref> The Qur'an is more concerned with moral guidance than legal instruction, and is considered the "sourcebook of Islamic principles and values".<ref>Esposito (2004), p.79</ref> Muslim jurists consult the ''[[hadith]]'', or the written record of Muhammad's life, to both supplement the Qur'an and assist with its interpretation. The science of Qur'anic commentary and exegesis is known as ''[[tafsir]]''.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), pp.79–81
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Tafsir | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}</ref>

The word ''Qur'an'' means "recitation". When Muslims speak in the abstract about "the Qur'an", they usually mean the scripture as recited in Arabic rather than the printed work or any translation of it. To Muslims, the Qur'an is perfect only as revealed in the original Arabic; translations are necessarily deficient because of language differences, the fallibility of translators, and the impossibility of preserving the original's inspired style. Translations are therefore regarded only as commentaries on the Qur'an, or "interpretations of its meaning", not as the Qur'an itself.<ref>See:
* Teece (2003), pp.12,13
* C. Turner (2006), p.42
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Qur'an | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}: The word ''Qur'an'' was invented and first used in the Qur'an itself. There are [[Quran#Etymology|two different theories]] about this term and its formation.</ref>

===Angels===
{{Main|Angels in Islam}}

Belief in angels is crucial to the faith of Islam. The Arabic word for angel (''malak'') means "messenger", like its counterparts in Hebrew (''malakh'') and Greek (''angelos''). According to the Qur'an, angels do not possess [[free will]], and worship God in perfect obedience.<ref>{{cite quran|21|19|end=20|style=ref}}, {{cite quran|35|1|style=ref}}</ref>{{Syn|date=November 2009}} Angels' duties include communicating revelations from God, glorifying God, recording every person's actions, and taking a person's soul at the time of death. They are also thought to intercede on man's behalf. The Qur'an describes angels as "messengers with wings—two, or three, or four (pairs): He [God] adds to Creation as He pleases…"<ref>See:
*{{cite quran|35|1|style=ref}}
*Esposito (2002b), pp.26–28
*{{cite encyclopedia | title=Malā'ika | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=W. Madelung | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
*{{cite encyclopedia | title=Angel | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Gisela Webb | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Muhammad===
{{Main|Muhammad}}
[[File:Madina Haram at evening .jpg|thumb|left|500px|[[Al-Masjid al-Nabawi]] (the Mosque of the Prophet) in [[Medina]], Saudi Arabia, is the site of [[Muhammad]]'s [[tomb]].]]
Muhammad (c. 570 – June 8, 632) is the prophet of Islam. He was a religious, political, and military leader who founded the religion of Islam. Muslims view him not as the creator of a new religion, but as the restorer of the original, uncorrupted monotheistic faith of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and others. In Muslim tradition, Muhammad is viewed as the last and the greatest in a series of [[Prophets in Islam|prophets]]—as the man closest to perfection, the possessor of all virtues.<ref>See:
* Esposito (1998), p.12
* Esposito (2002b), pp.4–5
* F. E. Peters (2003), p.9
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-17}}</ref> For the last 23 years of his life, beginning at age 40, Muhammad reported receiving revelations from God. The content of these revelations, known as the Qur'an, was memorized and recorded by his [[Sahaba|companions]].<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|18|110|style=ref}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=F. Buhl | coauthors=A. T. Welch | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

During this time, Muhammad preached to the people of Mecca, imploring them to abandon polytheism. Although some converted to Islam, Muhammad and his followers were persecuted by the leading Meccan authorities. After 13 years of preaching, Muhammad and the Muslims performed the ''[[Hijra (Islam)|Hijra]]'' ("emigration") to the city of [[Medina]] (formerly known as ''Yathrib'') in 622. There, with the Medinan converts (''[[Ansar (Islam)|Ansar]]'') and the Meccan migrants (''[[Muhajirun]]''), Muhammad established his political and [[Theocracy|religious authority]]. Within years, two battles had been fought against Meccan forces: the [[Battle of Badr]] in 624, which was a Muslim victory, and the [[Battle of Uhud]] in 625, which ended inconclusively. Conflict with Medinan Jewish clans who opposed the Muslims led to their exile, enslavement or death, and the Jewish enclave of [[Battle of Khaybar|Khaybar]] was subdued. At the same time, Meccan trade routes were cut off as Muhammad brought surrounding desert tribes under his control.<ref>See:
* F.E.Peters(2003), pp.78,79,194
* Lapidus (2002), pp.23–28</ref> By 629 Muhammad was victorious in the nearly bloodless [[Conquest of Mecca]], and by the time of his death in 632 (at the age of 63) he ruled over the [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabian peninsula]].<ref name="EoI-Muhammad">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Muhammad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=F. Buhl | coauthors=A. T. Welch | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

In Islam, the "[[normative]]" example of Muhammad's life is called the ''[[Sunnah]]'' (literally "trodden path"). This example is preserved in traditions known as [[hadith]] ("reports"), which recount his words, his actions, and his personal characteristics. The classical Muslim jurist [[ash-Shafi'i]] (d. 820) emphasized the importance of the Sunnah in [[Sharia|Islamic law]], and Muslims are encouraged to emulate Muhammad's actions in their daily lives. The Sunnah is seen as crucial to guiding interpretation of the Qur'an.<ref>See:
* ''Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World'' (2003), p.666
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Hadith | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=J. Robson | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sunna | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=D. W. Brown | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Resurrection and judgment===
{{Main|Qiyama}}

Belief in the "Day of Resurrection", ''[[Qiyamah|yawm al-Qiyāmah]]'' (also known as ''yawm ad-dīn'', "Day of Judgment" and ''as-sā`a'', "the Last Hour") is also crucial for Muslims. They believe that the time of ''Qiyāmah'' is preordained by God but unknown to man. The trials and [[tribulation]]s preceding and during the ''Qiyāmah'' are described in the Qur'an and the [[hadith]], and also in the commentaries of [[Ulema|Islamic scholars]]. The Qur'an emphasizes [[Resurrection of the Dead|bodily resurrection]], a break from the [[pre-Islamic Arabia]]n understanding of death. It states that resurrection will be followed by the gathering of mankind, culminating in their judgment by God.<ref>See:
* "Resurrection", ''The New Encyclopedia of Islam'' (2003)
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Avicenna | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}: Ibn Sīnā, Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAbd Allāh b. Sīnā is known in the West as "Avicenna".
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Qiyama | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The Qur'an lists several sins that can condemn a person to hell, such as disbelief, [[riba|usury]] and dishonesty. Muslims view paradise (''[[jannah]]'') as a place of joy and bliss, with Qur'anic references describing its features and the physical pleasures to come. There are also references to a greater joy—acceptance by God (''ridwān'').<ref>{{cite quran|9|72|style=ref}}</ref> Mystical traditions in Islam place these heavenly delights in the context of an ecstatic awareness of God.<ref>See:
* Smith (2006), p.89; ''Encyclopedia of Islam and Muslim World'', p.565
* "Heaven", ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'' (2000)
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Garden | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Asma Afsaruddin | accessdate=2007-05-08}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Paradise | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Predestination===
{{Main|Predestination in Islam|Adalah}}

In accordance with the Islamic belief in [[predestination]], or divine preordainment (''al-qadā wa'l-qadar''), God has full knowledge and control over all that occurs. This is explained in Qur'anic verses such as "Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector'…"<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|9|51|style=ref}}
* D. Cohen-Mor (2001), p.4: "The idea of predestination is reinforced by the frequent mention of events 'being written' or 'being in a book' before they happen: 'Say: "Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us…" ' "
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Fate | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Ahmet T. Karamustafa | accessdate=2007-05-02}}: The verb ''qadara'' literally means "to measure, to determine". Here it is used to mean that "God measures and orders his creation".</ref> For Muslims, everything in the world that occurs, good or evil, has been preordained and nothing can happen unless permitted by God. According to Muslim theologians, although events are pre-ordained, man possesses free will in that he has the faculty to choose between right and wrong, and is thus responsible for his actions. According to Islamic tradition, all that has been decreed by God is written in ''al-Lawh al-Mahfūz'', the "Preserved Tablet".<ref>See:
* Farah (2003), pp.119–122
* Patton (1900), p.130</ref>

The Shi'a understanding of free will is called "divine justice" (''Adalah''). This doctrine, originally developed by the [[Mu'tazila]], stresses the importance of man's responsibility for his own actions. In contrast, the Sunni deemphasize the role of individual free will in the context of God's creation and foreknowledge of all things.<ref>Momen (1987), pp.177,178</ref>

==Duties and practices==
===Five Pillars===
{{Main|Five Pillars of Islam}}

[[The Five Pillars of Islam]] (Arabic: أركان الإسلام) are five practices essential to [[Sunni Islam]]. Shi'a Muslims subscribe to different sets of pillars which substantially overlap with the [[Five Pillars of Islam|Five Pillars]].<ref>See:
* Momem (1987), p.178
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Pillars of Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The Five Pillars of Islam are:
[[Image:Mosque.Qibla.01.jpg|thumb|Muslims performing [[salah]] ([[prayer]]) at the [[Umayyad Mosque]] in [[Damascus]], [[Syria]].]]
# The '''''[[shahadah]]'''''<ref>[[Hossein Nasr]]
The Heart of Islam, Enduring Values for Humanity (April., 2003), pp 3, 39, 85, 27–272
</ref>, which is the basic [[creed]] or tenet of Islam that must be recited under an [[oath]] with the following specific statement: "''{{transl|ar|ISO|'ašhadu 'al-lā ilāha illā-llāhu wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh}}''", or "I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God." This testament is a foundation for all other beliefs and practices in Islam. Muslims must repeat the ''shahadah'' in prayer, and non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam are required to recite the creed.<ref>See:
* Farah (1994), p.135
* Momen (1987), p.178
* "Islam", ''Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals''(2004)
* [http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Ismaili/1035965 ArticleClick.com]</ref>
# '''''[[Salah]]''''', or ritual prayer, which must be performed five times a [[day]]. Each [[salah]] is done facing towards the [[Kaaba]] in Mecca. Salah is intended to focus the mind on [[God]], and is seen as a personal communication with him that expresses gratitude and [[worship]]. Salah is compulsory but flexibility in the specifics is allowed depending on circumstances. In many Muslim countries, reminders called [[Adhan]] (call to prayer) are broadcast publicly from local mosques at the appropriate times. The prayers are recited in the [[Arabic language]], and consist of verses from the Qur'an.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2002b), pp.18,19
* Hedáyetullah (2006), pp.53–55
* Kobeisy (2004), pp.22–34
* Momen (1987), p.178</ref>
# '''''[[Zakat]]''''', or [[alms|alms-giving]]. This is the practice of giving based on accumulated wealth, and is obligatory for all Muslims who can afford it. A fixed portion is spent to help the poor or needy, and also to assist the spread of Islam. The zakat is considered a religious obligation (as opposed to voluntary charity) that the well-off owe to the needy because their wealth is seen as a "trust from God's bounty". The Qur'an and the hadith also suggest a Muslim give even more as an act of voluntary alms-giving (''[[sadaqah]]'').<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|2|177|style=ref}}
* Esposito (2004), p.90
* Momen (1987), p.179
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Zakat | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-11}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Zakat | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>
# '''''[[Sawm]]''''', or [[Sawm of Ramadan|fasting during the month of Ramadan]]. Muslims must not eat or drink (among other things) from dawn to dusk during this month, and must be mindful of other sins. The fast is to encourage a feeling of nearness to God, and during it Muslims should express their gratitude for and dependence on him, atone for their past sins, and think of the needy. ''Sawm'' is not obligatory for several groups for whom it would constitute an undue burden. For others, flexibility is allowed depending on circumstances, but missed fasts usually must be made up quickly. Some Muslim groups do not fast during Ramadan, and instead have fasts at different times of the year.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|2|184|style=ref}}
* Esposito (2004), pp.90,91
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite web | url=http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/pillars/fasting/tajuddin/fast_21.html#HEADING20 | title=For whom fasting is mandatory | publisher=USC-MSA | work=Compendium of Muslim Texts | accessdate=2007-04-18}}</ref>
# The '''''[[Hajj]]''''', which is the pilgrimage during the [[Islamic calendar|Islamic month]] of ''[[Dhu al-Hijjah]]'' in the city of Mecca. Every [[able-bodied]] Muslim who can afford it must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime. When the pilgrim is about ten kilometers from Mecca, he must dress in [[Ihram clothing|''Ihram'' clothing]], which consists of two white seamless sheets. Rituals of the Hajj include walking seven times around the Kaaba, touching the [[black stone]] if possible, walking or running seven times between [[Al-Safa and Al-Marwah|Mount Safa]] and [[Al-Safa and Al-Marwah|Mount Marwah]], and symbolically [[Stoning of the Devil|stoning the Devil]] in [[Mina, Saudi Arabia|Mina]]. The pilgrim, or the ''[[hajji]]'', is honored in his or her community, although Islamic teachers say that the Hajj should be an expression of devotion to God instead of a means to gain social standing.<ref>See:
* Farah (1994), pp.145–147
* Goldschmidt (2005), p.48
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Hajj | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Law===
{{Main|Sharia|Fiqh}}

The ''Sharia'' (literally: "the path leading to the watering place") is Islamic law formed by traditional Islamic scholarship, which most Muslim groups adhere to. In Islam, Sharia is the expression of the divine will, and "constitutes a system of duties that are incumbent upon a Muslim by virtue of his religious belief".<ref name="BritannicaShariah">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Shari'ah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

Islamic law covers all aspects of life, from matters of state, like governance and [[Diplomacy|foreign relations]], to issues of daily living. The Qur'an defines ''[[hudud]]'' as the punishments for five specific crimes: unlawful intercourse, false accusation of unlawful intercourse, consumption of alcohol, theft, and highway robbery. The Qur'an and Sunnah also contain laws of [[Islamic Inheritance jurisprudence|inheritance]], [[Islamic marital jurisprudence|marriage]], and [[Qisas|restitution for injuries and murder]], as well as rules for [[sawm|fasting]], [[Sadaqah|charity]], and [[salat|prayer]]. However, these [[wajib|prescriptions]] and [[Haraam|prohibitions]] may be broad, so their application in practice varies. [[Ulema|Islamic scholars]] (known as ''ulema'') have elaborated systems of law on the basis of these rules and their interpretations.<ref>See:
* Menski (2006), p.290
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Hadd | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=B. Carra de Vaux | coauthors=J. Schacht, A.M. Goichon | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sharia | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=N. Calder | coauthors=M. B. Hooker | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

''[[Fiqh]]'', or "jurisprudence", is defined as the knowledge of the practical rules of the religion. The method Islamic jurists use to derive rulings is known as ''[[usul al-fiqh]]'' ("legal theory", or "principles of jurisprudence"). According to Islamic legal theory, law has four fundamental roots, which are given precedence in this order: the Qur'an, the Sunnah (actions and sayings of Muhammad), the consensus of the Muslim jurists (''[[ijma]]''), and analogical reasoning (''[[qiyas]]''). For early Islamic jurists, theory was less important than pragmatic application of the law. In the 9th century, the jurist [[ash-Shafi'i]] provided a theoretical basis for Islamic law by codifying the principles of jurisprudence (including the four fundamental roots) in his book ''ar-Risālah''.<ref>Weiss (2002), pp.xvii,162</ref>

====Religion and state====
{{Main|Political aspects of Islam|Islamic state|Caliphate}}
Mainstream Islamic law does not distinguish between "matters of church" and "matters of state"; the [[ulema]] function as both jurists and theologians. In practice, Islamic rulers frequently bypassed the Sharia courts with a parallel system of so-called "Grievance courts" over which they had sole control. As the Muslim world came into contact with Western secular ideals, Muslim societies responded in different ways. [[Turkey]] has been governed as a [[secular state]] ever since the reforms of [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]]. In contrast, the [[1979 Iranian Revolution]] replaced a mostly secular regime with an [[Islamic republic]] led by the [[Ruholla Khomeini|Ayatollah Khomeini]].<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), p. 84
* Lapidus (2002), pp. 502–507,845
* Lewis (2003), p. 100</ref>

===Etiquette and diet===
{{Main|Adab (behavior)|Islamic dietary laws}}

Many practices fall in the category of ''adab'', or Islamic etiquette. This includes greeting others with "''[[As-Salamu Alaykum|as-salamu `alaykum]]''" ("peace be unto you"), saying ''[[bismillah]]'' ("in [[Names of God|the name of God]]") before meals, and using only the right hand for eating and drinking. [[Islamic hygienical jurisprudence|Islamic hygienic]] practices mainly fall into the category of personal cleanliness and health, such as the [[Khitan (circumcision)|circumcision of male offspring]]. [[Islamic funeral|Islamic burial rituals]] include saying the ''[[Salat al-Janazah]]'' ("funeral prayer") over the bathed and enshrouded dead body, and burying it in a grave. Muslims are restricted in their diet. Prohibited foods include pork products, blood, [[carrion]], and [[alcoholic beverage|alcohol]]. All meat must come from a [[herbivorous]] animal slaughtered in the name of God by a Muslim, Jew, or Christian, with the exception of game that one has hunted or fished for oneself. Food permissible for Muslims is known as [[halal]] food.<ref>See:
* {{cite quran|5|5|style=ref}}
* Curtis (2005), p.164
* Esposito (2002b), p.111
* Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/janisla2y2.html Customs and Behavioral Laws]
* Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/febislaw2y2.html The Dietary Laws]
* Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/DecIslaw2y5.htm Various types of the prayer]
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Slaughter | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online | author=Ersilia Francesca | accessdate=2007-05-08}}</ref>

===Jihad===
{{Main|Jihad|Islamic military jurisprudence}}

Jihad means "to strive or struggle" (in the way of God) and is considered the "[[Sixth Pillar of Islam]]" by a minority of Sunni Muslim authorities.<ref name="jih">Esposito (2003), p.93</ref> Jihad, in its broadest sense, is classically defined as "exerting one's utmost power, efforts, endeavors, or ability in contending with an object of disapprobation." Depending on the object being a visible enemy, the devil, and aspects of one's own self, different categories of Jihad are defined.<ref>Firestone (1999) pp. 17–18</ref> Jihad, when used without any qualifier, is understood in its military aspect.<ref>Reuven Firestone (1999), The Meaning of Jihād, p. 17–18</ref><ref>Britannica Encyclopedia, Jihad</ref> Jihad also refers to one's striving to attain religious and moral perfection.<ref>See:
* Brockopp (2003) pp. 99–100
* Esposito (2003), p.93
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=jihad | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-06-13}}</ref> Some Muslim authorities, especially among the Shi'a and [[Sufism|Sufis]], distinguish between the "greater jihad", which pertains to spiritual self-perfection, and the "lesser jihad", defined as warfare.<ref>See:
* Firestone (1999) p.17
* "Djihad", ''Encyclopedia of Islam Online''.</ref>

Within [[fiqh|Islamic jurisprudence]], jihad is usually taken to mean military exertion against non-Muslim combatants in the [[Defensive Jihad|defense]] or [[Offensive jihad|expansion]] of the [[Ummah]]. The ultimate purpose of military jihad is debated, both within the Islamic community and without, with some claiming that it only serves to protect he Ummah, with no aspiration of offensive conflict, whereas others have argued that the goal of Jihad is global conquest. Jihad is the only form of warfare permissible in Islamic law and may be declared against apostates, rebels, highway robbers, violent groups, and leaders or states, Islamic or otherwise, who oppress Muslims or hamper proselytizing efforts.<ref>Firestone (1999) p.17</ref><ref name="jihad">{{cite encyclopedia | title=Djihād | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> Most Muslims today interpret Jihad as only a defensive form of warfare: the external Jihad includes a struggle to make the Islamic societies conform to the Islamic norms of justice.<ref>Knowing the Enemy: Jihadist Ideology and the War on Terror, Mary R. Habeck, Yale University Press, p.108–109, 118</ref>

Under most circumstances and for most Muslims, jihad is a collective duty (''[[fard|fard kifaya]]''): its performance by some individuals exempts the others. Only for those vested with authority, especially the sovereign ([[imam]]), does jihad become an individual duty. For the rest of the populace, this happens only in the case of a [[general mobilization]].<ref name="jihad" /> For most [[Twelvers|Shias]], [[offensive jihad]] can only be declared by a [[Imamah (Shi'a twelver doctrine)|divinely appointed leader]] of the Muslim community, and as such is suspended since [[Muhammad al-Mahdi]]'s<ref>Seyyed Hossein Nasr
The Heart of Islam, Enduring Values for Humanity (April., 2003), pp 72
</ref> occultation in 868 AD.<ref>cf. Sachedina (1998) p. 105 and 106</ref>

==History==
[[Image:Kairouan's Great Mosque courtyard.jpg|thumb|The [[Mosque of Uqba|Great Mosque of Kairouan]] also known as the Mosque of Uqba was founded by Arab general Uqba Ibn Nafi in 670. It is the oldest mosque in the western Islamic world <ref name="kairouan"/> and represents one of the best architectural examples of Islamic civilization <ref>[http://www.muslimheritage.com/topics/default.cfm?articleID=358 Great Mosque of Kairouan (Muslim Heritage.com)]</ref>, city of [[Kairouan]], [[Tunisia]].]]
{{Main|Muslim history|Spread of Islam}}

Islam's historical development resulted in major political, economic, and military effects inside and outside the [[Islamic world]]. Within a century of Muhammad's first recitations of the [[Qur'an]], an Islamic empire stretched from the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in the west to [[Central Asia]] in the east ; one of the best preserved architectural examples of Islamic spread, is the [[Mosque of Uqba|Great Mosque of Kairouan]] (in [[Tunisia]]) considered as the ancestor of all the mosques in the western Islamic world <ref name="kairouan">[http://books.google.fr/books?id=IaM9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA104&dq=kairouan+mosque+the+oldest+in+the+western+islamic+world&cd=1#v=onepage&q=kairouan%20mosque%20the%20oldest%20in%20the%20western%20islamic%20world&f=false John Stothoff Badeau and John Richard Hayes, ''The Genius of Arab civilization: source of Renaissance''. Taylor & Francis. 1983. p. 104]</ref>. This new polity soon broke into civil war, and successor states fought each other and outside forces. However, Islam continued to spread into regions like [[Africa]], the [[Indian subcontinent]], and [[Southeast Asia]]. The Islamic civilization was one of the most advanced in the world during the [[Middle Ages]], but was surpassed by Europe with the economic and military growth of the West. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Islamic dynasties such as the [[Ottomans]] and [[Mughals]] fell under the sway of European imperial powers. In the 20th century [[Islamic revival|new religious and political movements]] and newfound wealth in the Islamic world led to both rebirth and conflict.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), pp.50,112,197,380,489,578,817
* Lewis (2004), pp.29,51–56</ref>

===Rise of the caliphate and civil war (632–750)===
{{See|Succession to Muhammad|Muslim conquests|Battle of Karbala}}
Muhammad began preaching Islam at Mecca before [[Hijra (Islam)|migrating]] to [[Medina]], from where he united the [[tribes of Arabia]] into a singular Arab Muslim religious polity. He made his last [[The Farewell Sermon|farewell sermon]] at the age of 63 in the year 632 and died 72 days later.<ref name="patheos.com">[http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Historical-Development/Early-Developments.html Patheos Library – Islam: Early Developments]</ref> Right after his death disagreement broke out over who would succeed him as leader of the Muslim community. [[Umar ibn al-Khattab]], a prominent [[sahaba|companion]] of Muhammad, nominated [[Abu Bakr]], who was Muhammad's intimate friend and collaborator. Others added their support and Abu Bakr was made the first [[caliph]]. This choice was disputed by some of Muhammad's companions{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}, who held that [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, had been designated his successor.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} Abu Bakr's immediate task was to avenge a recent defeat by [[Byzantine]] (or [[Eastern Roman Empire]]) forces, although he first had to put down a rebellion by Arab tribes in an episode known as the [[Ridda wars]], or "Wars of Apostasy".<ref>See:
* Holt (1977a), p.57
* Hourani (2003), p.22
* Lapidus (2002), p.32
* Madelung (1996), p.43
* Tabatabaei (1979), p.30–50</ref>

[[Image:Age of Caliphs.png|thumb|300px|The territory of the [[Caliphate]] in 750]]

His death in 634 resulted in the succession of Umar as the caliph, followed by [[Uthman ibn al-Affan]] and Ali ibn Abi Talib. These four are known as ''al-khulafā' ar-rāshidūn'' ("[[Rightly Guided Caliphs]]"). Under them, the territory under Muslim rule expanded deeply into [[Persian Empire|Persian]] and [[Byzantine]] territories.<ref>See
* Holt (1977a), p.74
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

When Umar was assassinated in 644, [[the election of Uthman]] as successor was met with increasing opposition. In 656, Uthman was also killed, and Ali assumed the position of caliph. After fighting off opposition in the [[First Fitna|first civil war]] (the "First Fitna"), Ali was assassinated by [[Kharijites]] in 661. Following this, [[Muawiyah I|Mu'awiyah]], who was governor of the [[Levant]], seized power and began the [[Umayyad dynasty]].<ref>Holt (1977a), pp.67–72</ref> Although there was discord, the period until the death of Ali in 661 is remembered as a kind of golden age by some{{Who|date=January 2010}} Muslims. It was the Age of the Rashidun or "rightly-guided ones," when Muhammad's close companions led the community of Muslims.<ref name="patheos.com"/>

These disputes over religious and political leadership would give rise to schism in the Muslim community. The majority accepted the legitimacy of the three rulers prior to Ali, and became known as [[Sunni]]s. A minority disagreed, and believed that Ali was the only rightful successor; they became known as the [[Shi'a]].<ref>Waines (2003) p.46</ref> After Mu'awiyah's death in 680, conflict over succession broke out again in a civil war known as the "[[Second Fitna]]". Afterward, the Umayyad dynasty prevailed for seventy years, and was able to conquer the [[Maghreb|Maghrib]] and [[Al-Andalus]] (the [[Iberian Peninsula]], former [[Visigoths|Visigothic]] [[Hispania]]) and the [[Gallia Narbonensis|Narbonnese Gaul]] in the west as well as expand Muslim territory into [[Sindh]] and the fringes of [[Central Asia]].<ref>Donald Puchala, ‘’Theory and History in International Relations,’’ page 137. Routledge, 2003.</ref> While the Muslim-Arab elite engaged in conquest, some devout Muslims began to question the piety of indulgence in a worldly life, emphasizing, rather, poverty, humility, and avoidance of sin based on renunciation of bodily desires. Devout Muslim ascetic exemplars such as [[Hasan al-Basri]] would inspire a movement that would evolve into [[Sufism]].<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), pp.90,91
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sufism | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-13}}</ref>

For the Umayyad aristocracy, Islam was viewed as a religion for Arabs only;<ref>Hawting (2000), p.4</ref> the economy of the Umayyad empire was based on the assumption that a majority of non-Muslims ([[Dhimmis]]) would pay taxes to the minority of Muslim Arabs. A non-Arab who wanted to convert to Islam was supposed to first become a client of an Arab tribe. Even after conversion, these new Muslims (''[[mawali]]'') did not achieve social and economic equality with the Arabs. The descendants of Muhammad's uncle [[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib]] rallied discontented ''mawali'', poor Arabs, and some Shi'a against the Umayyads and overthrew them with the help of their propagandist and general [[Abu Muslim]], inaugurating the [[Abbasid|Abbasid dynasty]] in 750.<ref>Lapidus (2002), p.56; Lewis (1993), pp. 71–83</ref> Under the Abbasids, Islamic civilization flourished in the "[[Islamic Golden Age]]", with its capital at the cosmopolitan city of [[Baghdad]].<ref>See:
* Holt (1977a), pp.80,92,105
* Holt (1977b), pp.661–663
* Lapidus (2002), p.56
* Lewis (1993), p.84
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Golden Age (750–1258)===
{{Main|Islamic Golden Age}}
{{See|Muslim Agricultural Revolution}}
The Golden Age saw new legal, philosophical, and religious developments. The [[Six major Hadith collections|major hadith collections]] were compiled and the four modern Sunni [[Madh'hab]]s were established. Islamic law was advanced greatly by the efforts of the early 9th century jurist [[al-Shafi'i]]; he codified a method to establish the reliability of hadith, a topic which had been a locus of dispute among Islamic scholars.<ref>Lapidus (2002), p.86</ref> Philosophers [[Ibn Sina]] (Avicenna) and [[Al-Farabi]] sought to incorporate Greek principles into Islamic theology, while others like the 11th century theologian [[Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali]] argued against them and ultimately prevailed.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.160
* Waines (2003) p.126,127</ref> Finally, Sufism and Shi'ism both underwent major changes in the 9th century. [[Sufism]] became a full-fledged movement that had moved towards mysticism and away from its ascetic roots, while Shi'ism split due to disagreements over the succession of Imams.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), pp.44–45
* Lapidus (2002), pp.90–94
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sufism | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The spread of the Islamic dominion induced hostility among [[Middle ages|medieval]] [[ecclesiastical]] Christian authors who saw Islam as an adversary in the light of the large numbers of new Muslim converts. This opposition resulted in polemical treatises which depicted Islam as the religion of the [[antichrist]] and of Muslims as libidinous and subhuman.<ref>Tolan (2002) xv, xvi, 41</ref> In the [[Middle Ages|medieval period]], a few Arab philosophers like the poet [[Al-Ma'arri]] adopted a critical approach to Islam, and the Jewish philosopher [[Maimonides]] contrasted Islamic views of morality to Jewish views that he himself elaborated.<ref>See:
* Novak (February 1999)
* Sahas (1997), pp.76–80</ref>

===Fragmentation and Invasions===
{{Main|Crusades|Reconquista}}
{{See|Mongol invasion of Central Asia|Ilkhanate}}
[[Image:Hattin.jpg|thumb|upright|Artistic depiction of the [[Battle of Hattin]] in 1187, where Jerusalem was recaptured by Saladin's Ayyubid forces]]

By the late 9th century, the Abbasid caliphate began to fracture as various regions gained increasing levels of autonomy. Across North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, [[emirate]]s formed as provinces broke away. The monolithic Arab empire gave way to a more religiously homogenized [[Muslim world]] where the Shia [[Fatimid]]s contested even the religious authority of the caliphate. In the 10th century the powerful [[Ghaznavids]] conquered the Persian region and a large part of the [[Indian subcontinent]] in the name of Islam. They were replaced by the [[Ghurids]] in the 12th century. By 1055 the [[Seljuq dynasty|Seljuq Turks]] had eliminated the Abbasids as a military power, nevertheless they continued to respect the caliph's titular authority.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.103–143
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Abbasid Dynasty | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> During this time expansion of the Muslim world continued, by both conquest and peaceful [[Dawah|proselytism]] even as both Islam and Muslim trade networks were extending into sub-Saharan [[West Africa]], [[Central Asia]], [[Volga Bulgaria]] and the [[Malay archipelago]].<ref name="EoI-Islam" />

Starting in the 9th century, Muslim conquests in the West began to be reversed. The [[Reconquista]] was launched against Muslim [[Taifa|principalities]] in [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberia]], and Muslim [[History of Islam in southern Italy|Italian possessions]] were lost to the [[Normans]]. From the 11th century onwards alliances of European Christian kingdoms mobilized to launch a series of wars known as the [[Crusade]]s, aimed at reversing Muslim military conquests within the [[Byzantine Empire|eastern part of the former Roman Empire]], especially in the [[Holy Land (Biblical)|Holy Land]]. Initially successful in this aim, and establishing the [[Crusader states]], these gains were later reversed by subsequent Muslim generals such as [[Saladin]], who recaptured [[Jerusalem]] in 1187.<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.288–290,310</ref>

In the east the [[Mongol Empire]] put an end to the Abbassid dynasty at the [[Battle of Baghdad (1258)|Battle of Baghdad in 1258]], as they overran the Muslim lands in a series of invasions. Meanwhile in Egypt, the slave-soldier [[Mamluk]]s took control in an uprising in 1250<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.292
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islamic World | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> and in alliance with the [[Golden Horde]] halted the Mongol armies at the [[Battle of Ain Jalut]]. Over the next century the Mongol [[Khanate]]s converted to Islam and this religious and cultural absorption ushered in a new age of Mongol-Islamic synthesis that shaped the further spread of Islam in central Asia, eastern Europe and the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The [[Crimean Khanate]] was one of the strongest powers in [[Eastern Europe]] until the end of the 17th century.<ref>[http://www.econ.hit-u.ac.jp/~areastd/mediterranean/mw/pdf/18/10.pdf The Crimean Tatars and their Russian-Captive Slaves]. Eizo Matsuki. ''Mediterranean Studies Group at Hitotsubashi University.''</ref>

The [[Black Death]] ravaged much of the Islamic world in the mid-14th century.<ref>[http://www.sfusd.edu/schwww/sch618/Medicine/Diseases_and_Cures.html Islamic Medicine Part III: Diseases of the Middle Ages]</ref> It is probable that the Mongols and merchant caravans making use of the opportunities of free passage offered by the [[Pax Mongolica]] inadvertently brought the plague from [[Central Asia]] to the Middle East and Europe.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/09/13/2031252.htm?site=science/greatmomentsinscience Black Death], Great Moments in Science, ABC Science</ref> [[List of historical plagues|Plague epidemics]] kept returning to the Islamic world up to the 19th century.<ref>[http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/mongols/blackDeath.html The Islamic World to 1600: The Mongol Invasions (The Black Death)]</ref>

===New dynasties and colonialism (1030–1918)===
The [[Great Seljuq Empire|Seljuk Turks]] conquered Abbassid lands, adopted Islam and become the ''de facto'' rulers of the caliphate. They captured [[Anatolia]] by defeating the [[Byzantine]]s at the [[Battle of Manzikert]], thereby precipitating the call for Crusades. They fell apart in the second half of the 12th century giving rise to various semi-autonomous Islamic dynasties such as the powerful [[Ayyubids]] who conquered Egypt and a Jerusalem in the name of Islam. In the 13th and 14th centuries the [[Ottoman Empire]] (named after [[Osman I]]) emerged from among these ''"Ghazi emirates''" and established itself after a string of conquests that included the [[Balkans]], parts of [[Greece]], and western Anatolia. In 1453 under [[Mehmed II]] the Ottomans laid siege to [[Constantinople]], the capital of Byzantium, [[Fall of Constantinople|which succumbed]] shortly thereafter, having been overwhelmed by a far greater number of Ottoman troops and to a lesser extent, [[cannon]]ry.<ref>See
* Holt (1977a), p.263
* Lapidus (2002), p.250
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Istanbul | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>
[[Image:TajMahalbyAmalMongia.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The [[Taj Mahal]] was built by Muslim rulers of the [[Mughal Empire]] in [[Agra]], [[India]].]]

Beginning in the 13th century, Sufism underwent a transformation, largely as a result of the efforts of [[al-Ghazzali]] to legitimize and reorganize the movement. He developed the model of the Sufi order—a community of spiritual teachers and students.<ref>Esposito (2004), pp.104,105</ref> Also of importance to Sufism was the creation of the [[Masnavi]], a collection of mystical poetry by the 13th century [[Persian language|Persian]] poet [[Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi|Rumi]]. The Masnavi had a profound influence on the development of Sufi religious thought; to many Sufis it is second in importance only to the Qur'an.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Islamic Art | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref> From the 14th century to the 16th century much of the eastern Islamic world was experiencing another golden age under the [[Timurid dynasty]]. In the early 16th century, the [[Safavid dynasty]] assumed control in Persia and established Shi'a Islam as an official religion there, and despite periodic setbacks, the Safavids remained in power for two centuries until being usurped by the [[Hotaki dynasty]] in the early-18th century. Meanwhile, Mamluk Egypt fell to the Ottomans in 1517, who then launched a [[Ottoman wars in Europe|European campaign]] which reached as far as [[Siege of Vienna|the gates of Vienna]] in 1529.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), pp.198,234,244,245,254
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Islam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=L. Gardet | coauthors=J. Jomier | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

After the invasion of Persia and sack of Baghdad by the Mongols in the mid 13th century, [[Delhi]] became the most important cultural centre of the Muslim east.<ref name="Ikram">Ikram, S. M. 1964. Muslim Civilization in India. New York: Columbia University Press</ref> Many Islamic dynasties ruled parts of the Indian subcontinent starting with the [[Ghaznavids]] in the 10th century. The prominent ones included the [[Delhi Sultanate]] (1206–1526) and the [[Mughal Empire]] (1526–1857). These empires helped in the spread of Islam in [[South Asia]], but by the early-18th century the [[Maratha Empire|Sikh Maratha Empire]] was becoming the pre-eminent power in northern India until they were weaken by the [[Durrani Empire]] in the mid-18th century.

Around the 18th century, despite attempts at modernization, the Ottoman empire had begun to feel threatened by European economic and military advantages. It was during the 18th century that the [[Wahhabi]] movement took hold in Saudi Arabia. Founded by the preacher [[Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab|Ibn Abd al-Wahhab]], Wahhabism is a fundamentalist ideology that condemns practices like Sufism and the veneration of saints as un-Islamic.<ref>See:
* Lapidus (2002), p.572
* Watt (1973), p.18: Wahhabism should not be confused with the early Kharijite sect of Wahabiyya, which was named after Abd-Allah ibn-Wahb ar-Rasibi, who opposed Ali at Nahrawan.</ref>

By the 19th century the [[East India Company|British Empire]] had formally ended the last Mughal dynasty,<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.358,378–380,624</ref> and overthrew the Muslim-ruled [[Kingdom of Mysore]]. In the 19th century, the [[Rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire|rise of nationalism]] resulted in Greece declaring and winning independence in 1829, with several Balkan states following suit after the Ottomans suffered defeat in the [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)|Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878]]. The Ottoman era came to a close at the end of [[World War I]] and the [[Caliphate]] was abolished in 1924.<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.380,489–493</ref><ref>[http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2000/488/chrncls.htm New Turkey]</ref>

In the 19th century, the [[Salafi]], [[Deobandi]] and [[Barelwi]] movements were initiated.

===Modern times (1918–present)===
{{See|Fall of the Ottoman Empire|Arab Revolt|Arab–Israeli conflict|Iranian revolution}}

By the early years of the 20th century, most of the Muslim world outside the Ottoman empire had been absorbed into the empires of non-Islamic European powers. After [[World War I]] losses, nearly all of the Ottoman empire was also parceled out as European [[protectorate]]s or [[sphere of influence|spheres of influence]]. In the course of the 20th century, most of these European-ruled territories became independent, and new issues such as oil wealth and relations with the State of [[Israel]] have assumed prominence.<ref>Lapidus (2002), pp.281–282,380,489–493,556,578,823,835</ref>

During this time, many Muslims migrated, as indentured servants, from mostly India and [[Indonesia]] to the [[Caribbean]], forming the largest Muslim populations by percentage in the [[Americas]].<ref>Muslim Minorities in the West: Visible and Invisible By Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad, Jane I. Smith, pg 271</ref> Additionally, the resulting urbanization and increase in trade in [[Africa]] brought Muslims to settle in new areas and spread their faith. As a result, Islam in sub-Saharan Africa likely doubled between 1869 and 1914.<ref>Bulliet, Richard, Pamela Crossley, Daniel Headrick, Steven Hirsch, Lyman Johnson, and David Northrup. The Earth and Its Peoples. 3. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. ISBN 0618427708</ref> The [[Organization of the Islamic Conference]] (OIC), consisting of [[Islam by country|Muslim countries]], was formally established in September 1969 after the burning of the [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] in [[Jerusalem]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/1555062.stm Organization of the Islamic Conference]</ref>

==== Islamic revival and Islamist movements ====
{{See|Islamic revival|Islamism}}
The 20th century saw the Islamic world [[Islam and modernity|increasingly exposed to outside cultural influences]], bringing potential changes to Muslim societies. In response, new Islamic [[Islamic revival|"revivalist" movements were initiated]] as a counter movement to non-Islamic ideas. Groups such as the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] in Egypt and [[Jamaat-e-Islami]] in Pakistan advocate a totalistic and theocratic alternative to secular political ideologies. Sometimes called [[Islamist]], they see Western cultural values as a threat, and promote Islam as a comprehensive solution to every public and private question of importance.

In countries like Iran revolutionary movement replaced [[secularism|secular]] regime with an [[Islamic state]], while transnational groups like [[Osama bin Laden]]'s [[al-Qaeda]] engage in [[Islamic terrorism|terrorism]] to further their goals. In contrast, [[Liberal Islam]] is a movement that attempts to reconcile religious tradition with modern norms of secular governance and [[human rights]]. Its supporters say that there are multiple ways to read Islam's sacred texts, and stress the need to leave room for "independent thought on religious matters".<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004), pp.118,119,179
* Lapidus (2002), pp.823–830</ref>

Modern [[criticism of Islam]] includes accusations that Islam is intolerant of criticism and that [[Islamic law]] is too hard on [[Apostasy in Islam|apostates from Islam]]. Critics like [[Ibn Warraq]] question the morality of the Qu'ran, saying that its contents justify the mistreatment of women and encourage [[antisemitic]] remarks by Muslim theologians.<ref>See:
* Rippin (2001), p.288
* {{cite news | publisher=NYRB | work=[[The New York Review of Books]] | date=October 5, 2006 | title=Islam in Europe | author=Timothy Garton Ash | url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/19371}}</ref> Such claims have been challenged by many Muslim scholars and writers including [[Fazlur Rahman Malik]],<ref>For example see ''Major Themes of the Qur'an'' by Fazlur Rahman Malik in which he argues against the treatment of the Qur'an as either a piecemeal or an evolutionary progression of ideas. See review by William A. Graham (1983), p.446.</ref> [[Syed Ameer Ali]],<ref>For example see ''The Spirit of Islam'' by Syed Ameer Ali (1849–1928). It is described by [[David Samuel Margoliouth]] (1905) as "probably the best achievement in the way of an apology for Mohammed". See Margoliouth, preface ''[[Mohammed and the Rise of Islam]]''.</ref> [[Ahmed Deedat]],<ref>Westerlund (2003)</ref> [[Yusuf Estes]],<ref>{{cite news | publisher=Advance, [[University of Connecticut]] | date=2003-11-17 | title=Ramadan Awareness Event Designed To Debunk Negative Images | author=Elizabeth Omara-Otunnu | url=http://advance.uconn.edu/2003/031117/03111715.htm}}</ref> as well as [[Zakir Naik]] and others of [[Peace TV]], which is a global Islamic satellite channel intended to correct the misconceptions about Islam.

Others like [[Daniel Pipes]] and [[Martin Kramer]] focus more on criticizing the spread of [[Islamic fundamentalism]], a danger they feel has been ignored.<ref>{{cite news | last=Bernstein | first=Richard | title= Experts on Islam Pointing Fingers At One Another | url=http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F70D16F734540C708CDDA80994D9404482 | publisher=The New York Times | accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref> [[Montgomery Watt]] and Norman Daniel dismiss many of the criticisms as the product of old myths and polemics.<ref>See:
* Seibert (1994), pp.88–89
* Watt (1974), p.231</ref> The rise of [[Islamophobia]], according to [[Carl Ernst]], had contributed to the negative views about Islam and Muslims in the West.<ref>Ernst (2004), p.11</ref>

[[Pascal Bruckner]] and [[Paul Berman]] on the other hand have entered the "[[Islam in Europe]]" debate. Berman identifies a "reactionary turn in the intellectual world" represented by Western scholars who idealize Islam.<ref>{{cite magazine| last = Berman| first = Paul| authorlink = Paul Berman| title = Who's Afraid of Tariq Ramadan?: The Islamist, the journalist, and the defense of liberalism.| journal = [[The New Republic]]| publisher = | location = | date = June 4, 2007| url = http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=fd52e6a4-efc5-42fd-983b-1282a16ac8dd}}</ref></blockquote>

==Community==
{{Main|Muslim world|Ummah}}
===Demographics===
{{See also|List of countries by Muslim population}}
[[File:World Muslim Population Pew Forum.png|right|400px|thumb|Muslim population by percentage]]|thumb|350px|Muslim population percentage by country]]
A comprehensive 2009 demographic study of 232 countries and territories reported that 23% of the global population or 1.57 billion people are Muslims.<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.4,11"/> Of those, 87–90% are [[Sunni]] and 10–13% are [[Shi'a]],<ref name="Miller 2009, pp.4,11"/> with a small minority belonging to other sects. Approximately 50 countries are [[List of Muslim majority countries|Muslim-majority]],<ref>Miller (2009), p.11</ref> and [[Arabs]] account for around 20% of all Muslims worldwide.

The majority of Muslims live in Asia and Africa.<ref>[http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e1087 Islam: An Overview in Oxford Islamic Studies Online]</ref> Approximately 62% of the world's Muslims live in [[Asia]], with over 683 million adherents in [[Indonesia]], [[Pakistan]], [[India]], and [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="USN&WR">[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/graphics/religion/islams_global_reach.htm Secrets of Islam] – [[U.S. News & World Report]]. Information provided by the International Population Center, Department of Geography, [[San Diego State University]] (2005).</ref><ref>Miller (2009), pp.15,17</ref> In the [[Middle East]], non-Arab countries such as [[Turkey]] and [[Iran]] are the largest Muslim-majority countries; in [[Africa]], [[Egypt]] and [[Nigeria]] have the most populous Muslim communities.<ref name="Islam_by_country">{{cite web
|url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_isl_num_of_mus-religion-islam-number-of-muslim
|title=Number of Muslim by country
|publisher=nationmaster.com
|accessdate=2007-05-30}}</ref> According to a recent study in the United States, the [[People's Republic of China]] has the eighth highest Muslim population with up to 65.3 million individuals<ref name="USN&WR"/> but other figures show only 20 million.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71338.htm
|title=International Religious Freedom Report 2006—China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)
|year=2006
|publisher=U.S. department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
|accessdate=2007-05-30}}</ref> Islam is the second largest religion after [[Christianity]] in many [[Europe]]an countries,<ref>See:
* Esposito (2004) pp.2,43
*{{cite encyclopedia | title=Islamic World | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}

{{cite web | url=http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html | title=Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents | publisher=Adherents.com | accessdate=2007-01-09}}
* {{cite news | title=Muslims in Europe: Country guide | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4385768.stm | publisher=BBC | work=BBC News | date=2005-12-23 | accessdate=2006-09-28}}
* {{cite web | title=Religion In Britain | url= http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=293 | publisher=Office for National Statistics | work=National Statistics | date=2003-02-13 | accessdate=2006-08-27}}</ref>
and is slowly catching up to that status in the [[Americas]] and [[Australia]].

===Mosques===
[[File:Faisal mosque2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Faisal Mosque]] in [[Islamabad]], Pakistan]]
{{Main|Mosque}}
A mosque is a [[places of worship|place of worship]] for Muslims, who often refer to it by its Arabic name, ''masjid''. The word ''mosque'' in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated to Islamic worship, although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller, privately owned mosque and the larger, "collective" mosque (''masjid jāmi`''). Although the primary purpose of the mosque is to serve as a place of prayer, it is also important to the [[ummah|Muslim community]] as a place to meet and study. Modern mosques have evolved greatly from the early designs of the 7th century, and contain a variety of architectural elements such as [[minaret]]s.<ref>See:
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Masdjid | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author= J. Pedersen | coauthors=R. Hillenbrand, J. Burton-Page, et al. | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Mosque | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Family life===
{{See also|Women in Islam}}
[[File:Bejeweled Girl Portrait.jpg|thumb|left|100px|Islam prohibits women from showing their hair in public.]]
The basic unit of Islamic society is the [[family]], and Islam defines the obligations and legal rights of family members. The father is seen as financially responsible for his family, and is obliged to cater for their well-being. The division of [[inheritance]] is specified in the Qur'an, which states that most of it is to pass to the immediate family, while a portion is set aside for the payment of debts and the making of bequests. The woman's share of inheritance is generally half of that of a man with the same rights of succession.<ref>"al-Mar'a". ''Encyclopaedia of Islam''</ref> [[Marriage in Islam]] is a civil [[nikah|contract]] which consists of an offer and acceptance between two qualified parties in the presence of two witnesses. The groom is required to pay a bridal gift (''[[mahr]]'') to the bride, as stipulated in the contract.<ref>
* Waines (2003) pp. 93–96
* The Oxford Dictionary of Islam (2003), p.339
* Esposito (1998) p. 79</ref>

A man may have up to four wives if he believes he can treat them equally, while a woman may have only one husband. In most Muslim countries, the process of divorce in Islam is known as ''[[Talaq (Nikah)|talaq]]'', which the husband initiates by pronouncing the word "divorce".<ref>*"Talak". ''Encyclopaedia of Islam''</ref> Scholars disagree whether Islamic holy texts justify traditional Islamic practices such as [[hijab|veiling]] and seclusion ([[purdah]]).

Starting in the 20th century, Muslim social reformers argued against these and other practices such as [[polygamy in Islam]], with varying success. At the same time, many Muslim women have attempted to reconcile tradition with modernity by combining an active life with outward modesty. Certain [[Islamist]] groups like the [[Taliban]] have sought to continue traditional law as applied to women.<ref>
* Esposito (2004), pp.95,96,235–241
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Marriage and Divorce | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an | author=Harald Motzki | accessdate=2007-05-15}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Marriage Practices | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures | author=Lori Peek | accessdate=2007-05-15}}
</ref>

===Calendar===
{{Main|Islamic calendar}}
[[File:Crescent Moon.JPG|thumb|upright|The Islamic calendar is based on the [[lunar cycle]].]]
The formal beginning of the Muslim era was chosen to be the [[Hijra (Islam)|Hijra]] in 622 CE, which was an important turning point in Muhammad's fortunes. The assignment of this year as the year 1 AH (''Anno Hegirae'') in the Islamic calendar was reportedly made by [[Umar|Caliph Umar]]. It is a [[lunar calendar]], with nineteen ordinary years of 354 days and eleven leap years of 355 days in a thirty-year cycle. Islamic dates cannot be converted to CE/AD dates simply by adding 622 years: allowance must also be made for the fact that each Hijri century corresponds to only 97 years in the Christian calendar.<ref>See:
* Adil (2002), p.288
* F. E. Peters (2003), p.67
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Tarikh̲ | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | author=B. van Dalen | coauthors=R. S. Humphreys, Manuela Marín, et al. | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

The year 1428 AH coincides almost completely with 2007 CE.

Islamic [[Muslim holidays|holy days]] fall on fixed dates of the lunar calendar, which means that they occur in [[seasons|different seasons]] in different years in the [[Gregorian calendar]]. The most important Islamic festivals are ''[[Eid al-Fitr]]'' (Arabic: عيد الفطر) on the 1st of ''[[Shawwal]]'', marking the end of the fasting month ''[[Ramadan]]'', and ''[[Eid al-Adha]]'' (Arabic: عيد الأضحى) on the 10th of ''[[Dhu al-Hijjah]]'', coinciding with the pilgrimage to Mecca.<ref>Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/janisla2y2.html Customs and Behavioral Laws]</ref> Similar to the Jewish calendar, days in the Islamic calendar last from sunset to sunset.<ref>Patheos Library – Islam Sacred Time – [http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Ritual-Worship-Devotion-Symbolism/Sacred-Time.html Patheos.com]</ref>

==Other religions==
{{Main|Islam and other religions}}
[[Image:Jerusalem Dome of the rock BW 3.JPG|thumb|A view of the [[Dome of the Rock]] on the [[Temple Mount]] in [[Jerusalem]], a holy site in both Islam and [[Judaism]] that has been a source of controversy.]]

According to Islamic doctrine, Islam was the primordial religion of mankind, professed by [[Adam (Bible)|Adam]].<ref>Friedmann (2003), pp. 14–16</ref> At some point, a [[Schism (religion)|religious split]] occurred, and God began sending prophets to bring his revelations to the people.<ref>Friedmann (2003), pp. 18–19</ref> In this view, [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Nevi'im|Hebrew prophets]], and [[Jesus]] were all [[Prophets in Islam]], but their message and the texts of the [[Torah]] and the [[Gospels]] were [[tahrif|corrupted]] by [[Jew]]s and [[Christians]]. Similarly, every child is born in the domain of Islam, but is converted to some other faith if the parents/guardians are not Muslims.<ref>Friedmann (2003), p. 18</ref>

Islamic law divides non-Muslims into several categories, depending on their relation with the Islamic state. Christians and Jews who live under Islamic rule are known as ''[[dhimmis]]'' ("protected peoples"). According to this regulation, the personal safety and security of property of the dhimmis is guaranteed in return for paying tribute (''[[jizya]]'') to the Islamic state. The status was extended to other groups like Zoroastrians and Hindus,<ref>Ernst (2005), Following Muhammad, p.46</ref> but not to [[atheist]]s or [[agnostic]]s.<ref>Lewis (2001), p.273</ref>

Those who live in non-Muslim lands (''[[dar al-harb]]'') are known as ''[[harbi]]s'', and upon entering into an alliance with the Muslim state become known as ''ahl al-ahd''. Those who receive a guarantee of safety while residing temporarily in Muslim lands are known as ''ahl al-amān''. Their legal position is similar to that of the dhimmi except that they are not required to pay the jizya. The people of armistice (''ahl al-[[hudna]]'') are those who live outside of Muslim territory and agree to refrain from attacking the Muslims.<ref>Friedmann (2003), p. 55</ref><ref>"Aman", ''Encyclopaedia of Islam''</ref> [[apostasy in Islam|Apostasy from Islam]] is prohibited, and is punishable by death.<ref>A woman who converts from Islam to another religion is to be executed according to some jurists, or imprisoned according to others.</ref><ref>"Murtadd", ''Encyclopedia of Islam''</ref>

The [[Alevi]], [[Yazidi]], [[Druze]], [[Bábís|Bábí]], [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]], [[Berghouata]] and [[Ha-Mim]] movements either emerged out of Islam or came to share certain beliefs with Islam. Some consider themselves separate while others still sects of Islam though controversial in certain beliefs with mainstream Muslims. [[Ahmadiyya Muslim Community|Ahmadiyyat]], a reformatory sect in Islam is considered to be non-Muslim by many mainstream Muslims. For this reason the government of Pakistan has declared them to be non-Muslim, although international organisations such as [[Amnesty International]] have viewed such a move is against international human rights.<ref>http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA13/011/2008/en/7d8e2c8c-d119-11dd-984e-fdc7ffcd27a6/asa130112008en.pdf Ahmadiyya - human rights</ref> [[Sikhism]], founded by [[Guru Nanak]] in late 15th century [[Punjab region|Punjab]], incorporates aspects of both Islam and [[Hinduism]].<ref>Encyclopedia of Islam, "Sikhs"</ref>

==Denominations==
{{Main|Islamic schools and branches}}
Islam consists of a number of [[religious denomination]]s that are essentially similar in belief but which have significant theological and legal differences. The primary division is between the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] and the [[Shi'a]], with [[Sufi]]sm generally considered to be a mystical inflection of Islam rather than a distinct school. According to most sources, approximately 85% of the world's Muslims are Sunni, 14% are Shi'a with the 1% being other various small minorities and [[Islamic schools and branches|Islamic sects]].<ref>See:
* Esposito (2002b), p.2
* {{cite web | url=http://countrystudies.us/afghanistan/61.htm | title=Sunni and Shia Islam | work=Country Studies | publisher=U.S. Library of Congress | accessdate=2007-01-09}}</ref>

===Sunni===
{{Main|Sunni Islam}}
[[Sunni]] Muslims are the largest group in Islam, comprising at least 85% of the world's 1.5 billion [[Muslim]]s,<ref>From the article on Sunni Islam in [http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2280?_hi=2&_pos=2 Oxford Islamic Studies Online]</ref> hence the title 'Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘ah' (people of the principle and majority). In [[Arabic]], ''as-Sunnah'' literally means "principle" or "path". The Sunnah (the example of Muhammad's life) as recorded in the Qur'an and the hadith is the main pillar of Sunni doctrine. Sunnis believe that the first four [[caliph]]s were the rightful successors to Muhammad; since God did not specify any particular leaders to succeed him, those leaders had to be elected. There are no sub-sects within the group, however there are four recognised [[madhhab|madh'habs]] (schools of thought): [[Hanafi]], [[Maliki]], [[Shafi'i]], and [[Hanbali]]. All four accept the validity of the others and a Muslim may choose any one that he or she finds agreeable.

There are other Islamic sects that may be considered as being Sunni yet are believed to have departed from the majority by introducing ''[[bidah]]'' (innovations) and extreme political views which are divorced from Islam.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2003), pp.275,306
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Shariah | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Sunnite | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

===Shi'a===
{{Main|Shia Islam}}
{{See also|Succession to Muhammad}}
The [[Shi'a]] constitute about 10-13% of Islam, coming as the second-largest branch.<ref name="mgmpPRC">
{{Cite book
| editor-last = Miller
| editor-first = Tracy
| month = 10
| year = 2009
| publisher = [[Pew Research Center]]
| title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population
| format = PDF
| url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf
| accessdate = 2009-10-08 }}
</ref> They believe in the political and religious [[Islamic leadership|leadership]] of [[Imamah (Shia doctrine)|Imams]] from the progeny of [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]], who according to most Shi'a are in a state of ''[[ismah]]'', meaning infallibility. They believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib, as the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, was his rightful successor, and they call him the first ''Imam'' (leader), rejecting the legitimacy of the previous Muslim caliphs. To most Shi'a, an Imam rules by right of divine appointment and holds "absolute spiritual authority" among Muslims, having final say in matters of doctrine and revelation.<ref>See
* Lapidus (2002), p.46
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Imam | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=Shi'ite | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>

Approximately 40% of worldwide Shi'a adherents are concentrated in Iran, with other significant population in Iraq, Pakistan, and India.<ref name="mgmpPRC"/> Shi'a make up the majority of the Muslim population in several countries, including Iran (90-95%), Iraq (65-70%), Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and Lebanon.<ref name="mgmpPRC"/>

Shi'a Islam has several branches, the largest of which is the [[Twelvers]] (''{{transl|ar|ISO|iṯnāʿašariyya}}'') which the label Shi'a generally refers to. Although the Twelver Shi'a share many core practices with the Sunni, the two branches disagree over the proper importance and validity of specific collections of hadith. The Twelver Shi'a follow a legal tradition called [[Ja'fari jurisprudence]].<ref>See:
* Ahmed (1999), pp.44–45
* Nasr (1994), p.466</ref> Other smaller groups include the [[Ismaili]] and [[Zaidiyyah|Zaidi]], who differ from Twelvers in both their line of successors and theological beliefs.<ref>See:
* Kramer (1987), [http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/Alawis.htm Syria's Alawis and Shi''ism pp.237–254]
* [http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/islam/shia/index.html Shia branches]</ref>

===Sufism===
[[File:Whirling Dervishes 2.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Sufism|Sufi]] whirling dervishes in [[Turkey]]]]
{{Main|Sufism}}
Not strictly a denomination, [[Sufism]] is a mystical-ascetic form of Islam. By focusing on the more spiritual aspects of religion, Sufis strive to obtain direct experience of God by making use of "intuitive and emotional faculties" that one must be trained to use.<ref>Trimingham (1998), p.1</ref> Sufism and [[Islamic law]] are usually considered to be complementary, although Sufism has been criticized by some Muslims for being an unjustified [[bidah|religious innovation]]. Most Sufi orders, or ''[[tariqa]]s'', can be classified as either Sunni or Shi'a.<ref>See:
* Esposito (2003), p.302
* Malik (2006), p.3
* B. S. Turner (1998), p.145
* {{cite web | url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/aftoc.html | work=Country Studies | publisher=U. S. Library of Congress (Federal Research Division) | title=Afghanistan: A Country Study | accessdate=2007-04-18 | page=150}}</ref> Some Sufi groups can be described as non-Islamic where its teachings are very distinct with Islam.

===Ahmadiyya===

{{Main|Ahmadiyya}}

Ahmadiyya ({{lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|احمدِیہ}}}}) is a religious movement founded towards the end of the [[19th century]] and originating with the life and teachings of [[Mirza Ghulam Ahmad]] (1835–1908). Ghulam Ahmad was an important religious figure who claimed to have fulfilled the prophecies about the world reformer of the [[end times]], who was to herald the [[Eschatology|Eschaton]] as predicted in the traditions of various [[world religions]] and bring about the final triumph of Islam as per Islamic prophecy. He claimed that he was the [[Mujaddid]] (divine reformer) of the 14th [[Islamic century]], the promised [[Messiah]] (“[[Second Coming of Christ]]”) and [[Mahdi]] awaited by Muslims.<ref name="hmgaintro_mma">[http://www.aaiil.org/text/books/mali/callofislam/reformermujaddiddeathjesusmessiahimammahdidajjalggogmagog.shtml “The Fourteenth-Century's Reformer / Mujaddid”, from the “Call of Islam”], by [[Maulana Muhammad Ali]]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/books/3in1/chap2/index.html Claims of Hadhrat Ahmad, Chapter Two]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/books/truth/reflection.html Reflection of all the Prophets]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/library/books/revelation/part_7_section_1.html Future of Revelation, Part 7]</ref><ref>[http://www.alislam.org/books/misunderstandingremoved.html The Removal of a Misunderstanding]</ref> Ahmadi emphasis lay in the belief that Islam is the final law for humanity as revealed to [[Muhammad]] and the necessity of restoring to it its true essence and pristine form, which had been lost through the centuries. Thus, Ahmadis view themselves as leading the revival and peaceful propagation of Islam.<ref name="timesonline.co.uk">[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4009445.ece The Ahmadi Muslim Community. Who are the Ahmadi Muslims and what do they believe? Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi gives a brief introduction to the Ahmadi branch of Islam.] Times Online. May 27, 2008.</ref> The Ahmadis were among the earliest Muslim communities to arrive in [[Great Britain|Britain]] and other Western countries.<ref name="timesonline.co.uk"/>

===Others===
There are also several orthodox theological or philosophical traditions such as the recent [[Salafi]] movement, also known as [[Wahhabi]], which sees itself as restorationist and claims to derive its teachings from the original sources of Islam by refuting the established schools of thought of Sunni Islam. The [[Kharijites]] are a sect that dates back to the early days of Islam. The only surviving branch of the Kharijites is [[Ibadism]]. Unlike most Kharijite groups, Ibadism does not regard sinful Muslims as unbelievers. The [[Imam]]ate is an important topic in Ibadi legal literature, which stipulates that the leader should be chosen solely on the basis of his knowledge and piety, and is to be deposed if he acts unjustly. Most Ibadi Muslims live in [[Oman]].<ref>See:
* [http://www.uga.edu/islam/ibadis.html UGA.edu], Ibadi Islam: An Introduction
* J. A. Williams (1994), p.173
* {{cite encyclopedia | title=al-Ibāḍiyya | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref>. There are communities of Ibadis that took refuge in the [[Mzab]] oases in southern [[Algeria]], the [[Nafusa Mountains]] in western Libya, and in [[Djerba|Djerba Island]] (Tunisia), in order to avoid [[persecution]] in certain periods of history.<ref>[http://www.uga.edu/islam/ibadis.html Valerie J. Hoffman, Ibadi Islam: An Introduction]</ref>

==See also==
{{Main|Outline of Islam}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-1-of-3}}
*[[Islamic studies]]
*[[Islam and animals]]
*[[Islam and children]]
*[[Islam and science]]
*[[Islamic jurisprudence]]
*[[Islamic ethics]]
*[[Islamic art]]
*[[Islamic economics]]
*[[Islamic literature]]

{{Col-2-of-3}}
*[[Islam and modernity]]
*[[Islamism]]
*[[Lists of Muslims]]
*[[List of Muslim empires and dynasties]]
*[[List of notable converts to Islam]]
*[[Timeline of Muslim history]]
*[[Prisoner rights in Islam]]

{{Col-3-of-3}}
{{portal}}
{{Wikipedia-Books
|1=Abrahamic religions
|3=Islam
}}

{{Col-end}}

==References==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
=== Footnotes===
{{Reflist|group=note}}
===Books and journals===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite journal | last=Accad | first=Martin | title=The Gospels in the Muslim Discourse of the Ninth to the Fourteenth Centuries: An Exegetical Inventorial Table (Part I) | journal=Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations | volume=14 | issue=1 |year=2003 | id=ISSN 0959-6410}}
* {{cite book | last=Adil | first=Hajjah Amina | coauthors=Shaykh Nazim Adil Al-Haqqani, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani | title=Muhammad: The Messenger of Islam | publisher=Islamic Supreme Council of America | year=2002 | isbn=978-1930409118}}
* {{cite book | last=Ahmed | first=Akbar | title=Islam Today: A Short Introduction to the Muslim World | publisher=I. B. Tauris | edition=2.00 | year=1999 | isbn=978-1860642579}}
* {{cite book | last=Armstrong | first=Karen | title=Muhammad: A Prophet for our Time | publisher=HarperCollins |year=2006 | isbn=006059897-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Brockopp | first=Jonathan E. | title=Islamic Ethics of Life: abortion, war and euthanasia | publisher=University of South Carolina press | year=2003 | isbn=1570034710}}
* {{cite book | last=Cohen-Mor | first=Dalya | title=A Matter of Fate: The Concept of Fate in the Arab World as Reflected in Modern Arabic Literature | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2001 | isbn=0195133986}}
* {{cite book | last=Curtis | first=Patricia A. | year=2005 | title=A Guide to Food Laws and Regulations | publisher=Blackwell Publishing Professional | isbn=978-0813819464}}
* {{cite book | last=Eglash | first=Ron | year=1999 | title=African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design | publisher=Rutgers University Press | isbn=0-8135-2614-0}}
* {{cite book | last=Ernst | first=Carl | authorlink=Carl Ernst | year=2004 | title = Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World | publisher=University of North Carolina Press | isbn=0-8078-5577-4}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John | authorlink=John Esposito | coauthors=John Obert Voll | title=Islam and Democracy | year=1996 | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0-19-510816-7}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John | title=Islam: The Straight Path | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1998 | edition=3rd | isbn=978-0195112344}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John|coauthors=Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad | title=Muslims on the Americanization Path? | year=2000a | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0-19-513526-1}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John |year=2000b | title=Oxford History of Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=978-0195107999}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| year=2002a | title=Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=978-0195168860}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| year=2002b | title=What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=0-19-515713-3}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| title=[[The Oxford Dictionary of Islam]] | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] | year=2003 | isbn=0-19-512558-4}}
* {{cite book | last=Esposito | first=John| title=Islam: The Straight Path | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2004 | edition=3rd Rev Upd | isbn=978-0195182668}}
* {{cite book | last=Farah | first=Caesar | authorlink=Caesar E. Farah | title=Islam: Beliefs and Observances | publisher=Barron's Educational Series | year=1994 | edition=5th | isbn=978-0812018530}}
* {{cite book | last=Farah | first=Caesar| title=Islam: Beliefs and Observances | publisher=Barron's Educational Series | year=2003 | edition=7th | isbn=978-0764-12226-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Firestone | first=Reuven | title=Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam | publisher= Oxford University Press | year=1999 | isbn=019-5125800}}
* {{cite book | last=Friedmann | first=Yohanan | authorlink=Yohanan Friedmann | title=Tolerance and Coercion in Islam: Interfaith Relations in the Muslim Tradition | publisher= Cambridge University Press | year=2003 | isbn=978-0521026994}}
* {{cite book | last=Ghamidi | first=Javed | authorlink=Javed Ahmed Ghamidi | title=[[Mizan]] | publisher=[[Al-Mawrid|Dar al-Ishraq]] | year=2001 | id={{OCLC|52901690}}}}
* {{cite book | last=Goldschmidt, Jr. | first=Arthur | coauthors=Lawrence Davidson | title=A Concise History of the Middle East | publisher=Westview Press | year=2005 | edition=8th | isbn=978-0813342757}}
* {{cite book | last=Griffith | first=Ruth Marie | coauthors=Barbara Dianne Savage | title=Women and Religion in the African Diaspora: Knowledge, Power, and Performance | publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press | year=2006 | isbn=0801883709}}
* {{cite book | last=Hawting| first=G. R. | authorlink= G.R. Hawting | title=The First Dynasty of Islam: The Umayyad Caliphate AD 661–750 | publisher=Routledge | year=2000 | isbn=0415240735}}
* {{cite book | last=Hedayetullah | first=Muhammad | title=Dynamics of Islam: An Exposition | publisher=Trafford Publishing | year=2006 | isbn=978-1553698425}}
* {{cite book | last=Holt | first=P. M. | coauthors=[[Bernard Lewis]] | title=Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. 1 | year=1977a | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=0521291364}}
* {{cite book | last=Holt | first=P. M. | coauthors=Ann K. S. Lambton, Bernard Lewis | title=Cambridge History of Islam, Vol. 2 | year=1977b | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=0521291372}}
* {{cite book | last=Hourani | first=Albert | authorlink=Albert Hourani | coauthor=[[Malise Ruthven|Ruthven, Malise]] | title=A History of the Arab Peoples | year=2003 | publisher=Belknap Press; Revised edition | isbn=978-0674010178}}
* {{cite book | last=Humphreys | first=Stephen | title=Between Memory and Desire | year=2005 | publisher=University of California Press | isbn=052-0246918}}
* {{cite book | last=Kobeisy | first=Ahmed Nezar | title=Counseling American Muslims: Understanding the Faith and Helping the People | publisher=Praeger Publishers | year=2004 | isbn=978-0313324727}}
* {{cite book | last=Koprulu | first=Mehmed Fuad | coauthors=Leiser, Gary | title=The Origins of the Ottoman Empire | publisher=SUNY Press | year=1992 | isbn=0791408191}}
* {{cite book | last=Kramer | first=Martin | title=Shi'Ism, Resistance, and Revolution | publisher=Westview Press | year=1987 | isbn=978-0813304533}}
* {{cite book | last=Kugle | first=Scott Alan | title=Rebel Between Spirit And Law: Ahmad Zarruq, Sainthood, And Authority in Islam | publisher=Indiana University Press| year=2006 | isbn=0253347114}}
* {{cite book | last=Lapidus| first=Ira | title=A History of Islamic Societies | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2002 | edition=2nd | isbn=978-0521779333}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | authorlink=Bernard Lewis| title=The Jews of Islam | publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul | year=1984 | isbn=0-7102-0462-0}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | title=The Arabs in History | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1993 | isbn=0-1928-5258-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=The Middle East | publisher=Scribner | year=1997 | isbn=978-0684832807}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=Islam in History: Ideas, People, and Events in the Middle East | publisher=Open Court | edition=2nd | year=2001 | isbn=978-0812695182}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=What Went Wrong?: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the Middle East | publisher=Harper Perennial | edition=Reprint | year=2003 | isbn=978-0060516055}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror | publisher=Random House, Inc., New York | year=2004 | isbn=978-0812967852}}
* {{cite book | last=Madelung | first=Wilferd | authorlink=Wilferd Madelung | title=The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=1996 | isbn=0521646960}}
* {{cite book | last=Malik| first=Jamal| coauthors=John R Hinnells, Inc NetLibrary | title=Sufism in the West | publisher= Routledge | year=2006 | isbn=0415274087}}
* {{cite book | last=Menski | first=Werner F. | title=Comparative Law in a Global Context: The Legal Systems of Asia and Africa | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2006 | isbn=0521858593}}
* {{cite journal | last=Mohammad | first=Noor | title=The Doctrine of Jihad: An Introduction | journal=Journal of Law and Religion | volume=3 | issue=2 |year=1985 | doi=10.2307/1051182 | page=381}}
* {{cite book | last=Momen | first=Moojan | title=An Introduction to Shi`i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi`ism | publisher=Yale University Press | year=1987 | isbn=978-0300035315}}
* {{cite book | last=Nasr | first=Seyed Muhammad | title=Our Religions: The Seven World Religions Introduced by Preeminent Scholars from Each Tradition (Chapter 7) | publisher=HarperCollins | year=1994| isbn=0-06067-700-7}}
* {{cite journal | last=Novak | first=David | title=The Mind of Maimonides | journal=[[First Things]] |month=February | year=1999}}
* {{cite book | last=Parrinder | first=Geoffrey | authorlink=Geoffrey Parrinder | title=World Religions: From Ancient History to the Present | publisher=Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited | year=1971 | isbn=0-87196-129-6}}
* {{cite journal | last=Patton | first=Walter M. | title=The Doctrine of Freedom in the Korân | journal=The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures |month=April | year=1900 | volume=16 | issue=3 | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | id=ISBN 9004103147 | doi=10.1086/369367 | page=129}}
* {{cite journal | last=Peters | first=F. E. | authorlink=F. E. Peters | title=The Quest for Historical Muhammad | journal=International Journal of Middle East Studies |year=1991}}
* {{cite book | last=Peters | first=F. E.| title=Islam: A Guide for Jews and Christians | publisher=Princeton University Press | year=2003 | isbn=0-691-11553-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Peters | first=Rudolph | authorlink=Rudolph Peters | title=Jihad in Medieval and Modern Islam | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | year=1977 | isbn = 90-04-04854-5}}
* {{cite book | last=Rippin | first=Andrew | authorlink=Andrew Rippin | title=Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices | publisher=Routledge | edition=2nd | year=2001 | isbn=978-0415217811}}
* {{cite book | last=Ruthven | first=Malise | title=Fundamentalism: The Search for Meaning | publisher= Oxford University Press | year=2005 | isbn = 01-92-80606-8}}
* {{cite book | last=Sahas | first=Daniel J. | title=John of Damascus on Islam: The Heresy of the Ishmaelites | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | year=1997 | isbn=978-9004034952}}
* {{cite book | last=[[Abdulaziz Sachedina|Sachedina]] | first=Abdulaziz | title=The Just Ruler in Shi'ite Islam: The Comprehensive Authority of the Jurist in Imamite Jurisprudence | publisher=Oxford University Press US | year=1998 | isbn=0195119150}}
*{{citejournal|last=Seibert|first=Robert F.|title=Review: Islam and the West: The Making of an Image (Norman Daniel)|journal=Review of Religious Research|year=1994|volume=36|issue=1|doi=10.2307/3511655|page=88|last2=Daniel|first2=Norman}}
* {{cite book | last=Sells | first=Michael Anthony | authorlink=Michael Anthony Sells | coauthors=Emran Qureshi | title=The New Crusades: Constructing the Muslim Enemy | publisher=Columbia University Press | year=2003 | isbn=0231126670}}
* {{cite book | last=Smith | first=Jane I. | title=The Islamic Understanding of Death and Resurrection | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2006 | isbn=978-0195156492}}
* {{cite book | last=Stillman | first=Norman | authorlink=Norman Stillman | title=The Jews of Arab Lands: A History and Source Book | publisher=Jewish Publication Society of America | location=Philadelphia | year=1979 | isbn=1-82760-198-1}}
* {{cite book | last=Tabatabae | first=Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn | coauthors=Seyyed Hossein Nasr (translator) | authorlink=Allameh Tabatabaei | title= Shi'ite Islam
|publisher=Suny press| year=1979 | isbn=0-87395-272-3}}
* {{cite book | last=Tabatabae | first=Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn | coauthors=R. Campbell (translator)| title= Islamic teachings: An Overview and a Glance at the Life of the Holy Prophet of Islam | publisher=Green Gold | year=2002 | isbn=0-922817-00-6}}
* {{cite book | last=Teece | first=Geoff | title=Religion in Focus: Islam | publisher=Franklin Watts Ltd | year=2003 | isbn=978-0749647964}}
* {{cite book | last=Tolan | first=John V. | title=Saracens: Islam in the Medieval European Imagination | publisher=Columbia University Press | year=2002}}
* {{cite book | last=Trimingham| first=John Spencer | title=The Sufi Orders in Islam | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1998| isbn=0195120582}}
* {{cite book | last=Tritton | first=Arthur S. | authorlink=Arthur Stanley Tritton| title=The Caliphs and their Non-Muslim Subjects: A Critical Study of the Covenant of Umar | publisher=Frank Cass Publisher | location=London | year=1970 |origyear = 1930 | isbn=0-7146-1996-5}}
* {{cite book | last=Turner | first=Colin | title=Islam: the Basics | publisher=Routledge (UK) | year=2006 | id=ISBN 041534106X}}
* {{cite book | last=Turner | first=Bryan S. | title=Weber and Islam | publisher=Routledge (UK) | year=1998 | isbn=0415174589}}
* {{cite book | last=Waines | first=David | title=An Introduction to Islam | publisher=Cambridge University Press | year=2003 | isbn=0521539064}}
* {{cite book | last=Warraq | first=Ibn | title=The Quest for Historical Muhammad | publisher=Prometheus | year=2000 | isbn=978-1573927871}}
* {{cite book | last=Warraq | first=Ibn | title=Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out | publisher=Prometheus | year=2003 | isbn=1-59102-068-9}}
* {{cite book | last=Watt | first=W. Montgomery | authorlink=William Montgomery Watt | title=The Formative Period of Islamic Thought | publisher=University Press Edinburgh| year=1973 | isbn=0-85-224254-X}}
* {{cite book | last=Watt | first=W. Montgomery|title=Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman | publisher=Oxford University Press | edition=New | year=1974 | isbn=0-19-881078-4}}
* {{cite book | last=Weiss | first=Bernard G. | title=Studies in Islamic Legal Theory | year=2002 | location=Boston | publisher=Brill Academic publishers | isbn=9004120661}}
* {{cite book | last=Williams | first=John Alden | title=The Word of Islam | year=1994 | publisher=University of Texas Press | isbn=0-292-79076-7}}
* {{cite book | last=Williams | first=Mary E. | title=The Middle East | year=2000 | publisher=Greenhaven Pr | isbn=0737701331}}
{{Refend}}

====Encyclopedias====
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=William H. McNeill, Jerry H. Bentley, David Christian | encyclopedia=Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History | publisher=Berkshire Publishing Group | year=2005 | id=ISBN 978-0974309101}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Gabriel Oussani | encyclopedia=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]] | year=1910}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Paul Lagasse, Lora Goldman, Archie Hobson, Susan R. Norton | encyclopedia=The Columbia Encyclopedia | publisher=Gale Group | year=2000 | edition=6th | id=ISBN 978-1593392369}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica Online|Encyclopaedia Britannica Online]] | publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Erwin Fahlbusch, William Geoffrey Bromiley | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Christianity | publisher=Eerdmans Publishing Company, and Brill| year=2001 | edition=1st| id=ISBN 0-8028-2414-5}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=John Bowden | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Christianity | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2005 | edition=1st | id=ISBN 0-19-522393-4}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=George Thomas Kurian, Graham T. T. Molitor | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of the Future | publisher=MacMillan Reference Books | year=1995 | id=ISBN 978-0028972053}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of Islam Online]] | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | id=ISSN 1573-3912}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Richard C. Martin, Said Amir Arjomand, Marcia Hermansen, Abdulkader Tayob, Rochelle Davis, John Obert Voll | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World | publisher=MacMillan Reference Books | year=2003 | id=ISBN 978-0028656038}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Jane Dammen McAuliffe | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an|Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an Online]] | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Lindsay Jones | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Religion | publisher=MacMillan Reference Books | year=2005 | edition=2nd | id=ISBN 978-0028657332}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Salamone Frank | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals, and Festivals | publisher=Routledge | edition=1st | year=2004 | id=ISBN 978-0415941808}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Peter N. Stearns | edition=6th | year=2000 | encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of World History Online | publisher=Bartleby}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=[[Josef W. Meri]] | encyclopedia=Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia | publisher=[[Routledge]] | year=2005 | id=ISBN 041-5966906}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=[[Wendy Doniger]] | encyclopedia=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions | publisher=[[Merriam-Webster]] | year=1999 | id=ISBN 087-7790442}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Glasse Cyril | encyclopedia=New Encyclopedia of Islam: A Revised Edition of the Concise Encyclopedia of Islam | publisher=AltaMira Press | year=2003 | id=ISSN 978-0759101906}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | editor=Edward Craig | encyclopedia=Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy | publisher=Routledge | year=1998 | edition=1st| id=ISBN 978-0415073103}}
{{Refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | last=Arberry | first=A. J. | authorlink=A. J. Arberry | title=The Koran Interpreted: A Translation | publisher=Touchstone | edition=1st | year=1996 | isbn=978-0684825076}}
* {{cite book | last=Khan | first=Muhammad Muhsin | authorlink=Muhammad Muhsin Khan | coauthors=Al-Hilali Khan, Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din | title=Noble Quran | year=1999 | publisher=Dar-us-Salam Publications | edition=1st | isbn=978-9960740799}}
* {{cite book | last=Kramer (ed.) | first=Martin | authorlink=Martin Kramer | title=The Jewish Discovery of Islam: Studies in Honor of Bernard Lewis | publisher=Syracuse University | year=1999 | isbn=978-9652240408}}
* {{cite book | last=Kuban | first=Dogan | title=Muslim Religious Architecture | publisher=Brill Academic Publishers | year=1974 | isbn=9004038132}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard | title=Islam and the West | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1994 | isbn=978-0195090611}}
* {{cite book | last=Lewis | first=Bernard| title=Cultures in Conflict: Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the Age of Discovery | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1996 | isbn=978-0195102833}}
* {{cite book | last=Mubarkpuri | first=Saifur-Rahman | title=[[The Sealed Nectar]]: Biography of the Prophet | publisher=Dar-us-Salam Publications | year=2002 | isbn=978-1591440710}}
* {{cite book | last=Najeebabadi | first=Akbar Shah | title=History of Islam | publisher=Dar-us-Salam Publications | year=2001 | isbn=978-1591440345}}
* {{cite book | last=Nigosian | first=S. A. | title=Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices | publisher=Indiana University Press | year=2004 | edition=New | isbn=978-0253216274}}
* {{cite book | last=Rahman | first=Fazlur | authorlink=Fazlur Rahman | title=Islam | publisher=University of Chicago Press | year=1979 | edition=2nd | isbn=0-226-70281-2}}
* {{cite book | last=Tausch | first=Arno | authorlink=Arno Tausch | title=Muslim Calvinism | publisher=Rozenberg Publishers, Amsterdam | year=2009 | edition=1st | isbn=978-905170995}}
* {{cite book | last=Tausch | first=Arno| title=What 1.3 Billion Muslims Really Think: An Answer to a Recent Gallup Study, Based on the “World Values Survey”. Foreword Mansoor Moaddel, Eastern Michigan University | publisher=Nova Science Publishers, New York| year=2009 | edition=1st | isbn=978-1-60692-731-1}}
* {{cite book | last=Walker | first=Benjamin | authorlink=Benjamin Walker | title=Foundations of Islam: The Making of a World Faith | publisher=Peter Owen Publishers | year=1998 | isbn=978-0720610383}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
;Academic resources
* [http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam.html Patheos Library – Islam]
* [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA University of Southern California Compendium of Muslim Texts]
* [http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/islam Encyclopedia of Islam (Overview of World Religions)]
*[http://www.ethicaldemocracy.org/ Ethical Democracy Journal] views on Islam, other ethical systems and democracy
;Online resource
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9105852/Islam Islam], article at ''Enyclopaedia Britannica Online''
* [http://www.friesian.com/islam.htm Islam], article at ''Friesian.com''
*[http://ideas.repec.org/p/iza/izadps/dp4459.html Asabiyya: Re-Interpreting Value Change in Globalized Societies], article at Repec/Ideas, [[University of Connecticut]] and IZA, Bonn, on Islam and global value change

;Directories
* {{dmoz|Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Islam/}}
* [http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Islam_%28Bookshelf%29 Islam (Bookshelf)] at [[Project Gutenberg]]
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/us/islamus.htm Islam] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''


{{Islam topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Religion topics}}
{{featured article}}

[[Category:Islam|Islam]]

{{Link FA|ceb}}
{{Link FA|hu}}
{{Link FA|id}}
{{Link FA|tr}}

[[ace:Éseulam]]
[[af:Islam]]
[[als:Islam]]
[[am:እስልምና]]
[[ang:Alladōm]]
[[ar:إسلام]]
[[an:Islam]]
[[arc:ܐܣܠܐܡ]]
[[frp:Islame]]
[[ast:Islam]]
[[az:İslam]]
[[bm:Silameya]]
[[bn:ইসলাম]]
[[zh-min-nan:I-su-lân-kàu]]
[[map-bms:Islam]]
[[ba:Ислам]]
[[be:Іслам]]
[[be-x-old:Іслам]]
[[bcl:Islam]]
[[bi:Islam]]
[[bar:Islam]]
[[bo:དབྱི་སི་ལམ་ཆོས་ལུགས།]]
[[bs:Islam]]
[[br:Islam]]
[[bg:Ислям]]
[[ca:Islam]]
[[cv:Ислам]]
[[ceb:Islam]]
[[cs:Islám]]
[[co:Islamu]]
[[cy:Islam]]
[[da:Islam]]
[[pdc:Islaam]]
[[de:Islam]]
[[dv:އިސްލާމް]]
[[et:Islam]]
[[el:Ισλάμ]]
[[es:Islam]]
[[eo:Islamo]]
[[ext:Islam]]
[[eu:Islam]]
[[fa:اسلام]]
[[hif:Islam]]
[[fo:Islam]]
[[fr:Islam]]
[[fy:Islam]]
[[fur:Islam]]
[[ga:An tIoslam]]
[[gd:Islam]]
[[gl:Islam]]
[[gu:ઇસ્લામ ધર્મ]]
[[hak:Yî-sṳ̂-làn-kau]]
[[xal:Лал шаҗн]]
[[ko:이슬람교]]
[[ha:Islama]]
[[haw:Hoʻomana Mohameka]]
[[hy:Իսլամ]]
[[hi:इस्लाम]]
[[hsb:Islam]]
[[hr:Islam]]
[[io:Islamismo]]
[[ig:Islam]]
[[ilo:Islam]]
[[id:Islam]]
[[ia:Islam]]
[[ie:Islam]]
[[os:Пысылмон дин]]
[[is:Íslam]]
[[it:Islam]]
[[he:אסלאם]]
[[jv:Islam]]
[[kl:Islam]]
[[kn:ಇಸ್ಲಾಂ ಧರ್ಮ]]
[[krc:Ислам]]
[[ka:ისლამი]]
[[kk:Исләм]]
[[kw:Islam]]
[[ky:Ислам]]
[[sw:Uislamu]]
[[kg:Kisilamu]]
[[ht:Islamis]]
[[ku:Îslam]]
[[lad:Islam]]
[[lbe:Ислам]]
[[la:Religio Islamica]]
[[lv:Islāms]]
[[lb:Islam]]
[[lt:Islamas]]
[[lij:Islamiximo]]
[[li:Islam]]
[[ln:Islamu]]
[[jbo:musyjda]]
[[hu:Iszlám]]
[[mk:Ислам]]
[[ml:ഇസ്‌ലാം]]
[[mt:Islam]]
[[mr:इस्लाम धर्म]]
[[arz:الاسلام]]
[[mzn:ایسلام]]
[[ms:Islam]]
[[mwl:Eislan]]
[[mn:Ислам]]
[[nah:Islamismo]]
[[nl:Islam]]
[[nds-nl:Islam]]
[[ja:イスラム教]]
[[pih:Islem]]
[[no:Islam]]
[[nn:Islam]]
[[nrm:Islam]]
[[nov:Islam]]
[[oc:Islam]]
[[uz:Islom]]
[[pnb:اسلام]]
[[ps:اسلام]]
[[km:សាសនាឥស្លាម]]
[[tpi:Islam]]
[[nds:Islam]]
[[pl:Islam]]
[[pt:Islão]]
[[crh:İslâm]]
[[ro:Islam]]
[[rm:Islam]]
[[qu:Islam]]
[[ru:Ислам]]
[[sah:Ислам]]
[[se:Islam]]
[[sa:इस्लाम]]
[[sc:Islam]]
[[sco:Islam]]
[[sq:Feja Islame]]
[[scn:Islam]]
[[simple:Islam]]
[[sd:اسلام]]
[[sk:Islam]]
[[sl:Islam]]
[[szl:Islam]]
[[so:Islaam]]
[[sr:Ислам]]
[[sh:Islam]]
[[su:Islam]]
[[fi:Islam]]
[[sv:Islam]]
[[tl:Islam]]
[[ta:இசுலாம்]]
[[kab:Islam]]
[[tt:Íslam]]
[[te:ఇస్లాం మతం]]
[[th:ศาสนาอิสลาม]]
[[tg:Ислом]]
[[tr:İslam]]
[[tk:Yslam]]
[[bug:Islam]]
[[uk:Іслам]]
[[ur:اسلام]]
[[ug:ئىسلام دىنى]]
[[vec:Islam]]
[[vi:Hồi giáo]]
[[fiu-vro:Muhamediusk]]
[[wa:Islam]]
[[zh-classical:回教]]
[[vls:Islam]]
[[war:Islam]]
[[wo:Lislaam]]
[[wuu:回教]]
[[yi:איסלאם]]
[[yo:Ìmàle]]
[[zh-yue:伊斯蘭教]]
[[diq:İslam]]
[[bat-smg:Ėslams]]
[[zh:伊斯兰教]]

Talk:Albania

2010-03-27T20:35:09Z

Elbasan101: /* Science and technology section */

{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Albania}}
{{Article probation}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|
{{WikiProject Europe|Albania=yes|class=B|importance=Top|Albania-importance=Top}}
{{WPCountries|class=B|importance=Top}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=B|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}
}}
{{OnThisDay |date1=2004-11-28|oldid1=16335503|date2=2005-11-28|oldid2=29304681|date3=2006-11-28|oldid3=90576276|date4=2007-11-28|oldid4=174325507|date5=2008-11-28|oldid5=254539953|date6=2009-11-28|oldid6=328209906}}
{{todo|small=yes}}
{{oldpeerreview|archive=1|small=yes}}
{{Archive box|auto=long}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|archiveheader = {{talkarchivenav|noredlinks=y}}
|maxarchivesize = 100K
|counter = 4
|minthreadsleft = 5
|algo = old(90d)
|archive = Talk:Albania/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Auto archiving notice |bot=MiszaBot I |age=90 |small=yes |dounreplied=yes}}

== '''Major revision to religious statistics''' ==

I am writing this message again as I know there will be a big bru ha ha when it’s eventfully published, I realise it’s a touchy subject for a small minority. Please read carefully and considerately, I will put up a template of what I will be writing, others can add or take as they wish

In light of the recent demographic study carried out by Pew for over 3 years and just released, it states that Muslims account for 79.9% with all other religions and affiliations accounting for 19.1%. This is backed up by a 2008 report by the Ministry of Statistics of Albania as well as Unicef. Furthermore 95% of the Muslims in Albania are Sunni and less than 5% are Shia/Bektashi

I will leave this message on here for about a week before changing the article. The sources I am providing are http://www.childinfo.org/mics3_surveys.html and http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=451. You will need to download the pdf's.

I believe these are the most up to date and sources as well as unbiased. The statistics provided should not be confused with how much of the population is actually practicing that is a moot point. It’s to do with religious affiliation.
Furthermore the source that has been provided for the 9% claim is not verifiable at all!! I remember seeing the link, and it did not seem to be publicised on any official website, and looked like it had been drawn up by kids. I believe what I have provided are the most authoritative and reliable statistics to date. I hope people don’t delete it when I change it, unless there is actually evidence of studies carried out that are more authoritative

Thank you

--[[User:Elias101|Elias101]] ([[User talk:Elias101|talk]]) 23:12, 9 October 2009 (UTC)

Thanks, Elias. The main problem with religion in Albania has to do with people actually practicing their religious beliefs. In the current article there are sentences that show how the population perceives itself and you can add your references there. Most Albanians (as your sources clearly show 79.9%) see themselves as Muslim. However [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71364.htm US State Department] says: ''No reliable data were available on active participation in formal religious services, but estimates ranged from 25 to 40 percent'' - this makes it very difficult to give an exact number. I think all this is very well mentioned on the article itself, although after some recent edits it could need a bit of copy-editing. —[[User:Anna Comnena|Anna Comnena]] ([[User talk:Anna Comnena|talk]]) 12:25, 10 October 2009 (UTC)

Ok I have made the changes, backed with sources by 3 organizations that have done a study on religion in Albania.

Anna there is no inherent contradiction between religious affiliation and active participation; as such I have left the statistic that states 20-40% religious participation. People can see themselves as Muslim/Christian and not necessarily practice that does not make then any less of a Muslim/Christian. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Elias101|Elias101]] ([[User talk:Elias101|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Elias101|contribs]]) 20:30, 10 October 2009 (UTC) 

--[[User:Elias101|Elias101]] ([[User talk:Elias101|talk]]) 20:31, 10 October 2009 (UTC)

:Elias your edit seems to lack objectivity. Your sources do not show anything about a research done on the issue. It shows research done on other issues, they just used statistics that seemed suitable - you are referring to those statistics. Furthermore, it would be preferable if other (earlier) sources would not be removed.
:There is no major research done on Albanian religion. And yes, there is something called [[Agnostic theist|agnostic theist]]: ''...It is possible to be a Christian agnostic, an Islamic agnostic...''. I believe that a further more elaborate discussion would be appropriate before rushing into edits. Thanks for your efforts, please continue this discussion without further edits, until a sound solution is found. —[[User:Anna Comnena|Anna Comnena]] ([[User talk:Anna Comnena|talk]]) 13:15, 11 October 2009 (UTC)

Anna I don’t know whether you read the sources especially the one done by unicef and the ministry of statistics of Albania, a more in-depth look will provided the answers you require, reading to the end (or skipping) will provide you with the methodology that is used.

I don’t see how my article lacks objectify I clearly stated this is about religious affiliation and not how people actually go to the mosque/church or lack of it. And yes you are correct that "there is something called [[Agnostic theist agnostic theist]]: ''...It is possible to be a Christian agnostic, an Islamic agnostic...''", so do you intend to make a point with this or is it just a straw man a red herring?

Furthermore there is no statistical proof of how many people practice their faith in Albania however your reversion (and I presume your support of the statistics) is not based on any factual proof. "One survey found" is not a material fact. Any chance that you will provide us with which survey this is? Or will we get a knee jerk reaction?

I will reiterate myself, hopefully not in ad infinitum.

This is what I will post:

'''According to the National Institute of Statistics for Albania, working with UNICEF as well as the 2009 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, in what has arguably been the most detailed and up to date study of its kind, found that 79.9% of the population considered themselves Muslim. <ref>[http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf 2009 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life] </ref> Other denominations including “Orthodox, Catholic and others” make up 21.1% of the Albanian population.<ref>[http://www.childinfo.org/files/MICS3_Albania_FinalReport_2005_Eng.zip MICS3 AlbaniaFinal Report2005 Eng National Institute of Statistics for Albania with UNICEF] </ref> Furthermore the 2009 study by Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that less than 5% of Muslims in Albania are Bektashi (Shia) <ref>[http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf 2009 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life] </ref>

'''* 79.9%: [[Muslim]]s [[Sunni]], of which less than 5% are [[Bektashi]](Shia)<ref>[http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf 2009 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life] </ref> <ref>[http://www.childinfo.org/files/MICS3_Albania_FinalReport_2005_Eng.zip MICS3 AlbaniaFinal Report2005 Eng National Institute of Statistics for Albania with UNICEF] </ref>'''
'''* 21.1: [[Albanian Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christians Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics and others]] <ref>[http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf 2009 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life] </ref> <ref>[http://www.childinfo.org/files/MICS3_Albania_FinalReport_2005_Eng.zip MICS3 AlbaniaFinal Report2005 Eng National Institute of Statistics for Albania with UNICEF] </ref>

....'''

'''The Communist regime that took control of Albania after World War II suppressed religious observance and institutions and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first atheist state. Religious freedom has returned to Albania since the regime's change in 1992. Albanian Muslim (79.9%) are found throughout the country whereas Orthodox Christians are concentrated in the south and Roman Catholics (21.15) are found in the north of the country. No reliable data are available on active participation in formal religious services, and estimates range from 25% to 40%.<ref name="International Religious Freedom Report 2007"/>'''

Previously the religious figures in Albania stood at 70% Muslim, 20% Catholic and 10% Orthodox. Although these statics were based on estimates from pre-1967 information.
There are about 4000 active [[Jehovahs witnesses]] in Albania.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide Status Report|url=http://www.watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report_statistics.htm|accessdate=2009-09-27|publisher=Watch Tower}}</ref>'''

As you may notice plenty of time has been allotted for discussion and contribution, how about some actual contribution, is this so offends your highly regarded objective standards. I

These statistics are not about:

1) How many people practice their faith
2) What deeper philosophical categories they would put themselves in if they had to write a book about their spirituality.

This is about: Religious affiliation i.e. how people see themselves prima facie. Nothing more and nothing less.

--[[User:Elias101|Elias101]] ([[User talk:Elias101|talk]]) 21:25, 11 October 2009 (UTC)

::Thank you Elias for your detailed explanation. First of all, I read the references that you sent in depth, and as I said, UNICEF was not a direct survey on religion, and the other source cites the first one. In fact statistics that show similar results (with the ones you presented) are present in the current form of the article. I think stating that 80% of Albanians are Muslim is not a real objective explanation of Albanian religion. I agree that this is a really complex issue. So saying that 70% are atheist is also not very realistic. But explaining the meaning of [[agnostic theist]] in the article would help explain the situation. Also this section need more work on history. As Albanian people are known to be indifferent to religion [http://books.google.com/books?id=oRASDq3rc-YC&pg=PA87&dq=paganism+and+albanians&lr=#v=onepage&q=paganism%20and%20albanians&f=false 1][http://books.google.com/books?id=xbugq_gpR2AC&pg=PA87&dq=paganism+and+albanians&lr=#v=onepage&q=albanians&f=false 2][http://books.google.com/books?id=nAANq88bBH8C&pg=PA2&dq=paganism+and+albanians&lr=#v=onepage&q=pagan&f=false 3][http://books.google.com/books?id=wMhg8VwMs7QC&pg=PA20&dq=paganism+and+albanians&lr=#v=onepage&q=paganism%20and%20albanians&f=false 4][http://books.google.com/books?id=HaA18-u7mMMC&pg=PA403&dq=paganism+and+albanians&lr=#v=onepage&q=pagan&f=false 5]. '''To wrap it up:''' Saying Albanians are 80% muslim, when [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71364.htm this] reliable source shows that there is very little participation on religious activities, is really premature. Until an official survey is made on '''religion''' in Albania, I think we should try and make a realistic view on the issue, having in mind my above points and that we are all neutral contributors without tendencies. I believe we can propose smaller changes for now! —[[User:Anna Comnena|Anna Comnena]] ([[User talk:Anna Comnena|talk]]) 12:39, 12 October 2009 (UTC)

:::Absolutely agree with you Anna. It's not a black and white issue, especially in Albania, to simply state numbers like 70, 20, 10. '''[[User:Kedadi|kedadi]]al''' 13:17, 12 October 2009 (UTC)

The current figures of religion in Albania express the country as multi religious Muslim 38.8%; Roman Catholic 16.7%; non religious 16.6%; Eastern Orthodox 16.1%"Albania" A Dictionary of World History. Oxford University Press, 2000. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press.--[[User:Artemisa ne adenice|Artemisa ne adenice]] ([[User talk:Artemisa ne adenice|talk]]) 18:59, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

{{fixed}}Both figures are there now. End of discussion. Pew and Oxford have been represented. It should be INSTAT to say how many muslims there are in Albania, and it hasn't done so since 1929.[[User:sulmues|sulmues]]--Sulmues 21:35, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

== Religion in ALbania. ==

Ok , let's start with this problem.
Someone says that in Albania 79.9% of population is Islam (Sunni and Bektashis? or what?) and tha other 20,1% are Christian (What? Orthodox or catholic, or maybe protestants?) , and its not written in the link. 779.9+20.1= 100%. It's impossible, because no contry has this percentage of religious people, and not in Albania, the first atheist state. So, if you do not want to spread disinformation, mus think a bit before writing.
Today, 60-75% of Albanians do not practice any religion. The other are Muslim , Catholic and Orthodox. But you can't write in all pages of demography of albania only. And, finaly, in Albania there are other minor religions, and according to the data that someone has written here, there don't exist.
Please, correct the religion in Albania because it's a false propaganda of users that doesn't respect neutrality of Wiki. Thank you!
--[[User:Albopedian|Albopedian]] ([[User talk:Albopedian|talk]]) 16:23, 7 November 2009 (UTC)

:The 79.9% statistic was conducted by the [[Pew Research Center]] and is the most recent study on the subject (conducted within the past few months). This source is completely neutral and definately not propaganda. We can't just disregard it because you don't agree with it. The idea that most Albanians are nonreligious is also mentioned in the religion section. --[[User:Local hero|Local hero]] [[User talk:Local hero|talk]] 16:42, 7 November 2009 (UTC)

::As a neutral editor, I see this as a very concerning problem- one source says a majority of Albania's population is non-religious, while Pew says 79.9% of the population is Islamic. Which source is more correct? Hard to prove... the only way you can resolve this is to present both sources, plain and simple. [[User:Monsieurdl|'''Monsieurdl''']] [[User talk:Monsieurdl|mon talk]] 01:05, 8 November 2009 (UTC)

:::This is very easy to explain anecdotally, although I don't know if I could give you a source. Most Albanians are nominally Muslim but are uninterested in either the practices or the doctrines of that religion. So the figures differ because of different definitions of "Muslim": a) a person who if asked their religion, says "Muslim", but probably doesn't do or believe anything as a result of that identifier except a general belief in God, or b) a person who believes in the doctrines of Islam and performs the religious duties of a Muslim. The latter are definitely a minority in Albania, while the former are by far the majority. Again, this is just my anecdotal experience, unsupported by systematic research. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 01:56, 16 December 2009 (UTC)

Ok, I put all the three options. It is right now? I think that we must do the same in Religion in Albania and other pages.
Thank you!--[[User:Albopedian|Albopedian]] ([[User talk:Albopedian|talk]]) 09:21, 8 November 2009 (UTC)

{{fixed}} I believe the best version so far has just been written. If there are no censuses since 1929 the foreign countries can make a lot of mess with their "studies" (how come the PEW gives 79% muslims and Oxford gives 39%?): it should be INSTAT to give an answer but the govt of albania doesn't want to do that census (s'e ha ate koqe ulliri, ;-).[[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]])--Sulmues 21:32, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

== Patos Marinzas ==

The article has nothing about [[Patos Marinzas]], the biggest on-shore oil field of Europe.[[User:Agre22|Agre22]] ([[User talk:Agre22|talk]]) 01:45, 8 November 2009 (UTC)agre22

:It is Patos / Marinza stgupid —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/74.59.88.57|74.59.88.57]] ([[User talk:74.59.88.57|talk]]) 15:24, 31 December 2009 (UTC) 

== Arnavutluk ==

I was surprised to find out that there is no mention of the Ottoman/Turkish name of the country in this nice and long article. At least the etymology section should have included something. After all, Arnavutluk and Arnavut (Albanians) have been a very visible if not prominent part of Ottoman history for centuries. A sizable Arnavut community in Turkey still recognize and identify their roots.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Thank you Murat! I was not aware that [[Albania]] was called [[Arnavutlk]] during the Turkish presence. Could you please provide a map to show [[Arnavutluk]] within the [[Ottoman Empire]]? I'll make sure to update the article. As a matter of fact many improvements are due here, but unfortunately many albanian users have been banned. If you ban too many users of a small people, that's what you get. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]])--Sulmues 16:58, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

What do you mean by Albania was called [[Arnavutlk]]? Further more, the article states that it was official! Arnavutlk or Arnavut is the way how the otomans used to call albanian and albanians during that time but that was not any official name! Sulmues, I think you should remove the term "officially". Even nowodays, Trukish people refer to albanians as Arnavut, but that does not make it an official naming for Albanians. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:13, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

== Shingen ==

Is it not an important port city in Albania? I know it may have different names, but could not see any reference anywhere. I made a little stub (San Giovanni di Medua) which needs much input.--[[User:Hudavendigar|Murat]] ([[User talk:Hudavendigar|talk]]) 18:04, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

: You may be thinking of [[Shëngjin]], which today is a small town near [[Lezha]]. The only port cities in Albania are [[Durrës]] and [[Vlora]]. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 07:49, 13 December 2009 (UTC)

:: Actually [[Shëngjin]] has a port and it is very important. You can check on google for images of Shëngjin port. A lot of goods that go toward [[Kosovo]] is processed thought this port. [[User:Piasoft|Piasoft]] ([[User talk:Piasoft|talk]]) 02:21, 10 February 2010 (UTC)

::: Oops, I was mistaken on this point! Thanks for the correction. [[User:Hajenso|Kenji Yamada]] ([[User talk:Hajenso|talk]]) 18:10, 17 February 2010 (UTC)

== Prehistory section ==

The prehistory section is dreadful. First, it has nothing to do with prehistory. Second, it is a badly written list of archeological sites from various historical periods (e.g. Buthrotum) that again have nothing to do with prehistory. Third it contains empty meaningless statements to the effect of "The fact that history and legend afford no record of the arrival of the Albanians in the Balkan Peninsula has rendered the question of their origin a particularly difficult one to answer." Brilliant. The way I see it, there is nothing to salvage, so unless anyone objects, I will remove it. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:00, 17 December 2009 (UTC)

:It's been five days since my previous posting. Since no one has objected, I am removing the section per [[WP:SILENCE]] and [[WP:SS]]. There is nothing in there that has anything to do with Albania's prehistory or that is not repeated elsewhere in the article. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 23:31, 22 December 2009 (UTC)
<s>
: Hey Greek , hands off Albanian History or pay back on the Greece page.--[[User:Lceliku|Lceliku]] ([[User talk:Lceliku|talk]]) 20:30, 28 December 2009 (UTC)</s>

::It's funny how I waited 5 MONTHS (not days, months) to build consensus on putting the unique infobox in [[Kosovo]] article [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Kosovo&oldid=314341520#There_is_a_standard_on_wikipedia]and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Kosovo/Archive_25#Infobox], had a consensus reached, and then when I made the change per [[WP:SILENCE]] and [[WP:SS]], I was banned because [[User:Athenean|Athenean]] filed an WP:ANI report on my "disruptive behavior". Now I cannot edit on Kosovo related articles, and for that matter even on [[Albanian Alps]] because [[User:Athenean|Athenean]] has reported me again in breaking the ban. According to [[User:Athenean|Athenean]] when I talk about the [[Albanian Alps]] for some reason they are related to [[Kosovo]]. He reported me here [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Moreschi#Topic_ban_violation_by_Sulmues] yesterday.
::[[User:Lceliku|Lceliku]]: I would urge you to be polite with [[User:Athenean|Athenean]] anyways. He has already reported many Albanians to admins and the only thing that you will obtain, is that he will patrol himself all the Albania-related topics. To the English users [[Albania]] will just look like a province of [[Greece]] mistakenly having an independent country and that's not what we want. I have noticed that [[User:Athenean|Athenean]] is an expert in making very good use of all the sources of Wikipedia to make his point.
::[[User:Athenean|Athenean]]: I would urge you to read this [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:BITE#Please_do_not_bite_the_newcomers] and be nicer to newcomers. I am a newcomer as opposed to you and so are a lot of new editors. Making their lives difficult without letting them contribute to Wikipedia articles and without letting them [[Wikipedia:Be_bold_in_updating_pages|be bold]] will make Wikipedia a poorer place to be. Again I would like to remind you not to make massive reverts in [[Albania]]. Thanks![[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sumues|talk]])--Sulmues 15:47, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

== Religious numbers ==

I made useful changes to the religious statistics here: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334650526&oldid=334649384] because the numbers in the reference [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html]was incorrectly used and added so I had to foot the numbers properly. It took me some minutes to do that.

But here comes [[user:athenean|athenean]] and reverts the WHOLE THING with other things as well and makes a mess in the article. Of course his numbers in the article for religious statistics won't add up to the right amounts that appear in the source. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Albania&action=historysubmit&diff=334653888&oldid=334651587]. Athenean, please do the math and you will see that your numbers don't make any sense. And stop whispering to the admins to ban all the albanians that you find on your way, otherwise you'll get IP editors getting back at you. All you'll get is to ask for protection and have no life. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 14:39, 29 December 2009 (UTC). 

:What I find most disturbing is that people are even suggesting basing the religion statistics on little-known dubious sources, while the sources most commonly used for the same purpose on other articles are not even mentioned. According to Britannica:
:{{quote|''In the early 21st century about seven-tenths of the Albanian population was nominally Muslim, more than half of them Sunni Muslims and the next largest group being the Bektashi sect. Those who identified with Eastern Orthodoxy constituted about one-fifth of the population, and those associated with Roman Catholicism constituted about one-tenth. Muslims are spread throughout the country, although they particularly dominate the centre. Roman Catholics have settled primarily in the northern part of the country, mainly in the city of Shkodër, while Orthodox Christians are prominent in the southern districts of Gjirokastër, Korçë, Berat, and Vlorë.''}}
:The CIA World Factbook also repeats the traditional figures (''Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%'') as "estimates".
:While I do understand and respect the POV of certain Albanians to underestimate the extent of traditional/nominal Islam in Albania believing that by doing so they are presenting Albania as more "Western" or "European", and the point of even doing so is in itself debatable, these facts should not be removed from the article. I suggest including all available sources.--[[User:Ptolion|Ptolion]] ([[User talk:Ptolion|talk]]) 21:56, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

::Very good point Ptolion. There is definitely a concerted effort to portray Albania as "Christian" and therefore "Western" and "European" as possible. There is a very simple way to deal with this, however. What is sourced to [[WP:RS|reliable sources]] can stay, what is sourced to dubious sources goes in the trash. Simple as that. There is absolutely no need to respect or tolerate any sort of POV-pushing. We have ways of dealing with that as well. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:22, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::The situation is actually much worse than that. There are deliberate attempts at deception here. I noticed that the article says ''the World Christian Encyclopedia published in 2001 by the Oxford University Press. Vol 1: p 51 says that roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% being Christians''. However, when I check the citations provided, neither of them has anything to do with the "World Christian Encyclopedia". One is from some website [http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Albania/rbodies.html], the other is from the website of the Albanian consulate in Milan [http://www.consolatoalbanesemilano.org/lalbania_oggi.html]. Whoever inserted these mentioned the Oxford University Press in a deliberate attempt to mislead and cast an air of respectability on these dubious sources. I will consequently remove them and replace them with the CIA World Factbook and Encyclopedia Britannica. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 00:39, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

Now you have the reference directly from the World Christian Encyclopedia with full isbn. [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 01:47, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

:That's an improvement, although do you think you could include a link to the citation? It's impossible to verify the way you have provided it. In general, the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]] should be treated with caution as a source, as it is known to be pro-Christian and ''consistently gave a higher estimate for percent Christian in comparison to other cross-national data sets''. I am not terribly interested in this debate, so I will leave it there for now, but that is something to keep in mind. --[[User:Athenean|Athenean]] ([[User talk:Athenean|talk]]) 02:21, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

::I'm not going to touch this any longer either. I really can't provide a citation for the fact that 1929 is really the last year when Albania had an official religious census, so it's ok if you take it out: it's unsupported, even though I'm sure about it. Now World Christian Encyclopedia might be biased, but I could argue that also the PEW research is also biased. Bottom line the company is a [[think tank]] that works for the [[US government]]. And so does the CIA (that refers to the 1929 data). I could argue that the interest of the USA is to depict Albania like as a muslim country because it wants to make it an example of a democratic muslim country for other muslim theocratic countries. That's why the truth might be closer to what the World Christian Encyclopedia is saying. Furthemore there are 1200 christian churches in ALbania and 500 mosques, what does that tell you? [[User:sulmues|sulmues]] ([[User talk:sulmues|talk]]) --Sulmues 16:57, 30 December 2009 (UTC)

I removed a small section that pertained specifically to the Jehovah's witnesses and LDS or 'Mormons'. With a population of over 3 million, it didn't seem noteworthy to single out these 2 groups and note their numbers with only a few thousand apiece, without attempting a more detailed breakdown of the christian percentages. —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.217.144.112|24.217.144.112]] ([[User talk:24.217.144.112|talk]]) 23:31, 18 January 2010 (UTC) 
:I'd say that as [[Jehovah's witnesses]] and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] are among the fastest growing religions in the world, this is very relevant. [[User:2007apm|2007apm]] ([[User talk:2007apm|talk]]) 20:56, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

:: Sulmues I really doubt the US govt is peddling an agenda of trying to showcase Albania as some kind of shining example. This is just fanciful, especially since there are other more successful Muslim democracies other than Albania’s weak emerging one, with the added gravitas of being more important and much larger than an island, like Indonesia or Turkey.

Were are these 1200 Churches in Albania, that’s ridiculous, your statements are ridiculous. That goes for mosques as well? What I want to know is why they have stopped at these nice round numbers. Just let Albania be what it is stop inventing facts--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 19:09, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

== Science and technology section==

I think it would be appropriate to add a section to Alabamian Science and technology. I have found some sources can someone help me put something together.

R&D research does not exceed 0.18% of GDP
24 research studies institutes

"From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.

Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated. This exodus is growing and according to a survey run in 1998 a greater number of highly educated people want to emigrate. They are mainly young people who wish to emigrate for a long time or forever. It is clear that if the economic and social situation in the country does not improve, the Albanian brain drain will continue as intensively as before.

However, the continuous brain drain poses a severe threat to this system. Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state – of – the – art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research. The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad.

Some of the highly educated people do return after their studies and others may also consider it. During this year the new government has planned many ways to provide the acilities to have the new situation changed into : the brain gain.

Mapping Exercise - Albania

There is a total 578 scientific workers in our country: 274 in Academy of Sciences and 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries. The number of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0,2 for 1000 habitants" http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

"Albania approves science strategy. On 29 June, the Council of Ministers approved the National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania covering the period 2009–2015.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

To triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;

To augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;

to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technologybased firms;

to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;

to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners."

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=3&CAT=NEWSQUERY=012781319cf6:585a:79a1ee85&RCN=28126
::http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=MSS_AL_NEWS_EN&ACTION=D&DOC=1&CAT=NEWS&QUERY=012780c04814:b450:09ce483b&RCN=29062
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:1gIeJX2H-HAJ:www.wbc-inco.net/attach/Report_Albania.pdf+Research+and+development+in+albania&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiVyVg-g24X1JrNgP4MR0kEohPCbi4GKeMk_Fr6f37xM4YM9ktL81AFlmlZpwtfI1V0zqupMN33_qHvlQeDmaylE1NwW4dQHxMPEvJTOlHGkrTIXetsgaK0PthxdmhmpdWTcn9x&sig=AHIEtbR1QZwMakonOSgkdrkitiO4CO-CCw

--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 12:55, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

:::: I cobbled something together...some pics would be nice, looks a bit dull, maybe I can reduce teh words later, easier in the eyese and evrything--[[User:Elbasan101|Elbasan101]] ([[User talk:Elbasan101|talk]]) 20:35, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

Talk:Albania

2010-03-27T20:34:51Z

Elbasan101: /* Science and technology section */

Albania

2010-03-27T20:32:43Z

Elbasan101: /* Science and technology */

{{About|the modern state}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''Republika e Shqipërisë''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Albania
|common_name = Albania
|national_motto = ''Feja e Shqiptarit është Shqiptaria'' (''The faith of Albanians is Albanism'')<ref>Understanding the war in Kosovo Authors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Editors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Publisher Routledge, 2003 ISBN 0-7146-5391-8, 9780714653914 page 188 link [http://books.google.com/books?id=VPPdgAZxU9IC&lpg=PA188&dq=albanian%20religion%20is%20albanism&lr=&pg=PA188#v=onepage&q=albanism&f=false]</ref> (''national'') ''Ti, Shqipëri, më jep nder, më jep emrin Shqiptar'' (''You Albania give me honor, you give me the name Albanian'') (''traditional'')
|national_anthem = ''[[Himni i Flamurit]]'' ("The Banner Hymn")
|image_flag = Flag of Albania.svg
|image_coat = Albania state emblem.svg
|symbol_type = Coat of arms
|image_map = Location Albania Europe.png
|map_caption = {{map caption|location_color=green|region=Europe|region_color=dark grey|legend=Location Albania Europe.png}}
|official_languages = [[Albanian language|Albanian]]1
|capital = [[Tirana]]
|latd=41 |latm=20 |latNS=N |longd=19 |longm=48 |longEW=E
|largest_city = [[Tirana]]
|government_type = [[Parliamentary republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[List of heads of state of Albania|President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Bamir Topi]]
|leader_title2 = [[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Sali Berisha]]
|area_rank = 139th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area_km2 = 28748
|area_sq_mi = 11100 
|percent_water = 4.7
|population_estimate = 3,639,453<ref name=instat/>
|population_estimate_year = 2009
|population_estimate_rank = 129th
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density_km2 = 126.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 327.8 
|population_density_rank = 63
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP = $21.864 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=914&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=71&pr.y=12 |title=Albania|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=1 October 2009}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 110th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $7,018<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 95th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal = $12.964 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank = 113th
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $4,089<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 94th
|Gini = 26.7
|Gini_year = 2005
|Gini_category = low
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.818
|HDI_rank = 70th
|HDI_category = high
|sovereignty_type = [[History of the Albanian state|Formation]]
|established_event1 = Independence from the [[Ottoman Empire]]
|established_date1 = 28 November 1912
|established_event2 = [[Constitution of Albania|Current Constitution]]
|established_date2 = 28 November 1998
|currency = [[Albanian lek|Lek]]
|currency_code = ALL
|country_code = AL
|time_zone = {{tz|CET}}
|time_zone_DST = {{tz|CEST}}
|demonym = Albanian
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.al]]
|calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Albania|355]]
|footnote1 = Greek, [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] and other regional languages are government-recognized minority languages.}}

'''Albania''' {{Audio-IPA|en-us-Albania.ogg|/ælˈbeɪniə/}} {{respell|al|BAY|nee-ə}} ({{lang-sq|Shqipëri/Shqipëria}}, [[Gheg Albanian]]: ''Shqipnia'' or ''Shqypnia''), officially the '''Republic of Albania''' ({{lang-sq|Republika e Shqipërisë}}, {{pronounced|ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs}}), is a country in [[Balkans|South Eastern Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Montenegro]] to the northwest, [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}} to the northeast, the [[Republic of Macedonia]] to the east and [[Greece]] to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the west, and on the [[Ionian Sea]] to the southwest. It is less than {{convert|72|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from Italy, across the [[Strait of Otranto]] which links the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the [[Ionian Sea]].

Albania is a member of the [[United Nations]], [[NATO]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]], [[Council of Europe]], [[World Trade Organisation]], [[Organisation of the Islamic Conference]] and one of the founding members of the [[Union for the Mediterranean]]. Albania has been a [[Accession of Albania to the European Union|potential candidate for accession to the European Union]] since January 2003, and it formally applied for [[EU member states|EU membership]] on 28 April 2009.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8023127.stm Albania applies for EU membership], BBC News, 28 April 2009. Retrieved on 29 April 2009</ref>

Albania is a [[parliamentary democracy]] and a [[transition economy]]. The Albanian [[capital (political)|capital]], [[Tirana]], is home to approximately 727,000 of the country's 3.6 million people, and it is also the financial capital of the country.<ref name=pop2007>[http://www.tirana.gov.al/common/images/Viti%202007.pdf Population stats] from tirana.gov.al {{sq icon}}</ref> [[Free-market]] reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, especially in the development of [[energy]] and transportation infrastructure.<ref>Reports: Poverty Decreases In Albania After Years Of Growth.Dow Jones Newswires, 201-938-5500.http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200904231403dowjonesdjonline000935&title=reports-poverty-decreases-in-albania-after-years-of-growth</ref><ref>Albania plans to build three hydropower plants.People's Daily</ref><ref>Strong GDP growth reduces poverty in Albania-study.Reuters.http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/04/23/afx6330798.html</ref>

==Etymology==
{{Main|Albania (toponym)}}
''Albania'' is the [[Medieval Latin]] name of the country which is called ''Shqipëri'' by its inhabitants.
The name may be derived from the [[Illyrian]] tribe of the Albani recorded by [[Ptolemy]].

The name may have a continuation in the name of a medieval settlement called Albanion , although it is not certain this was the same place.<ref>The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, ISBN 0-631-19807-5, page 279,"We cannot be certain that the Arbanon of Anna Comnena is the same as Albania of the Albani, a place located on the map of Ptolemy (3.12)"</ref> In his ''History'' written in 1079–1080, [[Byzantine]] historian [[Michael Attaliates]] was the first to refer to ''Albanoi'' as having taken part in a revolt against [[Constantinople]] in 1043 and to the ''Arbanitai'' as subjects of the Duke of [[Dyrrachium]].<ref>Robert Elsei. ''The Albanian lexicon of Arnold von Harff, Earliest reference to the existence of the Albanian language'', pp. 113–122.</ref> During the [[Middle Ages]], the Albanians called their country ''Arbër'' or ''Arbën'' and referred to themselves as [[Arbëresh]] or ''Arbnesh''.<ref>http://www.pinocacozza.it/ {{it icon}}{{sq icon}}</ref><ref>http://www.radio-arberesh.eu/ {{it icon}}</ref>

As early as the 16th century, a new name for their home evolved among Albanian people: ''Shqipëria'', popularly interpreted as "Land of the Eagles" or "Land of the Mountain Eagle" hence the two-headed bird on the national flag,<ref>Kristo Frasheri. ''History of Albania (A Brief Overview)''. Tirana, 1964.</ref> though most likely the origin lies in [[Skanderbeg]]'s use of the Kastrioti principality symbol (Scanderbeg's principality) double-headed eagle on his seals.<History of Albania>{{by: Cabej

Under the [[Ottoman Empire]] Albania was referred to officially as ''Arnavutluk'' and its inhabitants as [[arnaut]].<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Arnaut Arnaut] at the Free Dictionary</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Albania}}

===Antiquity===
{{Main|Illyria|Dalmatia (Roman province)|Illyricum (Roman province)|Moesia Superior}}
{{See|Illyrians|Thraco-Illyrian}}
[[File:Butrint, Albania.jpg|thumb|300|left|[[Butrint]], [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Site.]]
The first recorded inhabitants in the territory of Albania were the [[Illyrians]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm|title=Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs September 2007}}</ref> an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] people that inhabited the area corresponding to northern and central Albania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9052237/Messapic-language|title=Encyclopedia Britannica – Messapic language}}</ref> The Illyrian tribes that resided in the region of modern Albania were the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Taulantii|Taulantii]]<ref>Appian, ''The Foreign Wars, III, 1.2''</ref> the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Parthini|Parthini]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Abri|Abri]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Cavii|Caviii]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Enchelei|Enchelei]],<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN 0-631-19807-5, Page 96,"... 25 Enchelei</ref> and [[List of Illyrian tribes|several others]]. In the westernmost parts of the territory of Albania there lived the [[Bryges]],<ref>The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996, ISBN-9780631198079, page 111.</ref> a [[Phrygia]]n people, and in the south were the [[Greeks|Greek]] [[Chaonians]].

Beginning in the 8th century BC, Illyrian colonies were established on the Illyrian coast. The most important were [[Apollonia (Illyria)|Apollonia]], [[Vlorë|Avlona]] (modern-day [[Vlorë]]), [[Epidamnos]] (modern-day [[Durrës]]), and [[Lissus]] (modern-day [[Lezhë]]). The rediscovered Illyrian city of [[Buthrotum]] (modern-day Butrint), a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]], is probably more significant today than it was when [[Julius Caesar]] used it as a provisions depot for his troops during his campaigns in the 1st century BC. At that time, it was considered an unimportant outpost, overshadowed by Apollonia and Epidamnos.<ref>An Inventory of Archaic and [[Classical antiquity|Classical]] Poleis by Mogens Herman, ISBN 0-19-814099-1, 2004, page 343, "Bouthroton (Bouthrotios)"</ref>

[[File:Via Egnatia-en.jpg|thumb|left|Route of the [[Via Egnatia]]]]
In the 4th century BC, the Illyrian king [[Bardhyl]] united several Illyrian tribes and engaged in conflict with [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedon]] to the southeast, but was defeated. Bardhyl was succeeded by [[Grabos]],<ref>Harding, p. 93. Grabos became the most powerful Illyrian king after the death of Bardylis in 358.</ref> then by [[Bardyllis II]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79">"The Journal of Hellenic Studies by Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies (London, England)", 1973, p. 79. Cleitus was evidently the son of Bardylis II the grandson of the very old Bardylis who had fallen in battle against Phillip II in 385 BC.</ref> and then by [[Cleitus the Illyrian]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79"/> who was defeated by [[Alexander the Great]]. Later on, in 229 BC, Queen [[Teuta]]<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, p. 120, ISBN 0-631-19807-5,page 129,"... mainly because no coins are known to have been issued by Illyrian rulers of a later period such as Agron, Teuta, Scerdilaidas, etc. ...</ref> of the [[Ardiaei]] clashed with the Romans and initiated the [[Illyrian Wars]], which resulted in defeat and in the end of Illyrian independence by 168 B.C., when King [[Gentius]] was defeated by a Roman army.

The lands comprising modern-day Albania were incorporated into the Roman empire as part of the province of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] above the river [[Drin (river)|Drin]], and Roman [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] (specifically as [[Epirus Nova]]) below it. The western part of the [[Via Egnatia]] ran inside modern Albania, ending at [[Dyrrachium]]. [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] was later divided into the provinces of [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]] and [[Pannonia]].

When the [[Roman Empire]] was divided into East and West in 395, the territories of modern Albania became part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Beginning in the first decades of Byzantine rule (until 461), the region suffered devastating raids by [[Visigoths]], [[Huns]], and [[Ostrogoths]]. In the 6th and 7th centuries, the region was overrun by the Slavs.

The territory of Albania would remain under Byzantine and Bulgarian rule until the 14th century, when the Ottoman Turks began to make incursions into the Empire. The Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453, and by 1460 most former Byzantine territories were in the hands of the Turks.

===Byzantine era===
The new administrative system of the themes, or military provinces created by the [[Byzantine Empire]], contributed to the eventual rise of feudalism in Albania, as peasant soldiers who served military lords became serfs on their landed estates. Among the leading families of the Albanian feudal nobility were the [[Karlo Thopia|Thopia]], [[Gjin Bua Shpata|Shpata]], [[Muzaka Principality of Berat|Muzaka]], [[Dukagjini]] and [[Kastrioti]]. The first three of these rose to become rulers of principalities were vassals of [[Byzantium]], and Albania mostly neglected by their [[Greece|Greek]] invaders at [[Constantinople]]. Many Albanians converted to the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Christian Church|Church]] at this time. During the [[Byzantine]] [[Era]] the powerful [[Serbs]] had occupied almost all of Northern Albania and [[Kosovo]], and the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]] had gained control and colonized the coastal regions of Albania.

===Ottoman era===
[[File:Durrës, Pinargenti.jpg|thumb|left|[[Durrës]] in 1573]]
In the [[Middle Ages]], the name ''Arberia'' (see ''[[Origin and history of the name Albania]]'') began to be increasingly applied to the region now comprising the nation of Albania.

Beginning in the late-14th century, the Ottoman Turks expanded their empire from [[Anatolia]] to the [[Balkans]] (Rumelia). By the 15th century, the Ottomans ruled all of the Balkan Peninsula. Many Albanians had been recruited into the [[Janissary]], including the feudal heir [[Gjergj Kastrioti]] who was renamed [[Skanderbeg]] (Iskandar Bey) by his Turkish trainers at [[Edirne]]. After some Ottoman defeats at the hands of the [[Serbs]], Skanderbeg deserted and began a rebellion against the [[Ottoman Empire]]<ref name="autogenerated1">Library of Congress Country Study <http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/altoc.html> of Albania</ref>.

After deserting, [[Skanderbeg|Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg]] re-converted to [[Roman Catholicism]] and declared a [[religious war|holy war]] against the Ottoman Empire<ref name="autogenerated1"/>, which he led from 1443 to 1468. Under a red flag bearing Skanderbeg's heraldic emblem, an Albanian force of about 30,000 men at [[Krujë]] held off Ottoman campaigns against their lands for twenty-four years. Thrice the Albanians overcame sieges of Krujë (see [[Siege of Krujë]]) led by many Ottoman commanders, including the influential [[Iljaz Hoxha]] and his [[Albanian]] [[Janissary]] led by [[Hamza Kastrioti]]. However, Skanderbeg was unable to receive any of the help which had been promised him by the [[pope]]s. He died in 1468, leaving no successor because his family escaped to south Italy to escape the countries invasion from the Turks. After his death the rebellion continued, but without its former success. The loyalties and alliances created and nurtured by Skanderbeg faltered and fell apart, and the Ottomans reconquered the territory of Albania in 1478. Shortly after the fall of [[Kruje]]'s castle, some Albanians fled to neighboring Italy, giving rise to the modern [[Arbëreshë]] communities.

[[File:Early 16th century Ottoman volley gun.jpg|thumb|[[Military of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[volley gun]] with 9 barrels, early 16th century.]]
The Ottomans had urbanized the landscape creating new cities, [[Bazaars]], garrisons and [[Mosques]] throughout the Albanian regions. The majority of the remaining Albanian population converted to [[Islam]], with many joining the [[Sufi]] Order of the [[Bektashi]]. Converting from Christianity to Islam brought considerable advantages, including access to Ottoman trade networks, bureaucratic positions and the army. As a result many Albanians came to serve in the elite [[Janissary]] and the administrative [[Devşirme]] system. Among these were important historical figures, including [[Iljaz Hoxha]], [[Hamza Kastrioti]], [[Köprülü Mehmed Pasha]] (head of the [[Köprülü family]] of [[Grand Viziers]]), the [[Bushati]] family, [[Sulejman Pasha]], [[Ethem Pasha]], [[Nezim Frakulla]], [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena, [[Hasan Zyko Kamberi]], [[Ali-paša Šabanagić]], and [[Mehmet Ali]] ruler of [[Egypt]].<ref>Research Institute for European and American Studies. [http://www.rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=412&catid=22&Itemid=69 ''The Balkan Muslim Presence'']</ref> and [[Emin Pasha]].

[[File:Turkish guns 1750-1800.jpg|thumb|[[Ottoman weapons|Ottoman guns]], 1750–1800.]]
Many Albanians gained prominent positions in the Ottoman government, Albanians highly active during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[Era]] and leaders such as [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena is known to have aided the Bosnian Hero [[Husein Gradaščević]] on various occasions, no fewer than 42 [[Grand Viziers]] of the Empire were Albanian in origin, including [[Mehmet Akif Ersoy]] (1873–1936) an Albanian from [[Peć]] who composed the Turkish National Anthem in 1921, "İstiklâl Marşı" (The Independence March).
Albania became pivotal for the Ottomans in the Balkans, although Albanians never rested, always having small rebellions wchich were put down by the Ottomans. As a cosequene of the continuous rebellions, the Albanians got the nickname "Arnauts" by the Ottomans, which meant "stubborn". This period saw the rising of semi-autonomous [[Albanian Pashaliks|Albanian ruled Pashaliks]], and Albanians were also an important part of the Ottoman army and Ottoman administration like the case of [[Köprülü family]]. Albania would remain a part of the Ottoman Empire as the provinces of [[Shkodër Province, Ottoman Empire|Shkodra]], [[Monastir Province, Ottoman Empire|Manastir]] and [[Ioannina Province, Ottoman Empire|Yanya]] until 1912.

===20th century===
====1913 to 1928====
After five hundred years of Ottoman domination, an independent Albania was proclaimed on November 28, 1912.

The initial sparks of the first [[Balkan Wars|Balkan War in 1912]] were ignited by the Albanian uprising between 1908 and 1910 <ref>The Balkans (Nationalism, War and the Great Powers, 1804–1999) – by Misha Glenny</ref> which were directed at opposing the [[Young Turk]] policies of consolidation of the Ottoman Empire. Following the eventual weakening of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, [[Serbia]], Greece and [[Bulgaria]] declared war and sought to aggrandize their respective boundaries on the remaining territories of the Empire. Albania was thus invaded by Serbia in the north and Greece in the south, restricting the country to only a patch of land around the southern coastal city of [[Vlora]]. In 1912 Albania, still under foreign occupation declared its independence and with the aid of [[Austria-Hungary]], the Great Powers drew its present borders leaving more than half of the Albanian population outside the new country.

The border between Albania and its neighbours was delineated in 1913 following the dissolution of most of the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Balkans. The delineation of the new state's borders left a significant number of Albanian communities outside Albania. This population was largely divided between [[Montenegro]] and Serbia (which then included what is now the [[Republic of Macedonia]]). A substantial number of Albanians thus found themselves under Serbian rule. At the same time, an uprising in the country's south by local Greeks, led to the formation of an [[Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus|autonomous region]] inside its borders (1914). After a period of political instability caused during [[World War I]], the country adopted a republican form of government in 1920.<ref>{{cite book
|last=Young
|first= Antonia
|title=Albania
|publisher=Clio Press
|year=1997|isbn =1851092609}}</ref>

====1928 to 1946====
[[File:King Zog.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Zog of Albania|Ahmet Muhtar Bey Zogolli]]]]
Starting in 1928, but especially during the [[Great Depression]], the government of [[King Zog#Relations with Italy|King Zog]], which brought law and order to the country, began to cede Albania's sovereignty to Italy.
Despite some strong resistance, especially at [[Durrës]], Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939 and took control of the country, with the Italian [[Fascist]] dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] proclaiming Italy's figurehead King [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]] as King of Albania. The nation thus became one of the first to be occupied by the [[Axis Powers]] in [[World War II]].<ref>The Balkans by Misha Glenny page 418</ref> As [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] began his aggressions, Mussolini decided to occupy Albania as a means to compete with Hitler's territorial gains. Mussolini and the Italian Fascists saw Albania as a historical part of the [[Roman Empire]], and the occupation was intended to fulfill Mussolini's dream of creating an [[Italian Empire]]. During the Italian occupation, Albania's population was subject to a policy of forced [[Italianisation]] by the kingdom's Italian governors, in which the use of the Albanian language was discouraged in schools while the Italian language was promoted. At the same time, the colonization of Albania by Italians was encouraged.

Mussolini, in October 1940, used his Albanian base to launch an attack on Greece, which led to the defeat of the Italian forces and the Greek occupation of Southern Albania in what was seen by the Greeks as the liberation of [[Northern Epirus]]. While preparing for the [[Operation Barbarossa|Invasion of Russia]], Hitler decided to attack Greece in December 1940 to prevent a British attack on his southern flank.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Creveld |first=Martin van|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1972 |month=July–October |title=In the Shadow of Barbarossa: Germany and Albania, January–March 1941 |journal= |volume=7 |issue=3/4 |pages=22–230|id= |url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-0094(197207%2F10)7%3A3%2F4%3C221%3AITSOBG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-E |accessdate=12 September 2007 |quote=}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], the [[Albanian Communist Party|Party of Labour]] was created on 8 November 1941. With the intention of organizing a [[Albanian National Liberation Front|partisan resistance]], they called a general conference in Pezë on 16 September 1942 where the Albanian National Liberation Front was set up. The Front included nationalist groups, but it was dominated by communist partisans.

In December 1942, more Albanian nationalist groups were organized under Visar Kola. Albanians fought against the Italians while, during [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] occupation, Balli Kombëtar allied itself with the Germans and clashed with Albanian communists, which continued their fight against Germans and Balli Kombëtar at the same time.

With the collapse of the Mussolini government in line with the Allied invasion of Italy, Germany occupied Albania in September 1943, dropping paratroopers into Tirana before the Albanian guerrillas could take the capital. The [[German Army]] soon drove the guerrillas into the hills and to the south. The Nazi German government subsequently announced it would recognize the independence of a neutral Albania and set about organizing a new government, police and armed forces. Many Balli Kombëtar units cooperated with the Germans against the communists and several Balli Kombëtar leaders held positions in the German-sponsored regime.
The partisans entirely liberated Albania from German occupation on 28 November 1944. The Albanian partisans also liberated Kosovo, part of Montenegro, and southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. By November 1944, they had thrown out the Germans, one of the few [[East Europe]]an nations to do so without any assistance from [[Soviet]] troops. [[Enver Hoxha]] became the leader of the country by virtue of his position as Secretary General of the [[Albanian Communist Party]].


Albania was one of the European countries occupied by the [[Axis powers]] that ended World War II with a larger [[Jewish]] population than before the war.<ref>Sarner. ''Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from the Holocaust'', 1997.</ref><ref>"Muslim Family Who Hid 26 Jews in Albania from the Nazis Honored by ADL" [http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4963_52.htm Anti-Defamation League]</ref><ref>Escape Through the Balkans: the Autobiography of Irene Grunbaum (University of Nebraska Press, 1996)</ref><ref>[http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205725.pdf Shoah Research Center – Albania.]</ref> Some 1,200 Jewish residents and refugees from other [[Balkan]] countries were hidden by Albanian families during World War II, according to official records.<ref>Israeli Historians Study How Albanian Jews Escaped Holocaust http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356717,00.html</ref>

====Communist state====
{{Main|Socialist People's Republic of Albania}}
[[File:Brosen tirana hoxha mausol.jpg|thumb|left|The former Enver Hoxha Museum in Tirana]]

[[File:Tirana Square 1988.jpg|thumb|right|Tirana's Skanderbeg Square in 1988]]

Albania became an ally of the Soviet Union, but this came to an end in 1960 over the advent of [[de-Stalinization]]. A strong political alliance with China followed, leading to several billion dollars in aid, which was curtailed after 1974. China cut off aid in 1978 when Albania attacked its policies after the death of the Chinese ruler [[Mao Zedong]]. Large-scale purges of officials occurred during the 1970s.

[[Enver Hoxha]], a dictator who ruled Albania for four decades with an iron fist, died on 11 April 1985. Eventually the new regime introduced some liberalization, and granting the freedom to travel abroad in 1990. The new government made efforts to improve ties with the outside world. The elections of March 1991 left the former Communists in power, but a general strike and urban opposition led to the formation of a coalition cabinet that included non-Communists.<ref>Albania. World Almanac & Book of Facts, 2008, pp467–545, (AN 28820955)</ref>

===Recent history – 1992 to present===
{{Main|History of post-Communist Albania}}
{{See|Timeline of Albanian history from 1994}}
Albania's former Communists were routed in elections March 1992, causing economic collapse and social unrest. The [[blood feud]] has returned in rural areas after more than 40 years of being abolished by Albanian communists,<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1553480/Thousands-fear-as-blood-feuds-sweep-Albania.html Thousands fear as blood feuds sweep Albania]". Telegraph.co.uk. 3 June 2007.</ref> with nearly 10,000 Albanians being killed due to blood feuds since 1991.<ref>"[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/world/europe/10feuds.html?_r=1 In Albanian Feuds, Isolation Engulfs Families ]". The New York Times. 10 July 2008.</ref> Sali Berisha was elected as the first non-Communist president since World War II. The next crisis occurred in 1997, during his presidency, as [[1997 rebellion in Albania|riots ravaged the country]]. The state institutions collapsed and an [[EU]] military mission led by Italy was sent to stabilize the country. In summer 1997, Berisha was defeated in elections, winning just 25 seats out of a total of 156.
His return to power in the elections of 3 July 2005 ended eight years of Socialist Party rule. In 2009, Albania – along with [[Croatia]] – joined [[NATO]].

==Government, politics and armed forces==
{{Main|Politics of Albania}}

{{Politics of Albania}}

[[File:Bush - Berisha 20070610-1 p061007cg-0198-515h.jpg|thumb|left|Albania's Prime Minister [[Sali Berisha]] with then U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] in [[Tirana]], June 2007.]]
The Albanian republic is a parliamentary democracy established under a constitution renewed in 1998. Elections are now held every four years to a unicameral 140-seat chamber, the People's Assembly. In June 2002, a compromise candidate, [[Alfred Moisiu]], former [[Army General]], was elected to succeed President [[Rexhep Meidani]]. Parliamentary elections in July 2005 brought [[Sali Berisha]], as leader of the Democratic Party, back to power. The Euro-Atlantic integration of Albania has been the ultimate goal of the post-communist governments. Albania's [[European Union|EU]] membership bid has been set as a priority by the European Commission.

Albania, along with Croatia, joined NATO on 1 April 2009 becoming the 27th and 28th members of the alliance.<ref>BBC News. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7977332.stm "Nato welcomes Albania and Croatia"], "BBC News", 2 April 2009. Retrieved on 2 April 2009.</ref>

The workforce of Albania has continued to migrate to Greece, Italy, Germany, other parts of Europe, and North America. However, the migration flux is slowly decreasing, as more and more opportunities are emerging in Albania itself as its economy steadily develops.

===Executive branch===
The head of state in Albania is the [[List of Presidents of Albania|President]] of the Republic. The President is elected to a 5-year term by the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] by secret ballot, requiring a 50%+1 majority of the votes of all deputies. The next election will run in 2012. The current President of the Republic is [[Bamir Topi]].

The President has the power to guarantee observation of the constitution and all laws, act as commander in chief of the armed forces, exercise the duties of the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] when the Assembly is not in session, and appoint the Chairman of the Council of Ministers ([[prime minister]]).

Executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The Chairman of the Council (prime minister) is appointed by the president; ministers are nominated by the president on the basis of the prime minister's recommendation. The People's Assembly must give final approval of the composition of the Council. The Council is responsible for carrying out both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!align=left|[[List of Presidents of Albania|President]]
|[[Bamir Topi]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]] ||20 July 2007
|-
!align=left|[[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|[[Sali Berisha]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]]||9 September 2009
|}

===Legislative branch===
The [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] (''Kuvendi i Republikës së Shqipërisë'') is the lawmaking body in Albania. There are 140 deputies in the Assembly, which are elected through a [[party-list proportional representation]] system. The President of the Assembly (or Speaker) has two deputies and chairs the Assembly. There are 15 permanent commissions, or committees. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years.

The Assembly has the power to decide the direction of domestic and foreign policy; approve or amend the constitution; declare war on another state; ratify or annul international treaties; elect the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court and the Attorney General and his or her deputies; and control the activity of state radio and television, state news agency and other official information media.

===Armed forces===
{{Main|Military of Albania|}}
{{See also|Albanian Air Force|Albanian Naval Defense Forces|Albanian Joint Forces Command|Albanian Logistic Support Command}}

[[File:Patrol Boat Iliria.jpg|thumb|Albanian Navy warship ''Iliria'']]

The [[Military of Albania|Albanian Armed Forces]] (''Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë'') first formed after independence in 1912. Albania reduced the number of active troops from a 1988 number of 65,000<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1935630.stm Albania sells off its military hardware], BBC News, 2002</ref> to a 2009 number of 14,500<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/08/21/feature-03 |title=Albania to abolish conscription by 2010 |publisher=SETimes.com |date=21 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> with a small fleet of aircraft and sea vessels. In the 1990s, the country scrapped enormous amount of obsolete hardware, such as tanks and [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM systems]] from China.

Today, it consists of the General Staff Headquarters, the [[Albanian Joint Forces Command]], the [[Albanian Support Command]] and the [[Albanian Training and Doctrine Command]]. Increasing the military budget was one of the most important conditions for [[NATO]] integration. Military spending accounted for about 2.7% of GDP in 2008. Since February 2008, Albania participates officially in NATO's [[Operation Active Endeavor]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>[[NATO]], [http://www.nato.int/issues/active_endeavour/index.html]</ref> and received a NATO membership invitation on 3 April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Albania membership Nato|publisher=NATO|url=http://www.nato.int/issues/nato_albania/evolution.html}}</ref> Albania became a full member of NATO on 1 April 2009.

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Albania}}

[[File:Albania space.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite image of Albania.]]

[[File:Himarë-Albania6.JPG|thumb|Coastline in [[Himarë]]]]
[[File:Ksamil Islets.jpg|thumb|[[Ksamil]], little islands]]
Albania has a total area of 28,748 square [[kilometers]]. Its coastline is 362 kilometers long and extends along the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] and [[Ionian Sea]]s. The lowlands of the west face the Adriatic Sea. The 70% of the country that is mountainous is rugged and often inaccessible from the outside. The highest mountain is [[Mount Korab|Korab]] situated in the [[district of Dibër]], reaching up to {{convert|2753|m|ft|abbr=off|lk=off}}. The climate on the coast is typically [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] with mild, wet winters and warm, sunny, and rather dry summers. Inland conditions vary depending on altitude but the higher areas above 1,500 m/5,000 ft are rather cold and frequently snowy in winter; here cold conditions with lying snow may linger into spring. Besides the capital city of [[Tirana]], which has 800,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are [[Durrës]], [[Korçë]], [[Elbasan]], [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]], [[Gjirokastër]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Kukës]]. In Albanian grammar, a word can have indefinite and definite forms, and this also applies to city names: both ''Tiranë'' and ''Tirana'', ''Shkodër'' and ''Shkodra'' are used.

The three largest and deepest tectonic lakes of the [[Balkan Peninsula]] are partly located in Albania. [[Lake Shkodër]] in the country's northwest has a surface which can vary between {{convert|370|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|lk=off}} and 530 km2, out of which one third belongs to Albania and rest to Montenegro. The Albanian shoreline of the lake is {{convert|57|km|0|abbr=on}}. [[Ohrid Lake]] is situated in the country's southeast and is shared between Albania and Republic of Macedonia. It has a maximal depth of 289 meters and a variety of unique flora and fauna can be found there, including "living fossils" and many endemic species. Because of its natural and historical value, Ohrid Lake is under the protection of [[UNESCO]].

Over a third of the territory of Albania – about 10,000 square kilometers (2.5 million acres) – is forested and the country was very rich in flora. About 3.000 different species of plants grow in Albania, many of which are used for medicinal purposes. [[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Albania belongs to the [[Boreal Kingdom]] and is shared between the Adriatic and [[East Mediterranean]] provinces of the [[Mediterranean Region]] and the Illyrian province of the [[Circumboreal Region]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the [[European Environment Agency]], the territory of Albania can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Illyrian deciduous forests]], [[Pindus Mountains mixed forests]] and [[Dinaric Alps|Dinaric Alpine]] mixed forests. The forests are home to a wide range of mammals, including [[wolves]], [[bear]]s, [[wild boar]]s and [[chamois]]. [[Lynx]], [[wildcat]]s, [[pine marten]]s and [[polecat]]s are rare, but survive in some parts of the country.

==Climate==
''See also [[Geography of Albania#Climate|Climate of Albania]]''
[[File:Coastline in Albania.jpg|thumb|left|Coastline near [[Sarandë]]]]
[[File:Albania pasture.jpg|thumb|left|Albanian landscape]]
[[File:KorabMountain2.jpg|thumb|Korab chains]]

[[File:Ksrbay.jpg|thumb|[[Sarandë]] Bay]]
With its coastline facing the Adriatic and Ionian seas, its highlands backed upon the elevated Balkan landmass, and the entire country lying at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns during the winter and summer seasons, Albania has a high number of climatic regions for so small an area. The coastal lowlands have typically Mediterranean weather; the highlands have a Mediterranean continental climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather varies markedly from north to south.

The lowlands have mild winters, averaging about {{convert|7|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Summer temperatures average {{convert|24|°C|0|abbr=on}}. In the southern lowlands, temperatures average about {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} higher throughout the year. The difference is greater than {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} during the summer and somewhat less during the winter.

Inland temperatures are affected more by differences in elevation than by latitude or any other factor. Low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in [[Eastern Europe]] and the [[Balkan]]s. Northerly and northeasterly winds blow much of the time. Average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and [[river valley]]s are very high, but the nights are almost always cool.

Average [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is heavy, a result of the convergence of the prevailing airflow from the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and the continental air mass. Because they usually meet at the point where the terrain rises, the heaviest rain falls in the central uplands. Vertical currents initiated when the Mediterranean air is uplifted also cause frequent thunderstorms. Many of these storms are accompanied by high local winds and torrential downpours.

When the continental air mass is weak, Mediterranean winds drop their moisture farther inland. When there is a dominant continental air mass, cold air spills onto the lowland areas, which occurs most frequently in the winter. Because the season's lower temperatures damage olive trees and citrus fruits, groves and orchards are restricted to sheltered places with southern and western exposures, even in areas with high average winter temperatures.

Lowland rainfall averages from {{convert|1000|mm|in|1|sp=us}} to more than {{convert|1500|mm|in|1|sp=us}} annually, with the higher levels in the north. Nearly 95% of the rain falls in the winter.

Rainfall in the upland mountain ranges is heavier. Adequate records are not available, and estimates vary widely, but annual averages are probably about {{convert|1800|mm|in|1|sp=us}} and are as high as {{convert|2550|mm|in|1|sp=us}} in some northern areas. The western Albanian Alps (valley of Boga) are among the most wet areas in Europe, receiving some {{convert|3100|mm|2|abbr=on|lk=out}} of rain annually<ref>http://qendrim.forumotion.net/gjeografia-f61/tiparet-e-pergjithshme-te-klimes-t3725.htm</ref>. The seasonal variation is not quite as great in the coastal area.

The higher inland mountains receive less precipitation than the intermediate uplands. Terrain differences cause wide local variations, but the seasonal distribution is the most consistent of any area.

==Flora and Fauna==

[[File:Lynx lynx poing.jpg|thumb|left|The [[lynx]] still survives in Albania]]

[[File:Steinadler Aquila chrysaetos closeup2 Richard Bartz.jpg|thumb|right|Golden eagle – the national symbol of Albania]]

Although a small country, Albania is distinguished for its rich biological diversity. The variation of geomorphology, climate and terrain create favorable conditions for a number of endemic and [[sub-endemic]] species with 27 endemic and 160 subendemic vascular plants present in the country. The total number of plants is over 3250 species, approximately 30% of the entire flora species found in Europe. Coastal regions and lowlands have typical Mediterranean [[macchia]] vegetation, whereas [[oak]] forests and vegetation are found on higher altitudes. Vast forests of [[European Black Pine|black pine]], [[beech]] and [[fir]] are found on higher mountains and alpine [[grasslands]] grow at altitudes above 1800 meters a.s.l.<ref name="cbd.int">http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/al/al-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf</ref>

There are around 760 vertebrate species found so far in Albania. Among these there are over 350 bird species, 330 freshwater and marine fish and 80 mammal species. There are some 91 globally threatened species found within the country, among which the [[Dalmatian pelican]], [[Pygmy cormorant]], and the [[European sea sturgeon]]. Rocky coastal regions in the south provide good habitats for the endangered [[Mediterranean monk seal]]. Some of the most significant bird species found in the country include the [[golden eagle]] – known as the national symbol of Albania – [[vulture]] species, [[capercaillie]] and numerous [[waterfowl]]. The Albanian forests still maintain significant communities of large mammals such as the [[brown bear]], [[gray wolf]], [[chamois]] and [[wild boar]].<ref name="cbd.int"/> The north and eastern mountains of the country are home to the last remaining Balkan lynx – a critically endangered population of the [[Eurasian lynx]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catsg.org/balkanlynx/20_blx-compendium/index.htm |title=The Balkan Lynx Conservation Compendium |publisher=Catsg.org |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Albania}}

Albania remains a poor country by Western European standards.<ref>[http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief]. [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] ([[Government of Australia|Australia]]), 1 August 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2009.</ref> Its GDP per capita (expressed in PPS—[[Purchasing power parity|Purchasing Power Standards]]) stood at 25 percent of the EU average in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-25062009-BP/EN/2-25062009-BP-EN.PDF|format=PDF|title=Albania's GDP per capita in PPS (2008) |publisher=Eurostat |accessdate=25 June 2009}}</ref> Still, Albania has shown potential for economic growth, as more and more businesses relocate there and consumer goods are becoming available from emerging market traders as part of the current massive global cost-cutting exercise. Albania and Cyprus are the only countries in Europe that recorded economic growth in the first quarter of 2009. In its latest report, the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) said Albania and Cyprus recorded increases of 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.<ref>Business: Albania, Cyprus register economic growth http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2009/05/15/roundup-bs-03</ref><ref>Strong economic growth potential puts Albania and Panama top of long term investment list http://www.propertywire.com/news/related-stories/albania-panama-long-term-investment-200807201344.html</ref> However, the country is still of low interest for major foreign investors due to frequent power shortages, occasional lack of water supplies and ubiquitous illegal activities.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2681449.stm Albania's Economy shakes off it's shackles], 23 January 2003, BBC News.</ref>

[[File:Mallakastra-oil.jpg|thumb|right|Oil pumps near [[Mallakastra]]]]

Albania and Croatia have discussed the possibility of jointly building a nuclear power plant at Lake [[Shkoder]], close to the border with Montenegro, a plan that has gathered criticism from the latter due to seismicity in the area.<ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/18259/ Albania, Croatia plan nuclear power plant.]</ref> In addition, there is some doubt whether Albania would be able to finance a project of such a scale with a total national budget of less than $ 5 billion.<ref name="CIA - The World Factbook">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html CIA – The World Factbook]</ref> However, in February 2009 Italian company [[Enel]] announced plans to build an 800 MW [[coal]]-fired power plant in Albania, to diversify electricity sources.<ref name="diversify">[http://www.allbusiness.com/energy-utilities/utilities-industry-electric-power/11935171-1.html Enel Albanian Joint Venture Introduces Coal In Albania's Power Mix], Business Monitor Online, 24 February 2009</ref> Nearly 100% of the electricity is generated by ageing hydroelectric power plants, which are becoming more ineffective due to increasing droughts.<ref name="diversify"/>

The country has some deposits of [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]], but produces only 6,425 barrels of oil per day.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2173rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=91#al CIA The World Factbook: Oil producers]</ref> Natural gas production, estimated at about 30 million cubic meters, is sufficient to meet consumer demands.<ref name="CIA - The World Factbook"/> Other natural resources include coal, [[bauxite]], [[copper]] and [[iron ore]].

[[Agriculture]] is the most significant sector, employing some 58% of the labor force and generating about 21% of GDP. Albania produces significant amounts of [[wheat]], [[maize|corn]], [[tobacco]], [[figs]] (13th largest producer in the world)<ref>[http://www.fao.org/es/ess/top/topproduction.html?lang=en&country=3&year=2005 Albania Country Profile], FAO</ref> and [[olives]].

==Science and technology==
{{Main|Science and technology}}

Expenditure for scientific research and Development in Albania does not exceed 0.18% of GDP, which marks the lowest level in Europe. Economic competitiveness and exports are low, with the economy still heavily skewed towards low technology.

From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.
Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated.<ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state of the art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research.

However in 2009 the government approved the "National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania" <ref>[http://www.dsdc.gov.al/dsdc/pub/national_strategy_of_science_technology_and_innovation_final_draft_381_1.pdf National Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2009–2015</ref> covering the period 2009–2015. The document was coordinated by the Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and with UNESCO assistance.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

* to triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;
* to augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;
* to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technology based firms;
* to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;
* to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners. <ref> http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html </ref>

The Strategy is to be implemented in synergy with other sectoral strategies and taking into account Albania’s Higher Education Strategy adopted in 2008 and the National Strategy for Development and Integration (2007–2013). The latter underlines the importance of modernizing economic sectors such as the agro-food industry and tourism. It also underscores the strategic importance of energy, environmental and water resource management. Stakeholders have proposed prioritizing fields of research such as agriculture and food, information and communication technologies (ICTs), public health, Albanology and humanities, natural resources, biotechnology, biodiversity, defence and security.

The European Union (EU) has set clear objectives for research and innovation as part of its Lisbon Strategy for becoming the most competitive economy in the world. Like other Western Balkan countries aspiring to join the EU, Albania is trailing behind in the development process, having focused in recent years on laying the foundations for economic growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Genc Pollo acknowledges that ‘the high rates of socio-economic development required in the process of Albania’s membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (now a member) and EU accession necessitate strengthening the role of science, technology and innovation in our society.’

In August of 2009, the government approved the establishment of the Albanian Agency of Research, Technology and Innovation, to improve policy implementation.

In 2006, the Albanian government undertook a deep reform of the scientific research system. The Academy of Sciences was re-organized along the model of many other European countries; it now operates through a selected community of scientists and no longer administrates research institutes, these having been integrated into the higher education system. Two new faculties have been set up: the Faculty of Information Technology at the Polytechnic University of Tirana and the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food at the Agricultural University of Tirana. The University of Tirana has also gained an Applied and Nuclear Physics Centre and Biotechnology Department. Twelve government agencies and centres for technology transfer have also been created.

Until recently, R&D and innovation statistics were not collected in Albania to OECD, Eurostat or UNESCO standards. A first survey of public and academic institutes was launched earlier this year and a business R&D and innovation survey is currently under way, both the support of UNESCO.

The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad

There is a total 578 scientific workers in Albania:

* 274 in Academy of Sciences
* 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

The numbers of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0.2 for 1000 habitants <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

==Transport==

{{Main|Transport in Albania}}

In the early 1990s, the rock-strewn roadways, unstable rail lines and obsolete telephone network crisscrossing Albania represented the remnants of the marked improvements that were made after [[World War II]]. [[Enver Hoxha]]'s [[xenophobia]] and lust for control had kept Albania isolated, however, as the communications revolution transformed the wider world into a [[Global Village (term)|global village]]. Even internal travel amounted to something of a luxury for many Albanians during communism's ascendancy.

===Highways===
[[File:SH2 Tiranë-Durrës.jpg|right|thumb|SH 2 Highway ([[Tirana]]–[[Durrës]])]]
[[File:Highways of Albania.svg|right|thumb|210px|Highways of Albania.]]
[[File:Tirana's Overpass From Durres (1).JPG|left|thumb|SH 2—Tirana's overpass from Durrës]]

Currently the major cities of the country are linked with first class national roads. There is a four lane highway connecting the city of Durrës with Tirana and the city of Durrës with the city of [[Lushnje]]. Albania is partaking in the construction of what it sees as three major corridors of transportation.

The major priority as of present is the full completion of the four lane [[Albania-Kosovo Highway|Durrës-Pristina highway]] which will link [[Kosovo]] with Albania's Adriatic coast. The portion of the highway which links Albania's north east border with Kosovo was completed in June 2009,<ref>{{cite web|last=Wynne |first=Alexandra |url=http://www.nce.co.uk/news/transport/albania-motorway-making-the-first-move/5203302.article# |title=Albania highway: Making the first move | Features | New Civil Engineer |publisher=Nce.co.uk |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> as a result, cutting the time it takes to get from Kosovo to Durrës from six hours to two. Indeed the roads in northwestern Albania remain in poor condition as of summer 2009. It takes approximately 1h 30' to drive the {{convert|35|km|0|abbr=on}} from the border of Montenegro to Shkodër.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

There has been much discussion, debate, and interest in the {{convert|170|km|0|abbr=on}} Durrës–Kukës–Morinë Highway Albanian highway to Kosovo, which is intended to create a new, super-fast connection between Durrës on the Adriatic coast to [[Morinë]] at the border of Kosovo. The current drive time between Kukës and Durrës is now 2 hours. The whole will be around {{convert|250|km|0|abbr=on}}, when completed to Pristina. The objective for constructing the road, according to the transport ministry, is to reduce transport costs and accidents, and improve traffic flow. It is the biggest, most expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken in Albania. The cost of the highway appears to have breached EUR800 million, although the exact cost for the total highway has yet to be confirmed by the government. Currently there is a display in Tirana's centre on Bvld Dëshmorët e Kombit.

The second priority is the construction of European corridor 8 linking Albania with the Republic of Macedonia and Greece.

The third priority for the government is the construction of the north-south axis of the country; it is sometimes referred to as the [[Adriatic–Ionian motorway]] as it is part of a larger regional highway connecting Croatia with Greece along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts.

By the end of the decade it is expected that the majority of the sections of these three corridors will have been built.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} When all three corridors are completed Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with its neighbors.

=== Aviation ===
[[File:Rinas-Airport-New-Terminal.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]]]

The civil air transport in Albania marked its beginnings in November 1924, when the Republic of Albania signed a Governmental Agreement with German Air Company [[Lufthansa]]. On the basis of a ten-year concession agreement, the Albanian Airlines with the name [[Adria Aero Lloyd]] Company was established.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} In the spring of 1925, the first domestic flights from [[Tirana]] to [[Shkoder]] and [[Vlora]] began.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

In August 1927, the office of Civil Aviation of Air Traffic Ministry of Italy purchased Adria Aero Lloyd. The company, now in Italian hands, expanded its flights to other cities, such as [[Elbasan]], [[Korça]], [[Kukësi]], [[Peshkopia]] and [[Gjirokastra]], and opened up international lines to Rome, [[Milan]], [[Thessaloniki]], [[Sofia]], [[Belgrade]], and [[Podgorica]].

The construction of a more modern airport construction in present [[Lapraka]]) started in 1934 and was completed by the end of 1935. This new airport, which was later officially named "Airport of Tirana", was constructed in conformity with optimal technological parameters of that time, with reinforced concrete runway of 1200 {{convert|400|m|2|abbr=on|lk=out}}, and complemented with technical equipment and appropriate buildings.

During 1955–1957, the [[Rinasi Airport]] was constructed for military purposes. Later, its administration was shifted to the Ministry of Transport. On 25 January 1957 the State-owned Enterprise of International Air Transport ([[Albtransport]]) established its headquarters in Tirana. [[Aeroflot]], [[Jat]], [[Malev]], [[Tarom]] and [[Interflug]] were the air companies that started to have flights with Albania until 1960.

During 1960–1978, several airlines ceased to operate in Albania due to the impact of the politics, resulting to a decrease of influx of flights and passengers. In 1977 Albania's government signed an agreement with Greece to open the country's first air links with non-communist Europe. As a result, [[Olympic Airlines|Olympic Airways]] was the first non-communist airline to commercially fly into Albania after [[WWII]]. By 1991 Albania had air links with many major European cities, including Paris, Rome, [[Zürich]], [[Vienna]] and [[Budapest]], but no regular domestic air service.

A French-Albanian joint venture [[Ada Air]], was launched in Albania's as the first private airline, in 1991. The company offered flights in a thirty-six-passenger airplane four days each week between Tirana and [[Bari]], Italy and a charter service for domestic and international destinations.

From 1989 to 1991, because of political changes in the [[Eastern European]] countries, Albania adhered to the International Civil Aviation Organization ([[ICAO]]), opened its air space to international flights, and had its duties of Air Traffic Control defined. As premises of these developments, conditions were created to separate the activities of air traffic control from Albtransport. Instead, the [[National Agency of Air Traffic]] (NATA) was established as an independent enterprise. In addition, during these years, governmental agreements of civil air transport were established with [[Bulgaria]], Germany, [[Slovenia]], Italy, Russia, Austria, England, [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], etc. The Directory General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was established on 3 February 1991, to cope with the development required by the time.

As of 2007 Albania has one [[international airport]]: [[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]. The airport is linked to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a dramatic rise in terms of passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s. The data for 2009 is 1.3 million passengers served and an average of 44 landings and takeoffs per day.

[[File:Albanian railway.jpg|thumb|left|Train on the Durrës to Tiranë railway line]]

===Railways===
{{Main|Rail transport in Albania|Hekurudha Shqiptarë}}
The railway system was extensively promoted by the [[totalitarianism|totalitarian]] regime of [[Enver Hoxha]], during which time the use of private transport was effectively prohibited. Since the collapse of the former regime, there has been a considerable increase in [[car]] ownership and [[bus]] usage. Whilst some of the country's roads are still in a very poor condition, there have been other developments (such as the construction of a [[motorway]] between Tirana and Durrës) which have taken much traffic away from the railways. The [[railway]]s in Albania are administered by the national railway company ''[[Hekurudha Shqiptare]]'' (HSH) (which means ''Albanian Railways''). It operates a {{RailGauge|1435}} gauge (standard gauge) rail system in Albania. All trains are hauled by [[Czech Republic|Czech]]-built [[ČKD]] diesel-electric [[locomotive]]s.

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Albania}}

[[File:Albania minorities.png|thumb|Regions with a traditional presence of ethnic or linguistic groups other than Albanian.]]

[[File:Tirana Skanderbeg Square.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tirana]], Albania's capital and largest city.]]

The Albanian population is considered a very young population, with an average age of 28.9 years.<ref>[http://www.instat.gov.al/graphics/doc/downloads/publikime/femrameshkuj2006.pdf Women, Men and shefit's in Albania 2006], Instat, Tirana, 2007</ref> After 1990 the Albanian population has
faced new phenomena like migration, which greatly affected the distribution by districts and prefectures. Districts in the North have seen a decreasing population, while [[Tirana]] and [[Durrës]] districts have increased their population.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Albania's population was 3,152,600 on 1 January 2007 and 3,170,048 on 1 January 2008.<ref name=instat>{{cite web|url=http://www.instat.gov.al/|title=Albania National Institute of Statistics official web site}}</ref> Alternative sources estimate the population in July 2009 at 3,639,453 with an annual growth rate of 0.546%.<ref name=cia>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html ''CIA World Factbook'': Albania]</ref> Albania is a largely ethnically homogeneous country with only small minorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watsoninstitute.org/bjwa/archive/11.1/Essays/Barjarba.pdf|author=Kosta Barjarba|title=Migration and Ethnicity in Albania: Synergies and Interdependencies|format=PDF}}</ref> The vast majority of the population is ethnically [[Albanians|Albanian]] (98.6%). Minorities include [[Greeks]] 1.17% and others 0.23% ([[Vlachs]], [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]], [[Serbs]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Egyptians (Balkans)|Balkan Egyptians]], [[Roma]] and former [[Yugoslavians]]).<ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm Albania], U.S. Department of State Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Background Note November 2008. Retrieved on 14 May 2009</ref> The size of the Greek minority is contentious, with the Albanian government claiming it is only 60,000, while the Greek government is claiming 300,000. Most Western sources put the size of the Greek minority at around 200,000, or ~6% of the population,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=kqCnCOgGc5AC&pg=PA68&dq=greek+minority+albania&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=0 ''Eastern Europe at the end of the 20th century'', Ian Jeffries, p. 69]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?lr=&hl=el&id=OU1oAAAAMAAJ&dq=Pettifer+The+Greeks%3A+The+Land+and+the+People+since+the+War&q=200000&pgis=1#search_anchor The Greeks: the land and people since the war.] James Pettifer. Penguin, 2000. ISBN 0-14-028899-6</ref> while the [[CIA Factbook]] estimates the Greek minority at 3% of the total population.
The dominant language is [[Albanian language|Albanian]], with two main dialects, [[Gheg]] and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]]. Many Albanians are also fluent in English, Italian, Greek, etc.



===Religion===
[[File:07Tirana Et'hem beu Mosque03.jpg|thumb|right|[[Et'hem Bey Mosque]] in Tirana]]

[[File:Labova e Kryqit3.jpg|thumb|right|Church of Virgin Mary. It was built in the 10th century]]

{{Main|Religion in Albania}}

{{See also|Freedom of religion in Albania}}

Estimates of the religious allegiance of the population of Albania vary, with some sources suggesting that the majority do not follow any religion.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm]-Freedom of Religion 2007</ref> A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm | title = Albania | work = International Religious Freedom Report 2009 | date = 26 October 2009 | publisher = [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] | accessdate = 7 November 2009}}</ref>

A recent study by the [[Pew Research Center]] puts the percentage of
[[Muslim]]s in Albania at 79.9%,<ref>{{Cite book | editor-last = Miller | editor-first = Tracy | month = October | year = 2009 | publisher = [[Pew Research Center]] | title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population | format = PDF | url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf | accessdate = 8 October 2009 }}</ref> with the remaining 20% consisting of Christians. The CIA World Factbook gives a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html 2009 CIA World Factbook]</ref> According to the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]], roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% Christian<ref>{{cite book
|title=World Christian Encyclopedia
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|year=2001
|last=p 51|isbn =0195079639}}</ref>

The Albanians first appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late-11th century. At this point, they are already fully Christianised. Christianity was later overtaken by [[Islam]], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turkish rule from the 15th century until year 1912. After independence (1912) from the Ottoman Empire, the Albanian republican, monarchic and later communist regimes followed a systematic policy of separating religion from official functions and cultural life. Albania never had an official state religion either as a republic or as a kingdom. In the 20th century, the clergy of all faiths was weakened under the monarchy, and ultimately eradicated during the 1940s and 1950s, under the state policy of obliterating all organised religion from Albanian territories.

The Communist regime that took control of Albania after World War II suppressed religious observance and institutions and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [[atheist]] state. Religious freedom has returned to Albania since the regime's change in 1992. Albanian Muslim populations (mainly secular and of the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] rite) are found throughout the country whereas [[Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox Christians]] are concentrated in the south and Roman Catholics are found in the north of the country. No reliable data are available on active participation in formal religious services, and estimates range from 25% to 40%.<ref name="International Religious Freedom Report 2007">[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm Albania: International Religious Freedom Report 2007]</ref>

There are about 4,000 active [[Jehovah's witnesses]] in Albania.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide Status Report|url=http://www.watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report_statistics.htm|accessdate=27 September 2009|publisher=Watch Tower}}</ref>
Among other religious organizations making inroads into this nation is [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS or 'Mormons'). The Church's involvement in Albania began with Humanitarian Aid during the 1990s. The first missionaries were sent in 1992 with the Albania Tirana Mission being opened in 1996. As of 2008, there were nearly 2,000 members of the Church in Albania, spread throughout ten branches with two purpose-built Chapels and one Family History Center.<ref>{{cite web|title=LDS Newsroom-Country Profile-Albania|url=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/albania|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Albanians}}

{{Main|Culture of Albania}}

===Music and folklore===
[[File:Berat.jpg|thumb|left|[[Berat]]]]
[[File:A traditional male folk group from Skrapar.JPG|thumb|left|A traditional male folk group from Skrapar]]
{{main|Music of Albania}}
Albanian folk music falls into three sylistic groups, with other important [[music area]]s around [[Shkodër]] and [[Tirana]]; the major groupings are the [[Gheg]]s of the north and southern Labs and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosks]]. The northern and southern traditions are contrasted by the "rugged and heroic" tone of the north and the "relaxed, gentle and exceptionally beautiful" form of the south. These disparate styles are unified by "the intensity that both performers and listeners give to their music as a medium for patriotic expression and as a vehicle carrying the narrative of [[oral history]]", as well as certain characteristics like the use of obscure rhythms such as 3/8, 5/8 and 10/8.<ref>Arbatsky, Yuri, cited in Koco with the footnote ''Translated and published by Filip Fishta in Shkolla Kombëtare (The National School; No.1, May 1939), 19, and quoted from his Preface to [[Pjetër Dungu]]'s Lyra Shqiptare (see note 2).''</ref> The first compilation of Albanian folk music was made by [[Pjetër Dungu]] in 1940.

Albanian folk songs can be divided into major groups, the heroic epics of the north, and the sweetly melodic [[lullaby|lullabies]], love songs, [[wedding music]], [[work song]]s and other kinds of song. The music of various festivals and holidays is also an important part of Albanian folk song, especially those that celebrate St. Lazarus Day (''the llazore''), which inaugurates the springtime. Lullabies and [[lament]]s are very important kinds of Albanian folk song, and are generally performed by solo women.<ref name="koco">{{cite web|title=Albanian Music|work=Eno Koco at the University of Leeds|url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/staff/ek/|accessdate=28 August 2005}}</ref>

===Albanian language and literature===
{{Main|Albanian language}}
{{Main|Albanian literature}}

{{See also|List of Albanian writers}}

Albanian was proven to be an [[Indo-European language]] in 1854 by the German [[Comparative linguistics|philologist]] [[Franz Bopp]]. The Albanian language comprises its own branch of the Indo-European language family.

Some scholars believe that Albanian derives from [[Illyrian language|Illyrian]]<ref>Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture By J. P. Mallory, Douglas Q. Adams Edition: illustrated Published by Taylor & Francis, 1997 ISBN 1-884964-98-2, 9781884964985 (''"Although there are some lexical items that appear to be shared between Romanian (and by extension Dacian) and Albanian, by far the strongest connections can be argued between Albanian and Illyrian."'' page 11)
Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World By Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Contributor Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Edition: illustrated Published by Elsevier, 2008 ISBN 0-08-087774-5, 9780080877747 (''"Albanian constitutes a single branch of the Indo-European family of languages. It is often held to be related to Illyrian, a poorly attested language spoken in the Western Balkans in classical times"'' page 22)</ref> while others,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/LLDescription.cfm?code=txh|title=The Thracian language|publisher=The Linguist List|accessdate=27 January 2008|quote=An ancient language of Southern Balkans, belonging to the Satem group of Indo-European. This language is the most likely ancestor of modern Albanian (which is also a Satem language), though the evidence is scanty. 1st Millennium BC – 500 AD.}}</ref> claim that it derives from [[Dacian language|Daco]]-[[Thracian language|Thracian]]. (Illyrian and Daco-Thracian, however, might have been closely related languages; see [[Thraco-Illyrian]].)

Establishing longer relations, Albanian is often compared to Balto-Slavic on the one hand and Germanic on the other, both of which share a number of [[isogloss]]es with Albanian. Moreover, Albanian has undergone a vowel shift in which stressed, long ''o'' has fallen to ''a'', much like in the former and opposite the latter. Likewise, Albanian has taken the old relative ''jos'' and innovatively used it exclusively to qualify adjectives, much in the way Balto-Slavic has used this word to provide the definite ending of adjectives.

The cultural resistance was first of all expressed through the elaboration of the [[Albanian language]] in the area of church texts and publications, mainly of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] confessional region in the North, but also of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] in the South. The [[Protestant]] reforms invigorated hopes for the development of the local language and literary tradition when cleric [[Gjon Buzuku]] brought into the Albanian language the [[Catholic liturgy]], trying to do for the Albanian language what [[Martin Luther|Luther]] did for German.

[[File:Meshari.jpg|thumb|left|Excerpt from ''[[Meshari]]'' by [[Gjon Buzuku]]]]

''[[Meshari]]'' (The Missal) by [[Gjon Buzuku]], published by him in 1555, is considered to date as the first literary work of written Albanian. The refined level of the language and the stabilised orthography must be a result of an earlier tradition of writing Albanian, a tradition that is not known. But there are some fragmented evidence, dating earlier than Buzuku, which indicate that Albanian was written at least since 14th century AD. The first known evidence dates from 1332 AD and deals with the French Dominican Guillelmus Adae, [[Archbishop]] of [[Antivari]], who in a report in Latin writes that Albanians use Latin letters in their books although their language is quite different from Latin. Of special importance in supporting this are: a baptizing formula (''Unte paghesont premenit Atit et Birit et spertit senit'') of 1462, written in Albanian within a text in Latin by the [[Bishop]] of [[Durrës]], [[Pal Engjëlli]]; a glossary with Albanian words of 1497 by Arnold von Harff, a German who had travelled through Albania, and a 15th century fragment from the [[Bible]] from the [[Gospel of Matthew]], also in Albanian, but in Greek letters.
[[File:Tirana Museum 1988.jpg|thumb|right|The [[National Historical Museum (Albania)|National Museum of Albania]] features exhibits from [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] times to World War II.]]

Albanian writings of these centuries must not have been religious texts only, but historical chronicles too. They are mentioned by the humanist [[Marin Barleti]], who, in his book ''Rrethimi i Shkodrës'' (The Siege of Shkodër) (1504), confirms that he leafed through such chronicles written in the language of the people (''in vernacula lingua''). Despite the obstacles generated by the [[Counter-Reformation]] which was opposed to the development of national languages in Christian [[liturgy]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}}, this process went on uninterrupted. During the 16th to 17th centuries, the [[catechism]] ''E mbësuame krishterë'' (Christian Teachings) (1592) by [[Lekë Matrënga]], ''Doktrina e krishterë'' (The Christian Doctrine) (1618) and ''Rituale romanum'' (1621) by [[Pjetër Budi]], the first writer of original Albanian [[prose]] and [[poetry]], an [[Remorse|apology]] for George Castriot (1636) by [[Frang Bardhi]], who also published a dictionary and [[folklore]] creations, the theological-philosophical treaty ''Cuneus Prophetarum'' (The Band of Prophets) (1685) by [[Pjetër Bogdani]], the most universal personality of Albanian [[Middle Ages]], were published in [[Albanian language|Albanian]]. The most famous Albanian writer is probably [[Ismail Kadare]].

==Education==
Before the Communist regime, Albania's illiteracy rate was as high as 85%. Schools were scarce between [[World War I]] and [[World War II]]. When the Communist regime over took the country in 1944, the regime wanted to wipe out illiteracy. The regulations became so strict that anyone between the ages of 12 and 40 who could not read or write was mandated to attend classes to learn. Since these times of struggle the country's literacy rate has improved remarkably.<ref>Zickel, Iwaskiw, 1994</ref> Today the overall literacy rate in Albania is 98.7%, the male literacy rate is 99.2% and female literacy rate is 98.3%.<ref name=cia/> Since the rather large population movements in the 1990s to urban areas, education has moved as well. Thousands of teachers moved to urban areas to follow students. The [[University of Tirana]] is the first university in Albania and was founded in October 1957.

==Administrative divisions==
[[File:AlbaniaNumberedPrefectures.png|thumb|Counties of Albania]]

{{Main|Counties of Albania|Districts of Albania|Municipalities of Albania}}

Albania is divided into 12 administrative divisions called ([[Albanian language|Albanian]]: official ''qark''/''qarku'', but often ''prefekturë''/''prefektura'') Counties, 36 districts and 351 municipalities. Each region has its Regional Council and is composed of a number of Municipalities and Communes, which are the first level of local governance responsible for local needs and law enforcement.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! !! [[Counties of Albania|County]]
! [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
! [[Districts of Albania|Districts]]
! [[Municipalities of Albania|Municipalities]]
! [[List of cities in Albania|Cities]]
! [[Town]]s
|-
| 1 || [[Berat County|Berat]]
| [[Berat]]
| [[Berat District|Berat]] [[Kuçovë District|Kuçovë]] [[Skrapar District|Skrapar]]
| 12 2 10
| 2 1 2
| 122 17 103
|-
| 2 || [[Dibër County|Dibër]]
| [[Peshkopi]]
| [[Bulqizë District|Bulqizë]] [[Dibër District|Dibër]] [[Mat District|Mat]]
| 8 15 12
| 2 1 3
| 103 141 76
|-
| 3 || [[Durrës County|Durrës]]
| [[Durrës]]
| [[Durrës District|Durrës]] [[Krujë District|Krujë]]
| 10 7
| 4 2
| 61 43
|-
| 4 || [[Elbasan County|Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan District|Elbasan]] [[Gramsh District|Gramsh]] [[Librazhd District|Librazhd]] [[Peqin District|Peqin]]
| 24 10 10 6
| 2 1 2 1
| 176 95 75 49
|-
| 5 || [[Fier County|Fier]]
| [[Fier]]
| [[Fier District|Fier]] [[Lushnjë District|Lushnjë]] [[Mallakastër District|Mallakastër]]
| 17 16 9
| 3 2 1
| 117 121 40
|-
| 6 || [[Gjirokastër County|Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër District|Gjirokastër]] [[Përmet District|Përmet]] [[Tepelenë District|Tepelenë]]
| 13 9 10
| 2 2 2
| 95 97 77
|-
| 7 || [[Korçë County|Korçë]]
| [[Korçë]]
| [[Devoll District|Devoll]] [[Kolonjë District|Kolonjë]] [[Korçë District|Korçë]] [[Pogradec District|Pogradec]]
| 5 8 17 8
| 1 2 2 1
| 44 76 155 72
|-
| 8 || [[Kukës County|Kukës]]
| [[Kukës]]
| [[Has District|Has]] [[Kukës District|Kukës]] [[Tropojë District|Tropojë]]
| 4 15 8
| 1 1 3
| 30 90 68
|-
| 9 || [[Lezhë County|Lezhë]]
| [[Lezhë]]
| [[Kurbin District|Kurbin]] [[Lezhë District|Lezhë]] [[Mirditë District|Mirditë]]
| 4 10 7
| 3 2 4
| 28 63 70
|-
| 10 || [[Shkodër County|Shkodër]]
| [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]]
| [[Malësi e Madhe District|Malësi e Madhe]] [[Pukë District|Pukë]] [[Shkodër District|Shkodër]]
| 6 10 18
| 2 2 2
| 56 75 139
|-
| 11 || [[Tirana County|Tirana]]
| [[Tirana]]
| [[Kavajë District|Kavajë]] [[Tirana District|Tirana]]
| 10 18
| 2 3
| 65 155
|-
| 12 || [[Vlorë County|Vlorë]]
| [[Vlorë]]
| [[Delvinë District|Delvinë]] [[Sarandë District|Sarandë]] [[Vlorë District|Vlorë]]
| 4 9 13
| 1 2 4
| 38 62 99
|}

==Sport==
[[Association football|Football (soccer)]] is the most popular sport in Albania, both at a participatory and spectator level. The sport is governed by the [[Football Association of Albania]] ({{lang-sq|Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit}}, F.SH.F.).

* [[Albania national football team]]
* [[Albania national basketball team]]
* [[Albania national futsal team]]
* [[Albania national under-21 football team]]

==Entertainment==
{{Main|RTSH}}

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar, ([[RTSH]]), is Albania's leading television network. RTSH runs a national television station ''TVSH'', (standing for ''Televizioni Shqiptar''), and two national radio stations, using the name ''Radio Tirana''. An international service broadcasts radio programmes in Albanian and seven other languages via [[medium wave]] (AM) and [[short wave]] (SW).<ref>[http://picasaweb.google.es/ec2adn/RadioTiranaBroadcastingSchedules/photo#5187887711939456834 radiotirana.org website] {{en icon}}</ref> The international service has used the theme from the song "Keputa një gjethe dafine" as its [[signature tune]]. Since 1999, RTSH has been a member of the [[European Broadcasting Union]]. Since 1993, RTSH has also run an international television service via [[satellite]], aimed at [[Albanian language]] communities in [[Kosovo]], [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], [[Montenegro]] and Greece, plus the Albanian [[diaspora]] in the rest of Europe.

According the National Council of Radio and Television Albania has an estimated 257 media outlets, including 66 radio stations and 65 television stations, with three national and 62 local stations.

==Health==
Health care has been in a steep decline after the collapse of socialism in the country, but a process of modernization has been taking place since 2000.<ref name="hospitals">{{cite web|url=http://www.euro.who.int/document/e80089.pdf |title=Albania-prel.pmd |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> As of the early 2000s, there were 51 hospitals in the country, including a military hospital and specialist facilities.<ref name="hospitals"/> Albania has successfully removed diseases such as [[malaria]].

Life expectancy is estimated at 77.43 years, ranking 51st worldwide, and outperforming a number of European Union countries, such as Hungary and the Czech Republic.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=51#al CIA – The World Factbook], Life Expectancy ranks</ref> The most common causes of death are circulatory disease followed by cancerous illnesses.

The medical school, Faculty of Medicine at Tirana University, is in Tirana. There are also nursing schools in many other cities.

==Cuisine==
{{Main|Albanian cuisine}}

The cuisine of Albania – as with most [[Mediterranean]] and [[Balkans|Balkan]] nations – is strongly influenced by its long history. At different times, the territory which is now Albania has been claimed or occupied by Greece, Italy and the [[Ottoman Turk]]s and each group has left its mark on Albanian cuisine. The main meal of the [[Albanians]] is lunch, and it is usually accompanied by a [[salad]] of fresh [[vegetables]], such as [[tomato]]es, [[cucumber]]s, green [[bell pepper|peppers]] and [[olive]]s with [[olive oil]], [[vinegar]] and [[salt]]. Lunch also includes a main dish of vegetables and meat. Seafood specialties are also common in the coastal areas of [[Durrës]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Sarandë]].

==Human rights in Albania==
{{Main|Human rights in Albania}}

===LGBT rights in Albania===
{{Main|LGBT rights in Albania}}

==International rankings==
{{Main|International rankings of Albania}}

===Demographic===
* [[List of countries by population|Population]] 2010 ranked 136 out of 223 countries
* [[CIA World Factbook]]: [[List of countries by life expectancy|Life expectancy]] 2005–2010 ranked 46 out of 195 countries
* List by the United Nations Population Division: [[List of countries by infant mortality rate|infant mortality rate]] ranked 91 highest [[infant mortality]] rate out of 195 countries
* [[United Nations Development Programme]]: [[List of countries by literacy rate|literacy rate]] 2009 ranked 19 out of 177 countries

===Economic===
* [[The Wall Street Journal]] and the [[Heritage Foundation]]: [[Index of Economic Freedom]] 2010, ranked 53 out of 179 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|GDP (nominal) per capita]] 2009, ranked 98 out of 180 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|GDP (nominal)]] 2009, ranked 113 out of 179 countries
* [[World Economic Forum]]: [[Global Competitiveness Index]] 2008–2009, ranked 108 out of 134 countries
* [[World Bank]]: [[Ease of Doing Business Index]] 2010 report, ranked 82 out of 183 countries
* [[United Nations]]: [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]] 2007, ranked 70 out of 182 countries
* [[List of countries by foreign exchange reserves|Foreign exchange reserves]] as of December 2008 ranked 111 out of 156 countries

===Environmental===
* [[Yale University]]: [[Environmental Sustainability Index]] 2005, ranked 24 out of 146 countries

===Globalization===
* [[A.T. Kearney]]/[[Foreign Policy|Foreign Policy Magazine]]: [[Globalization Index]] 2007 ranking based on 2004 data, 102 out of 122 countries.

===Geographic===
* [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|Total area]] ranked 144 out of 234

===Peace===
* Institute for Economics and Peace – [[Global Peace Index]] 2009 <ref>[http://economicsandpeace.org/UserFiles/Resources/2009-GPIResultsReport.pdf Institute for Economics and Peace 2009 Global Peace Index page 11]</ref> ranked 75 out of 144 countries

===Political===
* [[Transparency International]]: [[Corruption Perceptions Index]] 2009, ranked 95 out of 180 countries
* [[Reporters Without Borders]]: [[Press Freedom Index]] 2009, ranked 88 out of 175 countries

==See also==
{{portal|Albania|Flag of Albania.svg}}
{{Albania topics}}

==Notes and references==

'''Notes:'''
{| class="references-small" style="margin-left:13px; line-height:150%"
|-
| style="text-align:right; vertical-align:top;"|a.  
|{{note|status}}{{Kosovo-note}}
|}

'''References:'''

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
* {{CIA World Factbook link|al|Albania}}
* [http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/al/ Albania] information from the [[United States Department of State]]
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/albania.htm Albania] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Albania}}
* [http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_3_1.asp Albania] national profile from the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]]

{{wikiatlas|Albania}}

;Government
* [http://www.president.al Presidency of Albania]
* [http://www.keshilliministrave.al The Albanian Government] (''Council of Ministers'')
* [http://www.parlament.al The Albanian Parliament]
* [http://www.gjk.gov.al The Albanian Constitutional Court]
* [http://www.instat.gov.al Albanian Institute of Statistics]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-a/albania.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]

;Tourism
* [http://www.albaniantourism.com/ National Tourism Organization] Official website for travel and tourism information
* [http://www.akt.gov.al/index.php?lang=2 National Tourism Agency] (in English)
* {{wikitravel}}
* [http://albaniaonline.org/ Tourism, history]
* [http://www.trekinu.com/viewtrek.aspx?trkid=i02ivoat68cl6qy Travel album], with photos and maps
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/maps.php Various Topographic Map Collections of Albania] (updated 18 January 2009)
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/wiki/index.php?title=Albania_Geopolitical_Mapset GPS Basemap for Albania]
* [http://www.vivalbania.net/ING/index.htm VIVAlbania, hospitality and ecotourism in Albania]
* [http://www.guidetoalbania.com Guide To Albania (with pictures)]
* [http://www.infoalb.net Website of the National Tourist Organisation of Albania]

;Other
* [http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/Albania/treasures_en.xml Treasure of the national library of Albania]
* [http://www.allcountries.eu/albania.htm Information on Albania]
* [http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Subject_Guides/PDFs/Albania.pdf Guide to materials pertaining to Albania at the Eisenhower Presidential Library]
* [http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief DFAT]
* [http://www.scribd.com/doc/11444724/Books-about-Albania-and-the-Albanian-people Books about Albania and the Albanian people] ''(scribd.com)'' Reference of books (and some journal articles) about Albania and the Albanian people; their history, language, origin, culture, literature, etc. Public domain books, fully accessible online.
{{Albania topics}}

{{Coord|41|N|20|E|type:country_region:AL|display=title}}

{{Template group
|title = [[File:Gnome-globe.svg|22px]] Geographic locale
|list =
{{Balkan Countries}}
{{Countries of Europe}}
{{Countries and territories bordering the Mediterranean Sea}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = Within Albania
|list =
{{World Heritage Sites in Albania}}
{{Cities in Albania}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{Council of Europe}}
{{EU countries and candidates}}
{{Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)}}
{{Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)}}
{{La Francophonie|state=collapsed}}
{{Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)|state=collapsed}}
}}

{{use dmy dates}}

[[Category:Albania|*]]
[[Category:Balkans]]
[[Category:Countries of the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:European countries]]
[[Category:Member states of La Francophonie]]
[[Category:Member states of the Union for the Mediterranean]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Organisation of the Islamic Conference members]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1912]]


[[ace:Albania]]
[[af:Albanië]]
[[als:Albanien]]
[[am:አልባኒያ]]
[[ang:Albania]]
[[ar:ألبانيا]]
[[an:Albania]]
[[arc:ܐܠܒܢܝܐ]]
[[roa-rup:Arbinishia]]
[[frp:Albanie]]
[[ast:Albania]]
[[gn:Avaña]]
[[az:Albaniya]]
[[bn:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[zh-min-nan:Shqipëria]]
[[be:Албанія]]
[[be-x-old:Альбанія]]
[[bcl:Albanya]]
[[bar:Albanien]]
[[bo:ཨར་པ་ཉི་ཡ།]]
[[bs:Albanija]]
[[br:Albania]]
[[bg:Албания]]
[[ca:Albània]]
[[cv:Албани]]
[[ceb:Albanya]]
[[cs:Albánie]]
[[co:Albania]]
[[cy:Albania]]
[[da:Albanien]]
[[pdc:Albaani]]
[[de:Albanien]]
[[dv:އަލްބޭނިއާ]]
[[nv:Dziłigaii Bikéyah]]
[[dsb:Albańska]]
[[dz:ཨལ་བཱ་ནི་ཡ།]]
[[et:Albaania]]
[[el:Αλβανία]]
[[eml:Albanî]]
[[es:Albania]]
[[eo:Albanio]]
[[ext:Albánia]]
[[eu:Albania]]
[[ee:Albania]]
[[fa:آلبانی]]
[[hif:Albania]]
[[fo:Albania]]
[[fr:Albanie]]
[[fy:Albaanje]]
[[fur:Albanie]]
[[ga:An Albáin]]
[[gv:Yn Albaan]]
[[gd:Albàinia]]
[[gl:Albania - Shqipëria]]
[[gu:અલ્બાનિયા]]
[[hak:Â-ngì-pâ-nì-â]]
[[xal:Арнаутн Орн Нутг]]
[[ko:알바니아]]
[[haw:‘Alepania]]
[[hy:Ալբանիա]]
[[hi:अल्बानिया]]
[[hsb:Albanska]]
[[hr:Albanija]]
[[io:Albania]]
[[ilo:Albania]]
[[bpy:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[id:Albania]]
[[ia:Albania]]
[[ie:Albania]]
[[os:Албани]]
[[is:Albanía]]
[[it:Albania]]
[[he:אלבניה]]
[[jv:Albania]]
[[kl:Albania]]
[[kn:ಅಲ್ಬೇನಿಯ]]
[[pam:Albania]]
[[ka:ალბანეთი]]
[[csb:Albańskô]]
[[kk:Албания]]
[[kw:Albani]]
[[ky:Албания]]
[[sw:Albania]]
[[kv:Албания]]
[[kg:Albania]]
[[ht:Albani]]
[[ku:Albanya]]
[[lad:אלבאניה]]
[[krc:Албания]]
[[la:Albania]]
[[lv:Albānija]]
[[lb:Albanien]]
[[lt:Albanija]]
[[lij:Albania]]
[[li:Albanië]]
[[ln:Albania]]
[[lmo:Albania]]
[[hu:Albánia]]
[[mk:Албанија]]
[[mg:Albania]]
[[ml:അൽബേനിയ]]
[[mt:Albanija]]
[[mr:आल्बेनिया]]
[[arz:ألبانيا]]
[[mzn:آلباني]]
[[ms:Albania]]
[[mn:Албани]]
[[nah:Albania]]
[[na:Albania]]
[[nl:Albanië]]
[[ne:अल्बानिया]]
[[ja:アルバニア]]
[[ce:Албани]]
[[pih:Elbanya]]
[[no:Albania]]
[[nn:Albania]]
[[nov:Albania]]
[[oc:Albania]]
[[uz:Albaniya]]
[[pnb:البانیا]]
[[pap:Albania]]
[[ps:البانيا]]
[[km:អាល់បានី]]
[[pms:Albanìa]]
[[tpi:Albenia]]
[[nds:Albanien]]
[[pl:Albania]]
[[pnt:Αλβανία]]
[[pt:Albânia]]
[[kaa:Albaniya]]
[[crh:Arnavutlıq]]
[[ro:Albania]]
[[rmy:Shkiperiya]]
[[rm:Albania]]
[[qu:Albanya]]
[[ru:Албания]]
[[sah:Албания]]
[[se:Albánia]]
[[sa:अल्बानिया]]
[[sc:Albania]]
[[sco:Albanie]]
[[stq:Albanien]]
[[sq:Shqipëria]]
[[scn:Albanìa]]
[[simple:Albania]]
[[ss:I-Alibheniya]]
[[sk:Albánsko]]
[[sl:Albanija]]
[[szl:Albańijo]]
[[ckb:ئەڵبانیا]]
[[srn:Albanikondre]]
[[sr:Албанија]]
[[sh:Albanija]]
[[su:Albania]]
[[fi:Albania]]
[[sv:Albanien]]
[[tl:Albanya]]
[[ta:அல்பேனியா]]
[[tt:Албания]]
[[te:అల్బేనియా]]
[[tet:Albánia]]
[[th:ประเทศแอลเบเนีย]]
[[tg:Албания]]
[[chr:ᎠᎸᏇᏂᏯ]]
[[tr:Arnavutluk]]
[[udm:Албания]]
[[uk:Албанія]]
[[ur:البانیا]]
[[ug:ئالبانىيە]]
[[vec:Albania]]
[[vi:Albania]]
[[vo:Lalbanän]]
[[fiu-vro:Albaania]]
[[war:Albanya]]
[[wo:Albaani]]
[[wuu:阿尔巴尼亚]]
[[yi:אלבאניע]]
[[yo:Albania]]
[[zh-yue:阿爾巴尼亞]]
[[diq:Arnawutiye]]
[[zea:Albanië]]
[[bat-smg:Albanėjė]]
[[zh:阿尔巴尼亚]]

Albania

2010-03-27T20:31:16Z

Elbasan101: /* Science and technology */ added link

{{About|the modern state}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''Republika e Shqipërisë''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Albania
|common_name = Albania
|national_motto = ''Feja e Shqiptarit është Shqiptaria'' (''The faith of Albanians is Albanism'')<ref>Understanding the war in Kosovo Authors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Editors Florian Bieber, Židas Daskalovski Publisher Routledge, 2003 ISBN 0-7146-5391-8, 9780714653914 page 188 link [http://books.google.com/books?id=VPPdgAZxU9IC&lpg=PA188&dq=albanian%20religion%20is%20albanism&lr=&pg=PA188#v=onepage&q=albanism&f=false]</ref> (''national'') ''Ti, Shqipëri, më jep nder, më jep emrin Shqiptar'' (''You Albania give me honor, you give me the name Albanian'') (''traditional'')
|national_anthem = ''[[Himni i Flamurit]]'' ("The Banner Hymn")
|image_flag = Flag of Albania.svg
|image_coat = Albania state emblem.svg
|symbol_type = Coat of arms
|image_map = Location Albania Europe.png
|map_caption = {{map caption|location_color=green|region=Europe|region_color=dark grey|legend=Location Albania Europe.png}}
|official_languages = [[Albanian language|Albanian]]1
|capital = [[Tirana]]
|latd=41 |latm=20 |latNS=N |longd=19 |longm=48 |longEW=E
|largest_city = [[Tirana]]
|government_type = [[Parliamentary republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[List of heads of state of Albania|President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Bamir Topi]]
|leader_title2 = [[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Sali Berisha]]
|area_rank = 139th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area_km2 = 28748
|area_sq_mi = 11100 
|percent_water = 4.7
|population_estimate = 3,639,453<ref name=instat/>
|population_estimate_year = 2009
|population_estimate_rank = 129th
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density_km2 = 126.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 327.8 
|population_density_rank = 63
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP = $21.864 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=914&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=71&pr.y=12 |title=Albania|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=1 October 2009}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 110th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $7,018<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 95th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal = $12.964 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank = 113th
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $4,089<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 94th
|Gini = 26.7
|Gini_year = 2005
|Gini_category = low
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.818
|HDI_rank = 70th
|HDI_category = high
|sovereignty_type = [[History of the Albanian state|Formation]]
|established_event1 = Independence from the [[Ottoman Empire]]
|established_date1 = 28 November 1912
|established_event2 = [[Constitution of Albania|Current Constitution]]
|established_date2 = 28 November 1998
|currency = [[Albanian lek|Lek]]
|currency_code = ALL
|country_code = AL
|time_zone = {{tz|CET}}
|time_zone_DST = {{tz|CEST}}
|demonym = Albanian
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.al]]
|calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Albania|355]]
|footnote1 = Greek, [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] and other regional languages are government-recognized minority languages.}}

'''Albania''' {{Audio-IPA|en-us-Albania.ogg|/ælˈbeɪniə/}} {{respell|al|BAY|nee-ə}} ({{lang-sq|Shqipëri/Shqipëria}}, [[Gheg Albanian]]: ''Shqipnia'' or ''Shqypnia''), officially the '''Republic of Albania''' ({{lang-sq|Republika e Shqipërisë}}, {{pronounced|ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs}}), is a country in [[Balkans|South Eastern Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Montenegro]] to the northwest, [[Kosovo]]{{ref label|status|a|}} to the northeast, the [[Republic of Macedonia]] to the east and [[Greece]] to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the west, and on the [[Ionian Sea]] to the southwest. It is less than {{convert|72|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from Italy, across the [[Strait of Otranto]] which links the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the [[Ionian Sea]].

Albania is a member of the [[United Nations]], [[NATO]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]], [[Council of Europe]], [[World Trade Organisation]], [[Organisation of the Islamic Conference]] and one of the founding members of the [[Union for the Mediterranean]]. Albania has been a [[Accession of Albania to the European Union|potential candidate for accession to the European Union]] since January 2003, and it formally applied for [[EU member states|EU membership]] on 28 April 2009.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8023127.stm Albania applies for EU membership], BBC News, 28 April 2009. Retrieved on 29 April 2009</ref>

Albania is a [[parliamentary democracy]] and a [[transition economy]]. The Albanian [[capital (political)|capital]], [[Tirana]], is home to approximately 727,000 of the country's 3.6 million people, and it is also the financial capital of the country.<ref name=pop2007>[http://www.tirana.gov.al/common/images/Viti%202007.pdf Population stats] from tirana.gov.al {{sq icon}}</ref> [[Free-market]] reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, especially in the development of [[energy]] and transportation infrastructure.<ref>Reports: Poverty Decreases In Albania After Years Of Growth.Dow Jones Newswires, 201-938-5500.http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200904231403dowjonesdjonline000935&title=reports-poverty-decreases-in-albania-after-years-of-growth</ref><ref>Albania plans to build three hydropower plants.People's Daily</ref><ref>Strong GDP growth reduces poverty in Albania-study.Reuters.http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/04/23/afx6330798.html</ref>

==Etymology==
{{Main|Albania (toponym)}}
''Albania'' is the [[Medieval Latin]] name of the country which is called ''Shqipëri'' by its inhabitants.
The name may be derived from the [[Illyrian]] tribe of the Albani recorded by [[Ptolemy]].

The name may have a continuation in the name of a medieval settlement called Albanion , although it is not certain this was the same place.<ref>The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, ISBN 0-631-19807-5, page 279,"We cannot be certain that the Arbanon of Anna Comnena is the same as Albania of the Albani, a place located on the map of Ptolemy (3.12)"</ref> In his ''History'' written in 1079–1080, [[Byzantine]] historian [[Michael Attaliates]] was the first to refer to ''Albanoi'' as having taken part in a revolt against [[Constantinople]] in 1043 and to the ''Arbanitai'' as subjects of the Duke of [[Dyrrachium]].<ref>Robert Elsei. ''The Albanian lexicon of Arnold von Harff, Earliest reference to the existence of the Albanian language'', pp. 113–122.</ref> During the [[Middle Ages]], the Albanians called their country ''Arbër'' or ''Arbën'' and referred to themselves as [[Arbëresh]] or ''Arbnesh''.<ref>http://www.pinocacozza.it/ {{it icon}}{{sq icon}}</ref><ref>http://www.radio-arberesh.eu/ {{it icon}}</ref>

As early as the 16th century, a new name for their home evolved among Albanian people: ''Shqipëria'', popularly interpreted as "Land of the Eagles" or "Land of the Mountain Eagle" hence the two-headed bird on the national flag,<ref>Kristo Frasheri. ''History of Albania (A Brief Overview)''. Tirana, 1964.</ref> though most likely the origin lies in [[Skanderbeg]]'s use of the Kastrioti principality symbol (Scanderbeg's principality) double-headed eagle on his seals.<History of Albania>{{by: Cabej

Under the [[Ottoman Empire]] Albania was referred to officially as ''Arnavutluk'' and its inhabitants as [[arnaut]].<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Arnaut Arnaut] at the Free Dictionary</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Albania}}

===Antiquity===
{{Main|Illyria|Dalmatia (Roman province)|Illyricum (Roman province)|Moesia Superior}}
{{See|Illyrians|Thraco-Illyrian}}
[[File:Butrint, Albania.jpg|thumb|300|left|[[Butrint]], [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Site.]]
The first recorded inhabitants in the territory of Albania were the [[Illyrians]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm|title=Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs September 2007}}</ref> an [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] people that inhabited the area corresponding to northern and central Albania.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9052237/Messapic-language|title=Encyclopedia Britannica – Messapic language}}</ref> The Illyrian tribes that resided in the region of modern Albania were the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Taulantii|Taulantii]]<ref>Appian, ''The Foreign Wars, III, 1.2''</ref> the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Parthini|Parthini]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Abri|Abri]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Cavii|Caviii]], the [[List of ancient tribes in Illyria#Enchelei|Enchelei]],<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN 0-631-19807-5, Page 96,"... 25 Enchelei</ref> and [[List of Illyrian tribes|several others]]. In the westernmost parts of the territory of Albania there lived the [[Bryges]],<ref>The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996, ISBN-9780631198079, page 111.</ref> a [[Phrygia]]n people, and in the south were the [[Greeks|Greek]] [[Chaonians]].

Beginning in the 8th century BC, Illyrian colonies were established on the Illyrian coast. The most important were [[Apollonia (Illyria)|Apollonia]], [[Vlorë|Avlona]] (modern-day [[Vlorë]]), [[Epidamnos]] (modern-day [[Durrës]]), and [[Lissus]] (modern-day [[Lezhë]]). The rediscovered Illyrian city of [[Buthrotum]] (modern-day Butrint), a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]], is probably more significant today than it was when [[Julius Caesar]] used it as a provisions depot for his troops during his campaigns in the 1st century BC. At that time, it was considered an unimportant outpost, overshadowed by Apollonia and Epidamnos.<ref>An Inventory of Archaic and [[Classical antiquity|Classical]] Poleis by Mogens Herman, ISBN 0-19-814099-1, 2004, page 343, "Bouthroton (Bouthrotios)"</ref>

[[File:Via Egnatia-en.jpg|thumb|left|Route of the [[Via Egnatia]]]]
In the 4th century BC, the Illyrian king [[Bardhyl]] united several Illyrian tribes and engaged in conflict with [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedon]] to the southeast, but was defeated. Bardhyl was succeeded by [[Grabos]],<ref>Harding, p. 93. Grabos became the most powerful Illyrian king after the death of Bardylis in 358.</ref> then by [[Bardyllis II]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79">"The Journal of Hellenic Studies by Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies (London, England)", 1973, p. 79. Cleitus was evidently the son of Bardylis II the grandson of the very old Bardylis who had fallen in battle against Phillip II in 385 BC.</ref> and then by [[Cleitus the Illyrian]],<ref name="Hellenic Studies 1973, p. 79"/> who was defeated by [[Alexander the Great]]. Later on, in 229 BC, Queen [[Teuta]]<ref>Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, p. 120, ISBN 0-631-19807-5,page 129,"... mainly because no coins are known to have been issued by Illyrian rulers of a later period such as Agron, Teuta, Scerdilaidas, etc. ...</ref> of the [[Ardiaei]] clashed with the Romans and initiated the [[Illyrian Wars]], which resulted in defeat and in the end of Illyrian independence by 168 B.C., when King [[Gentius]] was defeated by a Roman army.

The lands comprising modern-day Albania were incorporated into the Roman empire as part of the province of [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] above the river [[Drin (river)|Drin]], and Roman [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] (specifically as [[Epirus Nova]]) below it. The western part of the [[Via Egnatia]] ran inside modern Albania, ending at [[Dyrrachium]]. [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] was later divided into the provinces of [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]] and [[Pannonia]].

When the [[Roman Empire]] was divided into East and West in 395, the territories of modern Albania became part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Beginning in the first decades of Byzantine rule (until 461), the region suffered devastating raids by [[Visigoths]], [[Huns]], and [[Ostrogoths]]. In the 6th and 7th centuries, the region was overrun by the Slavs.

The territory of Albania would remain under Byzantine and Bulgarian rule until the 14th century, when the Ottoman Turks began to make incursions into the Empire. The Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453, and by 1460 most former Byzantine territories were in the hands of the Turks.

===Byzantine era===
The new administrative system of the themes, or military provinces created by the [[Byzantine Empire]], contributed to the eventual rise of feudalism in Albania, as peasant soldiers who served military lords became serfs on their landed estates. Among the leading families of the Albanian feudal nobility were the [[Karlo Thopia|Thopia]], [[Gjin Bua Shpata|Shpata]], [[Muzaka Principality of Berat|Muzaka]], [[Dukagjini]] and [[Kastrioti]]. The first three of these rose to become rulers of principalities were vassals of [[Byzantium]], and Albania mostly neglected by their [[Greece|Greek]] invaders at [[Constantinople]]. Many Albanians converted to the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Christian Church|Church]] at this time. During the [[Byzantine]] [[Era]] the powerful [[Serbs]] had occupied almost all of Northern Albania and [[Kosovo]], and the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]] had gained control and colonized the coastal regions of Albania.

===Ottoman era===
[[File:Durrës, Pinargenti.jpg|thumb|left|[[Durrës]] in 1573]]
In the [[Middle Ages]], the name ''Arberia'' (see ''[[Origin and history of the name Albania]]'') began to be increasingly applied to the region now comprising the nation of Albania.

Beginning in the late-14th century, the Ottoman Turks expanded their empire from [[Anatolia]] to the [[Balkans]] (Rumelia). By the 15th century, the Ottomans ruled all of the Balkan Peninsula. Many Albanians had been recruited into the [[Janissary]], including the feudal heir [[Gjergj Kastrioti]] who was renamed [[Skanderbeg]] (Iskandar Bey) by his Turkish trainers at [[Edirne]]. After some Ottoman defeats at the hands of the [[Serbs]], Skanderbeg deserted and began a rebellion against the [[Ottoman Empire]]<ref name="autogenerated1">Library of Congress Country Study <http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/altoc.html> of Albania</ref>.

After deserting, [[Skanderbeg|Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg]] re-converted to [[Roman Catholicism]] and declared a [[religious war|holy war]] against the Ottoman Empire<ref name="autogenerated1"/>, which he led from 1443 to 1468. Under a red flag bearing Skanderbeg's heraldic emblem, an Albanian force of about 30,000 men at [[Krujë]] held off Ottoman campaigns against their lands for twenty-four years. Thrice the Albanians overcame sieges of Krujë (see [[Siege of Krujë]]) led by many Ottoman commanders, including the influential [[Iljaz Hoxha]] and his [[Albanian]] [[Janissary]] led by [[Hamza Kastrioti]]. However, Skanderbeg was unable to receive any of the help which had been promised him by the [[pope]]s. He died in 1468, leaving no successor because his family escaped to south Italy to escape the countries invasion from the Turks. After his death the rebellion continued, but without its former success. The loyalties and alliances created and nurtured by Skanderbeg faltered and fell apart, and the Ottomans reconquered the territory of Albania in 1478. Shortly after the fall of [[Kruje]]'s castle, some Albanians fled to neighboring Italy, giving rise to the modern [[Arbëreshë]] communities.

[[File:Early 16th century Ottoman volley gun.jpg|thumb|[[Military of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[volley gun]] with 9 barrels, early 16th century.]]
The Ottomans had urbanized the landscape creating new cities, [[Bazaars]], garrisons and [[Mosques]] throughout the Albanian regions. The majority of the remaining Albanian population converted to [[Islam]], with many joining the [[Sufi]] Order of the [[Bektashi]]. Converting from Christianity to Islam brought considerable advantages, including access to Ottoman trade networks, bureaucratic positions and the army. As a result many Albanians came to serve in the elite [[Janissary]] and the administrative [[Devşirme]] system. Among these were important historical figures, including [[Iljaz Hoxha]], [[Hamza Kastrioti]], [[Köprülü Mehmed Pasha]] (head of the [[Köprülü family]] of [[Grand Viziers]]), the [[Bushati]] family, [[Sulejman Pasha]], [[Ethem Pasha]], [[Nezim Frakulla]], [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena, [[Hasan Zyko Kamberi]], [[Ali-paša Šabanagić]], and [[Mehmet Ali]] ruler of [[Egypt]].<ref>Research Institute for European and American Studies. [http://www.rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=412&catid=22&Itemid=69 ''The Balkan Muslim Presence'']</ref> and [[Emin Pasha]].

[[File:Turkish guns 1750-1800.jpg|thumb|[[Ottoman weapons|Ottoman guns]], 1750–1800.]]
Many Albanians gained prominent positions in the Ottoman government, Albanians highly active during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] [[Era]] and leaders such as [[Ali Pasha]] of Tepelena is known to have aided the Bosnian Hero [[Husein Gradaščević]] on various occasions, no fewer than 42 [[Grand Viziers]] of the Empire were Albanian in origin, including [[Mehmet Akif Ersoy]] (1873–1936) an Albanian from [[Peć]] who composed the Turkish National Anthem in 1921, "İstiklâl Marşı" (The Independence March).
Albania became pivotal for the Ottomans in the Balkans, although Albanians never rested, always having small rebellions wchich were put down by the Ottomans. As a cosequene of the continuous rebellions, the Albanians got the nickname "Arnauts" by the Ottomans, which meant "stubborn". This period saw the rising of semi-autonomous [[Albanian Pashaliks|Albanian ruled Pashaliks]], and Albanians were also an important part of the Ottoman army and Ottoman administration like the case of [[Köprülü family]]. Albania would remain a part of the Ottoman Empire as the provinces of [[Shkodër Province, Ottoman Empire|Shkodra]], [[Monastir Province, Ottoman Empire|Manastir]] and [[Ioannina Province, Ottoman Empire|Yanya]] until 1912.

===20th century===
====1913 to 1928====
After five hundred years of Ottoman domination, an independent Albania was proclaimed on November 28, 1912.

The initial sparks of the first [[Balkan Wars|Balkan War in 1912]] were ignited by the Albanian uprising between 1908 and 1910 <ref>The Balkans (Nationalism, War and the Great Powers, 1804–1999) – by Misha Glenny</ref> which were directed at opposing the [[Young Turk]] policies of consolidation of the Ottoman Empire. Following the eventual weakening of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, [[Serbia]], Greece and [[Bulgaria]] declared war and sought to aggrandize their respective boundaries on the remaining territories of the Empire. Albania was thus invaded by Serbia in the north and Greece in the south, restricting the country to only a patch of land around the southern coastal city of [[Vlora]]. In 1912 Albania, still under foreign occupation declared its independence and with the aid of [[Austria-Hungary]], the Great Powers drew its present borders leaving more than half of the Albanian population outside the new country.

The border between Albania and its neighbours was delineated in 1913 following the dissolution of most of the Ottoman Empire's territories in the Balkans. The delineation of the new state's borders left a significant number of Albanian communities outside Albania. This population was largely divided between [[Montenegro]] and Serbia (which then included what is now the [[Republic of Macedonia]]). A substantial number of Albanians thus found themselves under Serbian rule. At the same time, an uprising in the country's south by local Greeks, led to the formation of an [[Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus|autonomous region]] inside its borders (1914). After a period of political instability caused during [[World War I]], the country adopted a republican form of government in 1920.<ref>{{cite book
|last=Young
|first= Antonia
|title=Albania
|publisher=Clio Press
|year=1997|isbn =1851092609}}</ref>

====1928 to 1946====
[[File:King Zog.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Zog of Albania|Ahmet Muhtar Bey Zogolli]]]]
Starting in 1928, but especially during the [[Great Depression]], the government of [[King Zog#Relations with Italy|King Zog]], which brought law and order to the country, began to cede Albania's sovereignty to Italy.
Despite some strong resistance, especially at [[Durrës]], Italy invaded Albania on 7 April 1939 and took control of the country, with the Italian [[Fascist]] dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] proclaiming Italy's figurehead King [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]] as King of Albania. The nation thus became one of the first to be occupied by the [[Axis Powers]] in [[World War II]].<ref>The Balkans by Misha Glenny page 418</ref> As [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] began his aggressions, Mussolini decided to occupy Albania as a means to compete with Hitler's territorial gains. Mussolini and the Italian Fascists saw Albania as a historical part of the [[Roman Empire]], and the occupation was intended to fulfill Mussolini's dream of creating an [[Italian Empire]]. During the Italian occupation, Albania's population was subject to a policy of forced [[Italianisation]] by the kingdom's Italian governors, in which the use of the Albanian language was discouraged in schools while the Italian language was promoted. At the same time, the colonization of Albania by Italians was encouraged.

Mussolini, in October 1940, used his Albanian base to launch an attack on Greece, which led to the defeat of the Italian forces and the Greek occupation of Southern Albania in what was seen by the Greeks as the liberation of [[Northern Epirus]]. While preparing for the [[Operation Barbarossa|Invasion of Russia]], Hitler decided to attack Greece in December 1940 to prevent a British attack on his southern flank.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Creveld |first=Martin van|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1972 |month=July–October |title=In the Shadow of Barbarossa: Germany and Albania, January–March 1941 |journal= |volume=7 |issue=3/4 |pages=22–230|id= |url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-0094(197207%2F10)7%3A3%2F4%3C221%3AITSOBG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-E |accessdate=12 September 2007 |quote=}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], the [[Albanian Communist Party|Party of Labour]] was created on 8 November 1941. With the intention of organizing a [[Albanian National Liberation Front|partisan resistance]], they called a general conference in Pezë on 16 September 1942 where the Albanian National Liberation Front was set up. The Front included nationalist groups, but it was dominated by communist partisans.

In December 1942, more Albanian nationalist groups were organized under Visar Kola. Albanians fought against the Italians while, during [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] occupation, Balli Kombëtar allied itself with the Germans and clashed with Albanian communists, which continued their fight against Germans and Balli Kombëtar at the same time.

With the collapse of the Mussolini government in line with the Allied invasion of Italy, Germany occupied Albania in September 1943, dropping paratroopers into Tirana before the Albanian guerrillas could take the capital. The [[German Army]] soon drove the guerrillas into the hills and to the south. The Nazi German government subsequently announced it would recognize the independence of a neutral Albania and set about organizing a new government, police and armed forces. Many Balli Kombëtar units cooperated with the Germans against the communists and several Balli Kombëtar leaders held positions in the German-sponsored regime.
The partisans entirely liberated Albania from German occupation on 28 November 1944. The Albanian partisans also liberated Kosovo, part of Montenegro, and southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. By November 1944, they had thrown out the Germans, one of the few [[East Europe]]an nations to do so without any assistance from [[Soviet]] troops. [[Enver Hoxha]] became the leader of the country by virtue of his position as Secretary General of the [[Albanian Communist Party]].


Albania was one of the European countries occupied by the [[Axis powers]] that ended World War II with a larger [[Jewish]] population than before the war.<ref>Sarner. ''Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from the Holocaust'', 1997.</ref><ref>"Muslim Family Who Hid 26 Jews in Albania from the Nazis Honored by ADL" [http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4963_52.htm Anti-Defamation League]</ref><ref>Escape Through the Balkans: the Autobiography of Irene Grunbaum (University of Nebraska Press, 1996)</ref><ref>[http://www1.yadvashem.org/odot_pdf/Microsoft%20Word%20-%205725.pdf Shoah Research Center – Albania.]</ref> Some 1,200 Jewish residents and refugees from other [[Balkan]] countries were hidden by Albanian families during World War II, according to official records.<ref>Israeli Historians Study How Albanian Jews Escaped Holocaust http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356717,00.html</ref>

====Communist state====
{{Main|Socialist People's Republic of Albania}}
[[File:Brosen tirana hoxha mausol.jpg|thumb|left|The former Enver Hoxha Museum in Tirana]]

[[File:Tirana Square 1988.jpg|thumb|right|Tirana's Skanderbeg Square in 1988]]

Albania became an ally of the Soviet Union, but this came to an end in 1960 over the advent of [[de-Stalinization]]. A strong political alliance with China followed, leading to several billion dollars in aid, which was curtailed after 1974. China cut off aid in 1978 when Albania attacked its policies after the death of the Chinese ruler [[Mao Zedong]]. Large-scale purges of officials occurred during the 1970s.

[[Enver Hoxha]], a dictator who ruled Albania for four decades with an iron fist, died on 11 April 1985. Eventually the new regime introduced some liberalization, and granting the freedom to travel abroad in 1990. The new government made efforts to improve ties with the outside world. The elections of March 1991 left the former Communists in power, but a general strike and urban opposition led to the formation of a coalition cabinet that included non-Communists.<ref>Albania. World Almanac & Book of Facts, 2008, pp467–545, (AN 28820955)</ref>

===Recent history – 1992 to present===
{{Main|History of post-Communist Albania}}
{{See|Timeline of Albanian history from 1994}}
Albania's former Communists were routed in elections March 1992, causing economic collapse and social unrest. The [[blood feud]] has returned in rural areas after more than 40 years of being abolished by Albanian communists,<ref>"[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1553480/Thousands-fear-as-blood-feuds-sweep-Albania.html Thousands fear as blood feuds sweep Albania]". Telegraph.co.uk. 3 June 2007.</ref> with nearly 10,000 Albanians being killed due to blood feuds since 1991.<ref>"[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/world/europe/10feuds.html?_r=1 In Albanian Feuds, Isolation Engulfs Families ]". The New York Times. 10 July 2008.</ref> Sali Berisha was elected as the first non-Communist president since World War II. The next crisis occurred in 1997, during his presidency, as [[1997 rebellion in Albania|riots ravaged the country]]. The state institutions collapsed and an [[EU]] military mission led by Italy was sent to stabilize the country. In summer 1997, Berisha was defeated in elections, winning just 25 seats out of a total of 156.
His return to power in the elections of 3 July 2005 ended eight years of Socialist Party rule. In 2009, Albania – along with [[Croatia]] – joined [[NATO]].

==Government, politics and armed forces==
{{Main|Politics of Albania}}

{{Politics of Albania}}

[[File:Bush - Berisha 20070610-1 p061007cg-0198-515h.jpg|thumb|left|Albania's Prime Minister [[Sali Berisha]] with then U.S. President [[George W. Bush]] in [[Tirana]], June 2007.]]
The Albanian republic is a parliamentary democracy established under a constitution renewed in 1998. Elections are now held every four years to a unicameral 140-seat chamber, the People's Assembly. In June 2002, a compromise candidate, [[Alfred Moisiu]], former [[Army General]], was elected to succeed President [[Rexhep Meidani]]. Parliamentary elections in July 2005 brought [[Sali Berisha]], as leader of the Democratic Party, back to power. The Euro-Atlantic integration of Albania has been the ultimate goal of the post-communist governments. Albania's [[European Union|EU]] membership bid has been set as a priority by the European Commission.

Albania, along with Croatia, joined NATO on 1 April 2009 becoming the 27th and 28th members of the alliance.<ref>BBC News. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7977332.stm "Nato welcomes Albania and Croatia"], "BBC News", 2 April 2009. Retrieved on 2 April 2009.</ref>

The workforce of Albania has continued to migrate to Greece, Italy, Germany, other parts of Europe, and North America. However, the migration flux is slowly decreasing, as more and more opportunities are emerging in Albania itself as its economy steadily develops.

===Executive branch===
The head of state in Albania is the [[List of Presidents of Albania|President]] of the Republic. The President is elected to a 5-year term by the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] by secret ballot, requiring a 50%+1 majority of the votes of all deputies. The next election will run in 2012. The current President of the Republic is [[Bamir Topi]].

The President has the power to guarantee observation of the constitution and all laws, act as commander in chief of the armed forces, exercise the duties of the [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] when the Assembly is not in session, and appoint the Chairman of the Council of Ministers ([[prime minister]]).

Executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The Chairman of the Council (prime minister) is appointed by the president; ministers are nominated by the president on the basis of the prime minister's recommendation. The People's Assembly must give final approval of the composition of the Council. The Council is responsible for carrying out both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!align=left|[[List of Presidents of Albania|President]]
|[[Bamir Topi]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]] ||20 July 2007
|-
!align=left|[[List of Prime Ministers of Albania|Prime Minister]]
|[[Sali Berisha]]||[[Democratic Party of Albania|PD]]||9 September 2009
|}

===Legislative branch===
The [[Assembly of Albania|Assembly of the Republic of Albania]] (''Kuvendi i Republikës së Shqipërisë'') is the lawmaking body in Albania. There are 140 deputies in the Assembly, which are elected through a [[party-list proportional representation]] system. The President of the Assembly (or Speaker) has two deputies and chairs the Assembly. There are 15 permanent commissions, or committees. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years.

The Assembly has the power to decide the direction of domestic and foreign policy; approve or amend the constitution; declare war on another state; ratify or annul international treaties; elect the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court and the Attorney General and his or her deputies; and control the activity of state radio and television, state news agency and other official information media.

===Armed forces===
{{Main|Military of Albania|}}
{{See also|Albanian Air Force|Albanian Naval Defense Forces|Albanian Joint Forces Command|Albanian Logistic Support Command}}

[[File:Patrol Boat Iliria.jpg|thumb|Albanian Navy warship ''Iliria'']]

The [[Military of Albania|Albanian Armed Forces]] (''Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë'') first formed after independence in 1912. Albania reduced the number of active troops from a 1988 number of 65,000<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1935630.stm Albania sells off its military hardware], BBC News, 2002</ref> to a 2009 number of 14,500<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/08/21/feature-03 |title=Albania to abolish conscription by 2010 |publisher=SETimes.com |date=21 August 2008 |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> with a small fleet of aircraft and sea vessels. In the 1990s, the country scrapped enormous amount of obsolete hardware, such as tanks and [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM systems]] from China.

Today, it consists of the General Staff Headquarters, the [[Albanian Joint Forces Command]], the [[Albanian Support Command]] and the [[Albanian Training and Doctrine Command]]. Increasing the military budget was one of the most important conditions for [[NATO]] integration. Military spending accounted for about 2.7% of GDP in 2008. Since February 2008, Albania participates officially in NATO's [[Operation Active Endeavor]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>[[NATO]], [http://www.nato.int/issues/active_endeavour/index.html]</ref> and received a NATO membership invitation on 3 April 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Albania membership Nato|publisher=NATO|url=http://www.nato.int/issues/nato_albania/evolution.html}}</ref> Albania became a full member of NATO on 1 April 2009.

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Albania}}

[[File:Albania space.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite image of Albania.]]

[[File:Himarë-Albania6.JPG|thumb|Coastline in [[Himarë]]]]
[[File:Ksamil Islets.jpg|thumb|[[Ksamil]], little islands]]
Albania has a total area of 28,748 square [[kilometers]]. Its coastline is 362 kilometers long and extends along the [[Adriatic Sea|Adriatic]] and [[Ionian Sea]]s. The lowlands of the west face the Adriatic Sea. The 70% of the country that is mountainous is rugged and often inaccessible from the outside. The highest mountain is [[Mount Korab|Korab]] situated in the [[district of Dibër]], reaching up to {{convert|2753|m|ft|abbr=off|lk=off}}. The climate on the coast is typically [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] with mild, wet winters and warm, sunny, and rather dry summers. Inland conditions vary depending on altitude but the higher areas above 1,500 m/5,000 ft are rather cold and frequently snowy in winter; here cold conditions with lying snow may linger into spring. Besides the capital city of [[Tirana]], which has 800,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are [[Durrës]], [[Korçë]], [[Elbasan]], [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]], [[Gjirokastër]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Kukës]]. In Albanian grammar, a word can have indefinite and definite forms, and this also applies to city names: both ''Tiranë'' and ''Tirana'', ''Shkodër'' and ''Shkodra'' are used.

The three largest and deepest tectonic lakes of the [[Balkan Peninsula]] are partly located in Albania. [[Lake Shkodër]] in the country's northwest has a surface which can vary between {{convert|370|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|lk=off}} and 530 km2, out of which one third belongs to Albania and rest to Montenegro. The Albanian shoreline of the lake is {{convert|57|km|0|abbr=on}}. [[Ohrid Lake]] is situated in the country's southeast and is shared between Albania and Republic of Macedonia. It has a maximal depth of 289 meters and a variety of unique flora and fauna can be found there, including "living fossils" and many endemic species. Because of its natural and historical value, Ohrid Lake is under the protection of [[UNESCO]].

Over a third of the territory of Albania – about 10,000 square kilometers (2.5 million acres) – is forested and the country was very rich in flora. About 3.000 different species of plants grow in Albania, many of which are used for medicinal purposes. [[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Albania belongs to the [[Boreal Kingdom]] and is shared between the Adriatic and [[East Mediterranean]] provinces of the [[Mediterranean Region]] and the Illyrian province of the [[Circumboreal Region]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature]] and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the [[European Environment Agency]], the territory of Albania can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Illyrian deciduous forests]], [[Pindus Mountains mixed forests]] and [[Dinaric Alps|Dinaric Alpine]] mixed forests. The forests are home to a wide range of mammals, including [[wolves]], [[bear]]s, [[wild boar]]s and [[chamois]]. [[Lynx]], [[wildcat]]s, [[pine marten]]s and [[polecat]]s are rare, but survive in some parts of the country.

==Climate==
''See also [[Geography of Albania#Climate|Climate of Albania]]''
[[File:Coastline in Albania.jpg|thumb|left|Coastline near [[Sarandë]]]]
[[File:Albania pasture.jpg|thumb|left|Albanian landscape]]
[[File:KorabMountain2.jpg|thumb|Korab chains]]

[[File:Ksrbay.jpg|thumb|[[Sarandë]] Bay]]
With its coastline facing the Adriatic and Ionian seas, its highlands backed upon the elevated Balkan landmass, and the entire country lying at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns during the winter and summer seasons, Albania has a high number of climatic regions for so small an area. The coastal lowlands have typically Mediterranean weather; the highlands have a Mediterranean continental climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather varies markedly from north to south.

The lowlands have mild winters, averaging about {{convert|7|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Summer temperatures average {{convert|24|°C|0|abbr=on}}. In the southern lowlands, temperatures average about {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} higher throughout the year. The difference is greater than {{convert|5|C-change|0|abbr=on}} during the summer and somewhat less during the winter.

Inland temperatures are affected more by differences in elevation than by latitude or any other factor. Low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in [[Eastern Europe]] and the [[Balkan]]s. Northerly and northeasterly winds blow much of the time. Average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and [[river valley]]s are very high, but the nights are almost always cool.

Average [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is heavy, a result of the convergence of the prevailing airflow from the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and the continental air mass. Because they usually meet at the point where the terrain rises, the heaviest rain falls in the central uplands. Vertical currents initiated when the Mediterranean air is uplifted also cause frequent thunderstorms. Many of these storms are accompanied by high local winds and torrential downpours.

When the continental air mass is weak, Mediterranean winds drop their moisture farther inland. When there is a dominant continental air mass, cold air spills onto the lowland areas, which occurs most frequently in the winter. Because the season's lower temperatures damage olive trees and citrus fruits, groves and orchards are restricted to sheltered places with southern and western exposures, even in areas with high average winter temperatures.

Lowland rainfall averages from {{convert|1000|mm|in|1|sp=us}} to more than {{convert|1500|mm|in|1|sp=us}} annually, with the higher levels in the north. Nearly 95% of the rain falls in the winter.

Rainfall in the upland mountain ranges is heavier. Adequate records are not available, and estimates vary widely, but annual averages are probably about {{convert|1800|mm|in|1|sp=us}} and are as high as {{convert|2550|mm|in|1|sp=us}} in some northern areas. The western Albanian Alps (valley of Boga) are among the most wet areas in Europe, receiving some {{convert|3100|mm|2|abbr=on|lk=out}} of rain annually<ref>http://qendrim.forumotion.net/gjeografia-f61/tiparet-e-pergjithshme-te-klimes-t3725.htm</ref>. The seasonal variation is not quite as great in the coastal area.

The higher inland mountains receive less precipitation than the intermediate uplands. Terrain differences cause wide local variations, but the seasonal distribution is the most consistent of any area.

==Flora and Fauna==

[[File:Lynx lynx poing.jpg|thumb|left|The [[lynx]] still survives in Albania]]

[[File:Steinadler Aquila chrysaetos closeup2 Richard Bartz.jpg|thumb|right|Golden eagle – the national symbol of Albania]]

Although a small country, Albania is distinguished for its rich biological diversity. The variation of geomorphology, climate and terrain create favorable conditions for a number of endemic and [[sub-endemic]] species with 27 endemic and 160 subendemic vascular plants present in the country. The total number of plants is over 3250 species, approximately 30% of the entire flora species found in Europe. Coastal regions and lowlands have typical Mediterranean [[macchia]] vegetation, whereas [[oak]] forests and vegetation are found on higher altitudes. Vast forests of [[European Black Pine|black pine]], [[beech]] and [[fir]] are found on higher mountains and alpine [[grasslands]] grow at altitudes above 1800 meters a.s.l.<ref name="cbd.int">http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/al/al-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf</ref>

There are around 760 vertebrate species found so far in Albania. Among these there are over 350 bird species, 330 freshwater and marine fish and 80 mammal species. There are some 91 globally threatened species found within the country, among which the [[Dalmatian pelican]], [[Pygmy cormorant]], and the [[European sea sturgeon]]. Rocky coastal regions in the south provide good habitats for the endangered [[Mediterranean monk seal]]. Some of the most significant bird species found in the country include the [[golden eagle]] – known as the national symbol of Albania – [[vulture]] species, [[capercaillie]] and numerous [[waterfowl]]. The Albanian forests still maintain significant communities of large mammals such as the [[brown bear]], [[gray wolf]], [[chamois]] and [[wild boar]].<ref name="cbd.int"/> The north and eastern mountains of the country are home to the last remaining Balkan lynx – a critically endangered population of the [[Eurasian lynx]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catsg.org/balkanlynx/20_blx-compendium/index.htm |title=The Balkan Lynx Conservation Compendium |publisher=Catsg.org |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Albania}}

Albania remains a poor country by Western European standards.<ref>[http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief]. [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] ([[Government of Australia|Australia]]), 1 August 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2009.</ref> Its GDP per capita (expressed in PPS—[[Purchasing power parity|Purchasing Power Standards]]) stood at 25 percent of the EU average in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-25062009-BP/EN/2-25062009-BP-EN.PDF|format=PDF|title=Albania's GDP per capita in PPS (2008) |publisher=Eurostat |accessdate=25 June 2009}}</ref> Still, Albania has shown potential for economic growth, as more and more businesses relocate there and consumer goods are becoming available from emerging market traders as part of the current massive global cost-cutting exercise. Albania and Cyprus are the only countries in Europe that recorded economic growth in the first quarter of 2009. In its latest report, the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) said Albania and Cyprus recorded increases of 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.<ref>Business: Albania, Cyprus register economic growth http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2009/05/15/roundup-bs-03</ref><ref>Strong economic growth potential puts Albania and Panama top of long term investment list http://www.propertywire.com/news/related-stories/albania-panama-long-term-investment-200807201344.html</ref> However, the country is still of low interest for major foreign investors due to frequent power shortages, occasional lack of water supplies and ubiquitous illegal activities.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2681449.stm Albania's Economy shakes off it's shackles], 23 January 2003, BBC News.</ref>

[[File:Mallakastra-oil.jpg|thumb|right|Oil pumps near [[Mallakastra]]]]

Albania and Croatia have discussed the possibility of jointly building a nuclear power plant at Lake [[Shkoder]], close to the border with Montenegro, a plan that has gathered criticism from the latter due to seismicity in the area.<ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/18259/ Albania, Croatia plan nuclear power plant.]</ref> In addition, there is some doubt whether Albania would be able to finance a project of such a scale with a total national budget of less than $ 5 billion.<ref name="CIA - The World Factbook">[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html CIA – The World Factbook]</ref> However, in February 2009 Italian company [[Enel]] announced plans to build an 800 MW [[coal]]-fired power plant in Albania, to diversify electricity sources.<ref name="diversify">[http://www.allbusiness.com/energy-utilities/utilities-industry-electric-power/11935171-1.html Enel Albanian Joint Venture Introduces Coal In Albania's Power Mix], Business Monitor Online, 24 February 2009</ref> Nearly 100% of the electricity is generated by ageing hydroelectric power plants, which are becoming more ineffective due to increasing droughts.<ref name="diversify"/>

The country has some deposits of [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]], but produces only 6,425 barrels of oil per day.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2173rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=91#al CIA The World Factbook: Oil producers]</ref> Natural gas production, estimated at about 30 million cubic meters, is sufficient to meet consumer demands.<ref name="CIA - The World Factbook"/> Other natural resources include coal, [[bauxite]], [[copper]] and [[iron ore]].

[[Agriculture]] is the most significant sector, employing some 58% of the labor force and generating about 21% of GDP. Albania produces significant amounts of [[wheat]], [[maize|corn]], [[tobacco]], [[figs]] (13th largest producer in the world)<ref>[http://www.fao.org/es/ess/top/topproduction.html?lang=en&country=3&year=2005 Albania Country Profile], FAO</ref> and [[olives]].

==Science and technology==
{{Main|Science and technology}}

Expenditure for scientific research and Development in Albania does not exceed 0.18% of GDP, which marks the lowest level in Europe. Economic competitiveness and exports are low, with the economy still heavily skewed towards low technology.

From 1990 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased.
Various surveys show that during 1990-1999, approximately 40% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated.<ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

Driving forces for the brain drain are found in the deteriorated economic living conditions, the lack of state of the art infrastructure and funds that constitute serious obstacles for research.

However in 2009 the government approved the "National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania" <ref>[http://www.dsdc.gov.al/dsdc/pub/national_strategy_of_science_technology_and_innovation_final_draft_381_1.pdfNational Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2009–2015 </ref> covering the period 2009–2015. The document was coordinated by the Department of Strategy and Donor Coordination of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and with UNESCO assistance.

It fixes five strategic goals to 2015:

* to triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP;
* to augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending;
* to create four or five Albanian centres of excellence in science which will be equipped with dedicated laboratory equipment and workspaces that could be used for pre-incubation, testing, certification and so on of new technology based firms;
* to double the number of researchers, both through ‘brain gain’ incentives like a returning researchers grant scheme and through the training of new researchers, including 500 PhDs: this will entail establishing up to three new doctoral programmes in Albanian universities;
* to stimulate innovation in 100 companies, either via investment in local R&D or via consortia with academic research institutes or foreign partners. <ref> http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46557&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html </ref>

The Strategy is to be implemented in synergy with other sectoral strategies and taking into account Albania’s Higher Education Strategy adopted in 2008 and the National Strategy for Development and Integration (2007–2013). The latter underlines the importance of modernizing economic sectors such as the agro-food industry and tourism. It also underscores the strategic importance of energy, environmental and water resource management. Stakeholders have proposed prioritizing fields of research such as agriculture and food, information and communication technologies (ICTs), public health, Albanology and humanities, natural resources, biotechnology, biodiversity, defence and security.

The European Union (EU) has set clear objectives for research and innovation as part of its Lisbon Strategy for becoming the most competitive economy in the world. Like other Western Balkan countries aspiring to join the EU, Albania is trailing behind in the development process, having focused in recent years on laying the foundations for economic growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Genc Pollo acknowledges that ‘the high rates of socio-economic development required in the process of Albania’s membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (now a member) and EU accession necessitate strengthening the role of science, technology and innovation in our society.’

In August of 2009, the government approved the establishment of the Albanian Agency of Research, Technology and Innovation, to improve policy implementation.

In 2006, the Albanian government undertook a deep reform of the scientific research system. The Academy of Sciences was re-organized along the model of many other European countries; it now operates through a selected community of scientists and no longer administrates research institutes, these having been integrated into the higher education system. Two new faculties have been set up: the Faculty of Information Technology at the Polytechnic University of Tirana and the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food at the Agricultural University of Tirana. The University of Tirana has also gained an Applied and Nuclear Physics Centre and Biotechnology Department. Twelve government agencies and centres for technology transfer have also been created.

Until recently, R&D and innovation statistics were not collected in Albania to OECD, Eurostat or UNESCO standards. A first survey of public and academic institutes was launched earlier this year and a business R&D and innovation survey is currently under way, both the support of UNESCO.

The restrictive visa regulations also hinder scientific exchange and temporary employment abroad

There is a total 578 scientific workers in Albania:

* 274 in Academy of Sciences
* 304 in R & D institutions of Ministries <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

The numbers of personnel in R & D in Albania are about 0.2 for 1000 habitants <ref>http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:JGpOLZ36GhYJ:webmob.masfak.ni.ac.rs/uploads/articles/webmob_mapping_exercise__albania.ppt+Research+and+development+in+albania&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a </ref>

==Transport==

{{Main|Transport in Albania}}

In the early 1990s, the rock-strewn roadways, unstable rail lines and obsolete telephone network crisscrossing Albania represented the remnants of the marked improvements that were made after [[World War II]]. [[Enver Hoxha]]'s [[xenophobia]] and lust for control had kept Albania isolated, however, as the communications revolution transformed the wider world into a [[Global Village (term)|global village]]. Even internal travel amounted to something of a luxury for many Albanians during communism's ascendancy.

===Highways===
[[File:SH2 Tiranë-Durrës.jpg|right|thumb|SH 2 Highway ([[Tirana]]–[[Durrës]])]]
[[File:Highways of Albania.svg|right|thumb|210px|Highways of Albania.]]
[[File:Tirana's Overpass From Durres (1).JPG|left|thumb|SH 2—Tirana's overpass from Durrës]]

Currently the major cities of the country are linked with first class national roads. There is a four lane highway connecting the city of Durrës with Tirana and the city of Durrës with the city of [[Lushnje]]. Albania is partaking in the construction of what it sees as three major corridors of transportation.

The major priority as of present is the full completion of the four lane [[Albania-Kosovo Highway|Durrës-Pristina highway]] which will link [[Kosovo]] with Albania's Adriatic coast. The portion of the highway which links Albania's north east border with Kosovo was completed in June 2009,<ref>{{cite web|last=Wynne |first=Alexandra |url=http://www.nce.co.uk/news/transport/albania-motorway-making-the-first-move/5203302.article# |title=Albania highway: Making the first move | Features | New Civil Engineer |publisher=Nce.co.uk |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> as a result, cutting the time it takes to get from Kosovo to Durrës from six hours to two. Indeed the roads in northwestern Albania remain in poor condition as of summer 2009. It takes approximately 1h 30' to drive the {{convert|35|km|0|abbr=on}} from the border of Montenegro to Shkodër.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

There has been much discussion, debate, and interest in the {{convert|170|km|0|abbr=on}} Durrës–Kukës–Morinë Highway Albanian highway to Kosovo, which is intended to create a new, super-fast connection between Durrës on the Adriatic coast to [[Morinë]] at the border of Kosovo. The current drive time between Kukës and Durrës is now 2 hours. The whole will be around {{convert|250|km|0|abbr=on}}, when completed to Pristina. The objective for constructing the road, according to the transport ministry, is to reduce transport costs and accidents, and improve traffic flow. It is the biggest, most expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken in Albania. The cost of the highway appears to have breached EUR800 million, although the exact cost for the total highway has yet to be confirmed by the government. Currently there is a display in Tirana's centre on Bvld Dëshmorët e Kombit.

The second priority is the construction of European corridor 8 linking Albania with the Republic of Macedonia and Greece.

The third priority for the government is the construction of the north-south axis of the country; it is sometimes referred to as the [[Adriatic–Ionian motorway]] as it is part of a larger regional highway connecting Croatia with Greece along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts.

By the end of the decade it is expected that the majority of the sections of these three corridors will have been built.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} When all three corridors are completed Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with its neighbors.

=== Aviation ===
[[File:Rinas-Airport-New-Terminal.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]]]

The civil air transport in Albania marked its beginnings in November 1924, when the Republic of Albania signed a Governmental Agreement with German Air Company [[Lufthansa]]. On the basis of a ten-year concession agreement, the Albanian Airlines with the name [[Adria Aero Lloyd]] Company was established.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} In the spring of 1925, the first domestic flights from [[Tirana]] to [[Shkoder]] and [[Vlora]] began.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

In August 1927, the office of Civil Aviation of Air Traffic Ministry of Italy purchased Adria Aero Lloyd. The company, now in Italian hands, expanded its flights to other cities, such as [[Elbasan]], [[Korça]], [[Kukësi]], [[Peshkopia]] and [[Gjirokastra]], and opened up international lines to Rome, [[Milan]], [[Thessaloniki]], [[Sofia]], [[Belgrade]], and [[Podgorica]].

The construction of a more modern airport construction in present [[Lapraka]]) started in 1934 and was completed by the end of 1935. This new airport, which was later officially named "Airport of Tirana", was constructed in conformity with optimal technological parameters of that time, with reinforced concrete runway of 1200 {{convert|400|m|2|abbr=on|lk=out}}, and complemented with technical equipment and appropriate buildings.

During 1955–1957, the [[Rinasi Airport]] was constructed for military purposes. Later, its administration was shifted to the Ministry of Transport. On 25 January 1957 the State-owned Enterprise of International Air Transport ([[Albtransport]]) established its headquarters in Tirana. [[Aeroflot]], [[Jat]], [[Malev]], [[Tarom]] and [[Interflug]] were the air companies that started to have flights with Albania until 1960.

During 1960–1978, several airlines ceased to operate in Albania due to the impact of the politics, resulting to a decrease of influx of flights and passengers. In 1977 Albania's government signed an agreement with Greece to open the country's first air links with non-communist Europe. As a result, [[Olympic Airlines|Olympic Airways]] was the first non-communist airline to commercially fly into Albania after [[WWII]]. By 1991 Albania had air links with many major European cities, including Paris, Rome, [[Zürich]], [[Vienna]] and [[Budapest]], but no regular domestic air service.

A French-Albanian joint venture [[Ada Air]], was launched in Albania's as the first private airline, in 1991. The company offered flights in a thirty-six-passenger airplane four days each week between Tirana and [[Bari]], Italy and a charter service for domestic and international destinations.

From 1989 to 1991, because of political changes in the [[Eastern European]] countries, Albania adhered to the International Civil Aviation Organization ([[ICAO]]), opened its air space to international flights, and had its duties of Air Traffic Control defined. As premises of these developments, conditions were created to separate the activities of air traffic control from Albtransport. Instead, the [[National Agency of Air Traffic]] (NATA) was established as an independent enterprise. In addition, during these years, governmental agreements of civil air transport were established with [[Bulgaria]], Germany, [[Slovenia]], Italy, Russia, Austria, England, [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], etc. The Directory General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was established on 3 February 1991, to cope with the development required by the time.

As of 2007 Albania has one [[international airport]]: [[Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza]]. The airport is linked to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a dramatic rise in terms of passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s. The data for 2009 is 1.3 million passengers served and an average of 44 landings and takeoffs per day.

[[File:Albanian railway.jpg|thumb|left|Train on the Durrës to Tiranë railway line]]

===Railways===
{{Main|Rail transport in Albania|Hekurudha Shqiptarë}}
The railway system was extensively promoted by the [[totalitarianism|totalitarian]] regime of [[Enver Hoxha]], during which time the use of private transport was effectively prohibited. Since the collapse of the former regime, there has been a considerable increase in [[car]] ownership and [[bus]] usage. Whilst some of the country's roads are still in a very poor condition, there have been other developments (such as the construction of a [[motorway]] between Tirana and Durrës) which have taken much traffic away from the railways. The [[railway]]s in Albania are administered by the national railway company ''[[Hekurudha Shqiptare]]'' (HSH) (which means ''Albanian Railways''). It operates a {{RailGauge|1435}} gauge (standard gauge) rail system in Albania. All trains are hauled by [[Czech Republic|Czech]]-built [[ČKD]] diesel-electric [[locomotive]]s.

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Albania}}

[[File:Albania minorities.png|thumb|Regions with a traditional presence of ethnic or linguistic groups other than Albanian.]]

[[File:Tirana Skanderbeg Square.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tirana]], Albania's capital and largest city.]]

The Albanian population is considered a very young population, with an average age of 28.9 years.<ref>[http://www.instat.gov.al/graphics/doc/downloads/publikime/femrameshkuj2006.pdf Women, Men and shefit's in Albania 2006], Instat, Tirana, 2007</ref> After 1990 the Albanian population has
faced new phenomena like migration, which greatly affected the distribution by districts and prefectures. Districts in the North have seen a decreasing population, while [[Tirana]] and [[Durrës]] districts have increased their population.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Albania's population was 3,152,600 on 1 January 2007 and 3,170,048 on 1 January 2008.<ref name=instat>{{cite web|url=http://www.instat.gov.al/|title=Albania National Institute of Statistics official web site}}</ref> Alternative sources estimate the population in July 2009 at 3,639,453 with an annual growth rate of 0.546%.<ref name=cia>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html ''CIA World Factbook'': Albania]</ref> Albania is a largely ethnically homogeneous country with only small minorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watsoninstitute.org/bjwa/archive/11.1/Essays/Barjarba.pdf|author=Kosta Barjarba|title=Migration and Ethnicity in Albania: Synergies and Interdependencies|format=PDF}}</ref> The vast majority of the population is ethnically [[Albanians|Albanian]] (98.6%). Minorities include [[Greeks]] 1.17% and others 0.23% ([[Vlachs]], [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]], [[Serbs]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Egyptians (Balkans)|Balkan Egyptians]], [[Roma]] and former [[Yugoslavians]]).<ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm Albania], U.S. Department of State Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Background Note November 2008. Retrieved on 14 May 2009</ref> The size of the Greek minority is contentious, with the Albanian government claiming it is only 60,000, while the Greek government is claiming 300,000. Most Western sources put the size of the Greek minority at around 200,000, or ~6% of the population,<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=kqCnCOgGc5AC&pg=PA68&dq=greek+minority+albania&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_brr=0 ''Eastern Europe at the end of the 20th century'', Ian Jeffries, p. 69]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?lr=&hl=el&id=OU1oAAAAMAAJ&dq=Pettifer+The+Greeks%3A+The+Land+and+the+People+since+the+War&q=200000&pgis=1#search_anchor The Greeks: the land and people since the war.] James Pettifer. Penguin, 2000. ISBN 0-14-028899-6</ref> while the [[CIA Factbook]] estimates the Greek minority at 3% of the total population.
The dominant language is [[Albanian language|Albanian]], with two main dialects, [[Gheg]] and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosk]]. Many Albanians are also fluent in English, Italian, Greek, etc.



===Religion===
[[File:07Tirana Et'hem beu Mosque03.jpg|thumb|right|[[Et'hem Bey Mosque]] in Tirana]]

[[File:Labova e Kryqit3.jpg|thumb|right|Church of Virgin Mary. It was built in the 10th century]]

{{Main|Religion in Albania}}

{{See also|Freedom of religion in Albania}}

Estimates of the religious allegiance of the population of Albania vary, with some sources suggesting that the majority do not follow any religion.<ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm]-Freedom of Religion 2007</ref> A second study of religion in Albania under the ''International Religious Freedom Report 2009'', performed by the [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]] of the [[United States Department of State|United States's State Department]], found that a majority of Albania's population is nonreligious.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127295.htm | title = Albania | work = International Religious Freedom Report 2009 | date = 26 October 2009 | publisher = [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor]], [[United States Department of State]] | accessdate = 7 November 2009}}</ref>

A recent study by the [[Pew Research Center]] puts the percentage of
[[Muslim]]s in Albania at 79.9%,<ref>{{Cite book | editor-last = Miller | editor-first = Tracy | month = October | year = 2009 | publisher = [[Pew Research Center]] | title = Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population | format = PDF | url=http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf | accessdate = 8 October 2009 }}</ref> with the remaining 20% consisting of Christians. The CIA World Factbook gives a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html 2009 CIA World Factbook]</ref> According to the [[World Christian Encyclopedia]], roughly 39% of Albanians are Muslim, and 35% Christian<ref>{{cite book
|title=World Christian Encyclopedia
|publisher=Oxford University Press
|year=2001
|last=p 51|isbn =0195079639}}</ref>

The Albanians first appear in the historical record in [[Byzantine]] sources of the late-11th century. At this point, they are already fully Christianised. Christianity was later overtaken by [[Islam]], which kept the scepter of the major religion during the period of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turkish rule from the 15th century until year 1912. After independence (1912) from the Ottoman Empire, the Albanian republican, monarchic and later communist regimes followed a systematic policy of separating religion from official functions and cultural life. Albania never had an official state religion either as a republic or as a kingdom. In the 20th century, the clergy of all faiths was weakened under the monarchy, and ultimately eradicated during the 1940s and 1950s, under the state policy of obliterating all organised religion from Albanian territories.

The Communist regime that took control of Albania after World War II suppressed religious observance and institutions and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first [[atheist]] state. Religious freedom has returned to Albania since the regime's change in 1992. Albanian Muslim populations (mainly secular and of the [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] rite) are found throughout the country whereas [[Orthodox Christianity|Orthodox Christians]] are concentrated in the south and Roman Catholics are found in the north of the country. No reliable data are available on active participation in formal religious services, and estimates range from 25% to 40%.<ref name="International Religious Freedom Report 2007">[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90160.htm Albania: International Religious Freedom Report 2007]</ref>

There are about 4,000 active [[Jehovah's witnesses]] in Albania.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Jehovah's Witnesses Worldwide Status Report|url=http://www.watchtower.org/e/statistics/worldwide_report_statistics.htm|accessdate=27 September 2009|publisher=Watch Tower}}</ref>
Among other religious organizations making inroads into this nation is [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS or 'Mormons'). The Church's involvement in Albania began with Humanitarian Aid during the 1990s. The first missionaries were sent in 1992 with the Albania Tirana Mission being opened in 1996. As of 2008, there were nearly 2,000 members of the Church in Albania, spread throughout ten branches with two purpose-built Chapels and one Family History Center.<ref>{{cite web|title=LDS Newsroom-Country Profile-Albania|url=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/albania|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Albanians}}

{{Main|Culture of Albania}}

===Music and folklore===
[[File:Berat.jpg|thumb|left|[[Berat]]]]
[[File:A traditional male folk group from Skrapar.JPG|thumb|left|A traditional male folk group from Skrapar]]
{{main|Music of Albania}}
Albanian folk music falls into three sylistic groups, with other important [[music area]]s around [[Shkodër]] and [[Tirana]]; the major groupings are the [[Gheg]]s of the north and southern Labs and [[Tosk Albanian|Tosks]]. The northern and southern traditions are contrasted by the "rugged and heroic" tone of the north and the "relaxed, gentle and exceptionally beautiful" form of the south. These disparate styles are unified by "the intensity that both performers and listeners give to their music as a medium for patriotic expression and as a vehicle carrying the narrative of [[oral history]]", as well as certain characteristics like the use of obscure rhythms such as 3/8, 5/8 and 10/8.<ref>Arbatsky, Yuri, cited in Koco with the footnote ''Translated and published by Filip Fishta in Shkolla Kombëtare (The National School; No.1, May 1939), 19, and quoted from his Preface to [[Pjetër Dungu]]'s Lyra Shqiptare (see note 2).''</ref> The first compilation of Albanian folk music was made by [[Pjetër Dungu]] in 1940.

Albanian folk songs can be divided into major groups, the heroic epics of the north, and the sweetly melodic [[lullaby|lullabies]], love songs, [[wedding music]], [[work song]]s and other kinds of song. The music of various festivals and holidays is also an important part of Albanian folk song, especially those that celebrate St. Lazarus Day (''the llazore''), which inaugurates the springtime. Lullabies and [[lament]]s are very important kinds of Albanian folk song, and are generally performed by solo women.<ref name="koco">{{cite web|title=Albanian Music|work=Eno Koco at the University of Leeds|url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/staff/ek/|accessdate=28 August 2005}}</ref>

===Albanian language and literature===
{{Main|Albanian language}}
{{Main|Albanian literature}}

{{See also|List of Albanian writers}}

Albanian was proven to be an [[Indo-European language]] in 1854 by the German [[Comparative linguistics|philologist]] [[Franz Bopp]]. The Albanian language comprises its own branch of the Indo-European language family.

Some scholars believe that Albanian derives from [[Illyrian language|Illyrian]]<ref>Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture By J. P. Mallory, Douglas Q. Adams Edition: illustrated Published by Taylor & Francis, 1997 ISBN 1-884964-98-2, 9781884964985 (''"Although there are some lexical items that appear to be shared between Romanian (and by extension Dacian) and Albanian, by far the strongest connections can be argued between Albanian and Illyrian."'' page 11)
Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World By Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Contributor Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Edition: illustrated Published by Elsevier, 2008 ISBN 0-08-087774-5, 9780080877747 (''"Albanian constitutes a single branch of the Indo-European family of languages. It is often held to be related to Illyrian, a poorly attested language spoken in the Western Balkans in classical times"'' page 22)</ref> while others,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/LLDescription.cfm?code=txh|title=The Thracian language|publisher=The Linguist List|accessdate=27 January 2008|quote=An ancient language of Southern Balkans, belonging to the Satem group of Indo-European. This language is the most likely ancestor of modern Albanian (which is also a Satem language), though the evidence is scanty. 1st Millennium BC – 500 AD.}}</ref> claim that it derives from [[Dacian language|Daco]]-[[Thracian language|Thracian]]. (Illyrian and Daco-Thracian, however, might have been closely related languages; see [[Thraco-Illyrian]].)

Establishing longer relations, Albanian is often compared to Balto-Slavic on the one hand and Germanic on the other, both of which share a number of [[isogloss]]es with Albanian. Moreover, Albanian has undergone a vowel shift in which stressed, long ''o'' has fallen to ''a'', much like in the former and opposite the latter. Likewise, Albanian has taken the old relative ''jos'' and innovatively used it exclusively to qualify adjectives, much in the way Balto-Slavic has used this word to provide the definite ending of adjectives.

The cultural resistance was first of all expressed through the elaboration of the [[Albanian language]] in the area of church texts and publications, mainly of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] confessional region in the North, but also of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] in the South. The [[Protestant]] reforms invigorated hopes for the development of the local language and literary tradition when cleric [[Gjon Buzuku]] brought into the Albanian language the [[Catholic liturgy]], trying to do for the Albanian language what [[Martin Luther|Luther]] did for German.

[[File:Meshari.jpg|thumb|left|Excerpt from ''[[Meshari]]'' by [[Gjon Buzuku]]]]

''[[Meshari]]'' (The Missal) by [[Gjon Buzuku]], published by him in 1555, is considered to date as the first literary work of written Albanian. The refined level of the language and the stabilised orthography must be a result of an earlier tradition of writing Albanian, a tradition that is not known. But there are some fragmented evidence, dating earlier than Buzuku, which indicate that Albanian was written at least since 14th century AD. The first known evidence dates from 1332 AD and deals with the French Dominican Guillelmus Adae, [[Archbishop]] of [[Antivari]], who in a report in Latin writes that Albanians use Latin letters in their books although their language is quite different from Latin. Of special importance in supporting this are: a baptizing formula (''Unte paghesont premenit Atit et Birit et spertit senit'') of 1462, written in Albanian within a text in Latin by the [[Bishop]] of [[Durrës]], [[Pal Engjëlli]]; a glossary with Albanian words of 1497 by Arnold von Harff, a German who had travelled through Albania, and a 15th century fragment from the [[Bible]] from the [[Gospel of Matthew]], also in Albanian, but in Greek letters.
[[File:Tirana Museum 1988.jpg|thumb|right|The [[National Historical Museum (Albania)|National Museum of Albania]] features exhibits from [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] times to World War II.]]

Albanian writings of these centuries must not have been religious texts only, but historical chronicles too. They are mentioned by the humanist [[Marin Barleti]], who, in his book ''Rrethimi i Shkodrës'' (The Siege of Shkodër) (1504), confirms that he leafed through such chronicles written in the language of the people (''in vernacula lingua''). Despite the obstacles generated by the [[Counter-Reformation]] which was opposed to the development of national languages in Christian [[liturgy]]{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}}, this process went on uninterrupted. During the 16th to 17th centuries, the [[catechism]] ''E mbësuame krishterë'' (Christian Teachings) (1592) by [[Lekë Matrënga]], ''Doktrina e krishterë'' (The Christian Doctrine) (1618) and ''Rituale romanum'' (1621) by [[Pjetër Budi]], the first writer of original Albanian [[prose]] and [[poetry]], an [[Remorse|apology]] for George Castriot (1636) by [[Frang Bardhi]], who also published a dictionary and [[folklore]] creations, the theological-philosophical treaty ''Cuneus Prophetarum'' (The Band of Prophets) (1685) by [[Pjetër Bogdani]], the most universal personality of Albanian [[Middle Ages]], were published in [[Albanian language|Albanian]]. The most famous Albanian writer is probably [[Ismail Kadare]].

==Education==
Before the Communist regime, Albania's illiteracy rate was as high as 85%. Schools were scarce between [[World War I]] and [[World War II]]. When the Communist regime over took the country in 1944, the regime wanted to wipe out illiteracy. The regulations became so strict that anyone between the ages of 12 and 40 who could not read or write was mandated to attend classes to learn. Since these times of struggle the country's literacy rate has improved remarkably.<ref>Zickel, Iwaskiw, 1994</ref> Today the overall literacy rate in Albania is 98.7%, the male literacy rate is 99.2% and female literacy rate is 98.3%.<ref name=cia/> Since the rather large population movements in the 1990s to urban areas, education has moved as well. Thousands of teachers moved to urban areas to follow students. The [[University of Tirana]] is the first university in Albania and was founded in October 1957.

==Administrative divisions==
[[File:AlbaniaNumberedPrefectures.png|thumb|Counties of Albania]]

{{Main|Counties of Albania|Districts of Albania|Municipalities of Albania}}

Albania is divided into 12 administrative divisions called ([[Albanian language|Albanian]]: official ''qark''/''qarku'', but often ''prefekturë''/''prefektura'') Counties, 36 districts and 351 municipalities. Each region has its Regional Council and is composed of a number of Municipalities and Communes, which are the first level of local governance responsible for local needs and law enforcement.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! !! [[Counties of Albania|County]]
! [[Capital (political)|Capital]]
! [[Districts of Albania|Districts]]
! [[Municipalities of Albania|Municipalities]]
! [[List of cities in Albania|Cities]]
! [[Town]]s
|-
| 1 || [[Berat County|Berat]]
| [[Berat]]
| [[Berat District|Berat]] [[Kuçovë District|Kuçovë]] [[Skrapar District|Skrapar]]
| 12 2 10
| 2 1 2
| 122 17 103
|-
| 2 || [[Dibër County|Dibër]]
| [[Peshkopi]]
| [[Bulqizë District|Bulqizë]] [[Dibër District|Dibër]] [[Mat District|Mat]]
| 8 15 12
| 2 1 3
| 103 141 76
|-
| 3 || [[Durrës County|Durrës]]
| [[Durrës]]
| [[Durrës District|Durrës]] [[Krujë District|Krujë]]
| 10 7
| 4 2
| 61 43
|-
| 4 || [[Elbasan County|Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan]]
| [[Elbasan District|Elbasan]] [[Gramsh District|Gramsh]] [[Librazhd District|Librazhd]] [[Peqin District|Peqin]]
| 24 10 10 6
| 2 1 2 1
| 176 95 75 49
|-
| 5 || [[Fier County|Fier]]
| [[Fier]]
| [[Fier District|Fier]] [[Lushnjë District|Lushnjë]] [[Mallakastër District|Mallakastër]]
| 17 16 9
| 3 2 1
| 117 121 40
|-
| 6 || [[Gjirokastër County|Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër]]
| [[Gjirokastër District|Gjirokastër]] [[Përmet District|Përmet]] [[Tepelenë District|Tepelenë]]
| 13 9 10
| 2 2 2
| 95 97 77
|-
| 7 || [[Korçë County|Korçë]]
| [[Korçë]]
| [[Devoll District|Devoll]] [[Kolonjë District|Kolonjë]] [[Korçë District|Korçë]] [[Pogradec District|Pogradec]]
| 5 8 17 8
| 1 2 2 1
| 44 76 155 72
|-
| 8 || [[Kukës County|Kukës]]
| [[Kukës]]
| [[Has District|Has]] [[Kukës District|Kukës]] [[Tropojë District|Tropojë]]
| 4 15 8
| 1 1 3
| 30 90 68
|-
| 9 || [[Lezhë County|Lezhë]]
| [[Lezhë]]
| [[Kurbin District|Kurbin]] [[Lezhë District|Lezhë]] [[Mirditë District|Mirditë]]
| 4 10 7
| 3 2 4
| 28 63 70
|-
| 10 || [[Shkodër County|Shkodër]]
| [[Shkodër, Albania|Shkodër]]
| [[Malësi e Madhe District|Malësi e Madhe]] [[Pukë District|Pukë]] [[Shkodër District|Shkodër]]
| 6 10 18
| 2 2 2
| 56 75 139
|-
| 11 || [[Tirana County|Tirana]]
| [[Tirana]]
| [[Kavajë District|Kavajë]] [[Tirana District|Tirana]]
| 10 18
| 2 3
| 65 155
|-
| 12 || [[Vlorë County|Vlorë]]
| [[Vlorë]]
| [[Delvinë District|Delvinë]] [[Sarandë District|Sarandë]] [[Vlorë District|Vlorë]]
| 4 9 13
| 1 2 4
| 38 62 99
|}

==Sport==
[[Association football|Football (soccer)]] is the most popular sport in Albania, both at a participatory and spectator level. The sport is governed by the [[Football Association of Albania]] ({{lang-sq|Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit}}, F.SH.F.).

* [[Albania national football team]]
* [[Albania national basketball team]]
* [[Albania national futsal team]]
* [[Albania national under-21 football team]]

==Entertainment==
{{Main|RTSH}}

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar, ([[RTSH]]), is Albania's leading television network. RTSH runs a national television station ''TVSH'', (standing for ''Televizioni Shqiptar''), and two national radio stations, using the name ''Radio Tirana''. An international service broadcasts radio programmes in Albanian and seven other languages via [[medium wave]] (AM) and [[short wave]] (SW).<ref>[http://picasaweb.google.es/ec2adn/RadioTiranaBroadcastingSchedules/photo#5187887711939456834 radiotirana.org website] {{en icon}}</ref> The international service has used the theme from the song "Keputa një gjethe dafine" as its [[signature tune]]. Since 1999, RTSH has been a member of the [[European Broadcasting Union]]. Since 1993, RTSH has also run an international television service via [[satellite]], aimed at [[Albanian language]] communities in [[Kosovo]], [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], [[Montenegro]] and Greece, plus the Albanian [[diaspora]] in the rest of Europe.

According the National Council of Radio and Television Albania has an estimated 257 media outlets, including 66 radio stations and 65 television stations, with three national and 62 local stations.

==Health==
Health care has been in a steep decline after the collapse of socialism in the country, but a process of modernization has been taking place since 2000.<ref name="hospitals">{{cite web|url=http://www.euro.who.int/document/e80089.pdf |title=Albania-prel.pmd |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=29 December 2009}}</ref> As of the early 2000s, there were 51 hospitals in the country, including a military hospital and specialist facilities.<ref name="hospitals"/> Albania has successfully removed diseases such as [[malaria]].

Life expectancy is estimated at 77.43 years, ranking 51st worldwide, and outperforming a number of European Union countries, such as Hungary and the Czech Republic.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html?countryName=Albania&countryCode=al&regionCode=eu&rank=51#al CIA – The World Factbook], Life Expectancy ranks</ref> The most common causes of death are circulatory disease followed by cancerous illnesses.

The medical school, Faculty of Medicine at Tirana University, is in Tirana. There are also nursing schools in many other cities.

==Cuisine==
{{Main|Albanian cuisine}}

The cuisine of Albania – as with most [[Mediterranean]] and [[Balkans|Balkan]] nations – is strongly influenced by its long history. At different times, the territory which is now Albania has been claimed or occupied by Greece, Italy and the [[Ottoman Turk]]s and each group has left its mark on Albanian cuisine. The main meal of the [[Albanians]] is lunch, and it is usually accompanied by a [[salad]] of fresh [[vegetables]], such as [[tomato]]es, [[cucumber]]s, green [[bell pepper|peppers]] and [[olive]]s with [[olive oil]], [[vinegar]] and [[salt]]. Lunch also includes a main dish of vegetables and meat. Seafood specialties are also common in the coastal areas of [[Durrës]], [[Vlorë]] and [[Sarandë]].

==Human rights in Albania==
{{Main|Human rights in Albania}}

===LGBT rights in Albania===
{{Main|LGBT rights in Albania}}

==International rankings==
{{Main|International rankings of Albania}}

===Demographic===
* [[List of countries by population|Population]] 2010 ranked 136 out of 223 countries
* [[CIA World Factbook]]: [[List of countries by life expectancy|Life expectancy]] 2005–2010 ranked 46 out of 195 countries
* List by the United Nations Population Division: [[List of countries by infant mortality rate|infant mortality rate]] ranked 91 highest [[infant mortality]] rate out of 195 countries
* [[United Nations Development Programme]]: [[List of countries by literacy rate|literacy rate]] 2009 ranked 19 out of 177 countries

===Economic===
* [[The Wall Street Journal]] and the [[Heritage Foundation]]: [[Index of Economic Freedom]] 2010, ranked 53 out of 179 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|GDP (nominal) per capita]] 2009, ranked 98 out of 180 countries
* [[International Monetary Fund]]: [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|GDP (nominal)]] 2009, ranked 113 out of 179 countries
* [[World Economic Forum]]: [[Global Competitiveness Index]] 2008–2009, ranked 108 out of 134 countries
* [[World Bank]]: [[Ease of Doing Business Index]] 2010 report, ranked 82 out of 183 countries
* [[United Nations]]: [[List of countries by Human Development Index|Human Development Index]] 2007, ranked 70 out of 182 countries
* [[List of countries by foreign exchange reserves|Foreign exchange reserves]] as of December 2008 ranked 111 out of 156 countries

===Environmental===
* [[Yale University]]: [[Environmental Sustainability Index]] 2005, ranked 24 out of 146 countries

===Globalization===
* [[A.T. Kearney]]/[[Foreign Policy|Foreign Policy Magazine]]: [[Globalization Index]] 2007 ranking based on 2004 data, 102 out of 122 countries.

===Geographic===
* [[List of countries and outlying territories by total area|Total area]] ranked 144 out of 234

===Peace===
* Institute for Economics and Peace – [[Global Peace Index]] 2009 <ref>[http://economicsandpeace.org/UserFiles/Resources/2009-GPIResultsReport.pdf Institute for Economics and Peace 2009 Global Peace Index page 11]</ref> ranked 75 out of 144 countries

===Political===
* [[Transparency International]]: [[Corruption Perceptions Index]] 2009, ranked 95 out of 180 countries
* [[Reporters Without Borders]]: [[Press Freedom Index]] 2009, ranked 88 out of 175 countries

==See also==
{{portal|Albania|Flag of Albania.svg}}
{{Albania topics}}

==Notes and references==

'''Notes:'''
{| class="references-small" style="margin-left:13px; line-height:150%"
|-
| style="text-align:right; vertical-align:top;"|a.  
|{{note|status}}{{Kosovo-note}}
|}

'''References:'''

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
* {{CIA World Factbook link|al|Albania}}
* [http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/al/ Albania] information from the [[United States Department of State]]
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/albania.htm Albania] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Albania}}
* [http://www.thearda.com/internationalData/countries/Country_3_1.asp Albania] national profile from the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]]

{{wikiatlas|Albania}}

;Government
* [http://www.president.al Presidency of Albania]
* [http://www.keshilliministrave.al The Albanian Government] (''Council of Ministers'')
* [http://www.parlament.al The Albanian Parliament]
* [http://www.gjk.gov.al The Albanian Constitutional Court]
* [http://www.instat.gov.al Albanian Institute of Statistics]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-a/albania.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]

;Tourism
* [http://www.albaniantourism.com/ National Tourism Organization] Official website for travel and tourism information
* [http://www.akt.gov.al/index.php?lang=2 National Tourism Agency] (in English)
* {{wikitravel}}
* [http://albaniaonline.org/ Tourism, history]
* [http://www.trekinu.com/viewtrek.aspx?trkid=i02ivoat68cl6qy Travel album], with photos and maps
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/maps.php Various Topographic Map Collections of Albania] (updated 18 January 2009)
* [http://www.bunkertrails.org/wiki/index.php?title=Albania_Geopolitical_Mapset GPS Basemap for Albania]
* [http://www.vivalbania.net/ING/index.htm VIVAlbania, hospitality and ecotourism in Albania]
* [http://www.guidetoalbania.com Guide To Albania (with pictures)]
* [http://www.infoalb.net Website of the National Tourist Organisation of Albania]

;Other
* [http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/Albania/treasures_en.xml Treasure of the national library of Albania]
* [http://www.allcountries.eu/albania.htm Information on Albania]
* [http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Subject_Guides/PDFs/Albania.pdf Guide to materials pertaining to Albania at the Eisenhower Presidential Library]
* [http://www.dfat.gov.au/GEO/albania/country_brief.html Albania Country Brief DFAT]
* [http://www.scribd.com/doc/11444724/Books-about-Albania-and-the-Albanian-people Books about Albania and the Albanian people] ''(scribd.com)'' Reference of books (and some journal articles) about Albania and the Albanian people; their history, language, origin, culture, literature, etc. Public domain books, fully accessible online.
{{Albania topics}}

{{Coord|41|N|20|E|type:country_region:AL|display=title}}

{{Template group
|title = [[File:Gnome-globe.svg|22px]] Geographic locale
|list =
{{Balkan Countries}}
{{Countries of Europe}}
{{Countries and territories bordering the Mediterranean Sea}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = Within Albania
|list =
{{World Heritage Sites in Albania}}
{{Cities in Albania}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{Council of Europe}}
{{EU countries and candidates}}
{{Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)}}
{{Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)}}
{{La Francophonie|state=collapsed}}
{{Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)|state=collapsed}}
}}

{{use dmy dates}}

[[Category:Albania|*]]
[[Category:Balkans]]
[[Category:Countries of the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:European countries]]
[[Category:Member states of La Francophonie]]
[[Category:Member states of the Union for the Mediterranean]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Organisation of the Islamic Conference members]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1912]]


[[ace:Albania]]
[[af:Albanië]]
[[als:Albanien]]
[[am:አልባኒያ]]
[[ang:Albania]]
[[ar:ألبانيا]]
[[an:Albania]]
[[arc:ܐܠܒܢܝܐ]]
[[roa-rup:Arbinishia]]
[[frp:Albanie]]
[[ast:Albania]]
[[gn:Avaña]]
[[az:Albaniya]]
[[bn:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[zh-min-nan:Shqipëria]]
[[be:Албанія]]
[[be-x-old:Альбанія]]
[[bcl:Albanya]]
[[bar:Albanien]]
[[bo:ཨར་པ་ཉི་ཡ།]]
[[bs:Albanija]]
[[br:Albania]]
[[bg:Албания]]
[[ca:Albània]]
[[cv:Албани]]
[[ceb:Albanya]]
[[cs:Albánie]]
[[co:Albania]]
[[cy:Albania]]
[[da:Albanien]]
[[pdc:Albaani]]
[[de:Albanien]]
[[dv:އަލްބޭނިއާ]]
[[nv:Dziłigaii Bikéyah]]
[[dsb:Albańska]]
[[dz:ཨལ་བཱ་ནི་ཡ།]]
[[et:Albaania]]
[[el:Αλβανία]]
[[eml:Albanî]]
[[es:Albania]]
[[eo:Albanio]]
[[ext:Albánia]]
[[eu:Albania]]
[[ee:Albania]]
[[fa:آلبانی]]
[[hif:Albania]]
[[fo:Albania]]
[[fr:Albanie]]
[[fy:Albaanje]]
[[fur:Albanie]]
[[ga:An Albáin]]
[[gv:Yn Albaan]]
[[gd:Albàinia]]
[[gl:Albania - Shqipëria]]
[[gu:અલ્બાનિયા]]
[[hak:Â-ngì-pâ-nì-â]]
[[xal:Арнаутн Орн Нутг]]
[[ko:알바니아]]
[[haw:‘Alepania]]
[[hy:Ալբանիա]]
[[hi:अल्बानिया]]
[[hsb:Albanska]]
[[hr:Albanija]]
[[io:Albania]]
[[ilo:Albania]]
[[bpy:আলবেনিয়া]]
[[id:Albania]]
[[ia:Albania]]
[[ie:Albania]]
[[os:Албани]]
[[is:Albanía]]
[[it:Albania]]
[[he:אלבניה]]
[[jv:Albania]]
[[kl:Albania]]
[[kn:ಅಲ್ಬೇನಿಯ]]
[[pam:Albania]]
[[ka:ალბანეთი]]
[[csb:Albańskô]]
[[kk:Албания]]
[[kw:Albani]]
[[ky:Албания]]
[[sw:Albania]]
[[kv:Албания]]
[[kg:Albania]]
[[ht:Albani]]
[[ku:Albanya]]
[[lad:אלבאניה]]
[[krc:Албания]]
[[la:Albania]]
[[lv:Albānija]]
[[lb:Albanien]]
[[lt:Albanija]]
[[lij:Albania]]
[[li:Albanië]]
[[ln:Albania]]
[[lmo:Albania]]
[[hu:Albánia]]
[[mk:Албанија]]
[[mg:Albania]]
[[ml:അൽബേനിയ]]
[[mt:Albanija]]
[[mr:आल्बेनिया]]
[[arz:ألبانيا]]
[[mzn:آلباني]]
[[ms:Albania]]
[[mn:Албани]]
[[nah:Albania]]
[[na:Albania]]
[[nl:Albanië]]
[[ne:अल्बानिया]]
[[ja:アルバニア]]
[[ce:Албани]]
[[pih:Elbanya]]
[[no:Albania]]
[[nn:Albania]]
[[nov:Albania]]
[[oc:Albania]]
[[uz:Albaniya]]
[[pnb:البانیا]]
[[pap:Albania]]
[[ps:البانيا]]
[[km:អាល់បានី]]
[[pms:Albanìa]]
[[tpi:Albenia]]
[[nds:Albanien]]
[[pl:Albania]]
[[pnt:Αλβανία]]
[[pt:Albânia]]
[[kaa:Albaniya]]
[[crh:Arnavutlıq]]
[[ro:Albania]]
[[rmy:Shkiperiya]]
[[rm:Albania]]
[[qu:Albanya]]
[[ru:Албания]]
[[sah:Албания]]
[[se:Albánia]]
[[sa:अल्बानिया]]
[[sc:Albania]]
[[sco:Albanie]]
[[stq:Albanien]]
[[sq:Shqipëria]]
[[scn:Albanìa]]
[[simple:Albania]]
[[ss:I-Alibheniya]]
[[sk:Albánsko]]
[[sl:Albanija]]
[[szl:Albańijo]]
[[ckb:ئەڵبانیا]]
[[srn:Albanikondre]]
[[sr:Албанија]]
[[sh:Albanija]]
[[su:Albania]]
[[fi:Albania]]
[[sv:Albanien]]
[[tl:Albanya]]
[[ta:அல்பேனியா]]
[[tt:Албания]]
[[te:అల్బేనియా]]
[[tet:Albánia]]
[[th:ประเทศแอลเบเนีย]]
[[tg:Албания]]
[[chr:ᎠᎸᏇᏂᏯ]]
[[tr:Arnavutluk]]
[[udm:Албания]]
[[uk:Албанія]]
[[ur:البانیا]]
[[ug:ئالبانىيە]]
[[vec:Albania]]
[[vi:Albania]]
[[vo:Lalbanän]]
[[fiu-vro:Albaania]]
[[war:Albanya]]
[[wo:Albaani]]
[[wuu:阿尔巴尼亚]]
[[yi:אלבאניע]]
[[yo:Albania]]
[[zh-yue:阿爾巴尼亞]]
[[diq:Arnawutiye]]
[[zea:Albanië]]
[[bat-smg:Albanėjė]]
[[zh:阿尔巴尼亚]]