with a new introduction by TRAIAN STOIANOVICH

"Virtually every scholar and teacher of Balkan history and civilization today began training with Stavrianos' seminal work. Not only was it the principal work of synthesis for several decades--in a field which sorely lacked synthesis--but more significantly, it was, and remains, of considerable value because of its extensive coverage, clear organization, depth of analysis and readability. The Balkans Since 1453 has not only stood the test of time but remains the defining general work in the study of Balkan civilization."

--Bernd J. Fischer, Indiana University

"Stavrianos embraces both the world and a comparative approach to history and society. The Balkans Since 1453 represents an itinerary in world history. It provides readers with a view of time and space from a Balkan perspective but also with a vision of how to look at other regions of the world, and how to perceive the world itself as a unit composed of diverse spatial, temporal, and cultural components."

--Traian Stoianovich, from the introduction

A monumental work of scholarship, The Balkans Since 1453 stands as one of the great accomplishments of European historiography. Long out of print, Stavrianos' opus both synthesizes the existing literature of Balkan studies since World War I and demonstrates the centrality of the Balkans to both European and world history, a centrality painfully apparent in recent years.

At last, the cornerstone book for every student of Balkan history, culture and politics is now available once again.

Published in 1958 (Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, NY) and out of print since 1965, this prodigious history covers the Balkans from early Cretan influence (3400-1100 BC) to just after WWII. The book has two basic goals: to demonstrate the centrality of the Balkans to European and world history, and to synthesize and make more available monographic and periodical literature published on the Balkans after World War I. In this edition, Stavrianos' (emeritus, history, Northwestern University) work is introduced by Traian Stoianovich (emeritus, history, Rutgers U.).
Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

A monumental work of scholarship, The Balkans Since 1453 stands as one of the great accomplishments of European historiography. Long out of print, Stavrianos' opus both synthesizes the existing literature of Balkan studies since World War I and demonstrates the centrality of the Balkans to both European and world history, a centrality painfully apparent in recent years.<P>At last, the cornerstone book for every student of Balkan history, culture and politics is now available once again.

Until his retirement, L. S. STAVRIANOS was Professor of History at Northwestern University. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Global History, now in its 8th edition.

A noted historian of the Balkans, TRAIAN STOIANOVICH is Professor of History at Rutgers University.