It so happens that the modern-day Albanians have more in common with the Illyrians and Dardanians (the historical people of the Central/Western Balkans) than any other people currently there, excepting the Greeks. The toponyms (place names), culture, and lifestyle of true modern Albanians (read village dwellers, those not touched by the Ottoman incursion) match the historic (pre-Slavic invasion) residence of the Free people (Illyrians) and the Pear farmers (Dardanians) very closely. The unfortunate moslem aspect of Albanian history is a relatively late addition and as such, is a late source of Slav/Albanian aggression.
I agree that proper DNA analysis of the residents of the area would do more to end the Serb/Albanian homeland dispute more than anything else. It is interesting to note that Albanian, like Greek, is unique among the Indo-European languages in that it does not stem from another language within the family nor does it have linguistic posterity. It is also interesting to note that the current village dwellers deep in the mountains of Albania and Kosovo sport blond hair and blue eyes (similar to the Germanic tribes), unlike the Turkish-mixed stock found in the valley cities. These village people are also generally much shorter than the urban population and I suggest that they are the closest match to ancient Albanians.
The Serbs share Slavic ancestry with the Russians, Slovakians, Czechoslovakians, and many others whose ancestral homeland (as assessed by Slavic historians) is around the Baltic region, not the Balkans.
There is so much more to discuss, but I have to work too.
Cheers!
” It is interesting to note that Albanian, like Greek, is unique among the Indo-European languages in that it does not stem from another language within the family nor does it have linguistic posterity.”
True, but it’s not 100% clear what language branch Illyrian was really located in. Albanian is Satem, or the Eastern branch of Indo-European. There are those who feel that Illyrian may have belonged to the Centrum, or Western branch. It’s still disputed where the Albanians originated from. There are those who feel that they may actually have been of Dacian and/or Thracian origins.
“It is also interesting to note that the current village dwellers deep in the mountains of Albania and Kosovo sport blond hair and blue eyes (similar to the Germanic tribes), unlike the Turkish-mixed stock found in the valley cities. These village people are also generally much shorter than the urban population and I suggest that they are the closest match to ancient Albanians.”
Among the various peoples who moved into the modern Albania region were Germanic Goths and even Slavs. If you think that the Albanians were pure Illyrian, I fear you’re basically just indulging in wishful thinking. Also, I suspect that the Illyrians may have been Dinaric in physical type.
“The Serbs share Slavic ancestry with the Russians, Slovakians, Czechoslovakians, and many others whose ancestral homeland (as assessed by Slavic historians) is around the Baltic region, not the Balkans.”
Actually, it’s probably more in the NW Ukraine, E Slovakia, SE Poland, and S Belarus region.
I would also add that the name "Kosovo" has been used for hundreds of years to designate that territory and the name, Kosovo, is Serbian in origin (Translation: "Field of Blackbirds"). Kosovo has no meaning or translation in the Albanian language.
The names of most of the cities & towns are also Serbian in origin, although the Albanians have attempted to Albanianize them -- "Pec" (Serbian) became "Peja" (Albanian), "Kosovo" (Serbian) became "Kosova" (Albanian) etc. Again, no Albanian translation of these names, just Albanian pronunciations.
"what most Serb apologists leave out: that the Slavs were intruders into the Balkans who pushed out or enslaved the indigenous people.
But there is also strong evidence that the Albanians came from Anatolia (today's Turkey), so in that sense, it may well be that both the Slavs and the real Albanian ancestors were "intruders" 1,500 years ago. So what's the statute of limitations on this kind of thing? How far do we go back?
"It so happens that the modern-day Albanians have more in common with the Illyrians and Dardanians (the historical people of the Central/Western Balkans) than any other people currently there, excepting the Greeks"
I know that this idea is part of the Albanians "marketing plan for Kosovo independence", but it is a BS version of "Albanian ancestry" originally promoted by communist Albanian leader Enver Hoxha back in the 1950's that even many Albanian ethnologists disagreed with.
I am not sure if anyone has caught the ironic double-speak coming from the State Department on Kosovo independence and Kosovo history:
To the Serbs, C. Rice says re the Battle of Kosovo:after all, we’re talking about something from 1389, 1389. It’s time to move forward."
On the other hand, the Albanians are arguing a "Albanian ownership of the Balkans" from prior to 500AD (500AD!) -- and the State Department support them!
When did logic fail them?
Incorrect, that's more propaganda and wishful thinking. There is no archaeological evidence to even prove this hypothesis.