ABSTRACT
This chapter drawing on historical report shows how a change of leadership from eastern, Islamic Turkey to western European Catholic Austro-Hungary influences not only on social and economic conditions but also on primary schooling. The area of land now known as Bosnia was first inhabited by tribal groups, as was much of Europe at the time, which was defeated by the Romans; the land became part of the Roman Empire and known as Illyricum. Bosnia is first named as a distinct territory, known as Bosona and ruled by a Byzantine Emperor. The Ottoman Turks governed Bosnia for 400 years during which time the Muslim population continued to grow, partly through emigration of Christians and partly through conversations to Islam. Under Austro-Hungarian governorship the political climate of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) changed dramatically, with Muslims and the ruling elites losing much of the power that they had gained and with other ethnic groups moving into positions of power.
