The great cauldron

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The Balkans are often perceived as a region of turmoil, yet from late antiquity to today, they have been a vibrant crossroads of cultures and religions. This work invites a reevaluation of southeastern Europe's history as integral to the narrative of global Europe. The author illustrates how the region's strategic position influenced both continental and global events. For instance, the emerging merchant capitalism of the Mediterranean aided Balkan knights in their struggle against the Ottomans during the fifteenth century. Nationalism ignited a young Serbian intellectual's actions, ultimately leading to World War I. In the late twentieth century, political Islam surged in an area where Christians and Muslims had coexisted for centuries. The text presents vivid snapshots of significant historical moments, such as Krujë in 1450 and Sarajevo in 1984, while introducing compelling figures often overlooked in mainstream European histories. Among them are Rhigas Velestinlis, a Greek merchant whose revolutionary pamphlet called for an uprising against Ottoman rule in 1797, and Croatian bishop Ivan Dominik Stratiko, an advocate for gender equality whose influence on women impressed even Casanova. This ambitious reappraisal enhances our understanding of the complex interplay of peoples, faiths, and civilizations in this historically rich region.