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History

The history of Albania dates back to the prehistoric ages. The earlier ancestors of the Albanians were Illyrians who first settled in the region. After falling under Roman authority in 165 BC, Albania was controlled nearly continuously by a succession of foreign powers until the mid-20th century, with only brief periods of self-rule. The country has experienced various dynasties like Byzantines, Venetians, Greeks, Romans and Ottomans. There are plenty of ancient relics and monuments in the country, proving this rich background. It became independent in 1912 and was a monarchy from 1924 to 1939, when it was invaded by fascist Italy.
The Albanian Communist Party, formed in 1941, seized control of the country in 1944, installing one of the harshest communist dictatorships of modern history. Under Enver Hoxha, Albania was declared an atheist nation in 1967, and all religious and traditional beliefs were forbidden. It was a fear-driven regime, clamping down on all who resisted, intellectuals, clergy, and other opponents. Many Orthodox and Catholic bishops and priests were killed or sent to prison. Albania was politically and economically isolated from the rest of the world, including the communist world. In 1990, in the context of the end of the cold war and under internal pressure within the party and by the people, the communist regime collapsed.
Albania was the last country in Europe to hold multi-party elections, in March 1991. The first year of democracy was turbulent; the country stabilised after the March 1992 elections, but the collapse of pyramid-banking schemes brought Albania to the brink of civil war in early 1997. Since then, Albania has gradually become more politically stable and economically prosperous.