During the Roman and Byzantine eras, Durrës, located on the Adriatic coast, emerged as the capital of Arbër and a key hub along the Via Egnatia, the vital trade route connecting Rome and Constantinople. The medieval period, spanning from the 12th to the 14th century, marked the first Albanian epoch characterized by flourishing trade, craftsmanship, and the formation of several Albanian principalities.

When the Ottoman Turks conquered Albanian lands in the 14th century, the Albanian people resisted the invaders under the leadership of Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu (Skanderbeg) (1405–1465). Skanderbeg successfully broke the Ottoman occupation in the Balkans and was hailed as the savior of Christianity in Europe, earning the title of the “Knight of Christ” from the Pope. Despite Skanderbeg’s efforts, Albania eventually fell back under Ottoman rule that lasted over 550 years. During this period, many Albanians who remined in the country adopted the Muslim religion and drifted away from Western civilization.

In the late 19th century, there was a resurgence of Albanian identity as Albanians sought to distance themselves from Ottoman influence and reassert their Western connections. However, Western powers did not support Albanian interests, leading to further injustice. The Treaty of San Stefano in 1878 initially assigned Albanian-populated lands to neighboring countries like Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Serbia, but subsequent negotiations at the Congress of Berlin still redistributed a significant portion of Albanian territory to Serbia, Montenegro, and Greece.

In response to these injustices, the Albanian national movement established the Albanian League of Prizren to push back against the provisions of the Treaty of Berlin and called for an uprising to protect Albanian lands. This movement culminated in the declaration of Albania as an independent state on November 28, 1912, with Prime Minister Ismail Bej Qemali leading a provisional government.

In 1914, German Prince Wilhelm of Wied was briefly appointed as the head of the Albanian state by the International Control Commission, but his rule was short-lived due to the outbreak of World War I. During the war, Albania faced occupation by neighboring countries such as Italy, Serbia, and Greece, as well as French forces controlling significant portions of the region. In January of 1920, at the Congress of Lushnja, the designation of Tirana as the country's capital was announced. Subsequently, in September 1922, Ahmed Zogu assumed the role of prime minister. However, he soon faced significant opposition. By July 1924, a rebellion supported by peasants took control, resulting in Fan S. Noli becoming prime minister and Zogu fleeing to Yugoslavia. In December of that year, with the backing of the Yugoslav army, Zogu (later declaring himself king) returned to power, gradually diminishing parliamentary democracy, leading Noli to seek refuge in Italy. In April 1939, Albania was invaded by Mussolini’s troops, prompting King Zog's flight to Greece. The Albanian parliament then voted to merge the country with Italy, and King Emmanuel III of Italy assumed the throne.

The transition of Albania to communism was unexpected since there was no existing communist presence in the country. Remarkably, in 1940, Albania was the only European nation without a communist party. The establishment of the Albanian Communist Party in 1941 was initiated by Yugoslav Communist Party representatives, acting on behalf of the Soviet Comintern. The Comintern served as a Soviet instrument of control over the global communist movement and intervened to introduce communism in Albania during the Italian and Nazi occupations.

Yugoslav communists played a vital role in organizing and uniting local leftist factions to form the nascent party, which initially focused on resisting Fascist and later Nazi rule. This communist resistance, in collaboration with nationalist groups, sought to create a more just society after the occupation. This vision appealed to many as it aligned with the aspiration for a new Albanian state, especially since King Zog had relinquished his throne.

However, a surprising turn of events occurred when Western observers, who had initially supported nationalist factions against the Nazi occupation, shifted their allegiance to the communists due to their superior organization. This unexpected change influenced the post-war period, leading Albania to swiftly transition from independence to communism. Allegations emerged that Western powers backed the communists for political motives, believed to be tied to a geopolitical arrangement that aimed to secure Greece's allegiance to the West by aligning Albania with the Eastern Bloc.

The intricate dynamics of Greece's civil war from 1946 to 1949 highlighted the volatile political environment in the region, indicating Western interventions and strategic partnerships influenced Albania's communist alignment. This geopolitical maneuvering left many Albanians feeling betrayed by the West.

Following World War II, Albania came under Communist rule led by Enver Hoxha until his passing in 1985. His chosen successor, Ramiz Alia, continued the Communist regime until 1998 when Albania's Central Committee approved the introduction of a multiparty system; the Democratic Party emerged as the primary opposition. The Democratic Party's triumph in the March/April 1992 elections over the Socialist Party led to the election of Sali Berisha, the Democratic Party leader, as president. In 2009, Albania became a full member of the NATO Alliance. With Prime Minister Edi Rama assuming leadership in 2013, his "Renaissance" agenda emphasized European integration, economic rejuvenation, public order restoration, and the democratization of state institutions. In June 2014, Albania was granted candidate status for EU membership. Despite Albania’s tremendous progress in post-communist era, the country is still struggling with corruption, rule of law and building strong democratic institutions.