Macedonia (historic region)

Macedonia (historic region) (Bulgarian Makedoniya, Greek Makedonía, Macedonian Makedonija), historic region in southeastern Europe, in the south central part of the Balkan Peninsula. Macedonia covered about 66,000 sq km (25,500 sq mi). Today slightly more than half of the region lies in northern and northeastern Greece, in the Greek province of Macedonia. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and a small portion of Bulgaria make up the remainder of the region. Macedonia spanned a diverse geographic area. Though mostly mountainous, the region also encompassed the valleys of the Aliákmon, Vardar (Axiós), Néstos, and Struma rivers, all of which drain into the Aegean Sea.

Neolithic peoples established settlements in northern Macedonia in about 6200 bc. After 3000 bc, a Greek-speaking tribe of shepherds settled first in the mountainous regions between Mounts Olympus and Pindus and later in the rich alluvial plain of the Aliákmon and Axiós rivers. Philip II, who ruled from 359 to 336 bc, led the kingdom into a period of growth and expansion. Philip conquered the Greeks in 338 bc and unified the Greek city-states and Macedonia into one empire.

Philip's son, who became known as Alexander the Great, took command of the empire following Philip's assassination in 336 bc. Alexander pursued his father's objectives and created a vast empire which stretched south into Egypt and across Persia (now known as Iran) to northwestern India. Culture and art flourished under Alexander's rule.

Alexander died in 323 bc, leaving the empire with no clear successor. The vacuum created by Alexander's death led to conflicts within the empire and eventually to its dissolution. Generals in the Macedonian army divided the empire into smaller kingdoms. These kingdoms continued to fight with each other for several decades until the year 215 bc. Starting in 215 bc Macedonia was assailed by the Romans in a series of three wars which lasted until 168 bc. In 148 bc the region became a Roman province. During the early Christian period the region was an important field for the missionary labors of Saint Paul the Apostle.

After the final division of the Roman Empire in ad395 Macedonia became part of the Byzantine Empire. In the 6th century Slavs from other parts of eastern Europe settled in Macedonia in large numbers. Successively thereafter the region was assailed by bands of Goths, Huns, Slavs, Bulgars, and Turks. The Ottoman Empire ruled the region from 1371 to 1912. After the Balkan Wars (1912-1913) the region was divided among Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia.