This chapter sets the scene for the book by discussing historical legacies, changing borders and meanings of Serbia, and the Serbs relations with their neighbours, the empires and Great Powers, and how these factors shaped the modern Serbian society. The chapter problematizes the continuity between pre-modern and modern Serbian states and challenges the national framework through which the Balkan history is usually approached. It also discusses how unique is the history of Serbia and to what extent its historical development is part of broader regional and European historical experiences. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion about the authors approach and the books key arguments and themes.