them to be Eastern European. Czech Republic Croatia (can variously be included in Southeastern or Central Europe) Hungary Poland Romania (can variously be included in Southeastern or Central Europe) Serbia (mostly placed in Southeastern but sometimes in Central Europe) Slovakia Slovenia (most often placed in Central Europe but sometimes in Southeastern Europe) Southeastern Europe Some countries in Southeast Europe can be considered part of Eastern Europe. Some of them can sometimes, albeit rarely, be characterized as belonging to Southern Europe, and some may also be included in Central Europe. In some media, "Southeast Europe" can thus partially overlap with "Eastern Europe" of the Cold War Era. The following countries are labelled Southeast European by some commentators, though others still consider them to be Eastern European. Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Cyprus (Geographically located in Asia, though most often considered a part of Southeastern Europe) Croatia (can variously be included in Southeastern or Central Europe) Greece (Sometimes grouped in Southern Europe with countries like Italy, Spain and Portugal) Moldova (usually grouped with the non-Baltic post-Soviet states but sometimes considered part of Southeastern Europe) Montenegro North Macedonia Romania (can variously be included in Southeastern or Central Europe) Serbia (mostly placed in Southeastern but sometimes in Central Europe) Slovenia (most often placed in Central Europe but sometimes in Southeast Europe) Turkey (East Thrace, the portion west of the Turkish Straits) Partially recognized states: Kosovo History Classical antiquity and medieval origins Ancient kingdoms of the region included Orontid Armenia, Caucasian Albania, Colchis and Iberia (not to be confused with the Iberian Peninsula in Western Europe), of which the former two were the predecessor states of Armenia and Azerbaijan respectively, while the latter two were the predecessor states of modern-day Georgia. These peripheral kingdoms were, either from the start or later on, incorporated into various Iranian empires, including the Achaemenid Persian, Parthian, and Sassanid Persian Empires. Parts of the Balkans and some more northern areas were ruled by the Achaemenid Persians as well, including Thrace, Paeonia, Macedon, and most of the Black Sea coastal regions of Romania, Ukraine, and Russia. Owing to the rivalry between the Parthian Empire and Rome, and later between Byzantium and the Sassanid Persians, the Parthians would invade the region several times, although it was never able to hold the area, unlike the Sassanids who controlled most of the Caucasus during their entire rule. The earliest known distinctions between east and