Kosovo's history is deeply intertwined with the history of the Balkans and the Serbian and Albanian peoples. It was a medieval center of the Serbian state and has significant Serbian Orthodox monasteries. Over centuries, particularly during the Ottoman Empire, a large Albanian population also grew in the region, and Islam became a significant religion. After the Balkan Wars, Kosovo became part of Serbia and later Yugoslavia. Under the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo was an autonomous province, but tensions between the Albanian majority and the Serbian minority persisted. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, these tensions escalated, leading to the Kosovo War (1998-1999) between Serbian forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army, with NATO intervention. After a period of UN administration, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, though its statehood is not recognized by Serbia and several other countries. The economy is developing but faces challenges. The population is overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian, with a significant Serbian minority and smaller other groups. The spiritual context is predominantly Muslim (among the Albanian majority) and Serbian Orthodox Christian (among the Serbian minority). Religion is closely tied to ethnic identity.