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Serbia

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Serbia is a country located in Southeast and Central Europe. It sits within a region known as the Balkans.

Europe-Serbia
Europe-Serbia

Because it is landlocked, there are no oceans touching its borders. Instead, it is surrounded by many neighbors. To the north lies Hungary. To the northeast is Romania. To the southeast is Bulgaria. To the south is North Macedonia. To the northwest is Croatia. To the west is Bosnia and Herzegovina. To the southwest is Montenegro.

Serbia (orthographic projection)
Serbia (orthographic projection)

Serbia also claims a border with Albania through the territory of Kosovo.

Serbien topo
Serbien topo

History shows that people have lived here for a very long time. Evidence of people living in this area goes back to the Paleolithic age.

Vinca clay figure 02
Vinca clay figure 02

During the Neolithic period, the Vinča culture existed near Belgrade. They made interesting things like clay figures.

Vinca clay figure 02
Vinca clay figure 02

Later, the Roman Empire ruled much of this land. This area was part of provinces like Moesia and Pannonia. In fact, seventeen Roman emperors were born in this region.

Gamzigrad - Felix Romuliana (by Pudelek) 7
Gamzigrad - Felix Romuliana (by Pudelek) 7

The most famous was Constantine the Great. He was the first Christian emperor.

During the Middle Ages, the Serbian state grew much stronger. In 1217, it became a recognized kingdom.

Stephan Dusan Coronation Paja Jovanovic
Stephan Dusan Coronation Paja Jovanovic

By 1346, it reached its highest point as the Serbian Empire. This happened under the rule of Stefan Dušan.

Stephan Dusan Coronation Paja Jovanovic
Stephan Dusan Coronation Paja Jovanovic

However, the empire later broke into smaller parts. The Ottoman Empire eventually conquered the territory.

Battle of Kosovo, Adam Stefanović, 1870
Battle of Kosovo, Adam Stefanović, 1870

This rule lasted for a long time. Serbian people faced many hard times under Ottoman control. Some people even had to flee north to Hungary.

Serbmigra
Serbmigra

In the early 1800s, a revolution began. This helped establish Serbia as a nation-state.

Osvajanje Beograda
Osvajanje Beograda

After World War I, the Kingdom of Serbia joined with other nations. They formed a group called Yugoslavia.

King Peter I of Serbia and the Crown Prince
King Peter I of Serbia and the Crown Prince

Yugoslavia existed in different ways until the wars of the 1990s.

Map of war in Yugoslavia, 1992
Map of war in Yugoslavia, 1992

After Yugoslavia broke up, Serbia and Montenegro formed a union. This union ended peacefully in 2006. This made Serbia a sovereign, independent state once again.

Velika-narodna-skupstina-1918
Velika-narodna-skupstina-1918

Today, about 6.6 million people live in Serbia. Belgrade is the capital and the largest city.

Belgrade Waterfront (Београд на води)
Belgrade Waterfront (Београд на води)

Serbia is a republic with a parliamentary system.

Дом Народне Скупштине Србије
Дом Народне Скупштине Србије

The government provides free primary and secondary school for children. Citizens also receive universal health care. The country is a member of the United Nations. It is also working toward joining the European Union.

Serbian alphabets
Serbian alphabets

Serbia follows a policy of military neutrality. This means it does not join military groups.

Sloboda 2019 - smotra 02 - 17
Sloboda 2019 - smotra 02 - 17
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🖼️ Images & Media (40)
National anthem of Serbia, performed by...
File:Serbia (orthographic projection).svg
Serbia (orthographic projection).svg
File:Europe-Serbia.svg
Europe-Serbia.svg
File:Vinca clay figure 02.jpg
Vinca clay figure 02.jpg
File:Gamzigrad - Felix Romuliana (by Pudelek) 7.JPG
Gamzigrad - Felix Romuliana (by Pudelek) 7.JPG
File:Stephan Dusan Coronation Paja Jovanovic.png
Stephan Dusan Coronation Paja Jovanovic.png
File:Battle of Kosovo, Adam Stefanović, 1870.jpg
Battle of Kosovo, Adam Stefanović, 1870.jpg
File:Serbmigra.jpg
Serbmigra.jpg
File:Osvajanje Beograda.jpg
Osvajanje Beograda.jpg
File:King Peter I of Serbia and the Crown Prince.jpg
King Peter I of Serbia and the Crown Prince.jpg
File:Velika-narodna-skupstina-1918.jpg
Velika-narodna-skupstina-1918.jpg
File:Konferencija Pokreta nesvrstanih 1961. godine.jpg
Konferencija Pokreta nesvrstanih 1961. godine.jpg

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