G.H.M. GRELLMANN AND THE ENLIGHTENMENT’S DISCOVERY OF THE ROMA
G.H.M. GRELLMANN AND THE ENLIGHTENMENT’S DISCOVERY OF THE ROMA

Summary/Abstract: This article presents the evolution of the most influent academic images and stereotypes of Roma in western academic tradition. The birth and reproduction of the scientific stereotypes on Roma was a long process that started with the first mentions and descriptions of Roma in medieval documents and chronicles. With the Enlightenment, the body of knowledge about Roma coagulates and traditional images and stereotypes gained momentum and legitimacy precisely due to the scientific approach of the Enlightenment scholars. The starting point of this article is the quest for the sources of the work of H. M. G. Grellmann (1753-1804), considered the father of modern research on Roma. Then I present the peculiar evolution and the impact of Grellmann’s work on later researchers throughout Romanticism. The reason for doing so is that the archetype sketched by Grellmann became the standard according to which the Roma were described, classified, or researched until the 20th century. Furthermore, I discuss on the reasons why the scientific negative stereotypes changed so little throughout very late in the 20th century.

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