EVOLUŢIA POLITICĂ ŞI ECONOMICĂ A OLTENIEI ÎN A DOUA JUMĂTATE A SECOLULUI AL XIX-LEA

Abstract

In the second half of the 19th century, Oltenia experienced important political and economic developments. The cities of Oltenia grew from a demographic point of view, under the influence of economic factors, becoming real political, administrative, military and cultural centers. The modernization process was slow, because the great nobility, which represented a decision-making factor in the political and economic life of the region, argued that agriculture should remain the basic economic branch of Oltenia. During the reign of Alexandru Ioan Cuza (1859-1866), Oltenia asserted itself as an important political and economic nucleus, joining the program of modernization of society proposed by the ruler. Later, Oltenia was in the middle of the military events of 1877-1878, the soldiers from Oltenia constituting a dynamic presence during the entire period of the war, in the struggle of the Romanian nation to conquer independence. Towards the end of the 19th century, the cities of Oltenia turned to the forms of commercial capitalism, while the peasantry went through an extensive process of impoverishment.