The history of Southeast Europe offers a cross-era representation of the entire Balkan Peninsula, including its maritime surroundings and the countries of the Hungarian Crown. The focus here is not on the history of individual nation-states, but rather on the depiction of overall regional connections, the significance of which can be explained in light of the great empires (Byzantium, Habsburg, Ottoman Empire) that dominated this part of Europe for centuries. There is ample attention given to social and cultural history; in particular, the region's unique ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity in comparison to Europe, as well as the processes of ethnic homogenization in the 19th and 20th centuries, are thoroughly examined. The book is aimed at anyone interested in Southeast Europe itself or in a fruitful comparison of this area with others.