JEVREJI NA BALKANSKOM POLUOSTRVU OD XVI DO XVIII VIJEKA
JEWS ON THE BALKAN PENINSULA FROM THE 16—18th CENTURY

Summary/Abstract: Jews played a very important role in trade other financial operations in the period of the 16—18th century. After they had been banished from Spain and Portugal, Iberian Jews — Sephardim, gradually extended their influence on the Balkan peninsula, namely in the area that was under the rule of Sultan, especially in bigger towns. Jews were not persecuted in Turkey as opposed to some other European countries. They had a freedom of movement and trade, and became an influential factor in the development of trade between East and West. Their role in it was very significant, due to the fact that they were scattered in many different towns known for trade, and they as people were closely linked regardless of great distances between those towns. Jews were the first to enliven Balkan's trade and made a large contribution by introducing the new ways of organisation of work and new forms and methods of capitalistic economy. They also helped the development of certain crafts and skills. But, in spite of all their activities, Jews remained a rather closed community. Even in the new environment, Sephardim preserved their language and culture passing them from one generation to the other.

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