"The Dardanian Kingdom" presents the 2,400-year ancient history of the newest country in Europe, Kosovo. The publication of the book marks the first attempt of full 2,400-year historical recognition-years that passed the Albanian people of Kosovo. Famous archeologist and professor Luan Perzhita reveals the 2400 year history of Kosovo on his new "The Dardanian Kingdom" book.

Modern-day anthropological, linguistic, ethnographic and archeological researches have supported the thesis of Albanians being descendants of Illyrian tribes. In the 4th century, Dardanians, an Illyrian tribe living in the present-day territory of Kosovo around it founded the Dardanian Kingdom stretching as far as the Central Balkans- boundaries go north to the city of Nish (Serbia),south to the city of Kukes (Albania), Northern Macedonia including the city of Shkup/Skopje and northeastern Albania. The Dardanian Kingdom of the 4th century was led by its first King, Longar. After Longar, Kings Monun and Bato came. The main role played in the Dardanian Kingdom were the tribes of Dardania.

Since antiquity, the territory ruled had cultural contacts with neighboring countries starting in the Neolithic era, around 6000 B.C. and later. This culture pervaded by the Adriatic coast, through valleys of rivers, and a road network linking Dardania with Apennine peninsula (The Italian Peninsula). Cultural material obtained from archaeological excavations have shown that Dardan residents have created a cultural and ethnographic unit, which was similar to the Illyrians in general. Illyrians were famous as fine artisans, tradesmen and cattle-breeders, but also as fighters. The Illyrian art is reflected in ceramics, town architecture, bronze, silver and gold processing of artifacts, and in grave construction. This is testified by archeological finds of Neolithic period in the proximity of Ulpiana, Artane, etc. In the 3rd century BC, Queen Teuta and King Agron revived the Illyrian Kingdom that suffered a rapid increase, which indicated the specific role the kingdom began to play in international events at that time. The Dardania Kingdom managed to become a great military power during the reign of Kings Bato and Monun. Of all alliances, Dardania appeared as the main force in the Balkans. The controlled territories of Dardania Kingdom, a protection program through a construction of a series of castles, river valleys as well as passing along trade routes, began to develop. Such programs were orgnized in antiquity only by kingdoms that were well administered.

Almost all ancient history of the Dardanian kingdom has presented us with a series of re-occuring historic wars. Dardania fought with some of the countries such as Macedonia, Rome, etc...The Dardanian army was the most organized of that period. The Dardanian Kingdom survived the Roman invasions of the 5th ? 6th century. In that period the Illyrians began calling themselves Arberarians, and their country Arberia.

While, the Slavic peoples, including Serbs, immigrated from the Carpates and Asia to the Balkan Peninsula between the 7th- 12th centuries. Faced with the Christian culture of the consolidated Dardanians, Slavs took almost 300 years to finish the long process of their Christianization. Meanwhile, Dardania still has presence in all important events of the Byzantine world. Many kingdoms of that time, such as Macedonia, Thrace, Dake, etc...dissapeared. The Roman Empire, the Byzantine, and later Slavic invasions, changed the ethnic composition of the Balkans. Studies have shown that ancient Dardanian people have survived their medieval Albanian name for centuries. Also, language tests and studies have determined that the territory of Dardania, today's Kosovo and beyond, has been part of Albanian language since early times. Archaeological investigations have also shown that the population of Dardanians was kept stronger than it's individuality and ethinic consciousness elsewhere.

Expertly written by renowned archaeologist, university professor, Luan Përzhita, based on irrefutable facts and evidence, the book sheds light on the 2400-year history, which stands on the foundations of the new state of Kosovo. "Dardane Kingdom" was published by Publishing House "BOTART" in Tirana.