The Balkans Shining Star Book A Unit 4 Part 2

THE BALKANS  Balkans is an old Turkish word that means “mountains”

 The Balkans are a group of countries in southeast Europe: –Slovenia –Croatia –Bosnia and Herzegovania –Macedonia –Albania –Greece –Bulgaria –Romania –Serbia and Montenegro –part of Turkey

 Before 1991, these countries were one country called Yugoslavia.

The Balkans form a land bridge between Europe and Asia

Cause  Many different ethnic groups live in the hills and valleys –different cultures –different languages –different customs  have led to:

Effect  many conflicts among the different people  Balkans called “the powder keg of Europe” because many wars have started there

Religion  There are two main religions in the Balkans: –Christianity –Islam

Region  The Balkan region is a land of many contrasts: –ancient and modern cities –beautiful mountains and rivers –wars have left many scars