The land, people, and history of the Balkan Peninsula have often
attracted the attention of foreign historians and writers. Yet a lack of
research in primary sources and an absence of critical evaluations of
Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian histories undermines the credibility of
such work.
This collection, penned by eminent historians, examines Balkan cultural
legacies in a variety of contexts. They combine approaches from history,
literature, fine arts, and architecture, and address issues crucial to
the cultural identities of the Balkans and Serbia in particular. Topics
range from the activities of the Middle Ages to the early disintegration
of Yugoslavia. Contributors focus on the question of territory and
people and their geographical proximity. They examine commonalities of
language, history, and cultural legacies, and revise perceptions of
nationalism and ethnicity through an exploration of historical records
and the political borders of state sovereignty.