History, Language & Culture Serbia

Prehistory and antiquity

Main articles: Prehistoric sites in Serbia and Serbia in the Roman era

Archaeological evidence of Paleolithic settlements on the territory of present-day Serbia is scarce. A fragment of a human jaw was found in (Mala Balanica) and is believed to be up to 525,000–397,000 years old. Approximately around 6,500 years BC, during the Neolithic, the Starčevo, and Vinča cultures existed in the region of modern-day Belgrade. They dominated much of Southeastern Europe (as well as parts of Central Europe and Asia Minor). Several important archaeological sites from this era.

During the Iron Age, local tribeswere encountered by the Ancient Greeks during their cultural and political expansion into the region, from the 5th up to the 2nd century BC. The Celtic settled throughout the area in the 3rd century BC. It formed a tribal state, building several fortifications.

Remnants of the Felix Romuliana Imperial Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; as many as 18 Roman emperors were born in modern-day Serbia.

The Romans conquered much of the territory in the 2nd century BC. In 167 BC the Roman province was established; the remainder was conquered around 75 BC, forming the Roman province of Moesia Superior; the modern-day Srem region was conquered after the Wars. As a result of this, contemporary Serbia extends fully or partially over several former Roman provinces.

The chief towns the latter of which served as a Roman capital during Seventeen Roman Emperors were born in the area of modern-day Serbia, second only to contemporary Italy.The most famous of these was Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor, who issued an edict ordering religious tolerance throughout the Empire.

When the Roman Empire was divided in 395, most of Serbia remained under the Eastern Roman Empire. At the same time, its northwestern parts were included in the Western Roman Empire. By the 6th century, South Slavs migrated into the European provinces of the Byzantine Empire in large numbers. They merged with the local Romanised population that was gradually assimilated.

Official languages Serbian