The word "Balkan" comes from Turkish: it means mountain and has been

 applied to the area since the early 19th century. The Ottoman Turks

 invaded the region at the end of the 14th century and the Turkish rule lasted

 for some 500 years. The Austro-Hungarian empire grew stronger in the

 north and loosened the grip of the Turks at the end of the 17th century. A

 major redefinition of the Balkan political boundaries was enacted by the

 Treaty of Berlin in 1878. Serbia, Montenegro and Romania became

 independent, and the principality of Bulgaria was created. Slovenia, Croatia

 stayed under the rule of Austria-Hungary which also took control of

 Bosnia-Herzegovina.