CONSIDERAȚII CU PRIVIRE LA TRANSFORMĂRILE ECONOMICE ȘI ORGANIZAȚIONALE ALE BRESLELOR TRANSILVĂNENE ÎN PERIOADA SECOLELOR XVII – XX
CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE ECONOMICAL AND ORGANISATIONAL TRANSFORMATIONS OF THE TRANSYLVANIAN GUILDS DURING THE PERIOD OF THE 17TH – 20TH CENTURY

Summary/Abstract: Transylvania developed an extended handicraft activity, manifested through the guilds of the Saxons. The guild production was oriented mainly to the local consumption needs. The development of the handicrafts was made by the Saxons to whom we owe the beginnings of the industrialization on the one hand, and on the other hand we „owe” the industrial turning back of Transylvania during the 18th and 19t century. Up to the 19th century Transylvania had an outlet limited to the Transylvanian cities and royal courts of the Romanian Principats, these being generally the supplying markets with raw materials. Some luxury products were imported from the Orient or the Western Europe. The qualified workers were to be found only within the guilds that set up by means of the unified statutes sometimes absurd regulations concerning the admission within the guild and awarding the title of “guild master” who was the only one allowed to produce a certain product. Outside the guilds there were no qualified workers al all. The 18th century brings along the beginnings of the industrialization that hardly finds its way within Transylvania because of its statutes within the Austrian – Hungarian Monarchy, where the competition was not wished and where the guilds were still maintaining their medieval privileges. Later, within Transylvania there is awarded the freedom of industrial work in 1859, and in 1878, by law, the guilds are abolished.

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