IllYRIA predecessor of albania

Illyria. Illyria, northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula, inhabited from about the 10th century BC onward by the Illyrians. The Illyrians were not a uniform body of people but a conglomeration of many tribes that inhabited the western part of the Balkans. At the height of their power, the Illyrian frontiers extended from what is now Slovenia, Croatia,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo ,Albania and the region of Epirus, which extends about halfway down the mainland of modern Greece. The Illyrians, bearers of the Hallstatt culture, were divided into tribes, each a self-governing community with a council of elders and a chosen leader. A strong tribal chieftain, however, could unite several tribes into a kingdom. Authors of antiquity relate that the Illyrians were a sociable and hospitable people, renowned for their daring and bravery at war. Illyrian women were fairly equal in status to the men, even to the point of becoming heads of tribal federations. In matters of religion, Illyrians were pagans who believed in an afterlife and buried their dead along with arms and various articles intended for personal use. The land of Illyria was rich in minerals-iron, copper, gold, silver-and Illyrians became skillful in the mining and processing of metals. They were highly skilled boatbuilders and sailors as well; indeed, their light swift galleys known as liburnae were of such superior design that the Romans incorporated them into their own fleet as a type of warship called the liburnian. The last and best-known Illyrian kingdom had its capital at Scodra (modern Shkodër, Albania). One of its most  important rulers was King Agron (second half of the 3rd century BC), who, in alliance with Demetrius Il of Macedonia, defeated the Aetolians (modern Lamia, Greece). Agron, however, died suddenly, and during the minority of his son, his widow, Teuta, acted as regent. Queen Teuta attacked Sicily and the coastal Greek colonies with part of the Illyrian navy. Simultaneously, she antagonized Rome, which finally sent a large fleet to the eastern shores of the Adriatic. Although Teuta submitted in 228 BC, the Illyrian kingdom of the interior was not destroyed, and a second naval expedition was sent against Illyria in 219 BC. Philip 5 of Macedonia aided his Illyrian neighbours and thus started a protracted war that ended with the conquest of the whole Balkan Peninsula by the Romans. The last Illyrian king, Genthius, surrendered in 168 BC. From Illyria to Illyricum The Romans ruled Illyria-which now became the province of Illyricum-for about six centuries. The Roman province of Illyricum stretched from the Drilon River (the Drin, in modern Albania) in the south to Istria (modern Slovenia and Croatia) in the north and to the Savus (Sava) River in the east. With the extension of the Roman Empire along the Danube River valley, Illyricum was divided between the provinces of Dalmatia and Pannonia. Under Roman rule Illyrian society underwent great change, especially in its outward, material aspect. Art and culture flourished, particularly in Apollonia, whose school of philosophy became celebrated in antiquity. To a great extent, though, the Illyrians resisted assimilation into Roman culture. Illyrian culture survived, along with the Illyrian tongue, though many Latin words entered the language and later became a part of the Albanian language
Christianity manifested itself in Illyria during Roman rule, about the middle of the 1st century CE. At first the new religion had to compete with Middle Eastern religions- among them that of Mithra, Persian god of light-which had entered the land in the wake of Illyria's growing interaction with eastern regions of the empire. For a long time it also had to compete with gods worshipped by Illyrian pagans. The steady growth of the Christian community in Dyrrhachium (the Roman name for Epidamnus) led to the creation there of a bishopric in 58 CE. Later, episcopal seats were established in Apollonia, Buthrotum (modern Butrint), and Scodra (modern Shkodër). By the time the empire began to decline, the Illyrians, profiting from a long tradition of martial habits and skills, had acquired great influence in the Roman military hierarchy. Indeed, several of them went on from there to become emperors. From the mid-3rd to the mid-4th century CE, the reins of the empire were almost continuously in the hands of emperors of Illyrian origin: Gaius Decius, Claudius Gothicus, Aurelian, Probus, Diocletian, and Constantine  the great.