The main purpose of this thesis is to identify the most important historians in Albanian historiography concerning the Ottoman period and to analyse their views and attitudes on that period. To identify the most influential historians, social network analysis method was used. Bibliographical data extracted from 130 books, most of which are written in Albanian and published mainly during the 20th century, were used as the data source for analysis. A total of 4300 bibliographic references and more than 7800 citations’ data were compiled from these books. These data were uploaded to a system titled kaynakca.info and analysed using this system’s social network analysis method. Firstly, the most influential historians in the field of Albanian history during the Ottoman period were determined based on eigenvector, betweenness and closeness centrality criteria of the social network analysis method. Further on, these historians’ views and attitudes on the Ottoman period were qualitatively analysed based on their works. The opinions of these historians were discussed based on three periods: the patriotic-nationalist period (1912 – 1945), the communist period (1945 – 1990) and the democratic period (1990 – 2015). According to this, influential historians portrayed a nationalist view of the Ottoman period between 1912 – 1945, while between 1945 - 1990 they were influenced by a more communist ideology. After 1990, a liberal approach to the Ottoman period was introduced. What these time segments have in common – with very few exceptions – was the domination of the idea that the Ottoman Empire was an invader and left Albanians 500 years behind. Findings obtained from this thesis can make it easier for researchers to choose literature related to the Ottoman Empire for research purposes. Moreover, the most cited historians’ list from this study could serve even ordinary readers who are interested in this important period of Albanian history. Keywords: Albanian Historiography, Ottoman Empire, Ottoman Period, Social Network Analysis, Prominent Historians, Bibliographical Data

Through countless lifetimes of local ingenuity, cultural exchanges and the many different systems of governance, we see an artistic evolution in the use and interaction with the public domain in and around Tirana. Our aim in preparing this research is to document, raise awareness and encourage public dialogue about public arts in reference to public spaces. We present some examples of objects, influences, events, celebrations, costumes, sculptures, and other ways of artistic expression. Some have come and gone, while others have become embedded in Tirana. As different generations and cultural periods have their memories, we have provided this content in chronological overview, to establish a sense of scale, understand a place and people in different times, stimulate dialogue and bring this topic deeper into the conversation. Blerina Berberi and Kevin Tummers

The article offers a short overview of the fifteenth century conditions that favored the strengthening of blood ties in the villages of the Scutari region in northern Albania during the Venetian and Ottoman reigns. The author argues that by favoring and preserving the special status of brotherhood clans that operated on strong blood ties, the subsequent Venetian and Ottoman administrations contributed to the rise of great tribes in northern Albania during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The conclusions are based on a comparative analysis of examples from the Catasto Veneto di Scutari, 1416–1417 and The Ottoman Defter of Scutari 1485.

In the present study it is examined the issue of Illyrian-Albanian continuity in the areal of Kosova, a scientific problem, which, due to the reasons of daily policy, has extremely become exploited (harnessed) until the present days. The politicisation of the ancient history of Kosova begins with the Eastern Crisis, a time when the programmes of Great-Serb aggression for the Balkans started being drafted. These programmes, inspired by the extra-scientific history dressed in myths, legends and folk songs, expressed the Serb aspirations to look for their cradle in Kosova, Vojvodina. Croatia, Dalmatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina and Montenegro. Such programmes, based on the instrumentalized history, have always been strongly supported by the political circles on the occasion of great historical changes, that have overwhelmed the Balkans.

Ardian Muhaj, “Albanian Captives, Pirates and privateers in the Mediterranean. Captivity and redemption of captives as an economic activity during the 16th-17th centuries”, in The Role of Money in Wartime. II Conference of the Museum of the Bank of Albania, Tirana: Bank of Albania, 2019, pp. 93-103

This is the first-ever English translation of a book written in Latin in 1504 by Marinus Barletius (Marin Barleti), an Albanian who took part in the defense of Scutari and later emigrated to Venice became a Catholic priest. FROM THE BACK COVER: The year is 1478. Europe is under attack. Ten years after the death of their champion, Scanderbeg, the Albanians and Venetians continue to resist the Ottoman Turks, defending their fatherland and buying time for Western Europe to prepare for the coming onslaught. History has long overlooked the heroic contribution of the Albanians to slowing the Ottoman armies intent on conquering all of Europe. Marin Barleti gives the world a thrilling firsthand account of heroism in the face of conquest—simple men and women fighting for their families, fields, and faith. Watch from the castle’s parapets and see Turkish hordes whitewashing the fields below with their tents and squadrons. Learn how janissaries were trained and how new military cannons were ushered into the history of warfare. See how the outnumbered citizens foiled the invaders’ furious attacks. Even though the sultan is defeated and forced to retreat, he maintains the siege of Shkodra until the Venetian Senate cedes it to him as an ultimatum for peace. The crestfallen citizens of Shkodra choose emigration over subjugation, sailing across the Adriatic to safe harbor in Venice. With the Albanian coastline under his control, the sultan can finally set his attention upon Western Europe.

This paper analyzes the destruction of the church of S. Maria at Dagno (Deja, end 13th cent.-mid 14th cent.) in northern Albania on May 30th, 1969 during the atheistic campaign by Enver Hoxha (destruction of places of worship after the Cultural Revolution); the protection of historical heritage and the work of the Institute of Cultural Monuments (I.M.K.) in Tirana; three sporadic fragments recovered in Tirana and in Vau i Dejës are evaluated; the stylistics of cycles of palaeological frescoes between Venice, Serbia, southern Italy are related in the critical framework of late Byzantine style of Adriatic diffusion. Si analizza la distruzione della chiesa di S. Maria a Dagno (fine XIII-metà XIV sec.) in Albania settentrionale il 30 maggio 1969 durante la campagna ateista di Enver Hoxha di distruzione di luoghi di culto dopo la Rivoluzione culturale; la protezione del patrimonio storico e l’opera dell’Istituto dei Monumenti della Cultura (I.M.K.) a Tirana; si valutano tre frammenti sporadici recuperati, conservati due a Tirana e uno a Vau i Dejës; si pone in relazione alla stilistica di cicli di affreschi paleologhi tra Venezia, Serbia, Italia meridionale nel quadro critico della diffusione adriatica di stile tardo bizantino.