Influence of historical migrations on the settlements and origin of population in the Macva region (Western Serbia)

Abstract

Mačva is the lowland region in the northwestern part of Serbia, which due to natural and geopolitical benefits for the existence and security, was the meeting place of migration from the current Dinaric hilly and mountainous areas. Due to the demographic and migratory movements Mačva has historically been a multicultural and multi-ethnic environment, which took place in the complex processes of ethno-cultural interaction and assimilation. However, the historical memory and folk tradition, as well as some elements of folklore, mentalities and local identity, are still remnants of the countries of origin. The paper is devoted attention mainly origin population in Mačva placed in the context of socio-historical and political events. Researching included 35 settlements of Mačva.

Mačva je ravničarski region u severozapadnom delu Srbije, kojije zbog prirodnih i geopolitičkih povoljnosti za egzistenciju i bezbednost, bio stecište migracionih struja iz dinarskih brdsko-planinskih predela. Usled demografskih i migracionih kretanja Mačva je istorijski bila multikulturalna i multietnička sredina, u kojoj su se dešavali složeni procesi etnokulturnog prožimanja i asimilacije. Međutim, u istorijskom pamćenju i narodnom predanju, kao i u nekim elementima folklora, mentaliteta i lokalnog identiteta, još uvek su sačuvani tragovi iz zemalja porekla. U radu je posvećena pažnja uglavnom poreklu stanovništva u Mačvi stavljenim u kontekst društveno-istorijskih i političkih zbivanja. Ispitivanjima na terenu obuhvaćenoje 35 naselja Mačve.