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https://www.q-files.com/geography/europe/montenegro.
Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.
Montenegro 2022. Geography, Europe. Retrieved 19 March 2024, from
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Geography, Europe, s.v. "Montenegro," accessed March 19, 2024.
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Montenegro
Montenegro is one of Europe’s newest countries: it became independent again in 2006 when its people voted for it to become separate from Serbia. It was previously independent in 1878–1918; between 1918 and 1992 it was a state within a bigger country called Yugoslavia. Much of Montenegro is craggy and mountainous. The highest peaks rise close to the Serbian and Albanian borders. Around half of the country is covered by thick forests; some are ancient forests where the trees have been left undisturbed for 500 years or more. Along the coast is a narrow plain with a hot, sunny Mediterranean climate. Inland, the high altitude means that, while the summers are warm, the winters are bitterly cold.
People
Most of the country’s people are Montenegrins, descended from Slavic peoples who settled the region in the 6th century. The others are mainly Serbs, Bosniaks and Albanians. The languages spoken by Montenegrins, Serbs and Bosniaks are very closely related—they can all understand one another easily. For much of their history, there have been tensions between ethnic Montenegrins and Serbs. These surfaced once again in the 1990s when Montenegro began its push for independence from Serbia.
Economy
The country has large deposits of bauxite, the ore from which aluminium is extracted. Bauxite is mined near Nikšic and transported by rail to the capital, Podgorica, where a huge processing plant separates out the aluminium. Although aluminium-processing is important to Montenegro’s economy, it is also damaging the environment: red mud and dust produced by the factory has begun to pollute the nearby farmland of the Zeta plain, northwest of
the capital.
Most of the country’s people work in services such as business and retail. Tourism is another growing industry—around a million people visit Montenegro’s sunny Adriatic coast and scenic mountains every year.
Consultant: Nicholas Harris
Facts about Montenegro
Population 642,550
Area 13,452 sq km
Highest point Zla Kolata 2534 m (8314 ft)
Capital Podgorica, population 136,473
Other major cities Nikšic (pop. 58,212),
Languages Montenegrin, Serbian (Serbo-Croat)
Religions Christian (Orthodox) 72%, Muslim 19%, Catholic 3%, others and none 6%
Ethnicity Montenegrin 45%, Serbian 29%, Bosniak 9%, Albanian 5%, Muslim Slav 3% others 9%
Currency Euro (EUR)
Chief exports aluminium, ships, wine, lead, scrap metal
History of Montenegro
9 AD
Romans conquer the region and it becomes part of the Roman Empire
6th century
A Slavic people, the Montenegrins, begin to settle in the area and are joined by Serbs and Croats
9th century
The Slavic state of Duklja grows up in southeastern Montenegro
960
Byzantine Empire takes control of the region
1042
Nobleman Stefan Vojislav leads an army against the Byzantines and defeats them. Duklja becomes independent and is ruled first by Vojislav, then by his sons
1080
Duklja becomes known as Zeta
1168
Serbian Prince Stefan Nemanja conquers Zeta and it becomes part of the Serbian Empire; Zeta becomes known as Montenegro
1420–1797
Montenegro's coastal region (but not the interior) is ruled by the Republic of Venice
1496
Montenegro falls to the Ottoman Empire; Ottoman rule holds sway in Montenegro’s towns and cities but much of the country remains autonomous, governed instead by Montenegrin clans
1683–99
Great Turkish War: Montenegro is part of a union of countries to rebel against and defeat Ottoman forces; the country remains within the Ottoman Empire, however
1861–62
Montenegro–Ottoman War: Montenegro is defeated and forced to accept continued Ottoman suzerainty (overlordship)
1878
Montenegro becomes fully independent of Ottoman Empire
1912
Montenegro, along with Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece, fight the Ottomans in the First Balkan War.
1918
After World War I, Montenegro becomes part of a union of countries called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
1929
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes is renamed Yugoslavia
1929
Montenegro is made one of five republics within Yugoslavia governed by the Socialist leader Josep Broz Tito
1941
During World War II, Nazi Germany and Italy occupy the region; locals rebel against them but are crushed by Italian forces
1980
Death of Tito
1991
Macedonia, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia break away from Yugoslavia; only Montenegro and Serbia are left united
1991–95
During the Bosnian and Croatian Wars, Montenegro attacks Dubrovnik, Croatia, and imprisons Bosnian refugees
1992
Montenegro and Serbia form the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; the United Nations places sanctions (restrictions on trade) on the new country
2003
Yugoslavia becomes a new country called Serbia and Montenegro, but tensions rise over both countries’ independence
2006
Just over 55% of Montenegrins vote for Montenegro to become a separate country and it declares its independence; it becomes the 192nd member of the UN
2008
Montenegro recognizes Kosovo's self-declared independence, prompting protests from Serbia
2017
Montenegro becomes a member of Nato