Albania is a country located in the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. It has a long and complex history, stretching back to ancient times. The earliest known inhabitants of the region were the Illyrians, an Indo-European people who settled in the area around 2000 BC. The Illyrians were eventually conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century BC, and the region became part of the Roman Empire. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the region was invaded by the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, and Slavs. In the Middle Ages, Albania was part of the Byzantine Empire, and later the Ottoman Empire. During this period, the Albanian people developed their own language and culture. In 1912, Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire, and in 1913 it became a republic. During the 20th century, Albania was occupied by Italy and Germany during World War II, and then became a communist state under the rule of Enver Hoxha. In 1991, Albania declared its independence from the Soviet Union, and in 1992 it became a democratic republic.