Emigrimi shqiptar në Itali në fund të mesjetës si problem historiografik
The Albanian Emigration to Italy at the End of the Middle AGes as a Historiographical Problem

Summary/Abstract: The effort to explain on a scientific basis the phenolnenon of the Albanian elnigration to Italy which led to the fonnation of the Albanian colonies still existing in South Italy is confronted \vith a ··historical Inyth": this displacenlent of a great nUlnber of Albanians was presented traditionally as a resul,t ofthe Turkish occupation and of its terror on the Albanian christian population \vhich opposed a fierce resistance to the occupier under the leadership of Scanderbeg. This political-religious explanation ofthis Inigration phenomenon is preserved not only in the oral tradition of the Arberesh but also d0l11inated even the historiography up to the Iniddle ofthe XX-th century. It had to be waited the middle of the XX-th century and of its greatest works "·La Mediterranee...~' of BraudEd to see with suspicion the traditional explanation. The Albanian case is for Braudel a typical case of the Inountainous diaspora. According to Braudel the Inountains are often overpopulated as regards their production. The optinluln ofthe population can be reached and passed quickly. so it arises the necessit) to throw into the plain the hutnan overload. Later th~ geographical detenninisI11 of Braudel in integrated with the research of the eCOn0l11ic-soc ial reasons ofthe III igrations. Sergio Anselnli searches the reasons ofthe Albanian and Balkan 1l1igration in general in the deep econolllic crisis of the Balkans. For a plausible econolllic-social explanation of the phenoJllenon it \\/ould be needed to have a doclunented franlework ofthe econoll1ical situation of the Balkans in this period. Unfortunately such a franle\Vork lacks. Nevertheless. how heavy had becolne the feudal obligations ofthe population in Albania in this period it is shown by the evident growth of the quantity of cereals sold to the Venetian and Ragusan traders by the feudals ofa country \vh ich \vas not at all a granary. But the feudal class was able to selL export to the foreigners that surplus of production fonned by the quota taken to the peasants, though their production was very snlall. This export of cereals was Inade possible thanks to the advanced developlllent of teudalislll. In the XIV-th - XV-th centuries. \vith the gro\vth of the great landed property, the dissolution of the clans causes that phenonlenon called by Ducellier the "Albanian nOlnadisln". Entire bands. often not yet included in the old tribal structures \vere wandering in the roads. Through Macedonia they canle to Thessalia in 1315. The heav) feudal obligations \vhich together with the expropriations are responsible for this ~~nolnadisln" becatne inevitably harsher during the phase of resistance to\\'ards the Turkish occupation, led by Scanderbeg. Ifs not just here the place to put under suspicion that the heroic Albanian \var has had the character of a popular and national tnovement. But the exacerbation of the feudal exploitation in order to t~lce the \var expenditures is ascertained both by the growth of the quantity of cereals exported In these years and by the intensification ofthe enligration.

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