2024-2025
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC HISTORY
MODULE 7: THE BALKANS
KH
,The Balkans and their role in European Economic History:
This module, taught by Dr. Atanas Djondjourov, examines the Balkan region and its influence on Europe
from before Roman times to the 20th century.
Complex systems: To understand the Balkan region, we have to understand what a “Social System”
entails. Social systems are complex systems, which means that is composed of many components that
interact with one another. Characteristics of a modern system are non-linearity, emergence,
spontaneous order, adaptation, and feedback loops.
Societal structures:
- Small society: Society was built on interpersonal connections and relations which allowed a trust-
based system and easy correction of unaccepted leadership (checks and balances) or other bad
actors.
- Large society: Large societies need an institutional framework to replace the trust system and
provide guarantees for action against unaccepted leadership or other bad actors.
Corruption in institutional frameworks destroys trust and undermines the society’s cooperation and
growth and disrupts order.
Antiquity to the creation of Balkan nation states:
What are the Balkans:
The Balkans is a geographical region in southeastern Europe that partially coincides with the Balkan
Peninsula. The name “Balkans” derives from the Turkish language, meaning “chain of wooded
mountains” or “swampy forest,” and refers to the Balkan Mountains that run through the centre of
Bulgaria. It is bordered by water on three sides, the Black Sea to the east, the Adriatic Sea to the
northwest, the Ionian Sea to the southwest, the Aegean Sea to the south, the Turkish straits, and Sea
Marmara to the east. On their northern border they have the Julian Alps or the Carpathian Mountains.
https://africaexpedition.de/produkt/grossbritannien-irland-topo-karte-fuer-garmin-2/
1
,Before the Roman Empire:
Bronze age: 3000 BC - 1000 BC
Around 1000 BC several tribal groups emerged in the Balkans.
- Illyrian tribes: from the regions we now know
as Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia
Herzegovina, Croatia, and parts of Serbia and
North Macedonia
- Thracians: from the regions of Thrace which
is now modern-day Bulgaria, Romania,
northeastern Greece, European Turkey,
eastern Serbia, and North Macedonia
- Dacians: modern day Romania
- Phrygians: initially from the southern
Balkans and later migrating into Asia Minor
https://www.eupedia.com/forum/threads/haplogroup-j2-thracians-illyrians-phrygians-
vlachs-and-others.30048/
During the same period the Early Greek Advanced Civilisation also known as the Mycenaean civilisation
emerged. The Mycenaean civilization (1600-1200 BC) was a warrior elite society that dominated Greece
during the Late Bronze Age. Socially, it was highly stratified with a rigid hierarchy led by a king (wanax)
and his military commander (lawagetas), followed by various o\icials, craftsmen, labourers, and slaves,
with evidence suggesting a largely patriarchal structure where women could gain status primarily
through religious roles. Artistically, Mycenaeans excelled in creating frescoes, pottery, jewellery, and
sculptures depicting natural scenes, religious motifs, and warfare, while their impressive architectural
achievements included fortified citadels, megaron-centred palaces, corbel arches, and monumental
structures like the Lion Gate at Mycenae. They developed and used Linear B, a syllabic script for
administrative purposes that represents the earliest attested form of the Greek language. The
Mycenaeans maintained extensive commercial and diplomatic relations with Egypt and the Near East,
engaging in trade of olive oil, textiles, and crafted goods in exchange for raw materials like metals, ivory,
and glass, while also participating in royal gift exchanges with Egyptian pharaohs as evidenced by
records from the reign of Thutmoses III around 1437 BC.
Iron age: 1200 BC – 550 BC
The Greek civilisation started developing around the city states Athens, Sparta, Corinthia…. These city
states had strong internal di\erences (as seen in previous modules), but this didn’t prevent them to
unite against the rest of the world. The Ancient Greeks have had a lasting influence on future generations
in terms of philosophy, governance (economy, law…), art, architecture, literacy, and more.
The Greek influence on the Balkans at the time entailed, trade routes, culture, language, burial
practices…. The Greeks started establishing colonies all along the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea,
importing the Greek model of society to these places. These colonies became trade hotspots,
connecting the mediterranean region with the Asian continent.
2
, Rome:
Around the 3rd century BC Rome started to extend its influence beyond the Italian peninsula. One of the
first steps of Roman expansionism was the colonisation and urbanisation of Central Adriatic Italy. Over
time the Adriatic became important in Roman international trade and military movements as it
connected the Via Appia (West/Rome) with the Via Egnatia (East/Constantinople). By the end of the 3rd
century BC Rome’s influence over the Adriatic had grown substantially, setting the scene for eventual
dominance over the entire Mediterranean.
Via Appia: one of the earliest and
most strategically important Roman
roads. It connected Rome to Capua
and later to Brundisium/Brindisi
(southern Italy).
Via Egnatia: built around 140s BC it
connected Dyrrachium (modern day
Albania) with Apollonia, Macedonia,
Thrace, Thessalonica, Philippi, Pella,
and Byzantium/Constantinople.
https://albania360.com/things-to-do/via-egnatia-the-road-where-apostle-paul-passed-through-on-his-
journey-to-illyria/
Both were crucial for imperial control,
commerce, and the spread of culture.
Carthage:
Carthage, an ancient Phoenician city-state, was established approximately 814 BC on the North African
coast, currently located in Tunisia. Over time, it flourished into a formidable maritime empire,
dominating the western Mediterranean through its extensive trade networks, military prowess, and
agricultural prosperity.
As previously discussed, Rome emerged victorious against Carthage in 201 BC at the conclusion of the
Second Punic War. This decisive battle, fought under the command of Scipio Africanus, resulted in
Hannibal’s defeat at the Battle of Zama. Consequently, Carthage was compelled to accept punitive
peace terms that entailed the loss of its territories, wealth, military power, and political autonomy.
The ultimate demise of Carthage occurred in 146 BC during the Third Punic War. Led by Scipio
Aemilianus, the Roman forces breached the city’s walls after a protracted three-year siege. This decisive
victory marked the commencement of Rome’s sole dominion over the Mediterranean Sea.
Colonialisation:
Between 100 BC and 100 AD, Rome managed to secure most of the area below the river Danube. They
occupied and ruled over this area directly. During the first century AD the Romans started building
military camps and fortifications along the river. The river itself served as a natural frontier of the empire.
The Romans ruled over the territories south of the river while the Barbarians ruled over the territories
north of the river. Inside the territories itself the Romans also built a series of fortresses and military
camps to maintain control over the inhabitants (e.g. Belgrade, Edirne, Niš, Sofia…), establishing a
relative Pax Romana (note: large borders meant ongoing defence problems).
The people that lived in the newly conquered Roman territories underwent far reaching Romanisation.
(e.g. Adoption of the Latin language and culture, demographic shifts, and religious changes)
Economy: The economy was mainly Agriculture, Gold, Silver, and Iron mining.
3
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC HISTORY
MODULE 7: THE BALKANS
KH
,The Balkans and their role in European Economic History:
This module, taught by Dr. Atanas Djondjourov, examines the Balkan region and its influence on Europe
from before Roman times to the 20th century.
Complex systems: To understand the Balkan region, we have to understand what a “Social System”
entails. Social systems are complex systems, which means that is composed of many components that
interact with one another. Characteristics of a modern system are non-linearity, emergence,
spontaneous order, adaptation, and feedback loops.
Societal structures:
- Small society: Society was built on interpersonal connections and relations which allowed a trust-
based system and easy correction of unaccepted leadership (checks and balances) or other bad
actors.
- Large society: Large societies need an institutional framework to replace the trust system and
provide guarantees for action against unaccepted leadership or other bad actors.
Corruption in institutional frameworks destroys trust and undermines the society’s cooperation and
growth and disrupts order.
Antiquity to the creation of Balkan nation states:
What are the Balkans:
The Balkans is a geographical region in southeastern Europe that partially coincides with the Balkan
Peninsula. The name “Balkans” derives from the Turkish language, meaning “chain of wooded
mountains” or “swampy forest,” and refers to the Balkan Mountains that run through the centre of
Bulgaria. It is bordered by water on three sides, the Black Sea to the east, the Adriatic Sea to the
northwest, the Ionian Sea to the southwest, the Aegean Sea to the south, the Turkish straits, and Sea
Marmara to the east. On their northern border they have the Julian Alps or the Carpathian Mountains.
https://africaexpedition.de/produkt/grossbritannien-irland-topo-karte-fuer-garmin-2/
1
,Before the Roman Empire:
Bronze age: 3000 BC - 1000 BC
Around 1000 BC several tribal groups emerged in the Balkans.
- Illyrian tribes: from the regions we now know
as Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia
Herzegovina, Croatia, and parts of Serbia and
North Macedonia
- Thracians: from the regions of Thrace which
is now modern-day Bulgaria, Romania,
northeastern Greece, European Turkey,
eastern Serbia, and North Macedonia
- Dacians: modern day Romania
- Phrygians: initially from the southern
Balkans and later migrating into Asia Minor
https://www.eupedia.com/forum/threads/haplogroup-j2-thracians-illyrians-phrygians-
vlachs-and-others.30048/
During the same period the Early Greek Advanced Civilisation also known as the Mycenaean civilisation
emerged. The Mycenaean civilization (1600-1200 BC) was a warrior elite society that dominated Greece
during the Late Bronze Age. Socially, it was highly stratified with a rigid hierarchy led by a king (wanax)
and his military commander (lawagetas), followed by various o\icials, craftsmen, labourers, and slaves,
with evidence suggesting a largely patriarchal structure where women could gain status primarily
through religious roles. Artistically, Mycenaeans excelled in creating frescoes, pottery, jewellery, and
sculptures depicting natural scenes, religious motifs, and warfare, while their impressive architectural
achievements included fortified citadels, megaron-centred palaces, corbel arches, and monumental
structures like the Lion Gate at Mycenae. They developed and used Linear B, a syllabic script for
administrative purposes that represents the earliest attested form of the Greek language. The
Mycenaeans maintained extensive commercial and diplomatic relations with Egypt and the Near East,
engaging in trade of olive oil, textiles, and crafted goods in exchange for raw materials like metals, ivory,
and glass, while also participating in royal gift exchanges with Egyptian pharaohs as evidenced by
records from the reign of Thutmoses III around 1437 BC.
Iron age: 1200 BC – 550 BC
The Greek civilisation started developing around the city states Athens, Sparta, Corinthia…. These city
states had strong internal di\erences (as seen in previous modules), but this didn’t prevent them to
unite against the rest of the world. The Ancient Greeks have had a lasting influence on future generations
in terms of philosophy, governance (economy, law…), art, architecture, literacy, and more.
The Greek influence on the Balkans at the time entailed, trade routes, culture, language, burial
practices…. The Greeks started establishing colonies all along the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea,
importing the Greek model of society to these places. These colonies became trade hotspots,
connecting the mediterranean region with the Asian continent.
2
, Rome:
Around the 3rd century BC Rome started to extend its influence beyond the Italian peninsula. One of the
first steps of Roman expansionism was the colonisation and urbanisation of Central Adriatic Italy. Over
time the Adriatic became important in Roman international trade and military movements as it
connected the Via Appia (West/Rome) with the Via Egnatia (East/Constantinople). By the end of the 3rd
century BC Rome’s influence over the Adriatic had grown substantially, setting the scene for eventual
dominance over the entire Mediterranean.
Via Appia: one of the earliest and
most strategically important Roman
roads. It connected Rome to Capua
and later to Brundisium/Brindisi
(southern Italy).
Via Egnatia: built around 140s BC it
connected Dyrrachium (modern day
Albania) with Apollonia, Macedonia,
Thrace, Thessalonica, Philippi, Pella,
and Byzantium/Constantinople.
https://albania360.com/things-to-do/via-egnatia-the-road-where-apostle-paul-passed-through-on-his-
journey-to-illyria/
Both were crucial for imperial control,
commerce, and the spread of culture.
Carthage:
Carthage, an ancient Phoenician city-state, was established approximately 814 BC on the North African
coast, currently located in Tunisia. Over time, it flourished into a formidable maritime empire,
dominating the western Mediterranean through its extensive trade networks, military prowess, and
agricultural prosperity.
As previously discussed, Rome emerged victorious against Carthage in 201 BC at the conclusion of the
Second Punic War. This decisive battle, fought under the command of Scipio Africanus, resulted in
Hannibal’s defeat at the Battle of Zama. Consequently, Carthage was compelled to accept punitive
peace terms that entailed the loss of its territories, wealth, military power, and political autonomy.
The ultimate demise of Carthage occurred in 146 BC during the Third Punic War. Led by Scipio
Aemilianus, the Roman forces breached the city’s walls after a protracted three-year siege. This decisive
victory marked the commencement of Rome’s sole dominion over the Mediterranean Sea.
Colonialisation:
Between 100 BC and 100 AD, Rome managed to secure most of the area below the river Danube. They
occupied and ruled over this area directly. During the first century AD the Romans started building
military camps and fortifications along the river. The river itself served as a natural frontier of the empire.
The Romans ruled over the territories south of the river while the Barbarians ruled over the territories
north of the river. Inside the territories itself the Romans also built a series of fortresses and military
camps to maintain control over the inhabitants (e.g. Belgrade, Edirne, Niš, Sofia…), establishing a
relative Pax Romana (note: large borders meant ongoing defence problems).
The people that lived in the newly conquered Roman territories underwent far reaching Romanisation.
(e.g. Adoption of the Latin language and culture, demographic shifts, and religious changes)
Economy: The economy was mainly Agriculture, Gold, Silver, and Iron mining.
3
