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The first settlement on the current location of Šabac dates from the Middle Ages, a document from 1454 records a town called Zaslon. It was part of the Slavic Serbian state until it fell to the Ottoman Empire. In 1470 the Turks built the first fortress in the town and named it Bejerdelen (trans. that which strikes from the side). The fort passed from Ottoman to Austrian rule several times as it was on a fairly important geostrategic position. The border town was also a prominent place for commerce.
The etymology of the newer and present name, Šabac, is uncertain, but it's probably a morphing of the word Sava. Šabac became a site of importance in Serbian history in the First Serbian Uprising. In 1806, Karadorde Petrovic led the Serbian insurgents into one of the first victories over the Turkish army near the village of Mišar near the city of Šabac. The Obrenovic family also left a mark on the city as the place of residence of the enlightened Jevrem Obrenovic, brother of Prince Miloš ObrenovicMilosh Obrenovich [MiloS Obrenovic] 1780 1860) was prince of Serbia between 1817 and 1839, and again from 1858 to 1860. He participated in the First Serbian uprising to its very end in 1813. He was one of the few leaders of the rebellion that stayed in Se, who modernized and urbanized the city after the Second Serbian Uprising . During this time (1820s-1840s), the first hospital, pharmacy, Serbian grammar school, gymnasium, theatre and musical society were established in Šabac.
The city was liberated from the Ottomans in 1867Events January 8 African-American men granted the right to vote in the District of Columbia January 11 Benito Juarez becomes Mexican president again January 30 Emperor Komei of Japan dies. Crown Prince Mutsuhito is expected to become the next Emperor of J. The first newspaper was printed in Šabac in 1883Events January January 16 The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, establishing the United States Civil service, is passed January 19 The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires begins service ( Roselle, New Jersey) It was built by Thomas E, and the city was also the first place in Serbia where women started visiting coffeeshops (on Sunday afternoons, as it was customary for men at the time). The city prospered until the First World War when it was severely destroyed and had its population halved (from ca. 14,000 to 7,000). The WWI is also remembered for the battle on the nearby CerCer is a mountain (687 m) situated in Serbia (100 kilometers west of Belgrade) where from 12th till 19th of August 1914 the world war one battle of Cer was fought between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. In history it is also known as battle for Jadar, because mountain where the Serbian army under general Stepa StepanovicStepa Stepanovic was Duke ( vojvoda) of the Serbian and Yugoslavian Armies who participated in 1876 to 1918 Serbia's wars. Stepa Stepanovic Photo courtesy of Stepanovic obtained significant achievements in the war against Turks, especially in the battle o won an early victory against Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. monarchy , was a dualistic state ( 1867 1918) in which the Kingdom of Hungary enjoyed self-government and representation in joint affairs (principally foreign relations and defence) with the west in August 1914Events January 4 77 seal hunters freeze to death on ice near Labrador January 5 Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday and a minimum wage of $5 for a day's labor February 13 Copyright: In New York City the ASCAP (for American Society of Compos, the first Allied victory in the war.
The Yugoslav period was marked by renewed progress. The chemical factory "Zorka" was opened in Šabac in 1938 and marked the city development. However, this was interrupted by World War II and the occupation by Nazi Germany. During this time, some 5,000 citizens of Šabac and 20,000 more people were imprisoned in the Šabac concentration camp, eventually causing the death of around 7,000 people. The city was finally liberated by the Partisans in 1944.
After WWII, Šabac grew into a modern industrial city with the aforementioned chemical plant "Zorka". It achieved particular growth in the 1970s when the first modern sports hall, hotel, stadium, as well as a number of schools, kindergartens and other institutions were built to accomodate for the population growth. Notably, the swamp Benska bara at the city outskirts was drained and turned into a residential neighbourhood, and a new concrete bridge over Sava was built that connected it with the surroundings better. The city and the periphery number around 70,000 residents today, making it one of the larger cities in Serbia.
See also: List of cities in Serbia and Montenegro