DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF MACEDONIA (18) - by Slave Nikolovski - Katin

      It should be pointed out that there are many historical and archaeological findings that have confirmed the numerous facts of great importance to the Balkans, Europe and the world originating from Macedonia. Therefore we, the Macedonians, should be proud of them. Here are some of those unique and distinctive characteristics of Macedonia:

•   Ancient Macedonia was the first organized state in the Balkans and beyond that had established borders;

• Philip II of Macedon and Alexander III of Macedon (the Great) were the first rulers to introduce the following military parts: infantry, cavalry, and navy;

• The Macedonian Phalanx was the most disciplined and trained army armed with long spears unknown until that time. It fought for several decades, often fighting battles with armies that outnumbered them by several times, but they didn’t lose a battle;

•  Ancient Macedonia, as the first European empire, introduced specific objectives and behaviors towards the oppressed peoples, such as: respect for the cultures of those conquered: absence of violence and plunder of those who voluntarily agreed to join the Empire; establishing specific national characteristics and organizing special defense on its territories;

•   Macedonians were the first people in Europe to accept Christianity as their religion which was later spread throughout Europe and to Asia;

• Saints Cyril and Methodij were brothers who came  from  Macedonia  and  translated  Christian religious texts using the Glagolic alphabet which they had devised, and that alphabet had its roots in Macedonia as well. 

 •   The first Macedonian (Slavic Speaking) University was opened in Ohrid from which, in addition to Christianity, a special Macedonian culture was developed and spread;

 •   The first Renaissance painting was  drawn  in Macedonia and it still hangs today in the St. Panteleimon Monastery in Nerezi, Skopje;

 •   Kokino near Kumanovo is one of the few Neolithic observatories in the world;

 •   Macedonia is one of the few regions in the world having many petroglyphs;  

 •   The Alshar deposit is one of the rare mineral deposits by the use of which science can reveal the sicret related to the origin of the universe;  

•   Macedonia is the homeland of Alexander III of Macedon (the Great) who, along with his father Philip II of Macedonia, is a prominent person whose contributions are declared to be landmarks in the history of waging wars and military tactics, and he is unparalleled thus far as a commander;

•  Aristotle, "the father" of science and philosophy, was born in Macedonia;

• Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, the most famous woman in the history of mankind - had Macedonian origin;

•  Justinian,one of the most famous Byzantine rulers, , whose legal provisions are taught today in all the universities worldwide, was born in the village Taor in Skopje;

•   St.  Dimitrija  (St.  Demetrius), known Christian marty, was born in Macedonia; 

•   Kemal Ataturk, "the father" of modern Turkey, was also born in Macedonia; 

•  Mother Teresa one of the most humanitarian women in the world was born in Skopje is her hometown,

To be continued

By Slave Nikolovski-Katin

Macedonian Timeline Australia