Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies, vol. 18, issue 54 (Winter 2019): 107-122.
ISSN: 1583-0039 © SACRI
SORIN SIPOȘ
FOREIGN TRAVELERS IN THE ROMANIAN LANDS AND THE
SYMBOLISM OF THE BORDERS (1710-1810)
Abstract: In the present study, we are generally looking at the way in which the realities of
the Romanian space were captured through travel reports drawn up by foreigners who
crossed the Romanian Countries. Foreign travelers crossing the Romanian Principalities
come mostly from Western and Northern Europe. Also, their presence in Romanian space is
due to the political, military and economic duties received from the states that sent them.
When approaching the Romanian Countries, the voyagers note a few things, namely: the
militarized border, the customs, the quarantine and the army, the customs officials and the
passport. A border with so many elements of identification does not exist between the
Romanian Countries and the Ottoman Empire. From this perspective, the Romanian Lands
appeared to the vast majority of foreigners as part of the Ottoman Empire. Also, travelers
are optimistic about the transition to Transylvania and with suspicion and mistrust of the
crossing to Moldavia and Wallachia.
Key words: the foreign travelers, Wallachia, Moldavia, Transylvania, 1710-1810, roads,
customs, quarantine, East, West.
Sorin Șipoș
University of Oradea, Doctoral School of History, Oradea, Romania
E-mail: sorin.sipos@yahoo.com