for Macedonia
Brief History:
Ancient
Modern
Recent
City Info:
Skopje
Bitola
Ohrid
Strumica
Other Cities
Mala Prespa
Villages
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Brief History of Macedonia:
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| Quick Summary of Macedonian History | Brief | |
| Ancient - Modern | Brief | Detailed |
| Early 20th Century | Brief | Detailed |
| 1945-’92 From Yugoslav Republic to Independence | Brief | Detailed |
| ’93-’98 Growing Pains | Brief | Detailed |
| ’99-’00 Rumors of Rebellion | Brief | Detailed |
| ’01 Open Rebellion | Brief | Detailed |
| ’02 Reconstruction | Brief | Detailed |
1945-’92 From Yugoslav Republic to Independence
The Macedonian alphabet was formalized and fashioned similar to Serbian.
Marshall Josip Broz Tito, a Croatian, became the founder and president of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, incorporating six republics: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Macedonia. Yugoslavia means “southern Slavs”.
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’46 - The first constitution of the People's Republic of Macedonia was adopted.
’63 - A immense earthquake leveled most of Skopje ( 
) on the southern side of the Vardar river.
’67 - The Archbishopric of Ohrid ( ) was restored, creating the autocephalous Macedonian Orthodox Church, which continues to be unrecognized by the Serbian or Greek Orthodox Churches.
8 Sep ’91 - The majority of voters support independence in an official referendum, and independence is declared.
17 Nov - The Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia is adopted in the face of opposition from ethnic Albanian deputies.
International recognition was slowed by Greek objections to the use of the name, Macedonia, the same as three of its northern provinces, claiming that the country’s name implied territorial ambitions.
’92 - Ethnic Albanians showed overwhelming support for their own independence in an unofficial referendum.
Mass, public demonstrations convinced the Macedonian members of the Yugoslav government to resign after failure to win recognition of the country’s independence.
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia acknowledged Macedonia’s secession without military intervention.
11 Aug - A “starburst” flag replaced the communist banner, however Greece opposed the use of the symbol of Alexander the Great and his father, Philip of Macedon.
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•The UN officially recognized Macedonia and dispatched troops to monitor inter-ethnic tension.
’93-’98 Growing Pains
’94 - Greece imposed trade embargoes, cutting off the only feasible water route, and many land routes, to the open waters of the Aegean Sea, hindering the already fragile economy.
’95 - A newly opened Albanian-language university in Tetovo ( ) was declared illegal, and the rector is jailed, causing unrest in the northwestern region of the country.
6 Oct - The “golden sun” was chosen to replace the earlier flag design.
•Greece recognized Macedonia’s independence and lifted the trade embargoes.
’97 - Constitutional court forbade the use of the Albanian flag, causing many protests. Parliament also adopted a new law restricting the use of the Albanian flag. The forced removal of Albanian flags in Gostivar and Tetovo ( ), caused more unrest. Gostivar’s mayor, Rufi Osmani, was jailed for rebellion concerning the flag-related unrest. Large protests ensued.
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’99-’00 Rumors of Rebellion
NATO began an embargo and started bombing Yugoslavia for its treatment of Kosovar Albanians. This embargo on a major trade partner and trade route, severely damaged the already fragile economy; jobs were lost and prices skyrocketed.
’00 - Macedonian troops were put on high alert along the border with Kosovo due to rising violence in that region.
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