Serbian statehood dates back to the 8th century and gradually became a dominant state in the Balkans, taking up Eastern Orthodox Christianity. In the 14th century, it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire which was followed by almost 400 years of Ottoman rule that profoundly impacted Serbian culture and identity.

In the 19th century, Serbian nationalists initiated multiple revolts against Ottoman rule that resulted in an independent Kingdom of Serbia. After the Balkan Wars, Serbia became the dominant power in the region. In 1918 the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed that later became Yugoslavia.

Yugoslavia was liberated by Yugoslav partisans and became a communist federation developing its way of socialism often envied by the population of other Socialist countries in the Eastern block for its relative wealth and availability of Western consumer goods. Yugoslavia also played a significant role in the Non-Alignment Movement during the Cold War.

After the death of its communist leader, Josip Broz Tito ethnic tensions quickly emerged and a brutal civil war broke out that resulted in the disintegration of Yugoslavia into seven nation-states among them Serbia.

Today Serbia is torn between a potential European Union membership and a close alliance with the Russian Federation.

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