Aromanians Between Empires in the 18th-19th Centuries. The Relations of the Aromanian Communities of Banat-Crișana with Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest – A Transnational Perspective on their Economic Activity

AROMANIANS BETWEEN EMPIRES IN THE 18TH-19TH CENTURIES. THE RELATIONS OF THE AROMANIAN COMMUNITIES OF BANAT-CRIȘANA WITH VIENNA, BUDAPEST AND BUCHAREST – A TRANSNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THEIR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Emilian-Alexandru CIOROGARIU*

Abstract. Aromanians build a complex economic and cultural life in their original area of origin from the Balkans since the Middle Ages, becoming one of the richest and most advanced national communities in the region. Starting from the traditional occupation of raising animals, they develop a varied range of crafts, the surplus production of which is intended for trade. Based on it, they create a transnational network of commercial relations – mainly at the level of the Habsburg provinces, Venice and the current territory of Germany. These prove useful with the beginning of the national liberation movements of the peoples of the area, especially the Greeks. Now the permanent pressures of an extractive nature of the Ottoman power turn into persecutions and armed attacks, forcing a relevant part of the Aromanian economic-political elite to emigrate to the domains of the House of Habsburg. The main initial destinations are Vienna and Buda (respectively Pest), but the diffusion generated by the various economic opportunities brings a number of large Aromanian families to Banat and Crisana. They integrate into the commercial and cultural circuits here, respectively they make full use of their cosmopolitan approach acquired as a result of the transnational economic activities practiced for centuries. It contributes to the social development of the area in all areas and, especially after the middle of the 19th century, fully engages in the Romanian national movement here.

Keywords: Aromanians, Balkans, Romanians, Mocioni, Sina

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