Macedonian Cultural Activists: Proto-national Manifestations in the XIX Century Cover Image

Македонските културни дејци: протонационални појави во XIX век
Macedonian Cultural Activists: Proto-national Manifestations in the XIX Century

Author(s): Aleksandar Sazdovski
Subject(s): Political history, Nationalism Studies, 19th Century
Published by: Институт за национална историја
Keywords: Proto-nationalism; cultural awareness; Macedonian nationalism; Macedonian Question; Eric J. Hobsbawm

Summary/Abstract: The article traces the development of Macedonian proto-nationalism in the 19th century, through the claims for cultural affirmation and distinction and their two key manifestations - the use of the vernacular language in the literary production, as well as in education, and the struggle for an independent church. The article locates the emergence of Macedonian proto-nationalism as early as the beginning of the 19th century when the first manifestations of cultural awareness and distinction found their expression in the use of vernacular dialects, as alternative to Greek. Then it proceeds to present the position of the Macedonian proto-national intellectuals on the need to use the Macedonian dialect in education. Finally, it looks at demands for an independent church, firstly in the re-establishment of the Ohrid Archbishopric, then in the Union with the Roman Catholic Church. The article, thus asserts two key arguments, namely that Macedonian proto-nationalism developed from the beginning of 19th century, as an independent movement, with its own specific expression and development; and can be divided into two periods: Pan-Slavic and anti-Greek (from the beginning of 19th century, to the 1840s); Macedonist and anti-Bulgarian (from the 1840s to the outbreak of the revolutionary movement).

  • Issue Year: 61/2017
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 107-121
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Macedonian