Serbian Influences

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The existence of a Macedonian nation and language was first recognized after World War II, when Macedonia became one of the Republics of Yugoslavia. However, “within the triumphant atmosphere of liberation and radical social changes this was not questioned, although there have never ceased to exist opinions (large-scale) ones that this was part of the Serbian national entity and that the Macedonian language was artificially “created” and therefore contributed to the division within the Serbian nation” or in other word that Macedonian people belong to the Serbian nation. Many Serbian historians often consider Macedonians some kind of a mix between Bulgarians and Serbs and the population on these lands.

There are some historic reasons. Macedonia used to be part of different empires including the Bulgarian, the Serbian and the Byzantium Empire. In 14th century Serbia had its most powerful czar, Dušan, who succeeded in creating one of the strongest empires in the Balkans. He conquered Skopje and had his coronation ceremony there on 16 of April, 1346 when he received the title "Tsar and Autocrat of Serbs and Greeks." He made Skopje his capital and because of this many Serbs feel that they have a natural historical right on these lands. Also, after World War I   Serbia annexed part of Macedonia to its territory and in this context it seems logical that Macedonia became one of the Republics of Yugoslavia.


Pettifer, James:” The New Macedonian Question” p. 15-28, 47-60; 1999, Macmillan Press LTD, Great Britain

 

 

Map of Macedonia

History of Macedonia

Bulgarian Claims

Dispute with Greece

Serbian Influences

Macedonian Point of View

Conclusion
 
This is a picture of the Serbian Czar Dušan. He was not only one of the most powerful rulers, but also one of the tallest known in history. He was more than 7 feet tall.
There was much issue between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia on the Macedonian question even though both countries belonged to the Eastern Block. The official policy in Yugoslavia was the complete negation of any relation between Macedonians and Bulgarians and there was a strong emphasis on the “new” Macedonian history which was only popular and recognized in Yugoslavia, but which aimed at promoting a distinct Macedonian nation. Many Serbian words entered the Macedonian language. In this set of mind the new generation of Macedonians were brought up. There were even severe punishments for any recognition of Bulgarian heritage.
 

 

Criticism

The development of national consciousness started much earlier in Greece and Serbia due to their geographic location and border with the “free Western world” and in this sense it would make sense that if the people living in the area that began to be called Macedonia really felt Serbian, they would have developed this consciousness much earlier that the time when the Bulgarian national movements started and the Bulgarian Exarchate was created. Another important point is that the “Macedonian” language clearly belongs to the Bulgarian-Macedonian group of southern Slavic languages while Serbian belongs to the Serbian-Croatian group which shows that Bulgarians and “Macedonians” are much closer related than Serbians and “Macedonians” and there is no “in-between” nation. Even nowadays when the Macedonian was heavily influenced by Serbian, Macedonia students can go to Bulgarian universities with almost no language preparation and the same being true for Bulgarian students studying in the Republic of Macedonia, which shows that the languages are very close.

 
Most of Eastern Europe is populated by Slavic people.There are three main divisions of Slavic languages: West Slavic (Czech, Polish, Slovak), East Slavic( Russian, Belarussian, Ukrainian) and South Slavic (Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian, Croatian).