Albania

Map of Albania.

Albania is a country in Europe, population about 3.7 million (2009). Its coastline is on the Adriatic Sea. Its capital is Tirana, population 410,000.

History

Albania was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1468 to 1912, when it became independent following the first Balkan War. After several years of anarchy, a republic was declared in 1925, then a monarchy in 1928. The king was known as the mpret, a corruption of the Latin Imperator (Emperor).

During World War II, the country was occupied by the Italians in 1939 then the Germans in 1943. Communists led by Enver Hoxha seized power in 1944 and elections in 1945 resulted in a communist-dominated parliament. In 1946, Hoxha declared a republic with himself as President. Albania would remain a one-party state until 1990.

Initially, Hoxha was an ally of the Soviet Union. However, in 1961, angered by Soviet leaders' denunciation of Joseph Stalin's atrocities, he switched his support to China. He ended his support for China in 1978, and was an isolationist until his death in 1985. Following his death, reforms began, which led to a democratic election in 1992 and the end of communist rule.

Song

Coach, a fictional character on the sitcom Cheers, came up with this song to the tune of When the saints go marching in. He used it as a mnemonic to help Sam pass a geography test so that he could get his high school diploma.

Albania
Albania
You border on the Adriatic
Your land is mostly mountainous
And your chief export is chrome