To those who wish to learn more about the Balkan region, this page is to provide you with a list of suggested reading material and other media, including periodicals. It will be updated on a regular basis, with additions coming as I have time. I will give each listing a short description as well. Please note that unless otherwise noted, all media listed are in English and are North American editions.
General Books on Balkan History
For those who need a starting point on the Balkan peninsula, Mark Mazower’s The Balkans: A Short History is the best option. It is a compact work that gives a broad overview of the region and is aimed at those who need an introduction. The main body of the text, including the Epilogue, is only 153 pages so it will not involve a lot of time or effort.
After reading Mazower the next general work to read is Misha Glenny’s The Balkans: Nationalism, War & the Great Powers, 1804-1999. Glenny’s work covers the important period that oversaw the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire and how that affected the development of the different Balkan countries. Glenny also gives great detail on how the interests and intervention of the Great Powers (Great Britain, Austria-Hungary, Russia, etc.) influenced the development of the region. Glenny’s book is a more ambitious read, as the main body of the work is over 700 pages, but it really does a fantastic job of fleshing out the modern history of the region.
