Characteristics of Economic Life in the Olt Country from Middle Ages to Early XXth Century. Elements of Economic Sociology

• Author: Rosculet, G.
• Position: Faculty of Sociology and Communication, Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 177-184

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 5 (54) No. 2 - 2012

CHARACTERISTICS OF ECONOMIC LIFE

IN THE OLT COUNTRY FROM MIDDLE

AGES TO EARLY XXth CENTURY.

ELEMENTS OF ECONOMIC SOCIOLOGY

Gheorghe ROŞCULE1

Abstract: The Olt Country is a Romanian area of noble origins, a blessed

preserver of some rich and ancient cultural traditions, but also of a

particular economic development. The dominant characteristic of the

economic life, from the Middle Ages to the early decades of the XXth century

is the autarchical peasant household, based on family production.

Key words: The Olt Country, peasant households, compossessorate,

emigration.

1 Faculty of Sociology and Communication, Transilvania University of Braşov.

1. Introduction

The Olt country is an area whose noble

origins trace back to the old times,

recognized as the preserver of the "oldest

and most persistent Romanian settlements"

(1, p 14). Settled between the Olt and the

Fgraş Mountains and harmoniously

divided into "sunny and round estates" (6,

I, p 189), this Country of the founders of

Wallachia has fully remained related to the

typical Romanian traditions, specific to the

well done work meant to of the pre-

established work built to last.

This ancient Romanian area has

developed for centuries due to the fruitful

labour done by each generation of people

and it stands out by the presence of "the

most durable and innocent Romanian

element of Transylvania” (3, p III) and by

its sacrifices during insecure times against

the "enemy foreignism".

The Olt country also "provided" the

Romanian life a specific economic

development, in accordance with the

simple living "patterns", tailored naturally

acording to the needs of the people and the

rational use of the local resources.

2. Marked by reversals of political status,

disburdening (the attachment to Wallachia)

or burdening (the Hungarian and Austrian

rule), throughout its troubled history - from

time of principalities to building the

Greater Romania - the Olt Country

oriented or it was "pushed "to those forms

of economic life considered appropriate by

the temporal political powers.

During the "ruling intervention" or the

tutelary care of to Wallachia, in the Olt

Country there was founded a class of

Romanian boyards whose investiture was

purposeful as it regarded the destiny of this

country. This "system of working

boyardness" invested by the Wallachian