HIST202 History of the Balkans
HIST202 History of the Balkans
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Social and Political Sciences
Jahja Muhasilović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course provides a thematic historical survey of the formative processes of political, social, and economic change which have played paramount roles in shaping the evolution and development of the Balkans. The main themes covered include: geographical and linguistic conceptions of the Balkans; the Balkans in ancient, medieval, and early modern times; the legacies of Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg Empire; the impact of the region’s powerful Russian and Germanic neighbors; the emergence of the Eastern Question; the the emergence of Balkan national states.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Reading 1: Bideleux & Jeffries, R. & I. (2007). A History of Eastern Europe: Crisis and Change. New York: Routledge. Reading 2: Wachtel, Andrew Baruch. (2008). The Balkans in World History. Oxford: University Press.
Additional Literature
Reading 3: Jelavich, Barbara. (1983) History of the Balkans: Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, Vol. 1, Barbara Jelavich, Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Pr. Reading 4: Veremis, Thanos. (2017) A Modern History of the Balkans Nationalism and Identity in Southeast Europe. New York: I.B.Tauris & Co.Teaching Methods
Lectures
Class discussions
Quizzes
Screenings
Written assignments and class presentations.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course, expectations and requirements | |
| 2 | Geographical and Linguistic Conceptions of the Balkans | Reading 1: Introduction, Section 1 & Reading 2: Introduction |
| 3 | The Balkans from Prehistory to the Byzantine Empire | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 2 & Reading 2: Chapter 1 |
| 4 | The Byzantine Ascendancy and Its Impact, AD 395-1204. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 3 & Reading 2: Chapter 2 |
| 5 | The Crusades, the Emergence of South Slav Polities and the Decline of Byzantium, 1095-1453. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 4 |
| 6 | The Rise of the Ottoman State in the Balkans, 1326-1453. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 5 & Reading 2: Chapter 3 |
| 7 | The Balkans during the Heyday of the Ottoman Power, 1453-1686. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 6 & Reading 2: Chapter 3 |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| 9 | The Balkans during the Waning of the Ottoman Power, 1687-1921. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 7 & Reading 2: Chapter 4 |
| 10 | The Great Powers and the “Eastern Question”. | Reading 4: Chapter 7. |
| 11 | The National Issue in the Habsburg Empire. | Reading 4: Chapter 6. |
| 12 | The Emergence of Balkan National States, 1817-1913. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 8, Reading 3: Chapters 1, 2, 3. and & Reading 2: Chapter 4 |
| 13 | The Cataclysmic Impact of War on the Balkans, 1912–1918. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 9. |
| 14 | Balkans During the First half of Twentieth Century. | Reading 2: Chapter 5 |
| 15 | Balkans During the Cold War | Reading 1: Part 4 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIST202.1 | Course | Monday 09:00 - 11:50 | A F1.17 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 - 17:00 | B F1.7 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Attendance
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
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)
Written Assignment
65 hours ⏳ (13 week × 5 h)
Presentation
7 hours ⏳ (1 week × 7 h)
Midterm Exam
15 hours ⏳ (3 week × 5 h)
Final Exam
18 hours ⏳ (3 week × 6 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 [HIST202] 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 Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| HIST202 | History of the Balkans | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Jahja Muhasilović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 12:00-17:00 |
|||||||
| jmuhasilovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course provides a thematic historical survey of the formative processes of political, social, and economic change which have played paramount roles in shaping the evolution and development of the Balkans. The main themes covered include: geographical and linguistic conceptions of the Balkans; the Balkans in ancient, medieval, and early modern times; the legacies of Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg Empire; the impact of the region’s powerful Russian and Germanic neighbors; the emergence of the Eastern Question; the the emergence of Balkan national states. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Reading 1: Bideleux & Jeffries, R. & I. (2007). A History of Eastern Europe: Crisis and Change. New York: Routledge. Reading 2: Wachtel, Andrew Baruch. (2008). The Balkans in World History. Oxford: University Press. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures, class discussions, quizzes, screenings, written assignments and class presentations. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course, expectations and requirements | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Geographical and Linguistic Conceptions of the Balkans | Reading 1: Introduction, Section 1 & Reading 2: Introduction | ||||||||
| Week 3 | The Balkans from Prehistory to the Byzantine Empire | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 2 & Reading 2: Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | The Byzantine Ascendancy and Its Impact, AD 395-1204. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 3 & Reading 2: Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | The Crusades, the Emergence of South Slav Polities and the Decline of Byzantium, 1095-1453. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | The Rise of the Ottoman State in the Balkans, 1326-1453. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 5 & Reading 2: Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | The Balkans during the Heyday of the Ottoman Power, 1453-1686. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 6 & Reading 2: Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | The Balkans during the Waning of the Ottoman Power, 1687-1921. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 7 & Reading 2: Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | The Great Powers and the “Eastern Question”. | Reading 4: Chapter 7. | ||||||||
| Week 11 | The National Issue in the Habsburg Empire. | Reading 4: Chapter 6. | ||||||||
| Week 12 | The Emergence of Balkan National States, 1817-1913. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 8, Reading 3: Chapters 1, 2, 3. and & Reading 2: Chapter 4 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | The Cataclysmic Impact of War on the Balkans, 1912–1918. | Reading 1: Part 1, Section 9. | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Balkans During the First half of Twentieth Century. | Reading 2: Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Balkans During the Cold War | Reading 1: Part 4 | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1.2.3.4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1.2.3.4. | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 20 | 1.2.3.4. | Not Allowed | |
| Attendance | 1 | 10 | 1.2.3.4. | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Written Assignment | 5 | 13 | 65 | |||
| Presentation | 7 | 1 | 7 | Midterm Exam | 5 | 3 | 15 | |||
| Final Exam | 6 | 3 | 18 | 0 | ||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||