Kosovo, a landlocked country in the Balkans, has a rich and complex history shaped by diverse cultures and empires. Historically inhabited by Illyrian tribes and later influenced by Roman and Byzantine rule, the region played a pivotal role in the medieval Serbian Empire before falling under Ottoman control in the 15th century. Following centuries of Ottoman rule, Kosovo became part of the Kingdom of Serbia in 1912 and subsequently Yugoslavia after World War I. Tensions between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Serb minority intensified throughout the 20th century, culminating in a violent conflict in the late 1990s. After a NATO intervention in 1999, Kosovo came under UN administration and declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Today, Kosovo is recognized by over 100 countries, although Serbia and several other nations do not acknowledge its sovereignty, reflecting ongoing disputes and challenges in the region.