Conference paper
The History, Economic and Social Life of Bosnian Croats in the Vicinity of Pécs
Đuro Šarošac
; Dorottya Kanizsai Museum, Mohács, Hungary
Abstract
The author uses archival material and material gathered during field research to present the situation of Bosnian Croats around Pécs. After the war years 1685–1711 they once more became an ethnic group. They preserved their language owing to their family and village communities. Their arrival was mainly organized by Franciscans. Among experts from the two countries, some emphasize that the Croats were partially here already at the time of the arrival of the Magyars, while a few link their arrival to the Turkish conquest of the area. Exact population-census figures can be discerned only after 1695. Settlements were scattered, located near source of water. Later ordering did not essentially change the form of these villages. Houses were made of wood, later out of pressed crude bricks. Painted furniture appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. The estate owner paid special attention to the development of the villages (urbanization): taverns, butcher shops, cold houses, stores. Economic conditions were not more favorable than in other villages of Baranja. People were mainly farmers, and stock-raising also had an important role. Farming and wine-growing were not suppressed by stock-raising. Horticulture was renowned already in the 19th century. Besides the family, the village also took care to attend to its needs: it had its own malls, blacksmith, wheelwright and barber shop. Hunting and gathering had an important role throughout the centuries. With economic development diet, and the way of preparing food changed. The first exact answer on village social stratification is given by the feudal lists of 1767, which show that perpetual serfdom among the Croats had ceased. Yet in essence freedom for serfs (1848) did not eliminate existing differences in social strata and in possessions, although some serfs did receive land. Bosnian Croats never had exceptional rights nor privileges. It took a difficult twenty years before landowners succeeded in breaking the serfs and placing upon them their yoke. The first schools were founded in the parishes and had regional task. The first school was opened in Niemet in 1765. Till 1845 church and district authori-ties hindered the opening of schools claiming that: “Croats do not like schools from the beginning... from when they are born they hate letters.” Bosnian Croats in the vicinity of Pécs were always Catholics. They belonged to the parishes of Egracs, Kesuj and Niemet. Women always took care of the religious life in families. The majority of the Bošnjaks still live in villages: a part is employed in the factories of Pécs; only a smaller part work in agricultural co-operatives.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
127687
URI
Publication date:
30.11.1990.
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