Andrew
07-10-2008, 09:05 PM
Here I'm going to post in time to time some quotes from the book of Douglas Dakin (Berkley University , California , US) , 1966 , greek edition of 1996 :
The Greek struggle in Macedonia : 1897-1913
CHAPTER A : MACEDONIA AND THE MACEDONIAN QUESTION
1. Macedonia : extension and importance
At the begining of the 20th century under the term "Macedonia" one usually defined the three turkish "vilaets" (administrive regions) of Thessalonike , Monastiri (Bitola) and Skopje/Kosovo [*1] . In a more strict sense the term included the vilaet of Thessalonike and those parts of the other two vilaets that in 1902 formed an administrative unit of the Ottoman Empire and under the supervision of a General Inspector underwent into reforms. There wasn't any other accepted definition of Macedonia.In modern times , Macedonia never constituted a phyletic , linguistic or political entity , not even administrative before 1902. Macedonia wasn't even a defined geographical term [*2].
-----NOTES-----
[*1] The Turks , trying to contain the Bulgarian element , had divided the old Thessalonike County and had created those three vilaets. The Albanians should be the predominant element in the vilaeti of Kosovo/Skopje , the Greeks in the vilaet of Monastir , meanwhile Greeks and Turks should "balance" the Bulgarians in the new vilaet of Thessalonike.
[*2] "Macedonia" was a historical-geographical term based on hazy memories and blank of geographical meaning. During the Middle Ages it included even Herzegovina. Vanished under the Ottomans - the Turks spoke only about Rumeli - the term was revitalized after the rebirth of Classic Studies only to be used vaguely and with political wilfulness.
The Greek struggle in Macedonia : 1897-1913
CHAPTER A : MACEDONIA AND THE MACEDONIAN QUESTION
1. Macedonia : extension and importance
At the begining of the 20th century under the term "Macedonia" one usually defined the three turkish "vilaets" (administrive regions) of Thessalonike , Monastiri (Bitola) and Skopje/Kosovo [*1] . In a more strict sense the term included the vilaet of Thessalonike and those parts of the other two vilaets that in 1902 formed an administrative unit of the Ottoman Empire and under the supervision of a General Inspector underwent into reforms. There wasn't any other accepted definition of Macedonia.In modern times , Macedonia never constituted a phyletic , linguistic or political entity , not even administrative before 1902. Macedonia wasn't even a defined geographical term [*2].
-----NOTES-----
[*1] The Turks , trying to contain the Bulgarian element , had divided the old Thessalonike County and had created those three vilaets. The Albanians should be the predominant element in the vilaeti of Kosovo/Skopje , the Greeks in the vilaet of Monastir , meanwhile Greeks and Turks should "balance" the Bulgarians in the new vilaet of Thessalonike.
[*2] "Macedonia" was a historical-geographical term based on hazy memories and blank of geographical meaning. During the Middle Ages it included even Herzegovina. Vanished under the Ottomans - the Turks spoke only about Rumeli - the term was revitalized after the rebirth of Classic Studies only to be used vaguely and with political wilfulness.