U początku kształtowania się na ziemiach polskich nowoczesnych nauk o człowieku i jego zróżnicowaniu „rasowym”

Author(s): Joanna Nowak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 20/2021

The article analyses the earliest period of the shaping modern human sciences, studies on human nature, the origins of humans, and physical and cultural diversity of humans in Poland.This process, including several separate stages, began under the influence of the ideas spread by the European Enlightenment and reflected the development of natural sciences that brought a deeper interest in humans, seen from a new perspective, free from religious determinism.Pioneering searches for a secular approach combined creationism and biblical tradition with a rational attitude based on achievements in natural history, linguistics, philosophy, history, and biblical critique.In the next stage, natural history constituted a distinct science with a precise scope of research that included, except mineralogy and botany, also zoology as well as human sciences perceived from a biological perspective. First definitions of anthropology described it as a science only emerging from natural history, with the aim to study both physical and moral aspects of humans.After 1831, human sciences experienced a different situation in various Polish research centers that finally ceased to exist, including Vilnius University, the leader in research in natural history. Under the influence of Romantic ideas, a view was propagated that mental ties were superior to physical ones, spiritual ties to blood kinship, culture was more important than biology.The emphasis in the study of humans was no longer on natural history, as in the late 18th century and the early 19th century, but on issues connected with mind and culture. The growth of both natural science and the humanities led to the establishment of new directions and areas of research that earlier were covered by natural history and history. Authors came to believe that study of humans requires a combination of various methods and cooperation of scholars representing numerous specialized sciences, however with their specific features preserved. This pioneering period lasted until the early 1860s when anthropology became an academic discipline on the Polish lands (translated by Jacek Serwański).

Turks and Tatars in Romania in the Bilingual Edition of the 𝐷𝑜𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑗𝑎 / 𝐷𝑜𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑎 Newspaper

Author(s): Metin Omer / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

This article analyzes the content of the bilingual edition of the Dobruja newspaper, which was published between 1919 and 1924 in Bazargic (present-day Dobrich). Until 1921, it was published in Romanian and Ottoman Turkish, and later only in the latter. Dobruja is important because it was the first bilingual newspaper of the Muslim community in interwar Romania that existed for a long time. Also, the main authors of the articles published in this newspaper were important figures of the community, such as Halil Fehim (the mufti of Caliacra County), Mehmet Niyazi (the national poet of the Tatars and a Turkish language teacher at the Muslim Seminary in Medgidia), and Ibrahim Themo who had an Albanian background and was an important leader of the Young Turks. After presenting the context in which the Dobruja newspaper came out, the article analyzes the content of bilingual editions from three perspectives: the demands that the Turks and Tatars made before the Romanian authorities, the organization of the community, and international developments. The author points out that the main idea encountered in the articles published in the newspaper is that the Turkish and Tatar minority was a safe one for the Romanian state because it had no territorial claims. This message was important, given that Southern Dobruja had an ethnic composition in which the Romanian ethnicity was a minority, and that the territory was claimed by Bulgaria. Thus, the reiteration of this by the elites of the Turks and Tatars was necessary for the attempts to obtain the satisfaction of some demands and support in the initiatives to improve the situation of the community. The Dobruja newspaper was the means by which this message was conveyed.

Entwicklung der Architektur und des Bauwesens Während der ersten Europäisierungswelle im Fürstentum Bulgarien und die Rolle Seines Herrschers (1887–1912)

Author(s): Peter Stoyanovich / Language(s): German Issue: 3-4/2023

The study examines the development of architecture and urban planning in the decades of Bulgaria’s strongest Europeanization after the liberation from Ottoman rule. In 25 years, Bulgaria was transformed from an oriental province into a country with a European look and style, and its major cities successfully approached the progress of Central European capitals. The work and lives of the most important foreign and Bulgarian architects who contributed to this wave of modernization are examined in detail. The study is a serious investigation aimed at both a specialist audience and an interdisciplinary readership.

The Bulgarian Textile Industry (1800-1912) between the Center and the Periphery

Author(s): Ivan Roussev / Language(s): English Issue: 3-4/2023

Martin Ivanov, Book review

Същност и организация на картотеката и архива на Държавна сигурност (9 септември 1944 г. – 1949 г.)

Author(s): Rusalena Pendzhekova-Hristeva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2023

The study presents the problem of the essence, organisation, and functional development of the card file and archive of the State Security, in the period September 9, 1944 – 1949. The transformations of the services, departments, and sections that are directly involved in the operational report, card file, and archive are tracked. The main administrative and internal normative documents are analysed, which refer to the card file and archive of the State Security and which objectify the existing problems and trends at that time. The importance of this specific archival complex in its capacity as a carrier of retrospective documentary information and a specific source base for the researcher is derived.

Нови документални свидетелства за живота и делото на Георги С. Раковски

Author(s): Mira Markova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2023

Кети Мирчева – един независим изследовател на 65 години

Author(s): Nikolay Aretov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 47/2023

EXPERT’S INSIGHTS: Europe and the War in Ukraine: Support, Degree of Participation or Neutrality

Author(s): Yanaki Stoilov / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

The text critically examines the intricate interplay between politics, ideology, and law within the ongoing war in Ukraine. The primary aim is to comprehensively assess the multifaceted implications of the conflict for Europe’s position in the evolving global context. Through the presentation of ten key points, the author explores various topics, including the erosion of sovereignty due to the Russian intervention, the absence of formal war declarations, and the far-reaching consequences of the conflict on a global scale. Additionally, the discourse delves into the crisis facing the international legal order, the emergence of a more complex bipolar world, and the expansion of EU law at the expense of national legislation.

Идеята за централно училище в просветните концепции на Найден Геров (1850–1877)

Author(s): Antoaneta Kirilova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2024

This article delves into Nayden Gerov’s proposal to transform the Plovdiv boys’ school into a “central” institution aimed at preparing educators and clergy for both local communities and broader Bulgarian territories. Drawing on published documents and archival sources, the study traces Gerov’s endeavors in various societal roles, encompassing his roles as the school’s founder and inaugural teacher, a prominent Bulgarian public figure, and a Russian diplomat in Plovdiv. The narrative explores the realization of Gerov’s visionary concept and sheds light on the landscape of Bulgarian educational initiatives during the Revival.

„Каква промяна на времената“ – цар Фердинанд I в изгнание в Кобург (1918–1948)

Author(s): Franziska Andrea Bartl / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2024

The biography of Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria has been repeatedly examined. Often, the focus is placed on his years as Prince and Tsar of Bulgaria. At the same time, the period after 1918, during which he spent a significant portion of his time in Coburg, the ancestral home of his family from Saxony-Coburg and Gotha, has received little attention in research. The present essay delves into these years of exile and explores the development of Ferdinand from the autumn of 1918 until he died in 1948. It presents the former Tsar of Bulgaria as a “private individual”, describing his everyday life away from grand politics and portraying him as a patron, supporter, and scholar. Finally, the essay discusses Ferdinand’s role during National Socialism, contextualizing it against the backdrop of the development of his Coburg homeland and his relationships with Jewish individuals.

Синтезиран преглед на отношенията между комунистическия режим и Църквата в България

Author(s): Nikolay Poppetrov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2024

REVISITING ZEMUN AND BELGRADE THROUGH THE LENS OF OTTOMAN MOBILITY (1772 – 1826)

Author(s): Zeynep Arslan Çalık / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

The study of human mobility has been a crucial aspect of history, enabling the integration of diverse communities and cultures transcending socio-cultural differences and political boundaries. The focus of this study is the examination of the significance of Zemun and Belgrade in Ottoman mobility during the period of 1772 – 1826, documented by the Habsburg authorities. The registers entitled “Türkische Untertanen in den Erblanden, mit Listen” (Turkish Subjects in the Hereditary Lands, with Lists) contain information on 6,930 Ottoman subjects, dating back to as early as 1772, and encompassing a vast geographic expanse. This study aims to scrutinize the demographic, socio-economic, and geographical factors associated with Ottoman mobility, emphasizing the pivotal role played by Zemun and Belgrade in facilitating interaction with Europe and the Mediterranean region, particularly through commercial activities. The study provides conclusive evidence and novel data for further research.

L’OEUVRE DE SAÜL MÉZAN ET L’INFLUENCE FRANÇAISE SUR LES SÉFARADES EN BULGARIE

Author(s): Vladimir Paunovski / Language(s): French Issue: 1/2024

Saul or Shaul Yeroham Mezan is a doctor with specialization in surgery and urology, Doctor of Medicine, officer, public figure, Zionist, anti-fascist, publicist, journalist, poet, historian, and folklorist – researcher of Sephardism, political scientist and current political analyst. He was born in the city of Tatar-Pazardjik (today Pazardjik, Bulgaria) in 1893, and died far from his homeland, as a victim of Nazism, probably around 1943. Nowadays his name is known to a few researchers, as the predominant writings about him and his work are episodic in time and fragmentary in their subject matter. His literary and journalistic works, as well as his socio-political views, remain almost unknown to the general public, including, unfortunately, to the Jewish community in Bulgaria. The objective of the paper is the French-speaking environment in which S. Mezan was formed, and his works in French in various fields of the knowledge, which prevail over the ones in Bulgarian both in quantity and in terms of scientific and social significance. The author also pays special attention to the numerous yet scattered references for the French influence on the language, the way of life and the culture of the Sephardim in Bulgaria in the book by S. Mezan dedicated to them.

Новооткрити османотурски документи за рударството в българските земи през XV–XVII век

Author(s): Stefan Dimitrov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2024

This research presents new insights into the development of mining in Bulgarian territories during the 15th to 17th centuries, drawing from previously unpublished Ottoman Turkish documents. These documents, sourced from the Ottoman Archives at the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey in Istanbul, offer valuable information on various aspects of mining activity. The author highlights a significant contribution to scholarly understanding by introducing, for the first time, details about the presence of kürecis (individuals responsible for melting ore in furnaces) in Bulgarian lands during the late 15th century. Additionally, the study sheds light on the religious affiliations and demographic shifts among kürecis over time, providing a unique perspective on this aspect of mining history. Furthermore, the research uncovers new data regarding the involvement of Voynuks in security functions within the mines, as well as the participation of Müselems and Yürüks in the ore remelting process. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the roles and dynamics within the mining industry during the specified period.

За децата с любов и разбиране

Author(s): Yura Konstantinova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2024

Nikšić Area in the Principality of Montenegro after the Berlin Congress and International Recognition in 1878

Author(s): Jovan Muhadinović / Language(s): English Issue: 1-2/2024

On the basis of extensive research in the State Archives of Montenegro in Cetinje (SAM) within the fund of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Principality of Montenegro for the period from 1880 to 1896, as well as relevant literature, we analyzed the situation in Nikšić. Nikšić with its surroundings was one of the largest regions that was annexed to Montenegro after international recognition at the Berlin Congress in 1878. We must emphasize that archival documents with these details were used for the first time in this paper. Documents of similar or the same provenance make an integral part of some monographs used in this paper, but not in this issue and with this much detail. They are about agrarian reform and the distribution of land to the families of Montenegrin soldiers. However, there is hardly no mention that the land was illegally taken from its legal owners, thus violating the provisions of the Berlin Congress of 1878. It is a well-established opinion of readers, including some historians, that Prince Nikola I Petrović Njegoš and the Montenegrin government did everything to comply with the decisions of the Berlin Congress in 1878, which recognized Montenegro internationally. However, the truth is completely different. Muslims who were in conflicts with the Principality of Montenegro for centuries had become its subjects. The best areas of land in the newly liberated regions belonged to them. Contrary to the decisions from Berlin, the Montenegrin authorities did everything to prevent the return of the refugee owners to their property. A huge number of families of Montenegrin warriors who fought against the Ottomans for centuries settled large areas of abandoned land. Cetinje’s secret policy was to prevent the owners from returning through bureaucratic pressure and delay of the process. We found that in relation to the opinion about the correct attitude of the Montenegrin authorities towards Muslims - subjects of the Ottoman Empire, who were almost entirely the population of the Nikšić region, the reality was quite different. Montenegrin authorities have been working for years to evict the Muslim population and appropriate their goods and real estate. Despite the provisions of the Congress of Berlin, which guaranteed all rights to Muslims, the Montenegrin government systematically carried out this intention to the end.

The Migration Movements of the Macedonian Bulgarians to the Third Bulgarian State (1878–1912)

Author(s): Georgi N. Georgiev / Language(s): English Issue: 1-2/2024

The migration of Bulgarians from Macedonia to the territory of free Bulgaria represents a long and multifaceted process with significant political, demographic and sociocultural implications for the new Bulgarian history. This study provides an overview of the foundational stage of this process spanning from the Liberation in 1878 to The Balkan Wars of 1912–1913. Its internal periodization is determined by the various phases of the Macedonian question, characterized by uprisings, wars and diplomatic endeavors. Throughout this period, migration from Macedonia extended beyond refugees and their settlement, encompassing temporary stays and repeated permanent movements back and forth for economic and other reasons. In many respects and instances, these movements were regulated, restricted and even effectively reversed through the efforts of the Bulgarian state, which prioritized preventing mass emigration from Macedonia in order to avoid the de-Bulgarianization of the region. However, this dynamic shifted dramatically with the Balkan Wars and the First World War, after which the migration of Macedonian Bulgarians became unstoppable, predominantly refugee-driven (or at least forced) and irreversible. In perspective, a very significant part of the modern Bulgarian nation turned out to be Macedonian-Bulgarian in its geographical origin, genealogy and collective memory.

The Pro-Boer Campaign in Bulgaria and Bulgarian Volunteers in the South African War of 1899–1902

Author(s): Boris Gorelik / Language(s): English Issue: 1-2/2024

Bulgarians were among the 2,600 foreigners who took part in the South African War, also known as the Second Anglo-Boer War. Their presence helped to make this colonial conflict a matter of international importance. This paper is an attempt to consider the Bulgarian involvement within a context of the pro-Boer campaign in Bulgaria, using published sources of a Bulgarian and international origin and applying the biographical method. Bulgarians travelled to the Transvaal at their own risk and expense. Most of them had military experience and, evidently, expected to improve their combat skills in a modern war against a leading European army. Their sense of kinship with the Boers was evoked by a nationalist paradigm. Bulgarians tended to view the Boers as fellow agriculturalists whose way of life was being threatened by a stronger nation. Most Bulgarians believed that the British Empire, the adversary of the Boers, was to blame for the revision of the terms of the Treaty of San Stefano at the Congress of Berlin. Therefore, Bulgarians delighted in the British misfortunes in the South African War. This sentiment may explain why no volunteer from Bulgaria is known to have fought for the British in that war. Bulgarian volunteers, representing various social groups and occupations, took part in some of the major battles of the South African War. The involvement of these volunteers was an expression of the Bulgarian solidarity with the Boers. Investigating this phenomenon gives us a deeper understanding of the problems and aspirations of Bulgarians at the turn of the twentieth century.

Progress of the Reserve Officers School Military Educational System in Bulgarian Armed Forces in the Second Half of the Twentieth Century

Author(s): Nikolay Pavlovski / Language(s): English Issue: 1-2/2024

The research examines the development of the school military education system for reserve officers in the Bulgarian Armed Forces after the end of the Second World War until the end of the 20th century. The article is based on the collection, study, analysis, summarization and derivation of trends on the issue on foundation on the research of the historical material, find in the histories of military academies and schools in the country, supported by several archival sources and reports on the topic. The progress of the development process of mass armies throughout the world has been accompanied by the rapid expansion of the system of training officers for the active forces and those for the reserve component. Numerous military academies and training schools are opened, and the preparation from a centralized type is transformed into a decentralized one. The subsequent consolidation of the military academies and schools leads to a return to the leading role of the Reserve Officer Schools in the training of officers for the reserve. Later, a separate military unit is created, which is responsible for their teaching. Uniform and generally valid rules for all institutions preparing such personnel enter into force.

The Empire and Its Subjects: A Look at Ottoman Court Inheritance Inventories in the 17th and 18th Centuries

Author(s): Dzheni Ivanova / Language(s): English Issue: 1-2/2024