Paionians

Alexander the Great (in Greek Μέγας Αλέξανδρος, transliterated Megas Alexandros; born in Pella, Macedon, in July, 356 BC, died in Babylon, on June 10, 323 BC), King of Macedon 336–323 BC, is arguably the most successful military commander in world history, conquering most of the known world before his death. Alexander is also known in the Zoroastrian Middle Persian work Arda Wiraz Nāmag as "the accursed Alexander" due to his conquest of the ...

Including:

• Alexander the Great - Early life
• Alexander the Great - The ascent of Macedon
• Alexander the Great - Period of conquests
• Alexander the Great - The defeat of the Persian Empire
• Alexander the Great - The invasion of India
• Alexander the Great - After India
• Alexander the Great - Alexander's marriages and sexuality
• Alexander the Great - The army of Alexander the Great before the Battle of Gaugamela
• Alexander the Great - Infantry
• Alexander the Great - Cavalry
• Alexander the Great - Death
• Alexander the Great - Legacy and division of the empire
• Alexander the Great - Timeline
• Alexander the Great - Alexander's character
• Alexander the Great - Stories and legends
• Alexander the Great - Ancient sources
• Alexander the Great - Alexander's legend
• Alexander the Great - Alexander's legend in non-Western sources
• Alexander the Great - Main towns founded by Alexander
• Alexander the Great - Alexander in popular media
• Alexander the Great - Note

Read more here: » Alexander the Great: Encyclopedia - Alexander the Great

The controversy whether or not ancient Macedonia should be considered a Hellenic state is addressed variously: based on ancient sources, and on linguistic evidence. Neither approach is conclusive, Herodotus seems to assert that the Macedonian aristocracy was of Achaean origin while Macedonian people were of Dorian stock. Linguistics seems to point inconclusively to either Macedonian as an archaic form of Greek, Macedonian as part of a Graeco-Macedonian subfamily of Indo-European, or Macedonian as an in ...

See also:

Macedon, Macedon - Early history, Macedon - Expansion, Macedon - Decline, Macedon - Calendar, Macedon - Language, Macedon - Hellenic controversy, Macedon - Herodotus, Macedon - Linguistics

Read more here: » Macedon: Encyclopedia II - Macedon - Hellenic controversy

Further than belonging to the Indo-European language family, probably as a centum language, the relation of Illyrian to other ancient and modern languages remains unclear because no writings in Illyrian have been found. Today, the main source of authoritative information about the Illyrian language consists of a handful of Illyrian words cited in classical sources, and numerous examples of Illyrian anthroponyms, ethnonyms, toponyms and hydronyms. A grouping of Illyrian with the Messapian language has been proposed for about a century, ...

See also:

Illyrian languages, Illyrian languages - Language affinity, Illyrian languages - Outside influences, Illyrian languages - Illyrian words, Illyrian languages - Illyrian names, Illyrian languages - Notes, Illyrian languages - External link

Read more here: » Illyrian languages: Encyclopedia II - Illyrian languages - Language affinity

Alexander the Great - The defeat of the Persian Empire. Alexander's army had crossed the Hellespont with about 42,000 soldiers---primarily Macedonians1 and Greeks, but also including some Thracians, Paionians and Illyrians. After an initial victory against Persian forces at the Battle of Granicus, Alexander accepted the surrender of the Persian provincial capital and treasury of Sardis and proceeded down the Ionian coast. At Halicarnassus, Alexander successfully waged the fi ...

See also:

Alexander the Great, Alexander the Great - Early life, Alexander the Great - The ascent of Macedonia, Alexander the Great - Period of conquests, Alexander the Great - The defeat of the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great - The invasion of India, Alexander the Great - After India, Alexander the Great - Alexander's marriages and sexuality, Alexander the Great - The army of Alexander the Great before the Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander the Great - Infantry, Alexander the Great - Cavalry, Alexander the Great - Death, Alexander the Great - Legacy and division of the empire, Alexander the Great - Timeline, Alexander the Great - Alexander's character, Alexander the Great - Stories and legends, Alexander the Great - Ancient sources, Alexander the Great - Alexander's legend, Alexander the Great - Alexander's legend in non-Western sources, Alexander the Great - Main towns founded by Alexander, Alexander the Great - Alexander in popular media, Alexander the Great - Note

Read more here: » Alexander the Great: Encyclopedia II - Alexander the Great - Period of conquests

Main article: Illyria The Illyrians were Indo-European tribesmen who appeared in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula about 1000 B.C., a period coinciding with the end of the Bronze Age and beginning of the Iron Age. They inhabited much of the area for at least the next millennium. Archaeologists associate the Illyrians with the Hallstatt culture, an Iron Age people noted for production of iron and bronze swords with winged-shaped handles and for domestication of horses. The Illyrians occupied lands extending from the Danube, Sava ...

See also:

History of Albania, History of Albania - The Origin of the Albanians, History of Albania - Ancient Illyria, History of Albania - The Roman Period, History of Albania - The Coming of Christianity, History of Albania - The Barbarian Invasions And The Middle Ages, History of Albania - Ottoman Rule, History of Albania - The birth of Albanian nationalism, History of Albania - World War I and its effects on Albania, History of Albania - World War II and the rise of Communism 1941-44, History of Albania - Communist Albania, History of Albania - Modern Albania

Read more here: » History of Albania: Encyclopedia II - History of Albania - Ancient Illyria

The Iliad records that the Thracians from around the Hellespont and also the Thracian Cicones fought on the side of the Trojans (Iliad, book II). Many mythical figures, such as the god Dionysus, princess Europa and the hero Orpheus were borrowed by the Greeks from their Thracian neighbours. In book 7 of his Histories, Herodotus describes the equipment of the Thracians fighting under the Persians, The Thracians went to the war wearing the skins of foxes upon their heads, and about their bodies tunics, over which ...

See also:

Thracians, Thracians - Origins, Thracians - Classical period, Thracians - Extinction of the ethnicity and language, Thracians - Archaeology, Thracians - Sources, Thracians - Thracian tribes, Thracians - Famous Thracians

Read more here: » Thracians: Encyclopedia II - Thracians - Sources

Alexander the Great - The defeat of the Persian Empire. Alexander's army had crossed the Hellespont with about 40,000 soldiers---primarily Macedonians [1] and Greeks, but also including some Thracians, Paionians and Illyrians. After an initial victory against Persian forces at the Battle of Granicus, Alexander accepted the surrender of the Persian provincial capital and treasury of Sardis and proceeded down the Ionian coast. At H ...

See also:

Alexander the Great, Alexander the Great - Early life, Alexander the Great - The ascent of Macedon, Alexander the Great - Period of conquests, Alexander the Great - The defeat of the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great - The invasion of India, Alexander the Great - After India, Alexander the Great - Alexander's marriages and sexuality, Alexander the Great - The army of Alexander the Great before the Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander the Great - Infantry, Alexander the Great - Cavalry, Alexander the Great - Death, Alexander the Great - Legacy and division of the empire, Alexander the Great - Timeline, Alexander the Great - Alexander's character, Alexander the Great - Stories and legends, Alexander the Great - Ancient sources, Alexander the Great - Alexander's legend, Alexander the Great - Alexander's legend in non-Western sources, Alexander the Great - Main towns founded by Alexander, Alexander the Great - Alexander in popular media, Alexander the Great - Note

Read more here: » Alexander the Great: Encyclopedia II - Alexander the Great - Period of conquests

The three chief candidates considered by historians are Illyrian, Dacian, or Thracian, though there were other groups in the ancient Balkans besides Greeks who were neither Illyrian, Dacian, nor Thracian, including Paionians (who lived north of Macedon) and Agrianians. The Illyrian language and the Thracian language are generally considered to have been on different Indo-European branches. Not much is left of the old Illyrian, Dacian or Thracian tong ...

See also:

Origin of Albanians, Origin of Albanians - Place of origin, Origin of Albanians - Earliest mentions of Albanians in Albania, Origin of Albanians - Ethnic origin, Origin of Albanians - Illyrian Origin, Origin of Albanians - Thracian/Dacian origin, Origin of Albanians - Note

Read more here: » Origin of Albanians: Encyclopedia II - Origin of Albanians - Ethnic origin

Alexander the Great - The defeat of the Persian Empire. Alexander's army had crossed the Hellespont with about 42,000 soldiers---primarily Macedonians1 and Greeks, but also including some Thracians, Paionians and Illyrians. After an initial victory against Persian forces at the Battle of Granicus, Alexander accepted the surrender of the Persian provincial capital and treasury of Sardis and proceeded down the Ionian coast. At Halicarnassus, Alexander successfully waged the fi ...

See also:

Alexander the Great, Alexander the Great - Early life, Alexander the Great - The ascent of Macedon, Alexander the Great - Period of conquests, Alexander the Great - The defeat of the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great - The invasion of India, Alexander the Great - After India, Alexander the Great - Alexander's marriages and sexuality, Alexander the Great - The army of Alexander the Great before the Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander the Great - Infantry, Alexander the Great - Cavalry, Alexander the Great - Death, Alexander the Great - Legacy and division of the empire, Alexander the Great - Timeline, Alexander the Great - Alexander's character, Alexander the Great - Stories and legends, Alexander the Great - Ancient sources, Alexander the Great - Alexander's legend, Alexander the Great - Alexander's legend in non-Western sources, Alexander the Great - Main towns founded by Alexander, Alexander the Great - Alexander in popular media, Alexander the Great - Note

Read more here: » Alexander the Great: Encyclopedia II - Alexander the Great - Period of conquests

In the Illyrian Wars of 229 and 219 B.C., Rome overran the Illyrian settlements in the Neretva River valley. The Romans made new gains in 168 B.C., and Roman forces captured Illyria's King Gentius at Shkodër, which they called Scodra, and brought him to Rome in 165 B.C. A century later, Julius Caesar and his rival Pompey fought their decisive battle near Durrës (Dyrrachium). Rome finally subjugated recalcitrant Illyrian tribes in the western Balkans dwing the region of Emperor Tiberius in A.D. 9. The Romans divided the lands that make up present-day Albania ...

See also:

History of Albania, History of Albania - The Origin of the Albanians, History of Albania - Ancient Illyria, History of Albania - The Roman Period, History of Albania - The Coming of Christianity, History of Albania - The Barbarian Invasions And The Middle Ages, History of Albania - Ottoman Rule, History of Albania - The birth of Albanian nationalism, History of Albania - World War I and its effects on Albania, History of Albania - World War II and the rise of Communism 1941-44, History of Albania - Communist Albania, History of Albania - Modern Albania

Read more here: » History of Albania: Encyclopedia II - History of Albania - The Roman Period

Alexander was a legend in his own time. His court historian Callisthenes portrayed the sea in Cilicia as drawing back from him in proskynesis. Writing after Alexander's death, another participant, Onesicritus, went so far as to invent a tryst between Alexander and Thalestris, queen of the mythical Amazons. When Onesicritus read this passage to his patron, Alexander's general and later King Lysimachus, Lysimac ...

See also:

Alexander the Great, Alexander the Great - Early life, Alexander the Great - The ascent of Macedonia, Alexander the Great - Period of conquests, Alexander the Great - The defeat of the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great - The invasion of India, Alexander the Great - After India, Alexander the Great - Alexander's marriages and sexuality, Alexander the Great - The army of Alexander the Great before the Battle of Gaugamela, Alexander the Great - Infantry, Alexander the Great - Cavalry, Alexander the Great - Death, Alexander the Great - Legacy and division of the empire, Alexander the Great - Timeline, Alexander the Great - Alexander's character, Alexander the Great - Stories and legends, Alexander the Great - Ancient sources, Alexander the Great - Alexander's legend, Alexander the Great - Alexander's legend in non-Western sources, Alexander the Great - Main towns founded by Alexander, Alexander the Great - Alexander in popular media, Alexander the Great - Note

Read more here: » Alexander the Great: Encyclopedia II - Alexander the Great - Alexander's legend

Main article: Origin of Albanians A number of scholars consider that the Albanians are direct descendants of an Illyrian tribe that was named "Albanoi" that was located in present day Albania. Many scholars dispute this. See Origin of Albanians. Some scholars have claimed that the Albanians and the Illyrians are the descendants of the ancient Pelasgians, and thus their history goes back at least 4000 years before Christ. Those who support the Illyrian-Albanian continuity theory maintain that all the Illyrian tribes excep ...

See also:

History of Albania, History of Albania - The Origin of the Albanians, History of Albania - Ancient Illyria, History of Albania - The Roman Period, History of Albania - The Coming of Christianity, History of Albania - The Barbarian Invasions And The Middle Ages, History of Albania - Ottoman Rule, History of Albania - The birth of Albanian nationalism, History of Albania - World War I and its effects on Albania, History of Albania - World War II and the rise of Communism 1941-44, History of Albania - Communist Albania, History of Albania - Modern Albania

Read more here: » History of Albania: Encyclopedia II - History of Albania - The Origin of the Albanians

The fall of the Roman Empire and the age of great migrations brought radical changes to the Balkan Peninsula and the Illyrian people. Barbarian tribesmen overran many rich Roman cities, destroying the existing social and economic order and leaving the great Roman aqueducts, coliseums, temples, and roads in ruins. The Illyrians gradually disappeared as a distinct people from the Balkans, replaced by the Bulgars, Serbs, Croats, and Albanians. In the late Middle Ages, new waves of invaders swept over the Albanian-populated lands. Thanks to thei ...

See also:

History of Albania, History of Albania - The Origin of the Albanians, History of Albania - Ancient Illyria, History of Albania - The Roman Period, History of Albania - The Coming of Christianity, History of Albania - The Barbarian Invasions And The Middle Ages, History of Albania - Ottoman Rule, History of Albania - The birth of Albanian nationalism, History of Albania - World War I and its effects on Albania, History of Albania - World War II and the rise of Communism 1941-44, History of Albania - Communist Albania, History of Albania - Modern Albania

Read more here: » History of Albania: Encyclopedia II - History of Albania - The Barbarian Invasions And The Middle Ages

Main article: History of Albania (1919-1939) Albania achieved a degree of statehood after World War I, in part because of the diplomatic intercession of the United States. The country suffered from a debilitating lack of economic and social development, however, and its first years of independence were fraught with political instability. Unable to survive in a predatory world without a foreign protector, Albania became the object of tensions between Italy and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, an ...

See also:

History of Albania, History of Albania - The Origin of the Albanians, History of Albania - Ancient Illyria, History of Albania - The Roman Period, History of Albania - The Coming of Christianity, History of Albania - The Barbarian Invasions And The Middle Ages, History of Albania - Ottoman Rule, History of Albania - The birth of Albanian nationalism, History of Albania - World War I and its effects on Albania, History of Albania - World War II and the rise of Communism 1941-44, History of Albania - Communist Albania, History of Albania - Modern Albania

Read more here: » History of Albania: Encyclopedia II - History of Albania - World War I and its effects on Albania

The Ancient Greek language (and also the Ancient Macedonian language) would have become an important external influence on Illyrian-speakers who occupied lands adjacent to ancient Greeks and Ancient Macedonians, and this is indicated by the adoption of Greek names by prominent Illyrians (Cleitus, Glaukias) in the south. As Greek influence increased, some Illyrian-speakers would have abandoned their language and adopted Greek. Invading Celts who settled on lands occupied by Illyrians brought the Illyrians into contact with the Celtic l ...

See also:

Illyrian languages, Illyrian languages - Language affinity, Illyrian languages - Outside influences, Illyrian languages - Illyrian words, Illyrian languages - Illyrian names, Illyrian languages - Notes, Illyrian languages - External link

Read more here: » Illyrian languages: Encyclopedia II - Illyrian languages - Outside influences

Only a few Illyrian words are cited in Classical sources by Roman or Greek writers: brisa, "husk of grapes" [citation needed] rhinos, "fog, cloud"; compared to Old Albanian ren, modern Albanian re, "cloud" sabaia, sabaium, sabaius, "a type of beer" sibina (Lat.), sibyna (Lat.), sybina (Lat.); σιβυνη (Gk.), σιβυνης (Gk.), συβινη (Gk.), ζιβυνη (Gk.): "a hunting spea ...

See also:

Illyrian languages, Illyrian languages - Language affinity, Illyrian languages - Outside influences, Illyrian languages - Illyrian words, Illyrian languages - Illyrian names, Illyrian languages - Notes, Illyrian languages - External link

Read more here: » Illyrian languages: Encyclopedia II - Illyrian languages - Illyrian words

Illyrian names borrowed from Greek: Glaukias, akin to Gk. glaukos, "gleaming, gray, gray-green, etc." Kleitos, akin to Gk. kleinos, "renowned" The following Illyrian names, all of which occur in inscriptions from the upper Neretva river valley near Konjic in Bosnia, are considered to derive from Celtic: Boio Bricussa Iacus Mallaius Mascelio ...

See also:

Illyrian languages, Illyrian languages - Language affinity, Illyrian languages - Outside influences, Illyrian languages - Illyrian words, Illyrian languages - Illyrian names, Illyrian languages - Notes, Illyrian languages - External link

Read more here: » Illyrian languages: Encyclopedia II - Illyrian languages - Illyrian names

The place where the Albanian language was formed is also under dispute, but analyses have indicated that it was in a mountainous region, rather than in a plain or seacoast: while the words for plants and animals characteristic of mountainous regions are entirely original, the names for fish and for agricultural activities (such as ploughing) are borrowed from other languages. It can also be presumed that the Albanians didn't live in Dalmatia, because the Latin influence over Albanian is of Balkan Romance (that evolved into Romanian) o ...

See also:

Origin of Albanians, Origin of Albanians - Place of origin, Origin of Albanians - Earliest mentions of Albanians in Albania, Origin of Albanians - Ethnic origin, Origin of Albanians - Illyrian Origin, Origin of Albanians - Thracian/Dacian origin, Origin of Albanians - Note

Read more here: » Origin of Albanians: Encyclopedia II - Origin of Albanians - Place of origin

Main article: History of Albania (1989-present) Since 1992 Albania has been oriented towards the West. In 1995, Albania was accepted in the Council of Europe and has requested membership in NATO. The workforce of Albania has continued to emigrate to Greece, Italy, Europe and North America. Corruption in the government is becoming more and more obvious. The political leadership has not fulfilled the peop ...

See also:

History of Albania, History of Albania - The Origin of the Albanians, History of Albania - Ancient Illyria, History of Albania - The Roman Period, History of Albania - The Coming of Christianity, History of Albania - The Barbarian Invasions And The Middle Ages, History of Albania - Ottoman Rule, History of Albania - The birth of Albanian nationalism, History of Albania - World War I and its effects on Albania, History of Albania - World War II and the rise of Communism 1941-44, History of Albania - Communist Albania, History of Albania - Modern Albania

Read more here: » History of Albania: Encyclopedia II - History of Albania - Modern Albania

Main article: History of Albania (1945-1989) Enver Hoxha and Mehmet Shehu emerged as the dominant figures in Albania after five years of political turmoil following the end of World War II. They began to concentrate primarily on securing and maintaining their power base, and secondarily on preserving Albania's independence and reshaping the country according to the precepts of Stalinism. Throughout all rule, Hoxha engineered an elaborate cult of personality that elevated him to the status of infallible leader. When he died in 1985, g ...

See also:

History of Albania, History of Albania - The Origin of the Albanians, History of Albania - Ancient Illyria, History of Albania - The Roman Period, History of Albania - The Coming of Christianity, History of Albania - The Barbarian Invasions And The Middle Ages, History of Albania - Ottoman Rule, History of Albania - The birth of Albanian nationalism, History of Albania - World War I and its effects on Albania, History of Albania - World War II and the rise of Communism 1941-44, History of Albania - Communist Albania, History of Albania - Modern Albania

Read more here: » History of Albania: Encyclopedia II - History of Albania - Communist Albania