Balkan Peninsula
3 of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Balkan Peninsula. All 3 are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
the usual name for the peninsula in southeastern Europe running southward between the Adriatic and the Ægean. The most convenient northern boundary is the Save and the lower Danube; though historically and politically Rumania and some parts of the former Austrian dominions are closely associated with the regions S. of the Danube. Greece is a peninsula upon a peninsula, but is not usually accounted one of the Balkan states. The home of so many diverse races, the peninsula has long been a hotbed of warring interests. Previous to the World War the Turk's hand may be said to have been against every man's hand, and every other against the Turk. Greeks and Bulgarians intrigued each against the other with Russia, and looked on the inheritance of the peninsula as exclusively theirs by right. Bulgarian and Serb, though cherishing the Slavonic name, met in the bloody campaign of 1885-1886, Macedonia in especial was demanded alike by Greek, Bulgar and Serb. And the case was further complicated by the hostile faiths-Latin Christianity, Greek Church, both Orthodox and United, and Mohammedanism. Greece, with the aid of the Great Powers, obtained her independence in 1836, as also did Serbia in 1830-1867. Wallachia and Moldavia (now united in the kingdom of Rumania) were made tributary principalities by the Peace of Paris, 1856. Rumania and Serbia obtained their complete independence by the Berlin Treaty of 1878-the former receiving the Dobrudja in exchange for a portion of Bessarabia, which was restored to Russia; the latter having its area enlarged. The same treaty handed over to Austria-Hungary the administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina and established the principality of Montenegro, the principality of Bulgaria, and the province of Eastern Rumelia, which was united with Bulgaria in 1886. As a result of the BALKAN WARS (q. v.) of 1912- 1913 and the WORLD WAR (q. v.) of 1914- 1918 various political readjustments took place. For political, statistical, and other details see ALBANIA, BULGARIA, GREECE, JUGOSLAVIA, MONTENEGRO RU- MANIA, SERBIA, TURKEY.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
the southeasternmost peninsula of Europe. It lies between the Adriatic and the Black Sea . The term is held usually to include the territory south of the Save and the Danube. In this general sense the peninsula includes Greece, Turkey in Europe, Montenegro, Servia, Bulgaria, a part of Austria-Hungary, and a part of Roumania. The name is derived from the Balkan Mountains, which run westward from the Black Sea through Bulgaria very nearly to the geographical center of the peninsula. We hear less of the Balkan peninsula than of the Balkan states. The latter term includes Montenegro, Servia, Bulgaria, and Roumania. It is a question what is to become of the Balkan states. As early as 1815 they were a part of Turkey. Russia would like to annex them on the way to the Bosporus. Their present independence is due largely to intrigue, and to an expenditure of Russian money and Russian blood. Austria-Hungary would be very glad to own the Danube clear to the Black Sea. Some look forward to a union of the Balkan states in a Slavic federation.
An Encyclopaedia of Occultism (1920)
See Slavs ; Greece, Modern ; Vampire , etc.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Aiton's in 1910 could still list "Turkey in Europe" among the peninsula's territories and wonder whether the Balkan states might combine in a Slavic federation; Collier's, writing in 1921, already had to redirect readers to a brand-new entry, "Jugoslavia." That federation was tried and failed: the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes formed in 1918 became Yugoslavia, and between 1991 and 2008 it broke into seven states, with the Bosnian war of 1992-95 and the Srebrenica massacre of 1995 among the worst violence in Europe since 1945. Turkey today holds only East Thrace in Europe, Montenegro regained independence in 2006, and Kosovo declared it in 2008. The old rivalries Collier's described now play out largely through the European Union, which Greece joined in 1981, Bulgaria and Romania in 2007 and Croatia in 2013, while Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia remain candidates or aspirants.
Written for this edition, 2026.