Elbasan (Albanian: Elbasan or Elbasani) is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at 41°06′N 20°04′E. It is one of the largest cities in Albania, with a population of around 100,000 (2003 estimate) and an area of 1,290 square km. Sydney, Australia at Night. ... The Schumbin River is a river in central Albania. ... Categories: Albania geography stubs | Districts of Albania ... Categories: Albania geography stubs ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History

The ancient city of Masio Scampa was built by the Romans around the 1st century CE. It featured strong stone walls. During the 3rd and 4th centuries it became known as Hiskampis, and was an important trade center near the junction of two branches of the Via Egnatia coming from Apollonia and Dyrrachium. In the 4th century, 26 towers were added to protect it against invading barbarians. However, Hiskampis was destroyed by the Bulgars and Ostrogoths during the Slav invasions of the Balkans. The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ... The 1st century was that century which lasted from 1 AD to 100 AD, or from 0 to 99 in a more scientific notation (using a year zero), as in astronomical year numbering. ... // Overview Events The Sassanid dynasty of Persia launches a war to reconquer lost lands in the Roman east, 230 - 232 Crisis of the Third Century shakes Roman Empire Emperor Valerian I is taken captive by the Persian King of Kings Shapur I, 260 End of Yayoi era and beginning of... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... Ancient Via Egnatia route Via Egnatia (Greek: Εγνατία Οδός) was a road constructed by the Romans around 146 BC. It was named after Gnaeus Egnatius, proconsul of Macedonia, who ordered its construction. ... Apollonia (of Apollo) was the name of several ancient Greek cities. ... Durrës (Italian: Durazzo; see also different names) is the most ancient and one of the most economically important important cities of Albania. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... Bulgars (also Bolgars or proto-Bulgarians)—a people of Central Asia, originally Pamirian or Turkic, whose branches became Slavicized and Turkic over time. ... This article deals with the continental Ostrogoths. ... The Slavic peoples are defined by their linguistic attainment of the Slavic languages. ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of south-eastern Europe. ...

Elbasan was founded by the Turks in the 15th century on the same site. The city was rebuilt in 1466, after becoming a military base, by Sultan Mehmed II who renamed it El Basan ("the Fortress"). The city had 2000 inhabitants by the end of the 17th century. The fortress was dismantled by Reshit Pasha in 1832. (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... Events Chimú Empire conquered by troops of the Inca End of term for Regent of Sweden Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna. ... Mehmed II Mehmed II, Mehmet II, or Muhammed II, (also known as el-Fatih, the Conqueror, in Ottoman Turkish, or, in modern Turkish, Fatih Sultan Mehmed) (March 30, 1432 – May 3, 1481) was first the sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to 1446, and later... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Culture and religion

Elbasan has been occupied by several different groups, including the Serbs, Macedonians, Bulgarians, Austrians and Italians. Elbasan remained a center of Islam in Albania even after the Ottoman occupation. After the 1908 Congress of Manastir (in modern Bitola, Republic of Macedonia) decided to use the Latin alphabet for the written Albanian language, muslim clerics influenced by the Young Turks held various demonstrations in favor of the Arabic script in Elbasan. The muslim majority also opposed the installation of Prince William of Wied in 1914. Serbs (in the Serbian language Срби, Srbi) are a south Slavic people living chiefly in Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... Islam (Arabic: ; ( â–¶ (help· info)), the submission to God) is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (the Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Bursa (1335 - 1365), Edirne (1365-1453), Ä°stanbul (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40 million... 1908 (MCMVIII) is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Bitola-View of the old town Bitola (Macedonian Битола, Bulgarian Битоля, Albanian Manastir, Turkish Manastır, Greek Μοναστήρι, Serbian Bitolj/Битољ) is a city in Republic of Macedonia. ... Official languages Macedonian Capital Skopje President Branko Crvenkovski Prime Minister Vlado Bučkovski Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % water Ranked 146th  25,333 km²  1. ... The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most widely used alphabetic writing system in the world today. ... Albanian (gjuha shqipe //) is a language spoken by over 6 million people primarily in Albania, but also by smaller numbers of ethnic Albanians in other parts of the Balkans, along the eastern coast of Italy and in Sicily, as well as by emigrant groups in Scandinavia, Germany, Greece the UK... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم) (sometimes also spelled Moslem) is an adherent of Islam. ... The Young Turks were a Turkish nationalist reform party, officially known as the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) — in Turkish the Ittihad ve Terakki Cemiyeti — whose leaders led a rebellion against Sultan Abdul Hamid II (who was officially deposed and exiled in 1909). ... The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing the Arabic language, which is the language of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. ... William of Wied (26 March 1876—18 April 1945) reigned briefly as Prince of Albania from February 21, 1914 to September 3, 1914. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Economy

Industrial development began during the Zog regime with the production of tobacco and alcoholic beverages, and culminated during the communist regime. The city gained prominence after the Chinese built a steel mill in 1974. There were also other industries operating in the city during the communist regime, and as a result the city now suffers from pollution. Zog, King of the Albanians His Majesty King Zog (full ruling name: Zog I. Skenderbeg III.), born Ahmet Bej Zogu (October 8, 1895–April 9, 1961), was an Albanian prime minister (1922-1924), president (1925-1928), and king (1928-1939 and 1943-1946, the latter period in name only). ... Species N. glauca N. longiflora N. rustica N. sylvestris N. tabacum Ref: ITIS 30562 as of August 26, 2005 Tobacco (, L.) refers to a genus of broad-leafed plants of the nightshade family indigenous to North and South America, or to the dried and cured leaves of such plants. ... Bottles of cachaça, a Brazilian alcoholic beverage. ... Communism - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... Environmental Pollution is the release of harmful environmental contaminants, or the substances so released. ...

See also

• History of Albania
• List of cities in Albania

This article briefly outlines each period of History of Albania only; details are presented in separate articles (see the links in the box and below). ... This is a list of cities in Albania: Apollonia Bajram Curri Ballsh Berat Bilisht Bulqizë Burrel Butrint Cërrik Çorovodë Delvinë Durrës Elbasan Ersekë Fier Fushë-Krujë Gjirokastër Gramsh Has Himarë Kamzë Kavajë Këlcyrë Klos Koplik Korçë Krujë Krumë Kuçovë Kukës Laç Lezhë Librazhd Lushnj...

External links

• Municipality of Elbasan (official website, in Albanian)
• Photos
• ALBoZONE: Cities of Albania
• Elbasan script