Montenegro

Geography

Montenegro is a small, mountainous state in south-eastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic Sea and is a part of the Balkan Peninsula. The country's name directly translates to "Black Mountain", a reference to its rugged landscape. The terrain of Montenegro ranges from high peaks along its borders with Serbia and Albania, a segment of the Karst of the western Balkan Peninsula, to a narrow coastal plain that is only 1.5 to 6 kilometres (1 to 4 miles) wide.

History

The history of Montenegro begins in the early Middle Ages, into the former Roman province of Dalmatia that forms present-day Montenegro. In the 9th century, there were three principalities on the territory of Montenegro: Duklja, roughly corresponding to the southern half, Travunia, the west, and Rascia, the north. In 1042, archon Stefan Vojislav led a revolt that resulted in the independence of Duklja and the establishment of the Vojislavljević dynasty. Duklja reached its zenith under Vojislav's son, Mihailo (1046–81), and his grandson Bodin (1081–1101).

Politics

Montenegro is a parliamentary republic and a developing democracy. The Montenegrin head of state is the President, elected for a period of five years through direct elections. The Montenegrin head of government is the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President with the approval of the Parliament. Executive power is exercised by the Government, which is headed by the Prime Minister. Legislative power is vested in the Parliament and the Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Economy

The economy of Montenegro is mostly service-based and is in late transition to a market economy. According to the International Monetary Fund, the nominal GDP of Montenegro was $5.424 billion in 2019. The economy of this small Balkan state is recovering from the impact of the Yugoslav Wars, the decline of industry following the breakup of SFR Yugoslavia, and UN economic sanctions.

Culture

Montenegrin culture is a product of its long history and geographical location. The influence of Orthodox, Ottoman (Turk), Slavic, Central European, and seafaring Adriatic cultures (notably parts of Italy, like the Republic of Venice) have been the most important in recent centuries. Montenegro has many significant cultural and historical sites, including heritage sites from the pre-Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque periods. The Montenegrin coastal region is especially well known for its religious monuments, including the Cathedral of Saint Tryphon, the basilica of St. Luke (over 800 years), Our Lady of the Rocks (Škrpjela), the Savina Monastery and others.

See Also

• Balkan Peninsula
• Vojislavljević dynasty
• Republic of Venice