Migrations in Serbia during the 18th century and patriarchal society institutions

Miroslav, M, Svirčević

Glasnik Etnografskog instituta SANU

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http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/Article.aspx?ID=0350-08610452311S

2004-2020/03/05/22:41:05

Ever since the Turks penetrated the Balkans from Asia Minor, migrations and ethnic composition changes occurred very frequently in Serbia and the Balkan Peninsula in general. These migrations and ethnic composition changes especially characterized the 18th century period, when initial conditions were set for subsequent liberation wars against the Turks in the 19th century. The reasons bringing about these mass migrations could be divided into three groups: 1, a military-political reason, 2, an economic-geographical reason, and 3, an hygienic-health reason. All of them operated simultaneously, causing mass migrations and changes in the demography of Serbia and the Balkans in general. Because of these migrations, a new population group of Serbs was created in the jurisdiction of pasha in Belgrade, that created in turn, a few very important establishments based on patriarchal culture and civilization. These are the new bodies: family co-operative associations (family committee, master of the house, lady of the house, members of the co-operative associations) village and village headman self-management (village assembly, village headman, villein, headman assembly, principality headman). All of these establishments have the same origin and functioned in a very similar manner based on ancient common law rules. The similarities between these bodies could be recognized in a twofold way, based on a correlation with 1, family committee - village assembly - headman assembly, and 2, master of the house - villein - principality headman. There are no real differences among them. The difference is visible only in their personal and territorial range.

migrations, households, patriarchal civilization, principal assembly, principal prince, village assembly, village prince, village villeins,