The Figures of the Communist Power in Bulgarian and (Post-)Yugoslav Cinema

Author(s): Gergana Doncheva / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2015

This article is the first result within the research project entitled The Memory about Communism Constructed in Post-Yugoslav and in New Bulgarian Cinemas (1990 – 2011) whose goal is to explore in a comparative perspective the discursive models of imagining of the near past – the so-called communist / socialist epoch constructed in the films produced after 1989 in Bulgaria and in the previous Yugoslav republics. In the text, the topic on communism legacy in cinema is discussed in its two forms: 1) movies made during the historical period 1944 – 1990 and 2) movies resurrecting the near past in the course of the latest decades. Precisely is outlined the pattern of representations before 1989 in Bulgarian and Yugoslav cinematographies and the significant ideological tropes launched by the political regime in order to establish its power and values: mythologization of the Resistance – emergence of the partisan’s film ‘genre’, glorification of the political leader – Tito, Georgi Dimitrov and Todor Zhivkov. The author points to the differences in building up of the cinematic cult in Bulgarian and in Yugoslav context. Further, the discursive shift in depicting the political leaders is traced emphasizing that in the Bulgarian version the figure of the communist power was multiplied via the images of Georgi Dimitrov, Todor Zhivkov and Lyudmila Zhivkova.

Към Георги Бакалов (1943–2012)

Author(s): Vasilka Tapkova-Zaimova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5-6/2013

In Memoriam to Georgi Bakalov

Русофилията като елемент от националния популизъм в Гърция

Author(s): Vassilis Petsinis / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 45/2016

This article concentrates on the phenomenon of Russophilia in Greece and situates it within the context of national populism. Numerous political analysts and journalists have not examined Russophilia in Greece as a component of a national populism which cuts across the traditional ‘left-right’ spectrum. This research is very topical at a time when Russia is emerging as a competitor to the EU and the Kremlin is searching for political allies throughout Central and Southeast Europe. This study demonstrates that the foundations of public Russophilia in Greece are feebler than many external commentators tend to estimate. A rather ahistorical and almost ‘Messianic’ notion of Russophilia interweaves with national populism in the light of the dispute with the EU and Germany over the management of the economic crisis.

Russophilia as a Component of National Populism in Greece

Author(s): Vassilis Petsinis / Language(s): English Issue: 46/2016

This article concentrates on the phenomenon of Russophilia in Greece and situates it within the context of national populism. Numerous political analysts and journalists have not examined Russophilia in Greece as a component of a national populism which cuts across the traditional ‘left-right’ spectrum. This research is very topical at a time when Russia is emerging as a competitor to the EU and the Kremlin is searching for political allies throughout Central and Southeast Europe. This study demonstrates that the foundations of public russophilia in Greece are feebler than many external commentators tend to estimate. A rather ahistorical and almost ‘Messianic’ notion of Russophilia interweaves with national populism in the light of the dispute with the EU and Germany over the management of the economic crisis.

Medieval Dynasties in Medieval Studies: A Historiographic Contribution

Author(s): Dušan Zupka / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2019

The article provides an overview of the current research on the notion, idea and perception of dynasties in medieval Europe. It deals with a variety of studies and books that focus on dynasty and dynastic historical writing within Central Europe, as well as outside this region. The main goal is to provide a selection of examples of how the notion of dynasty can be used in current historiographic discourse. First and foremost, dynasty in medieval studies seems to be (to a certain extent) another intellectual construct applied to the period in question. Just like any other similar concepts, like medieval, feudalism, ritual, community, etc., it helps historians to describe our modern understanding of the phenomena. As a result, dynasty has become a highly fashionable term and a popular recurring theme used in the historiography of the Middle Ages. Medieval dynasties are defined based on family, kinship and shared tradition. In fact, they should not be seen only as a biological line of relatives, but, even more importantly, as a political construct. Last, but by no means least, dynasty should always be scrutinized in connection with genealogy, idoneity and legitimacy.

Vývoj železiarskeho priemyslu v spišskogemerskej banskej oblasti v rokoch 1867–1914

Author(s): Lukáš Patera / Language(s): Slovak Issue: 1/2024

The presented study deals with the issue of the development of the ironindustry in the Spiš-Gemer mining area from the Austro-Hungariansettlement to the outbreak of the First World War. The work followsthe onset of industrialization in the Upper Hungarian iron industry, thedevelopment of metallurgical technology, iron ore mining, transport,the creation of export networks between Hungary and other CentralEuropean regions. In the second half of the 19th century, the nature ofUpper Hungarian metallurgy changed from proto-industrial to a moderncapitalist way of doing business. Since the 1870s, after the creation ofthe first railways in the monitored area, private foreign capital penetratesthe metallurgy of Spiš and Gemer, and the rate of export of iron ores toAustrian and Prussian ironworks increases. The Spiš-Gemer mining areais undergoing a transformation, which includes it becoming the mostimportant producer of ore and pig iron in Hungary.

The Crossing Itineraries of John of Capestrano and John Hunyadi, 1455–1456

Author(s): Iulian Mihai Damian / Language(s): English Issue: 61/2024

The present article reconstructs from a comparative perspective the itineraries of John Hunyadi and the Franciscan John of Capestrano (1386–1456), from their encounter in Győr (June 1455) to the death of the former governor in Zemun, near Belgrade, on 11 August 1456. The older scholarship on the subject is integrated with fresh information from new editions of Capestrano’s correspondence, Franciscan sources left unexplored by historical research, and a closer examination of the already-known documentation. The result is a much clearer and more coherent picture of the itineraries of the two historical figures, which modifies or completes the data already known. The comparative perspective, which emphasizes the relations between the two leaders, proves particularly useful for the periods when their itineraries overlap, such as during their joint journey through the eastern and the southern regions of the Hungarian kingdom (December 1455-January 1456), which has allowed the identification of stops that were previously unknown (such as Turda and Hațeg). The extraordinary mobility of the two personalities and the need to organize truly mobile “chancelleries” are discussed in the same comparative key. From a methodological point of view, the study is intended as a reflection on the need to overcome the limitations of the biographical approach in studying itineraries, especially by integrating contemporary tools from the digital humanities.

TOWARDS A NEW HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY: THE POSSIBILITIES OF GIS-AIDED HISTORICAL STATISTICS AND FINE-SCALE, LONGUE DURÉE AND SUPRANATIONAL COMPARISONS IN CROATIAN HISTORY

Author(s): Gábor Demeter,Dino Mujadžević,Beatrix F. Romhányi,Miklós Fóti,Klára Hegyi,Maja Katušić,Éva Simon / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2024

In the last decade a number of serial sources were processed by several research groups separately for the Medieval, Ottoman and Early Modern periods in Hungary. However, the structure of these allow them both to be integrated to each other and be visualized on maps with the aid of GIS-techniques. The character of these integrated databases thus allow researchers (1) to map and investigate territorial patterns, regional inequalities of different scale, (2) the temporal changes in territorial patterns and (3) to run multivariate statistics on bulk data. The success of the GISta Hungarorum in Hungary (www.gistory.hu, http://gistahungarorum.abtk. hu ) drove the different research groups to unify their forces and create a longue-durée, fine-resolution (settlement or parish-level) database for the Kingdom of Hungary (1330-2010) in order to analyze history from a different perspective and to help regional planning by assessing path dependency, drawing optimal landuse, etc. Furthermore, broadening the cooperation the investigation area was extended to Croatia for several time horizons to be processed in the future with the aid of Croatian colleagues involved in Hungarian projects (1330, 1500, Ottoman period, 1780s). This article of methodological focus introduces the first results of the joint work on Croatian examples – with the aim of giving a new perspective in historical geography and historical statistics.

Mythological Creatures in the Book of Job and Their Interpretation in the Septuagint and in the Slavonic Translations

Author(s): Iskra Hristova Shomova / Language(s): English Issue: 1-2/2024

The first Greek version of the Book of Job included in the Septuagint is a considerable poetic feat characterized by Hellenic influence. In the 6th century a Greek catena with commentaries on the book of Job was completed containing detailed entries by Olympiodorus, John Chrysostom, Polychronios, and Didymus the Blind, as well as fragments by other authors. Some medieval catenae of the Book of Job include miniatures of mythological characters, which are the subject of the present paper: three medieval Slavonic translations of the Book of Job from the Septuagint, and two early Slavonic translations from the Vulgate (one Croatian and one Czech). There is also a translation done by Francisk Skoryna, which includes some parts translated from the Septuagint and others from the Vulgate. The paper discusses the Greek translations of the names of the mythological creatures in the Septuagint, as well as the new mythological creatures included in the Greek text: the primordial monster Rahab; Leviathan; Môt, the ruler of the nether world; the Sirens, adopted from Greek mythology; and the sea-god Yamm. The study provides parallels with the Vulgate text and offers comparison with the names of the mythological creatures in the Slavonic translations. The translators from the Septuagint follow the Greek text and sometimes explain the ideas encoded in the Greek expressions.

Corrections, Conjectures, and Additions to Michael Psellus, Epistulae (Berlin and Boston, 2019)

Author(s): Johannes Haubold,Stratis Papaioannou / Language(s): English Issue: 1-2/2024

The first complete critical edition of Psellos’ letters, published in 2019, contains errors – the editor confesses, with regret. Errors were to some degree inevitable given the extent and complexity of the edited text, yet one always hopes to avoid as many of them as one is able prior to publication. Still, it could be that, only once a book acquires its existence as a printed work, deficiencies become apparent. Or perhaps the old dictum still stands that “the lover is blind toward what he loves” (Plato, Laws 731e5–6; Psellos, Letter 170,13–14). Whatever the case, the present article is a collaborative effort which hopes to restore as many of these shortcomings as possible, so as to allow readers to fully appreciate Psellos’ literary art and use of Greek and also to prepare the ground for the still needed translation of the Psellian letter-corpus into a modern language.

Câteva date arheologice asupra fortificațiilor de la Caransebeș

Author(s): Silviu Oța / Language(s): Romanian Issue: XXXIX/2023

Archaeological research in Caransebeș began in 2017. In the same year, the first fragments of the small fortification inside the city were identified. This was still kept at a height of one meter and had a width of 2.20 m at the base. Another segment of the wall was also investigated during the year 2022, having the same constructive characteristics. Unfortunately, it was much more poorly preserved. Another fragment from the southern area was identified on another private property on Romanilor Street. It belonged to its southern area and is preserved at a height of approximately 1.5 m. The inner and outer walls were destroyed. It was built of river stone bound with good quality mortar. Behind the walls, on the surface of the ground, the presence of other structures, probably made of stone that belonged to this fortification can also be observed. The three precincts were also identified in the northern part of the city. They belonged to the fortified city, in the area of „the Transylvania Gate”. The material used was diverse, starting from broken quarry stone to cut blocks. However, no archaeological research was carried out here. The available maps from the 17th-18th centuries reveal the layouts made during the Austrian rule compared to its image during the Ottoman rule.

Das 27. Münchner Bohemistentreffen (10. März 2023)

Author(s): Camilla Lopez / Language(s): German Issue: 2/2024

The 27th Munich Bohemist Meeting, held on March 10, 2023, marked a significant return to in-person gatherings after two years of pandemic-induced virtual sessions. Scholars from various countries, including Czechia, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, and the USA, convened to discuss current research projects on Czech and Slovak history and culture. The event featured diverse presentations, ranging from early modern patronage to trade and mass violence around 1900, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and epochal diversity. Highlights included discussions on collective music promotion in Vienna, the role of Prague's female artists in the First Czechoslovak Republic, and the regulation of the book trade between Vienna and Prague. The meeting underscored the importance of networks and institutions in shaping sociohistorical transformations, with a particular focus on Vienna and Prague. The final panel addressed social orders and public space in multiethnic Cisleithania and interwar Czechoslovakia, exploring themes of violence, nation, and status. The event concluded with informal exchanges, reflecting the ongoing interest in Bohemian studies.

Zwischen Donau, Moldau und March (Arnold Suppan) Konferenzbericht zu „Erinnerungsorte und Erinnerungskulturen interdisziplinär – fachspezifi sche und fachdidaktische Annäherungen“

Author(s): Arnold Suppan / Language(s): German Issue: 2/2024

The report discusses the intertwined histories of Austrians, Czechs, and Sudeten Germans from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. It highlights their political, economic, social, and cultural connections, including shared rulers, markets, and architectural heritage. The text also covers the impact of significant historical events such as the Hussite Wars, the Thirty Years' War, and the rise of nationalism in the 19th century. It examines the consequences of World War I, the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the establishment of the Republic of Austria and Czechoslovakia. The document further explores the effects of World War II, the Nazi occupation, and the post-war expulsion of Sudeten Germans. Finally, it addresses the Cold War period, the fall of communism, and the subsequent reintegration of Austria and the Czech Republic into the European community.

„Die großen Erzählungen zu Europa“ Interdisziplinäres Symposium (15. bis 16. März 2024, Wien)

Author(s): Thomas Köhler,Christian Mertens / Language(s): German Issue: 2/2024

The interdisciplinary symposium "Die großen Erzählungen zu Europa," held in Vienna from March 15-16, 2024, explored the ideological foundations and narratives shaping Europe and Central Europe. Organized by historians Thomas Köhler and Christian Mertens, the event featured contributions from philosophy, history, and political science. Keynote speakers, including Aleida Assmann and Marie-Luisa Frick, discussed Europe's intellectual foundations, the Enlightenment's contested values, and the historical evolution of European integration. The symposium emphasized the importance of peace, shared values, and the challenges posed by recent geopolitical events, such as Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Workshops delved into European virtues, the origins of integration, and Europe's role in countering extremism. The event underscored the need for a united and resilient Europe, capable of defending its democratic principles and human rights against internal and external threats.

Tendencies in Urban Fabric Extension at the Turn of the Century and Beyond: Networks and Centralization in the Urban Planning of the 11th District of Budapest

Author(s): Domonkos Wettstein,Károly Zubek / Language(s): English Issue: 3-4/2024

South Buda (11th district of Budapest), as an artificially designed district, displays a revealing combination of urban design tendencies at the turn of the previous century. Its development was preceded by a multi-stage urban planning process in which the ring-radius idea, the network and early garden city ideas emerged in interaction with each other. The paper deals with the urban characteristics at multiple levels of scale, the appearance of urban planning concepts and the evolution of the urban fabric. It primarily examines the impact of international and domestic trends in the history of ideas, and how contemporary concepts affected the realization process of urban development.

Urban Transitions in Kraków in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries: The Inner and Outer Rings

Author(s): Michał Baczkowski / Language(s): English Issue: 3-4/2024

Significant changes took place in the urban space of Kraków in the 19th and first half of the 20th century, partly related to the liquidation of the old city fortifications (1806–1815). An oval-shaped park (Planty) was established in place of the demolished medieval fortifications and filled moats in 1815–1834. Then, a circular street was marked out around the new park. In the second half of the 19th century, it acquired a monumental character as a result of the construction of many public buildings. In 1912, in place of the liquidated Austrian fortifications from the 1860s, construction began of the second city ring. The new circular street, resembling a metropolitan boulevard, was to serve residential and representative functions. This concept was partly related to the Viennese Ring, and in terms of communication to the Viennese Gürtel.

Open Spaces, Green Areas: The Szeged Circular Embankment as a Green Ring in the Plans of Endre Pálfy-Budinszky

Author(s): Anna Váraljai / Language(s): English Issue: 3-4/2024

In 1879, the Hungarian city of Szeged was destroyed by the flooding Tisza River, necessitating its rebuilding from Lajos Lechner’s plans. With it, Szeged developed a central urban structure, with a circular embankment aligned with the boulevards protecting it from floods (Szegedi Körtöltés). In the 1930s, Dr. Endre Pálfy-Budinszky, Szeged’s chief architect, began developing a modern green space system plan, focusing on the Tisza and its green belt, the circular embankment, and the green space along the embankment. To ensure that the embankment would function as a green belt rather than a border, he also considered the city’s other green spaces and planned green strips between the boulevards. He also adopted Gestalt psychology in designing a green space network starting with the circular embankment’s characteristics. This study introduces measures for green spaces in the 1930s, their cultural and intellectual background, and their European context based on historical sources and archival documents.

Urban Rings as Indicators of Urban Transformation: The City of Nikšić, Montenegro

Author(s): Vladimir Bojković / Language(s): English Issue: 3-4/2024

After liberation from the Ottoman Empire in 1877, Nikšić became part of Montenegro, a sovereign and internationally recognized state after the Berlin Congress in 1878 became. With the permission of the Austro-Hungarian authorities, Croatian architect Josip Šilović Slade (1828–1911) was invited by Prince Nikola Petrović (1841–1924) to Montenegro, where he designed a series of significant buildings and infrastructure facilities. One of his most important achievements is the First Regulatory Plan of the City of Nikšić, created in 1883, which draws its roots from the large-scale reconstruction of European cities in the late 19th century. The first regulatory plan of Nikšić was modeled after ideal Renaissance cities, with a clear geometric layout consisting of five squares and an interconnected system of streets. From the central city square, seven primary streets extend in all directions. These primary streets are connected by secondary streets, forming a radial urban matrix that allowed for the city’s development in concentric urban rings. The main focus of this paper is the urban matrix of Nikšić, a rare typological example of radial city organization. From the end of the 19th century until the mid-20th century, Nikšić’s growth was slow. After World War II, when Montenegro became part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Nikšić experienced rapid urbanization, becoming one of the most rapidly expanding cities in the region. This period of industrialization led to the development of new urban plans which, thanks to the existing urban matrix, were able in turn to define additional urban rings. Today, Nikšić’s urban composition consists of several rings: the city core, public buildings, multi-apartment housing, and individual housing. The primary aim of this paper is to explore the urban transformation of Nikšić, focusing on the formation of distinct urban rings that have contributed to the unique urban and architectural identity of the city.

БАЛКАНСКА ВОЈНОИСТОРИЈСКА КОНФЕРЕНЦИЈА „CHALLENGES OF ADAPTING THE MILITARY IN TIMES OF CONFLICT – NATIONAL EXPERIENCES AND CASE STUDIES”, БУКУРЕШТ (РУМУНИЈА), 05–07. НОВЕМБАР 2024.

Author(s): Dalibor Denda / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2024

MAPA SMISLA MODERNOGA DOBA Žak Barzan, Kultura Zapada — od osvita do dekadencije

Author(s): Kristina Bojanović / Language(s): Montenegrine Issue: 10/2021

MAPA SMISLA MODERNOGA DOBA Žak Barzan, Kultura Zapada — od osvita do dekadencije, Podgorica: CID, ZUNS, UDG — Humanističke studije 2021. (dr Kristina Bojanović)