SPS511 History of the Balkans
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on May 05, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Muhidin Mulalić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course explores Balkans historical, cultural, economic, and political developments from medieval times to the present. Students will study the rise and fall of empires, such as the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and examine the processes that led to the emergence of modern Balkan nation-states like Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Croatia. The course will also delve into the region’s rich artistic and literary traditions, including architecture, folklore, and literary movements, as well as the evolution of governance and administrative systems. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the causes and consequences of wars, atrocities, and international treaties, from the Balkan Wars and World Wars to conflicts in the 1990s, including the breakup of Yugoslavia. By connecting historical events with socio-political transformations, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the Balkans, its complex identities, and its role in European and global history.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
1) Barbara Jelavich. (1983). History of the Balkans: 18th and 19th Centuries. Cambridge University Press. 2) Mark Mazower. (2002). The Balkans: A Short History. 2nd ed., Phoenix
Additional Literature
1) Gerolymatos, Andre. (2003). The Balkan Wars: Conquest, Revolution, and Retribution from the Ottoman Era to the Twentieth Century and Beyond. Basic Books. 2) Roudometof, Victor. (2001). Nationalism, Globalization, and Orthodoxy: The Social Origins of Ethnic Conflict in the Balkans. Praeger. 3) Buchanan, Allen, Moore,Margaret. (2003). States, Nations and Borders: The Ethics of Making Boundaries. Cambridge University Press. 4) John V. A. Fine, Jr. (1994). The Early Medieval Balkans. The University of Michigan Press.Teaching Methods
Teaching occurs via lectures
Seminars and tutorials
Individual and team- work in-class activities
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the Balkans | Assigned Readings |
| 2 | The Early Medieval Balkans | Assigned Readings |
| 3 | Empires and Regional Powers | Assigned Readings |
| 4 | National Identity and Early Nationalism | Assigned Readings |
| 5 | The 18th Century Balkans | Assigned Readings |
| 6 | The 19th Century: Nation-State Formation | Assigned Readings |
| 7 | Wars, Treaties, and Shifting Borders | Assigned Readings |
| 8 | MIDTERM | |
| 9 | The Balkans in World War I | Assigned Readings |
| 10 | Interwar Period and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia | Assigned Readings |
| 11 | World War II and Occupation | Assigned Readings |
| 12 | Socialist Balkans and Cold War Politics | Assigned Readings |
| 13 | The Breakup of Yugoslavia | Assigned Readings |
| 14 | Post-Conflict Reconstruction and EU Integration | Assigned Readings |
| 15 | Contemporary Issues and Future Prospects | Assigned Readings |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 09:00 - 13:00 | B F2.24 | |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 13:00 | B F2.24 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 4 6
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 4 6
Response Paper
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 5
Research Paper
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 3 5 6
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Midterm Exam
25 hours ⏳ (5 week × 5 h)
Response Papers
14 hours ⏳ (7 week × 2 h)
Home Study
49 hours ⏳ (7 week × 7 h)
Individual learnig
17 hours ⏳ (1 week × 17 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [SPS511] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on May 05, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| SPS511 | History of the Balkans | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Muhidin Mulalić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 9:00-13:00 Wednesday: 9:00-13:00 |
|||||||
| mmulalic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course explores Balkans historical, cultural, economic, and political developments from medieval times to the present. Students will study the rise and fall of empires, such as the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and examine the processes that led to the emergence of modern Balkan nation-states like Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Croatia. The course will also delve into the region’s rich artistic and literary traditions, including architecture, folklore, and literary movements, as well as the evolution of governance and administrative systems. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the causes and consequences of wars, atrocities, and international treaties, from the Balkan Wars and World Wars to conflicts in the 1990s, including the breakup of Yugoslavia. By connecting historical events with socio-political transformations, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the Balkans, its complex identities, and its role in European and global history. | |||||||||
| Textbook | 1) Barbara Jelavich. (1983). History of the Balkans: 18th and 19th Centuries. Cambridge University Press. 2) Mark Mazower. (2002). The Balkans: A Short History. 2nd ed., Phoenix | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Teaching occurs via lectures, seminars and tutorials, individual and team- work in-class activities | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the Balkans | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 2 | The Early Medieval Balkans | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Empires and Regional Powers | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 4 | National Identity and Early Nationalism | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 5 | The 18th Century Balkans | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 6 | The 19th Century: Nation-State Formation | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Wars, Treaties, and Shifting Borders | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | The Balkans in World War I | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Interwar Period and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 11 | World War II and Occupation | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Socialist Balkans and Cold War Politics | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 13 | The Breakup of Yugoslavia | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Post-Conflict Reconstruction and EU Integration | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Contemporary Issues and Future Prospects | Assigned Readings | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 2,4,6 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 20 | 2,4,6 | Not Allowed | |
| Response Paper | 1 | 10 | 3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation | 1 | 10 | 3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Research Paper | 1 | 20 | 1,3,5,6 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Midterm Exam | 5 | 5 | 25 | |||
| Response Papers | 2 | 7 | 14 | Home Study | 7 | 7 | 49 | |||
| Individual learnig | 17 | 1 | 17 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 15/05/2026 | |||||||||