History of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Roman glass 2nd cent

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Ploča Kulina bana iz crkve kod Visokog (cropped 1)

Coat of arms of Banate of Bosnia

Bosna 1373

Medieval Bosnian State Expansion-en

History of Bosnia and Herzegovina traces the region's history from its earliest settlement to the present day. Located in the western Balkan Peninsula of Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina has a rich history that has been shaped by a variety of cultures, empires, and peoples over millennia.

Prehistoric Period

The area now known as Bosnia and Herzegovina was inhabited by Neolithic cultures, with evidence of human settlement dating back to at least 10,000 BC. The Butmir Culture, flourishing from 2600 to 2400 BC, is noted for its ceramics and advanced settlement structures, indicating a highly organized society.

Illyrian Period

During the first millennium BC, the region was inhabited by the Illyrians, an Indo-European people. The Illyrians were known for their warrior society and resistance to the encroachment of the Roman Empire. Despite their resistance, by the end of the 1st century AD, the Romans had fully incorporated the territory into the province of Illyricum.

Medieval Bosnia

The early medieval period saw the emergence of a distinct Bosnian state in the 10th century. This period was marked by the Bosnian Church, a Christian sect that was declared heretical by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Kingdom of Bosnia reached its zenith in the 14th century under the rule of Tvrtko I, who was crowned in 1377 as the first King of Bosnia.

Ottoman Era

Bosnia and Herzegovina fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1463. Under Ottoman rule, many Bosnians converted to Islam, leading to a diverse religious landscape that also included Orthodox and Catholic Christians. The Ottoman period was marked by the construction of significant architectural works, including bridges, mosques, and fortresses. Bosnia and Herzegovina remained a part of the Ottoman Empire until the late 19th century.

Austro-Hungarian Period

Following the Congress of Berlin in 1878, Bosnia and Herzegovina was occupied and later annexed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1908. This period was characterized by modernization and economic development but also by rising nationalist tensions among the region's ethnic groups.

20th Century and the World Wars

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo in 1914 sparked World War I. After the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, later renamed Yugoslavia. During World War II, the region was occupied by the Axis powers and saw significant resistance from Partisan forces. After the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina became a federal unit of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Bosnian War

The disintegration of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s led to the Bosnian War, which lasted from 1992 to 1995. The war was marked by the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre, among other atrocities. It ended with the signing of the Dayton Agreement in 1995, which created a federalized Bosnia and Herzegovina divided into two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.

Contemporary Period

Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a sovereign nation that continues to face challenges related to post-war reconstruction, ethnic division, and economic development. Despite these challenges, it has made significant progress and is a candidate for membership in the European Union.