20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

806 Tănase Bujduveanuuprisings in the Balkans in the second half of the 18th century. At thesame time the Aromanians were being hit by another enemy: the OrthodoxPatriarchy in Constantinople and its supporters in the regions inhabited byAromanian population.XVIII. The Destruction of Moscopole and the Surrounding RegionThe destruction of the metropolisBecause of the conflicting state between Venice and the OttomanEmpire at the beginning of the 17 th century, the merchants of Moscopole,Scutari, Elbasan, Ianina, Siacista, Salonic and Wallachia transported theirgoods towards the Italian cities on ships under French, Dutch or Englishflag. However, the Italian ships were allowed to enter the Turkish ports ifthey were under neutral flag. The conflicting situations alternated in the17 th century with periods of peace favourable to the development of thetrading activities on the Adriatic Sea. Starting with the middle of the 18 thcentury the conflicts in the Balkans increased, which had disastrous effectson the commerce in the area.The destruction of the regionIntense population movements took place in the region of Moscopolebetween 1769-800. Large settlements were destroyed by the Muslims.XIX. The Exodus of the Inhabitants of MoscopoleThe wars between the Christian powers and the Ottoman Empireturned the Muslims against the Christian populations and the Aromanianswho were very wealthy. The political instability in the Balkans made theAromanians leave for Central Europe even a century before the destructionof Moscopole. The development of the Austrian Empire, its growingcommerce at the Adriatic Sea and its growing influence in the north-westernpart of the Balkan Peninsula are other causes of the hostility of the Muslimpopulation towards the Christian population and the Aromanians.AlbaniaThe interests of the Aroamnians took them into Albania and the portsto the Adriatic Sea. The most frequently used ports were Durazzo andValona. The products of the merchants from Moscopole were depositedhere, in the warehouses, in the port and then they were sent into Italy. Afterthe destruction of Moscopolemany Aromanins settled in towns in Albaniasuch as Durazzo, Berat, Vlore, Corcea, Tirana and contributed to thedevelopment of these towns. St. Prokop Church in Tirana and many otherchurches in Corcea and southern Albania were built with the contributionof the Aromanians.