Attitude towards crafts in the 19th century

28 May

Deep cultural and social resistance to crafts and manual labor was the focus of attention of domestic and foreign travel writers and scientists. Most of the field and domestic work was performed by women. All trade towards the coast was mainly carried on mules and women’s shoulders. Depicting the situation in Montenegro in the thirties of the 19th century, V. S. Karadžić writes that “you can often see how women with heavier loads are dragged over rocks and mountains, while the husband goes empty-handed with a rifle on his shoulder and a chibuka in his hand.” As for crafts, they “not only do not exist now in the true sense, but they will not exist in the near future, because they are despised and ridiculed.” Medaković confirms that there were very few craftsmen in Montenegro in the middle of the 19th century.

Disdainful attitude towards trades and physical work represented a great hereditary burden for the Montenegrin state, especially since the 19th century. In the direction of breaking the resistance to the efforts of the state authorities to modernize Montenegro and include it in international traffic, the Code of Prince Danilo from 1855 is of great importance. The basis of the Code are the provisions on the protection of private property, the equality of Montenegrins and foreigners before the law. Various celebrations that impoverish the people and encourage them to do nothing are prohibited. Only once a year is the baptismal name celebrated. In terms of the calendar, a large number of saints that are not celebrated during the year have been reduced. Along with the establishment of economic enterprises, many other measures are taken to accustom the people to respect all work and wean them from idleness (by opening agricultural schools and stations, sending young people to study trades in foreign countries).
Petar Lubarda
Composition from the coast