Albania, meaning Land of Eagles, is a small country of the European Balkans that is home to

approximately 3,029, 000 people as of July 2015. In ancient times, a people known as the Illyrians
occupied the Albanian region and much of the surrounding territory. These people were some of the first
in Europe, and they were the first in this region. After a time, the Greeks began to colonize along the coast
of Albania, Greece being across the Adriatic Sea from Albania. However, the Romans conquered much of
the Albanian region, and ruled over them for as long as the empire survived, only relinquishing their hold
in 496 C.E., then they fell. However, the Illyrians remained under the control of the Byzantines, or the
Eastern half of the Roman Empire following their fall. However, throughout all of this, the native peoples
of the region still managed to keep a hold on their language and culture, staying separate from their
conquerors. A major turn in the history of this nation came when a nomadic people, the Ottoman Turks,
invaded in 1338. Despite a 25-year respite starting in 1443, the Albanian people were reconquered by the
Turks in 1468, and as a result remained very isolated from the on goings and advancements of the
surrounding European and Asian regions. During this period, the Albanians lost much of their ancient
culture to the Turkish people, and many inhabitants converted to Islam, fearing the wrath of their
conquerors. After many decades of submissions to the Turkic peoples and many revolts that garnered no
attention from their oppressors, in 1912, the Albanians people finally won their fight and were able to
form their own nation. However, communism soon took hold, and the new leaders began to oppress their
own people. In modern day Albania, a democracy is governing the people, and the nation is on the road to
recovery.
The Baklava is a dessert that has its origins with the Ottoman Turks of Central Asia, and was
transferred to Albanian culture and perfected there during the Turks occupation of the region. The dessert
is made by layering sheets of phyllo dough (or another thin pastry) with a variety of nuts and honey, and
the baking it in the oven. The origin of the idea lies with the Assyrians, who originally layered sheets of
thin dough with the other ingredients. The dessert continued to be passed around, and eventually ended up
with the Turks, who as aforementioned transferred it to the Albanians. The Baklava is now the national
dessert of Albania, and is very popular throughout the Balkan region. On its way to Albania, the dessert
changed some in every area it affected. In Albania, specifically, the filling mainly comprises walnuts and
honey, whereas in other regions it may have a different variety of nuts, or a different type of honey or
pastry. Although it is rather common today, when it was popular among the Turks, it was seen as a dessert
that was only fit for a king. Even today its popularity signifies this, and with its taste it is easily
understandable how it obtained such prestige.