The Balkans
A Short History

We are so familiar with nation-states; every country is supposed to have a native population that belongs to a single race or ethnicity, speaks a single language, follows a single religion (or professes nominal ties to it), and expresses itself through a culture produced by the synthesis of the abov......more

This served as my introduction to the history of the Balkans. While quite short, I found Mazower’s writing to be quite engrossing and informative, I’ll be moving on to more detailed books now that I have read this, and feel I have more solid footing. I would recommend this to anyone else curious to......more

Solid, clearly written and concise introduction to the region. The chapters, while assembling information on the history and region chronologically, also provide thematic studies on religious life, national identity, crime, politics and the effects of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans. The author deb......more

Mark Mazower creates a fascinating analysis of the Balkan Peninsula and its history, it appears the region like many globally was late to the party --in this instance the idea of the nation-state and a corresponding economic system which would allow it to blossom. Quicker than you can lament good in......more

This is a really gifted example of how to do "A Short History" of any part of the world effectively. While running less than 200 pages, Mazower manages to give a satisfactory snapshot of the emergence of the modern Balkans and the background of its peoples. Much of the book is actually about the Ott......more