The Yugoslav Lands in the Ottoman Period: Postwar Marxist Interpretations of Indigenous and Ottoman Institutions

Abstract

IN CONTEMPORARY Yugoslav historiography the principal stress is laid upon socio-economic developments-class struggle, feudal institutions, and revolutionary movements. The much neglected social and economic history of the Ottoman period offers a broad field for historical inquiry, especially in view of the fact that Yugoslav mosques and various religious and local institutions contain many old manuscripts. Although only a few significant works on the Ottoman period have appeared since the end of World War II, Yugoslav historians have produced an impressive list of shorter treatises and studies, novel both for their content and interpretations. Contemporary Marxian historians stress the fact that before a final synthesis of the Ottoman period of Yugoslav history can be undertaken it is necessary to collect fresh source materials and investigate more fully a number of specific and fundamental topics. It is refreshing to see that, despite a rigid application of the Marxian formula to all historical developments, Yugoslav historians do reach opposite conclusions and hold divergent views. Leadership in the field of Ottoman studies is shared by the Glasnik zemraljskog muzeja (GZM) [Bulletin of the Territorial Museum], published by the Museum of Bosnia-Herzegovina at Sarajevo since 1889, and the Godisnjak istoriskog drustva Bosne i Hercegovina (GID) [Annual of the Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina], published by the Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The GZM publishes not only separate studies but also from time to time fresh documentary materials uncovered in various long-forgotten depositories and kiutiubhane. Of considerable importance for the Ottoman studies are also the Istorisko-pravni zbornik (IPZ) [Historical-legal Bulletin], a periodical devoted to the legal history of Bosnia and Herzegovina and published under the auspices of the Faculty of Law of the Sarajevo University, and the Prilozi za orijentalnu filologiju i istoriju Jugoslovenskik naroda pod Turskom vladavinom (P) [Contributions to the oriental philology and history of the Yugoslav peoples under Turkish rule], a periodic publication by the Oriental of Sarajevo. Outside Bosnia-Herzegovina the most important journal on the study of the Ottoman period of Yugoslav history is the Istoriski casopis (IC), which, among other things, publishes papers read before the Historical Institute of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and is the organ of the of the Academy. The organs of the Society of Serbia (Istoriski glasnik [IG]), the Society of Croatia (Historijski zbornik [HZ]), and Society of Montenegro (Istoriski zapisi [IZ]) also publish materials dealing with Yugoslav lands in the Ottoman period and report on the historiographic developments and papers read at the periodic meetings of their respective societies. Nastava istorije u srednjoj gkoli [Teaching of history in secondary schools] is a journal for instructors in history; it discusses the historical method, source materials, and the interpretation of controversial historical periods and institutions. The Nastava has published several items that deal with Ottoman history.