O nekim toponimima Ludbreške i Koprivničke Podravine krajem 15. i početkom 16. stoljeća
CERTAIN TOPOGRAPHY OF LUDBREG AND KOPRIVNICA PARTS OF PODRAVINA IN LATE 15TH AND EARLY 16TH CENTURIES

Summary/Abstract: This papers deals with Ludbreg and Koprivnica parts of Podravina region in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, from the aspect of historical geography and topography. We can safely conclude that these parts had had high population density before the O oman invasion. It’s important to stress out that topography of these parts kept its folk Slavic and Croatian characteristics, and was mostly saved from hungarization. A er the O omans had invaded these parts of Podravina, the previous demographic situation changed signifi cantly. In early 1520s, a process of demographic discharge and decline had begun, as well as pauperization of the remaining population. This could be seen in decrease of tax ‘dim’ (literally -’smoke’, a household fi replace tax) and more frequent registration of impoverished people on certain estates. Many local original se lers had fl ed the O omans to the north and the west, being replaced by new se lers who moved in. This led to disappearance of many late medieval se lements, and over time every trace of their existence vanished. Only a rare toponym survived on a map, or a name of a fi eld remained. This is why historical geography research is an extremely complex issue, diffi cult to undertake - not only it requires a solid knowledge of area, but a thorough research of published and unpublished sources is needed, plus the insight into literature dealing with specifi c regions in late Middle Ages. Only a handful of these lost se lements from the late Middle Ages can be traced in topography maps and in rural names of certain lands or fi elds. Others can be traced a li le bit more accurately only with far more detailed analysis of resources saved. This paper is only a contribution for the future systematic processing and research of historical geography of this micro region, over a longer period of time.

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