The Balkans

THE BALKANSMrs. Kercher

7th Grade Gifted

The Balkan Peninsula• “Balkan” comes from a Turkish word

meaning “a chain of wooded mountains.”

• The Balkan Peninsula may be defined as an area of southeastern Europe surrounded by water on three sides:• The Adriatic Sea to the west• The Mediterranean Sea (including the

Ionian and Aegean Seas) to the south• The Black Sea to the east

• Its northern boundary is often referred to as the Danube, Sava and Kupa/Kolpa Rivers.

The Byzantine Empire: Growing &Shrinking

• Watch how the Empire grows and expands due to the power struggles and conflicts not only from the Ottoman Empire but the Roman Catholics and native power struggles as well.

• As you watch, the start of the cycle is 550 (to give you a frame of reference, the first slide shows the Western, Catholic part of the Roman Empire in green).

• Notice how the Balkans are affected. Be prepared to discuss.

• Byzantine Empire