This year we commemorate 350 years since the birth and 300 years since the death of Dimitrie Cantemir (October 26, 1673 - August 21, 1723), the most famous Romanian humanist thinker and also the author of the first original Romanian philosophical works.
Dimitrie Cantemir represents one of the highest peaks of thought of his time, in all areas that his genius touched - in historiography, geography, philosophy, he opened up new perspectives for development. The great scholar was well acquainted with the Muslim environment, speaking, in addition to Western, also Eastern languages (Turkish, Persian and Arabic), and also had extensive knowledge in the fields of logic, medicine, natural sciences, astronomy and music. This well-educated Christian beyzade, being a born diplomat, won the trust of Sultan Ahmed III, who favorably allowed him to familiarize himself with the documents of imperial history that Cantemir used in working on his famous work "The Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire", which still remains a reference publication in a specialized bibliography.
The National Museum of History of Moldova possesses a German edition of this work, published in Hamburg in 1745. This edition is an impressive volume of 863 pages, accompanied by a preface in German by the editor, containing words of praise and appreciation: "... we consider that such a work of great significance must be known to the Germans in their mother tongue..."
Dimitrie Cantemir was the first scholar to show that the history of the Ottoman Empire divides into two parts. The first part that of growth, includes biographies of 19 sultans and ends around 1672, when the empire entered a new phase, that of political and military decline. Through this work, Cantemir tried to draw attention to the need for an alliance of European countries against Turkish expansion. At the same time, he praised certain aspects of the culture of the Turkish people.
Like "Description of Moldavia", "The Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire" enjoyed wide popularity in European countries. The work was first translated into Russian by Dmitry Grozin, but was not printed. After the death of Dimitrie Cantemir, thanks to his son Antiochus, who became the Russian ambassador in London and then in Paris, this fundamental writing of our scholar was translated and published in English (two volumes, 1734-1735, followed by a new edition in 1756) and in French (1743, in four small volumes). In 1745, the work was also published in German. It was read, highly valued and used in their writings by Voltaire, Byron, Victor Hugo and others. This is the first treatise that addresses the issue of Ottoman power and the multicultural nature of the empire. Work on it began during the author's stay in the Ottoman Empire, resumed after 1711, and finished in 1717. This writing brought him European fame and placed him among the great scholars of the time.
Aspects of teaching children of the Bessarabian nobility within the educational system of the Russian Empire
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Abstract
The given article, based on unpublished archival documents and monographic studies, discusses aspects of implementation of the Russian educational system in Bessarabia. The imperial policy promoted in the newly annexed territory tended to centralize and standardize the administrative system. The main objective of this policy in the field of culture was forced Russification of the autochthonous population, which involved the removal and destruction of national traditions to enhance the process of assimilation of the natives. One of the means to achieve this aim was the policy of education.
Before annexation of Bessarabia to the Russian Empire, most noble children were taught at home, usually by teachers of foreign origin, and then continued their studies in Western Europe. The situation changed immediately after the signing of the Treaty of Bucharest. For example, a letter dated 17 October 1828, addressed to the District Marshal of Nobility, contained the demand to stop the activities of private teachers and all boarding schools in Bessarabia due to their illegality. Nobles were warned that they should not hire private teachers who did not have a special certificate issued by the tsarist administration, as otherwise they will be punished according to law. Other sources provide information that the Bessarabian Assembly of Nobility was obliged to allocate funds for scholarships "to educate young people in the spirit of devotion to the Tsar and the homeland." As a result, the Bessarabian Assembly granted 20 scholarships in the name of Emperor Nikolay II and 5 scholarships in the name of the District Marshal of Nobility M.N. Krupensky 300 rubles each fellow to continue their education in higher educational institutions of Russia.
Cristina Gherasim
About changes in the mentality of the Bessarabian nobility during 1830-1840s
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Cristina Gherasim
L’identité sociale au milieu de la noblesse de la Bessarabie dans le XIX-ème siècle
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Valentin Tomuleț, Cristina Gherasim
Some considerations on factors that generated mentality shifts of the landlords in Bessarabia under tsarist domination (1812-1817)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Cristina Gherasim
Confirmation of the titles of nobility by Bessarabian nobles in the first half of the 19th century: The noble family of Frunzetti (Frunză)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Cristina Gherasim
Aspects of influence of the tsarist legislation on the status of the Bessarabian nobility in the 1st half of the 19th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
This year we commemorate 350 years since the birth and 300 years since the death of Dimitrie Cantemir (October 26, 1673 - August 21, 1723), the most famous Romanian humanist thinker and also the author of the first original Romanian philosophical works.Dimitrie Cantemir represents one of the highest peaks of thought of his time, in all areas that his genius touched - in historiography, geography, philosophy, he opened up new perspectives for development...
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.