Гражданското образование – ново предизвикателство пред обучението по история

Author(s): Kostadin Paev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2020

Starting from the school year 2020/2021, the Bulgarian school will begin studying a separate subject “Civic Education”. Previous practice has provided that civic education at school should be realized through its integrated study in general subjects, among which “History and Civilizations” played a leading role.The purpose of this publication is to analyze and predict whether, in the new situation, the place of history of students' civic education and their formation as citizens will be maintained or weakened.

Providing Studying Rooms and Hostels for Students of Pedagogical Educational Institutions of National Minorities (20 – 30s of the XX Century)

Author(s): Alexander Komarnitsky,Liudmyla Komarnitska / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

The article deals with the situation of providing studying rooms and hostels for students. Difficult economic situation in the country caused slow growth of the studying space. It has been proved that rooms unfit for the teaching learning process were given to institutions. The author having used rich database proves that it was too difficult to provide lodging for students, especially in the 1920s. Most institutions of higher education did not have their own hostels. Part of student dwellings was in the buildings unfit for living. It has been shown that living conditions were improving gradually during the 30s of the 20th century. The greater part of hostels was poorly furnished and there was not enough linen. Students hip living in boarding-schools had to follow the rules of residence. At the same time, it often happened that student rooms were unsanitary. Most hostels had no bathhouses, laundries, and barber shops.

Superhuman River. Stories of the Ganga

Author(s): Mihaela Gligor / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2020

review

Replacement of Municipal Political Elite as a Tool for Seizing Power and Consolidating an Authoritarian Regime in Slovakia 1938–1940

Author(s): Martin Pekár / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2020

The main aim of this article is to present a comparative historical analysis of the mechanisms for the replacement of the political elites after the collapse of interwar Czechoslovakia and the declaration of the Slovak State under the influence of Nazi Germany in the years 1938–1940 at the level of municipal self-government with regard to the onset of an authoritarian regime. The subjects of the research are two towns, Prešov and Nitra, which provide an opportunity to look for similarities and differences in the changes implemented in two socio-economically and demographically similar towns with different political climates. The research is based on primary and secondary historical sources confronted mainly with the theories of V. Pareto, R. Michels and J. J. Linz. Historical developments in Slovakia in the years 1938–1940 and the process of the replacement of municipal elites correlates with the framework formulated in the sociological theories of Pareto and Michels. The process of the replacement of municipal elites contributed also to the gaining of characteristic elements of the authoritarian regime in the sense of the definition of J. J. Linz established in Slovakia by the Hlinka Slovak People’s Party.

Българският XIX век: нови архиви и прочити

Author(s): Vera Boneva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5/2020

Първият национален конгрес на делегатите на Независимия самоуправляем профсъюз „Солидарност“ – урок по демокрация

Author(s): Grzegorz Majchrzak / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 5/2020

Established in September 1980, NSZZ “Solidarność” was not only a trade union, but also a great social movement, and a school of democracy for its own members. Starting from the democratically elected works committees, through National Coordinating Commission, the apogee of this social movement was the 1st National Congress of Delegates of NSZZ “Solidarność” which took place in the autumn of 1981.

THE SOUNDS OF MODERNITY: EXPLORING THE BALKAN CAPITALS’ SOUNDSCAPE (LATE 19th – EARLY 20th C.)

Author(s): Andreas Lyberatos / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2020

Despite the fact that urban modernity and modernization in the Balkans has been a celebrated topic among social and cultural historians and historians of architecture and urban planning, the dimension of sound has been almost entirely absent from these discussions. The present paper is based on fresh research aiming to fill this gap. It initiates a comparative inquiry about the sonic environment of three Balkan capital cities (Belgrade, Sofia and Athens) during their transition to the industrial era. It offers a panorama of testimonies on the various dimensions, factors and actors creating and transforming the fin-de-siècle Balkan capitals’ soundscape (the role of climate and built environment, the natural and biological keynote sounds, the sounds of street vendors and musicians and the mechanical sounds of trams and motorcars). It finally demonstrates, through the example of the noisiest of the three cities, i.e. Athens, the importance of the “soundscape” as a field of signification and socio-cultural conflict in a transitional period for the Balkan city.

Сцената „Орфей с дивите животни“: между профанното и сакралното

Author(s): Vanya Lozanova-Stancheva / Language(s): English,Greek, Ancient (to 1453),Bulgarian Issue: 25/2020

The Orpheus Taming Wild Animals scene is particularly popular in all genres of ancient fine art. It is commonly perceived and interpreted as a metaphor for Orpheus’ magical and musical skills in the ancient Hellenic poetic tradition, which the Roman poets make locus communis. The aim of the present paper is to offer a new reading of the scene, which – in combination with the fragmented poetic evidences – allows the reconstruction of a possible mythological precedent for the journey of Orpheus to the World Beyond where he attained the mystic theological knowledge that allowed him to lay the foundations of the mysterial initiations. A serious digression from the conventional scene “The Orpheus Taming Wild Animals” shows the composition on some artifacts depicting unusual figures – a centaur(s), Pan, Satyroi. Thematic systematization and semantic analysis of the individual components in this type of compositions could outline some hypotheses regarding the ‘reading’ of its conceptual sources and messages. The analysis of the formal basic components of the images suggests that the scene presented a sacral topos in the World Beyond, associated with the myth-literary tradition of the Argonauts journey.

Чашата на причастието. Към семантиката на съдовете от благороден метал в орфическата ритуална среда на тракийската аристокрация

Author(s): Michaela Yordanova / Language(s): English,Greek, Ancient (to 1453),Bulgarian Issue: 25/2020

The exposition analyzes the semantics of Thracian vessels of precious metal; an attempt was made to discuss their function in the context of sacred mysterious logos; a reinterpretation of the ritual symposial practices characteristic of the Orphic communities of Thracian political elites is proposed. Precisely because of their sacred functions, vessels of precious metal with inscriptions are found in the funerals and treasures of the aristocratic elite. They function in a certain way in the symposium rituals during the ruler’s symposia, and such practices in Thrace, are part of the Orphic religion and are associated with aristocratic political elites. There are several reasons for this topic: There is discussion in the literature and there is still a lack of a systematic and consistent thesis about the function of precious metal vessels in the Thracian cultural model. Despite the fundamental research of Al. Foul, the connection between the Thracian basic model of Orphism as aristocratic ideology and its projections in artifacts and folk narratives has not yet been sought. No effort was made to illuminate the function of the Thracian sacral artifacts in parallel with the Greek orphic sources.

Харпократ в Тракия през Гръко-римската епоха

Author(s): Vessela Atanassova / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Issue: 25/2020

When Ptolemy I became ruler of Egypt (306 BC), he continued to have interests in Thrace and Asia Minor where Lysimachus, its ruler, married his daughter Arsinoe II. Most likely, their wedding was fixed with certain benefits, which led to the permanent presence of the Ptolemy in Southern Thrace. In fact, the whole 3rd century was marked by the presence of the Ptolemies in Thrace. This for sure, but also for some other unclear reasons facilitated the spreading of the Egyptian cults in that region. Several Egyptian deities, mainly Isis and Sarapis, but some other deities in relation with them, were found on various documents attesting their presence in Thrace from the Hellenistic period to the end of the Roman Era. Harpocrates, the presumed son of Isis and Sarapis in Greco-roman period, was one of those deities. Unlike his divine parents, he was a synnaos theos and his cult spread on a different manner. According to the monuments he was more likely worshiped because of his qualities as savior god and his magical competences. The study will examine the existing documentation and will discuss the mechanisms of spreading of the Harpocrates cult in Ancient Thrace from the Hellenistic period onward.

Човешката коса в културата на Древна Тракия

Author(s): Miroslav Izdimirski / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Issue: 25/2020

In the analysis suggested, I make an attempt first and foremost to gather in one place all evidence on the function and meaning of human hair in Thracian culture. Human hair, save for being a biological factum, is an object of impression in human culture, i.e., it is a unique cultural phenomenon. I consider written evidences on the specific Thracian hair-do, as noted by the ancient authors, as well as the evidence according to which Thracians were red-haired. I pay attention to the archeologic findings of human hair in ancient Thrace, to visual evidences about hair-dos and colour in human hairs, as well as some folklore evidences on treatments of human hair, precisely as the object and subject of human culture.

Бератлиите – търговците на султана

Author(s): Gergana Georgieva,Nikolay Todorov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2020

In the late 18th century the Ottoman Empire almost completely lost control of its import and export trade, which were run mainly by foreign merchants. Therefore, a large part of Ottoman traders accepted the status of protégés of those mustemins and became foreign citizens. In early 19th century the Ottoman authorities took some steps in order to restore the balance. They created two special categories of Ottoman merchants – avrupa tuccars (non-Muslims) and hayriye tuccars (Muslims), also known as beratlis, because of the special certificate (berat) they received from the authorities. The beratlis had the right to trade on the international market and to organize the international trade of the Empire. Beratlis were distinguished by a number of privileges they received from the Ottoman authorities, by the considerable capital they possessed, and by the networks of contacts and connections in the Ottoman Empire and abroad that they built. The article presents the category of non-Muslim beratlis, based on data from two Ottoman defters stored in the Ottoman archive in Istanbul. Some analyses weremade based on the names of the beratlis, their place of residence, the year of the beginning of their activity, and the names of their assistants. We were able to reconstruct the ethnic and religious structure of the group; geographical distribution of the beratlis and their assistants; their networks and connections. Special emphasis in the presented examples is put on Bulgarian lands and some figures of the Bulgarian Revival registered also as beratlis.

Най-добри практики в градоустройството и в реставрацията на архитектурна украса – две нови книги за сецесионовите сгради в Дунавския регион

Author(s): Ekaterina Dikova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2020

Международна научна конференция „Всекидневният живот в средновековна България“

Author(s): Elena Kostova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 6/2020

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS WITH SPECIAL OBLIGATIONS IN THE BALKAN TOWN. URBAN VOYNUKS AND FALCONERS IN THE 16th CENTURY

Author(s): Krastyo Yordanov / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2020

The fate of the representatives of these two categories of population in three towns of today’s Bulgaria (Plovdiv, Sofia and Vratsa) is followed in the article on the basis of several unpublished Ottoman registers of voynuks and falconers from the Central Balkans from the 16th century. Their social and economic status, as well as their service lands, and their ethnoreligious and organizational structure are examined. As far as the source basis allows it, an attempt was made to show the reflection of the urban life on the livelihood and the way of living of these Christians. Although voynuks and falconers were predominantly rural population, permanently bound to agriculture through their service lands (bashtinas), in the 16th century we also find their presence in the towns of the Central Balkans and, in particular, in the Bulgarian lands. Some of the voynuks and falconers had actually been residents of the towns for a long time. But data from the registers shows that most of these people were in fact migrants from villages in the region around large towns which were directly linked to town markets. Very often the service lands of voynuks and falconers were still in one of the nearby villages, although their owners had permanently settled in towns. It is possible that those voynuks and falconers, who had long lived in towns, also had rural descent. As the voynuks and falconers who settled in towns were predominantly Orthodox Bulgarians, their settlement was around the roads on which towns were gradually becoming Bulgarian or the numbers of the Bulgarian Orthodox community was kept constant. Voynuks and falconers who permanently settled in towns adapted to the town’s trade and artisanal lifestyle. This is proved by the fact that sometimes their service bashtinas included their trade and craft shops and only a few vineyards, orchard and vegetable gardens in the complete absence of arable lands ( fields). This shows that they relied entirely on craftsmanship, trade and the markets of large towns to provide for their families.

ВЛАСТИ, ПАЗАРИ И ОБЩЕСТВО В ДОКУМЕНТАЛНОТО НАСЛЕДСТВО НА ВАСИЛ ЛЕВСКИ

Author(s): Petko St. Petkov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2020

Based on the preserved documentary heritage of Vasil Levski, this paper examines his understanding of authorities, markets and society in both the Ottoman Empire and Europe. The study is based on the latest and most precise edition of the historical documents, the author of which is, or is supposed to be, the Apostle. The conclusions are compliant and based on the existing significant volume of historical literature about Levski. Without claiming to be a discovery, the author's desire is to shed light, as far as possible, on the basis of the Apostle's proven documentary heritage, on his attitude to the issue under discussion – authorities, markets and society. The documents show a strong emphasis on the issue of raising sufficient funds, which occupied Levski’s attention. The money was collected on a voluntary basis, but also forcibly, in order to provide the necessary weapons for the future Bulgarian uprising. In this sense, it is fair to emphasize once again the proverbial honesty and high degree of responsibility shown by the Apostle. Due to the lack of a permanent financial institution, he periodically reports the income, which received, and the expenses he made. The preserved, albeit incomplete, documents show no financial abuses. Moreover, the documents testify about the strict control performed by Levski over the collecting and reporting of funds by other members of the organization.

Метричната система в османското законодателство. Пазарни регулации и контрол

Author(s): Svetla Atanasova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2020

In the 19th c., the Ottoman state ushered in the metric system. The study researches the Law of the new measurements, kilograms and weights for longitude, volume and weight which was admitted and published on the 14th of September, 1869 by a Regional Vizier’s order from the 26th of October, 1869 and a Regulation about the conversion of the new weights and measurements from the 4th of May 1870. The biggest part of the texts was taken from the French trade law. The original decisions were a few and they were interpreted according to the specific conditions and religious procedures in the Empire. The law-makers envisaged that transition from the old to the new measurements should happen slowly and at certain stages. The state council recommended an intermediate period for adaptation of traders and servants from the local administrations from the 1st of March, 1871 until 1st of March 1874. The Regulation for viewing and comparison of the new measurements is clarifying the rules and duties of the civil servants in connection to these measurements; it is also giving directions to the traders and the trade assistants how to convert to the new measurements, as well as fixing the methods for tasting and control over the local markets. There are also penalties, taxes and fees envisaged in this Regulation and tables for conversion. The real work with the metric system bore some complications for the traders, in the form of losses, frauds and speculations. The revival-period newspapers announced some news about the difficulties while working with the new conversion tables and the misinterpretation of Turkish and French definitions. All these problems led to the return of the old order during the rule of sultan Abdul Hamid II. The metric system was admitted in Turkey on the 1st of January, 1934. In Principality of Bulgaria the Law for measurements and weights was postponed and finally admitted in 1889.

Между икономическата теория и стопанската история: бележки за властта, пазарите и предприемачите през епохата на Възраждането

Author(s): Ivaylo Naydenov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2020

The proposed paper is devoted to some basic concepts such as power, markets and entrepreneurs. On the basis of some explanations and theoretical clarifications, I discuss their presence and role in the economic life during the Bulgarian National Revival period (19th century). Markets are created by enterprising people or function to meet their needs. In their turn, merchants carry out their activities by means of markets. In addition to specific places (the Uzundzhovo fair, the Sliven fair, etc.) where purchases and sales are made, markets may be considered as networks through which sellers and buyers interact with each other during the mentioned period. Goods, financial resources, information and trust, which are key to maintaining business relationships, circulate in the networks. Different types and levels of power are also important. They are crucial factor in case of unfair treatment or a dispute. Sometimes they are an obstacle that hinders enterprising people and their work. The proposed conclusions can certainly be enriched with more empirical data. However, I am convinced that economic theory would help to clearly define key terms, and the empirical data can illustrate and even correct imposed perceptions.

Стопанският етос на българите през Възраждането през погледа на Владимир Свинтила

Author(s): Rumen Andreev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2020

The Revival was the period of economic and cultural rise of Bulgarians, without an existence of a state. It is the result of economic freedom and spontaneous order without centralized state power. The establishment of Bulgarian state did not lead to great economic prosperity, but to the reconstruction of the free economy to centralized one. One of the erudite of Bulgarian Revival was Vladimir Svintila. In his research dedicated to mentality and folk psychology, he reveals the economic ethos of Bulgarians during this period. The purpose of this paper is to present a different point of view to economic life of the Bulgarians during the Revival period, which in our opinion is contained in the books of Vladimir Svintila. It reveals facts that popular history conceals as they are not similar to the idea of national centralized state. For the needs of the research comparative historical analyses is used along with the network approach to complex systems.

Околийските градски съветници като кредитори: по повод на една публикация на вестник „Дунав“ от 1872 г.

Author(s): Hristiyan Atanasov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2020

The article presents the Tanzimat (the reform period)–created municipality councils and their role in the Ottoman province administrative system. The focus is on the capitals that these councils successfully accumulated and managed. The employees will be presented responsible for the cash funds in the area and the amount of money. These financial assets were used for giving loans with interest. Yet another proof that when there is strong market demand, combined with feeble supply, the normative acts are usually ignored. The research is based on the published ten volumes of Ottoman statistical yearly editions on the Danube area chronologically comprising the period from 1868/1869 to 1877/1878. Besides, several materials have been used taken from the officious newspaper Dunav (Danube). These represent the administrative framework where municipality councils are located and function. Special attention has been paid to one publication of 5th January 1872, which proves that the municipality councilors used to lend money with interest.