Macedonia has a history filled with many challenges and difficulties. Each surrounding nation demands that its borders revert to where they were at the exact time when its own empire had reached its height of expansion. Because Philip of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great, had established a great kingdom in Macedonia in the fourth century B.C., the Greeks believed Macedonia to be theirs. Because the Bulgarians at the end of the tenth century under King Samuel and again in the thirteenth century under King Ivan Assen II had extended the frontiers of Bulgaria all the way west to the Adriatic Sea, the Bulgarians believed Macedonia to be theirs. Because King Stefan Dushan had overrun Macedonia in the fourteenth century and had made Skopje a great city, the Serbs believed Macedonia to be theirs.
To further add to Macedonia’s identity problem, the surrounding countries have found other things to strengthen their argument that Macedonia is truly theirs. Greece complains that they shouldn’t use the name “Macedonia” because the northern region of Greece is also called Macedonia from the time of the former Macedonian Empire under Alexander the Great. Bulgaria claims that the Macedonian language is simply a dialect of Bulgarian. Finally, the Serbian Orthodox church declares that there is no such thing as a separate Macedonian Orthodox church. However, most Macedonians consider themselves to be a separate, unique culture from all the neighboring cultures.
To further add to Macedonia’s identity problem, the surrounding countries have found other things to strengthen their argument that Macedonia is truly theirs. Greece complains that they shouldn’t use the name “Macedonia” because the northern region of Greece is also called Macedonia from the time of the former Macedonian Empire under Alexander the Great. Bulgaria claims that the Macedonian language is simply a dialect of Bulgarian. Finally, the Serbian Orthodox church declares that there is no such thing as a separate Macedonian Orthodox church. However, most Macedonians consider themselves to be a separate, unique culture from all the neighboring cultures.
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