Figure 1.--This portrait shows a rural mountain boy in the 1910s, just before World War I. I'm not sure how o interpret the two-colored trousers, but suspect they were cobbeled together by his mother using two worn-out pair of trousers.

We have very little information on Albania at this time, but we have begun to collect some basic information about Albania. We have developed some limited information on the country. HBC has a history page. Although a European country with a long Christian traditiin, Albania was cut off from the West after the Ottoman conquest. Albania did not emerge from Ottoman control until just before World War I (1913). Thus Ottoman ingfluence and fashion were particularly pronounced, more so than any other Balkan country. Another factor was the fact that many Albanians converted to Islam. There is a page on the monarchy and Albanian Boy Scouts. Under the Ever Hoxa and the Communists, Albania was one of the most closed socities in the world. It was even cloesed off from other Communist countries. Only after a democratic government was established (1989) has the country opene up to the outside world. Clothing styles today are largely Western, similar to other Europeans. Hopefully Albania readers well send us some iformation about their country.

History

The origins of modern Albanians are onscure, but almost certainly developed from the ancient Illyranians. Although conquered by Rome the Illyrians resisted Romanization. And the southern Illyrians or Albanians in their mountaneous land reisted assimilation by the Slavs. The Nyzantines introduced the feudal system which evolved into largely independent principalities that exerted their independence from Byzantium. A series of invadeers occupied Albania. The history of Albanian is a struggle for independence from larger more powerful empires and countries. Albania like much of the Balkans was incororated inro the Ottoman empire. The Ottoman conquest proved especially difficult in Albania. The Ottoman's finally conquered Albania in the 15th centiry. Many Christians Albanians fled west. More than in any other area of the Balkans, however, the Albanians who remained converted to Islam. Albania achieved its independence afyer World war I. The Albanian president declared himself king--King Zog. Italian dictator Benito Mussolini throughout the 1930s tried to seize control of Albania. The President of Albania had himself declared King Zog. He resisted Mussolini's efforts until the Italians actually invaded in 1939. King Zog had to flee Albania in 1939 when the Italians invased. Italian King Victor Emanuel was granted the Albanian crown. After World War II Albania was taken over by the Partisans, but proved to be a renegade in Stalin's Eastern European empire. It becme one of the most reclusive countries in the world and aligned with Communist China. Like the rest of Eastern Europe, a democratic government replaced the Communist Government.

Clothing Influences

Although a European country with a long Christian traditiin, Albania was cut off from the West after the Ottoman conquest. Albania did not emerge from Ottoman control until just before World War I (1913). Thus Ottoman ingfluence and fashion were particularly pronounced, more so than any other Balkan country. Under the Ever Hoxa and the Communists, Albania was one of the most closed socities in the world. It was even cloesed off from other Communist countries. Only after a democratic government was established (1989) has the country opene up to the outside world. Clothing styles today are largely Western, similar to other Europeans.

Religion

Another factor was the fact that many Albanians converted to Islam.

Monarchy

Albania was part of the Roman Empire and was Christinized during the later years of the Empire. It ws split bettweebn theEastern and Western church. The Byzantines introduced the feudal system to imprive the security situation. Instead principalities developed that were able to largely exert their independence from Byzantium. The Christian principalities proved quarelsome and Albania was conquered by a series of invaders. Albania like much of the Balkans was incororated into the Ottoman empire. The Ottoman's conquered Albania in the 15th centiry. More than in any other area of the Balkans, Albanians converted to Islam. Albania began to emerge as an independent state just before World war I (1913) when a German prince was designated king. After World War I a republic was declared and soon dominated by a clan leader--Ahmed Bey Zogu. He atvfirst ruled as president, but subsequently seized power and declared himself king as King Zog I. Despite developing close relations with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator invaded and ousted King Zog just before the outbreak of World War II. King Zog had to flee the country. Italian King Victor Emnuel II added the Albania throne to his titles. After the War, partisan leader Enver Hoxa seized power and abolished the monarchy.

Youth Groups

We know very little about Albanian youth groups. Presumablt there was a Young Pioneer movement during the Communist era. Thereis now a small Boy Scouts.

Material

A reader writes about the image here, "Often leather was added as the trousers appear to be if someone was riding a horse because that was where the greatest wear was. Maybe it is leather. Chaps are worn for the same reason, to protect the underlying trousers from wear." We know so little about Albania that we are not sure. Our general impression though is that this boy did not come from a family that was wealthy enough to enjoy horse-back riding. Notice the basic backdrop for an outdoor portrait. This suggests to us the kind of studio low-income people would frequent.

Families

An American reader writes, "Three weeks ago today i received my first letter from my sponsor child, Hakim. His tenth birthday was April 7, and he wrote (translated by the charity) that his mother baked a walnut cake and gave him a new t-shirt (he likes soccer, so maybe it was a sports-themed shirt) for his "special day" as he called it. He gave his friends caramels in return. He seems a friendly, active little guy, enjoying soccer, hide and seek and other games. Hakim lives with his parents, a brother and a sister in a village in the mountains of Albania. His father raises farm animals (the info is not specific, but maybe he's a shepherd) and his mother farms. Hakim helps tend the animals for his dad and babysits for his mom. He wrote that he and his best friend like to ride a donkey to the nearest water fountain to their village, a few minutes away. Isn't that something! His favorite subjects in school are arithmetic and biology. Hakim wrote that he was looking forward to going for seven days to a Christian camp run by the charity, World Vision; that is the charity that manages the sponsorship. He likes to draw, according to the info the charity told me about him, so I sent him a box of coloring pencils (crayons might not survive the mailing overseas and paint, well, could be a problem if not used properly - potential mischief!). He drew his house and a garden on the back of his letter. So, I'm a proud sponsor parent!

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Crerated: 4:31 AM 11/29/2007
Last updated: 5:33 PM 8/7/2009