engleski

Morlacchia: territorialization and deterritorialization of borderland communities

Map analysis of the early modern Croatian borderlands reveals two levels of meaning. The first one is related to the specific relation of the state authorities to the border region, their particular interests and understanding of its importance. The other one reveals common socio-cultural images of the borderlands by recognition of distinct social groups and their territorialization. The example in this research are Morlacchi communities, also called Vlachs, herders immigrated from Dinaric mountain area to the triple border area (Ottoman – Habsburg – Venetian). In the course of the centuries, the term Morlacchi has been related to the territory they have settled, and has got the spatial connotation. Eventually, from the spatial connotation the spatial concept of Morlacchia is developed.

Morlacchia; Vlachs; Croatia; early modern period; old maps; triple border (Ottoman - Habsburg- Venetian); borderland; territorialization

nije evidentirano