Economie Reasons of the Balcan Migrations to the Middle-east Italy in the 15th Century

Abstract

The author deals vvith the migration from the countries of the present Yugoslavia to the territory of north-eastern Italy, giving reasons for this phenomenon which does not seem to be connected vvith the Turks' invasion of the Balkan. The author lays emphasis on structural reasons vvhich are connected vvith backward economy of the Balkan territory on the one hand, and vvith early developed Italian economy on the other. When, at the end of the 16th century and in the 17th century Italian economy came to a crisis, the migration of Yugoslavs to the territories of south Romagna, Marks and Umbria reduced, and then completely stopped. In the last part of the article the reasons are indicated for quick assimilation of the Yugoslavs vvith the social surroundings of the central eastern Italy; in some communities in south Italy, however, the settlers retained their cultural features. This could be explained by different kinds of agriculture, practised in the one and the other region.