Marko Pijović | University of Oxford (original) (raw)

Papers by Marko Pijović

Balcanica Posnaniensia. Acta Et Studia, 2021

This paper explores the social structures of late medieval Vlachs - particularly the ones inhabit... more This paper explores the social structures of late medieval Vlachs - particularly the ones inhabiting the Western Balkans (the Dinaric Alps) - in order to determine how collective identities were shaped and reproduced in medieval oral cultures. Southeast European historiographies have often portrayed the Balkan Vlachs as a unitary group and the label "Vlach" as representing a single, homogenous social entity during most of the Middle Ages. Still, social groups cannot exist and function without regular communication-oral or written-between their members. Oral cultures are based on verbal communication and are therefore bound by its specific nature, given that it requires continuous personal contact and oral transfer of information for communication and society to function properly. Literate cultures on the other hand tend to rely on written communication to a considerable extent and given that it allows for information to be conveyed impersonally (by text) its range is (at least in theory) almost limitless-as it is the level of (il)literacy that represents the main communicative and social limit in literate societies. Having in mind the abovementioned communicative and social limits of orality and the fact that it was the predominant if not exclusive form of communication among transhumant pastoralists such as the medieval Balkan Vlachs this paper argues that the range/scope of their group identities and collective identifications was rather limited. Furthermore, this paper discusses the types of collective identities utilized by Vlachs, questioning whether they ever shared a common "Vlach identity" given the fact that the social identity of the medieval people known as "the Vlachs" was primarily shaped and defined from the "outside" and "above"-by state intervention and a legal frame that was forced upon them. The Vlachs in the Medieval Balkans, and particularly in its western part, generally did not possess political authority and power, nor did they have the material resources and literary traditions allowing them to form more complex and enduring communication networks that would in turn have resulted in group identity formation on a larger scale. During the Early Middle Ages the Vlachs were "Vlachs" primarily because they were labelled as such and considered to be a distinct category of population by their Slavic (and later Byzantine) neighbours and overlords, and not necessarily because they originally defined themselves as such. This is not to say that gradually, during the course of the Middle Ages, the bearers of the "Vlach" name could not have started to identify themselves as "Vlachs" by accepting this foreign name (xenonym) as their preferred group name (autonym). Still, when this finally did happen it did not imply a "universal" Vlach identity in the medieval Balkans. Given the communicative limits of oral cultures as well as the Vlachs' position as legal and political "objects" rather than "subjects" it seems most likely that the medieval Balkans witnessed a simultaneous existence of a multitude of "Vlachnesses" which were usually unrelated and unaware of each other.

Historijska Traganja/Historical Searches, 2014

This article builds on two previous works by the same author about the study of „identities“ and ... more This article builds on two previous works by the same author about the study of „identities“ and identifications in the past - and represents a supplement to the ideas presented in those previous works. It is divided into three sections in which discusses specific topics in the field of history of identities/identifications. The first part of the paper deals with the problem of language and language identification, as well as its possible reach in the past. The author discusses several aspects of these issues: from the question of naming the language to the question of when and why the need for language labeling occurs and what type of situations cause the emergence of some type of „language awareness“. The second part of the paper discusses the problems of terminology and categorical apparatus in history and sociology, using the example of the concept of „clan-society“ or „tribal-society“. The author points to the deficiencies of that concept, as well as the fact that many of the „tribal“ or „clanish“ elements survive in societies that are not usually considered to be organized on “tribal” principles - which is why the author points out that it is questionable whether these „tribal“ or „clanish“ elements of societies ever cease to exist. Even contemporary communities, often known as „peoples“ or simpy „ethnic groups“, are in fact “tribal-like” and “clan-like” constructs given that „ethnic groups“ are social units formed on the basis of (the idea of) a shared descent and consanguinity of the group members. And given that clans, tribes, and similar social units are essentially considered to be groups of blood related individuals, one must ask what purpose does exactly the concept of „tribal society“ serve, and what its scopes and limits are. The third and largest part of this article focuses on some of the problematic elements of population genetics. The author discusses the applicability of genetic research in historical science and the problems occur as a result of these attempts. Apart from discussing terminological and methodological problems that occur when attempting to apply genetic research and its results in the study of history, the author also discusses the problems arising from the use of small numbers of DNA samples when researching human genetic material. Finally the paper addresses the occasional manipulation and sensationalism in articles that are trying to connect genetics and history, especially when this is being done by insufficiently educated authors.

Studia Slavica et Balcanica Petropolitana/Петербургские славянские и балканские исследования, 2013

This article discusses several issues related to ‘vlachology’. By ‘vlachology’ the author refers ... more This article discusses several issues related to ‘vlachology’. By ‘vlachology’ the author refers to the general study of Vlachs, the history of the term ‘Vlach’, the people or peoples named by that term, and other themes related to the Vlachs. The article is divided into three chapters, each of which is dealing with somewhat different issues, but all of them being a part of a broader research problem. The first part deals with using small and capital letters in writing the names of historical identity groups, or presumed identity groups, such as the medieval Vlachs. The author argues that the issue of writing a group/collective name with or without the capital letter is essentially not a linguistic one, as it may seem from historical debates, but rather an ideological one, and is based on our contemporary values and traditions which distort our perception of the past. In the second chapter the author addresses the issue of bilingualism/multilingualism in the medieval Balkans and the East Adriatic coast. The main focus is on the question whether the concept of bilingualsm can be defined at all and then applied to a certain historical phenomenon. The author argues that the concept of bilingualism is more of a modern construct then a historical category. Another aspect of the bilingualism narrative is the tendency to often link bilingualisms to certain linguistic or ethnic groups, as if being bilingual or multilingual in history was somehow connected to being a member of a certain (for instance «opressed») ethnic group. In questioning this thesis the author provides historical examples of bilingualism being in no way connected to the (ethnic) origins of the bilingual individual or the bilingual group. The final chapter discusses some issues of the general terminology and its use in Vlach studies, and also onomastic issues, such as the Romanic suffixes in Slavic personal names, and — connected to it — the «Romanianizing» tendency which can be noticed in some works dealing with Vlachs and Balkan history. The author concludes that not only is there an erroneous tendency to identify all Vlachs with Romans or people speaking romance languages, but also to identify them with a specific group of romanophones: the Romanians.

Historijska Traganja/Historical Searches, 2012

This paper was conceived as a discussion about the concept of „ethnic identity“, which represents... more This paper was conceived as a discussion about the concept of „ethnic identity“, which represents a significant segment of the broader issue of the so-called historical identities, ie, identities in the past. The author analyzes the aforementioned concept, discussing many of its aspects such as the original meaning(s) of the term „ethnos“, the problems of the modern use of the term, and the efforts made by some authors to give this term a more specific and a more defined meaning. He points out the unsuitability of the concept of „ethnic identity“ in the sense in which it is understood by most authors who use it. Despite the fact that the terms „ethnos“, „ethnicity“, „ethnic group“, „ethnic identity“, etc., have been used for decades in contemporary social sciences (as well as historical science) there still seems to be no consensus about their meaning among the authors who use them. For this reason it seems useful to try to examine what the term „ethnicity“ originally meant, or could mean. Such an approach, except that it points to the original meaning of the term also allows us to compare it to the meanings ascribed to that term by contemporary authors, and to determine the extent to which modern usages of that term resemble or differ from its original meaning. In addition, the author discusses the contemporary use of terms such as „ethnicity“ or „ethnic group“ in cases when they are used as synonyms for the concept of „community“ or „group“, and this approach of many modern authors is subjected to criticism. This paper seeks to emphasize the serious problems that arise in research when terminology is used without a prior attempt to clearly define what the term covers and what its meaning should be, since without an adequate scientific apparatus the results of the research cannot be considered credible. In addition to the discussion of problems related to the concept of „ethnos“ or „ethnicity“, the author also attempts to draw attention to some problematic concepts that are often used in historiography, like „ethnogenesis“, „ethnohistory“, etc., and to elaborate the reasons for their exclusion from the scientific discourse. Building on the previously discussed problems, the author likewise points out that one of the few acceptable criteria for conceptualizing „ethnic identity“ - as a type of identity that would be different from other types of identity - could be the image of blood relations/kinship. Hence the only criterion that would distinguish „ethnicity“ from other types of collective identities would be the biologization of social bonds within a group. The author also points out that the term „ethnos“/„ethnic“ is unnecessary and even meaningless to use in the South Slavic languages because there are much better terms that are already in use - such as the term „narod“ (people/folk). Etymologically speaking the word „narod“ is a far more acceptable term than the foreign and etymologically ambiguous word „ethnos“. The paper also argues that „ethnicity“ is not a matter of size but rather a model: a type of identification, a way of identifying, and therefore the author seeks to reject the common stereotypes that something must be of certain size to be recognized as a „people“ or as an „ethnic group“. Moreover, the article tries to explain that there is no „identity“ and therefore no „ethnic identity“ as a fixed category - as a given, permanent and unchanging pattern of behavior. People are identified and identify themselves by different patterns, so their „identities“ as a result of this „identification“ often change, because different contexts cause different ways of identifying (identification on various grounds). In this sense both „ethnic“ identification and the process of identification as such are being viewed as a contextual phenomenon. Since „ethnicity“ is not a permanent ‘condition’ it does not and cannot have the significance that is usually ascribed to it. Furthermore, the perception of this type of identity and identification is dangerously manipulated and its role is exaggerated by its complete decontextualization. Such abuse leads to a completely erroneous perception of the concept of „ethnic identity“ as well as identity as such - both in the eyes of average people (the bearers of specific identities) and in the eyes of much of the scientists. With this in mind the author also addresses the issues of politicization of identities and the social strategies to create and maintain „ethnic“ identities.

Historijska Traganja/Historical Searches, 2011

This article discusses the issue of identities from a theoretical perspective and from a historic... more This article discusses the issue of identities from a theoretical perspective and from a historical point of view. The author presents a brief overwiev of some of the approaches to the exploration of historical identities and identity groups. The issue of the concepts of „subjective“ and „objective“ that historians sometimes come accros with regards to identities is addressed, and the author also discusses the concepts of „autoperception“ and „heteroperception“ as well as the question of their importance in our attempt to better understand historical identities or presumed identities. One of the objectives of any scientific inquiry in this subject should be a detailed and comprehensive introduction to the phenomenon with which the historian is faced while keeping in mind the issue of the historical sources that are available to the researcher. Therefore, this paper discusses some possible perspectives of looking at identities, different levels from which the historical identity groups could be researched, as well as the multi-dimensionality of identity/identities which historians should always be aware of. Addressing these issues is quite challenging due to the complex nature of the phenomenon we call "identity" and in the case of historical research of this topic it is even more so because of the often scant historical sources from the more distant periods of the past. For this reason the author emphasizes the need for a greater caution in the study of historical identities, particularly when making (far reaching) conclusions about them.

Studia mythologica Slavica, 2010

In this article the author deals with the issue of the etymology of the name „Vlach“ from a persp... more In this article the author deals with the issue of the etymology of the name „Vlach“ from a perspective which differs from the one that has been prevailing in historiography. Even though the origin of the aforementioned term has usually been tied with the foreign (Germanic) influences on the Slavs, the author, mostly relying on the observations of linguists, and Slavic (as well as Indo-European) lexical and mythological data, suggest a different explanation of its etimology. This, so to speak „Proto-Slavic“ and „Proto-Indo-European“ interpretation rejects the existing interpretations of the origin of the the aforementioned word, which are considered genneraly accepted by Croatian historiography, and attempts to find possible anwers in the cultural and linguistic heritage of the ancient Slavs. The author's main focus is on exploring a possible connection between the Slavic words 'Volhov' (magus, sorcerer), 'Vlah', and 'Volos/Veles' (god of cattle, wealth, and the underworld), and it is through this connection that the etymology of the term „Vlach“ is interpreted.

Lucius, 2006

This paper presents a brief overview of the Black Death's advancement towards and throughout Euro... more This paper presents a brief overview of the Black Death's advancement towards and throughout Europe, and its effects on European economic, demographic, and cultural fabric. It also gives a short survey of the plague's emergence on the East Adriatic coast and its hinterland: the way it was delt with by the local population and discusses some of its consequences. At the same time, taking into consideration the fact that the Black Death's impact on the East Adriatic region is still insufficiently studied, this paper tries to draw attention to some ideas and questions concerning the demographic, economic, and other effects of the plague that are still open to debate – not just because of the lack of detailed studies of the plague in the East Adriatic, but also because of the insufficient insight on some aspects of everyday medieval life in this part of southeast Europe, and the lack of knowledge about the demographic situation and population movements in the East Adriatic region during the Middle Ages.

Conference Talks by Marko Pijović

Colloquia Mediaevalia Croatica III, 2017

Izlaganje na znanstvenom skupu. Naslov izlaganja: Anatomija' i 'domet' kolektivnih identiteta i ... more Izlaganje na znanstvenom skupu.
Naslov izlaganja: Anatomija' i 'domet' kolektivnih identiteta i identifikacija u prošlosti: primjer srednjovjekovnih Vlaha,
Znanstveni skup: "Colloquia Mediaevalia Croatica III – Nacionalne ideje i etnička lojalnost u renesansnoj Hrvatskoj",
Zagreb: Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 24. veljače 2017.

Conference presentation.
[Presentation title: 'Anatomy' and 'Range' of Collective Identities and Identification in the Past: The Example of Medieval Vlachs,
Academic conference: "Colloquia Mediaevalia Croatica III – National Ideas and Ethnic Loyalties in Renaissance Croatia",
Zagreb: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences - University of Zagreb, 24 February, 2017.]