Към ранната история на едно българско книжовно средище: възникване и развитие на Аджар според османски данъчни регистри от XVII век
Towards the Early History of a Bulgarian Literary Centre: Emergence and Development of Adzhar According to Ottoman Tax Documents from the XVII Century

Summary/Abstract: An attempt to throw light on the early history of Adzhar village,today’s Svezhen, based mainly on four unpublished Ottoman tax registers, is made in the article. The author claims that the earliest documents discovered so far about the existence of Adzhar as a settlement date from the first decades of the XVII century. The village was first mentioned on the pages of an abridged avarız-register from the years 1621 – 1622. Data about the presence of large summer pastures and sheepfolds in the region of Sarnena Sredna Gora Mountain as early as the 16th century show that the foundation of the village can be related to the good conditions for livestock breeding of a peaceful place in the depths of the mountain. It is very likely that part of the inhabitants of Adzhar had been dzheleps, who bred sheep and other cattle for the food needs of the big cities, the army and the Sultan’s Palace. Asa result, raw materials including sheep wool and sheepskins led to the development of a number of crafts.The Orthodox Bulgarian population of Adzhar grew rapidly. Due to the demographic and economic development, a significant literary centre was created there for transcribing and illustrating liturgical books. A church with two priests was built in the village. There is information that in the second half of the 17th century sheep-breeding, crafts such as goat hair processing (mutafcılık) and tailoring, as well as trade and transportation of goods (in exchange of payment – kiracılık)developed in Adzhar.

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