Summary | Stanovništvo Konavala | history | Konavle
The Summary of Stanovništvo Konavala.
• https://archive.org/details/stan-kon-summary
This is a “must read” for anyone even vaguely interested in the history of Konavle.
These 7 pages, entitled “Summary,” summarize quite well the book in which it is printed, but it also conveniently summarizes Konavle history in general, for those of us without the time or inclination to read extensively on the subject. You would be hard-pressed to find another 7 pages in print anywhere that so carefully and succinctly summarize the cultural, economic and political history of Konavle.
Below are some quotes taken directly from this Summary:
“The primary constant that is valid of Konavle, regardless of which period of the region’s history one discusses, is its borderline position.”
“Many details from Konavle’s past are incomprehensible when looked at from today’s point of view; many occurrences and moves simply could not possibly happen today. For example, the people’s attitude toward religion was weaker than today. Then it was more like being a member of a political party, something which a person accepted sometimes out of faith, sometimes out of necessity, but most often for opportunistic reasons, and not something that is acquired at birth and considered given and unchangeable (as it is today). At that time faith was bargained for.”
“Konavle’s long-lasting life of self-sufficiency was the cause of great inertness. Few processes were started in Konavle, but many came to an end there. Konavle in times of war differed tremendously from Konavle in times of peace. War brought about changes, and in peaceful times these processes were simply finalized and turned into inertia, conservatism, and resistance to any form of change. Due to this fact, Konavlians to this day have preserved their identity better than any other micro-unity in the Dubrovnik region; also due to this fact, however, Konavlians have done the least to influence the course of their own history.”
“…Konavlians exhibit completely different characteristics from the inhabitants of similar agrarian zones such as the Dubrovačko primorje or the peninsula of Pelješac. Konavle’s uniqueness is also exhibited in the system of customs, the goal of which was to ensure the prosperity of the family (e.g. customs that strive to prevent the division of property), and the organization of the household (promoting large extended families in which the head of household had great authority).”