History is Written
By the Victors

Topics covered in this section:

• Introduction
• Foreign Authors
• Romanians in the Background

Introduction

As an old cliché tells us, history is often written -- or rewritten -- by the victors. Sometimes, for various political reasons, the version of history written by the victors results in little more than a national mythology. The same holds true for much of Romanian history.

Foreign Authors

It's the historians from conquering countries -- Greece, Rome, Austria, Hungary, Turkey, Russia, and a host of others, plus foreign journalists -- who tell us of Romania's past. As expected, these "foreign" authors focused primarily on the powerful and rich nobility -- often their own countrymen -- who immigrated to Romania and subjugated the native peasants. As with most histories, often the truth gets "enhanced" and enlarged over the years to fit hidden political agendas. Soon it's difficult to judge the truth from the fiction.

In other words, not surprisingly, Romania's history is mostly about everyone but the Romanians themselves. Foreign-born nobles and landowners were inclined, far too often, to keep the native peasants out of the spotlight and conveniently crushed beneath their political and economic boots.

Romanians in the Background

So as you read these documents, remember the many faceless, nameless people in the background -- the Romanians -- who slaved to make a great life for their overlords. Remember, too, that while the nobility ate and drank and danced to excess in their castles on the hillsides, the Romanian peasants huddled in their small homes, hoping for a better day.

Go Elsewhere

At this point, you have a couple of options:

• Return to the History Department to choose another timeframe.
• Return to the Introduction Section to choose another topic.
• Rewind to the previous topic in the Introduction Section, Difficulties with Regional History
• Advance to the next topic in the Introduction Section, Parallels with Native Americans
• Fast forward to the next timeframe, the Pre-History Section.

Enjoy your stay and have a great day!