Agria 42. (Az Egri Múzeum Évkönyve - Annales Musei Agriensis, 2006)

Dobrossy István: Viselet darabok és alapanyagok a görög kereskedők XVIII. századi miskolci üzleteiben

István Dobrossy Clothing Items and Materials in the Shops of Greek Traders in 18th Century Miskolc Miskolc was one of the most important commercial centres in the northeastern part of historic Hungary. From the beginning of the 18th century we have written documentation proving that here too the cultures of northern and southern Europe met. Today it is a so-called wine road that links Gyöngyös, Eger, Miskolc, Tokaj, Sárospatak and Márasmarossziget (Sighetul Marmatiei, Romania). It was along this route that the commercial cultures of the Jewish and Greek traders met. These were organised associations operating not only within the towns, but via economic and family contacts with the neighbouring communities. We know significantly less about the commercial activities of the Jewish community. It is clear, however, that both communities traded with commercial commodities other than wine. This present study analyses the accounting books of the Greek traders, paying particular attention to the development of costumes. The author proves that large quantities of goods arrived in the shops of this country town from the territories of what was then the Ottoman Empire. The Greek traders also travelled into the countries of Western Europe. While it was wine they exported from Hungary, it was clothing, sometimes whole costumes, they brought to Miskolc from the Ottoman Empire. The excavations that took place at the Avas Church in Miskolc in 1941 provided further proof of the relationships existing between western, northeastern and southern Europe. The author also refers to the fact that the accounting books may be used to calculate the quantities involved and to identify the costume types traded. It was also a time when ideas as well as material goods were freely exchanged. From the beginning of the 19th century the Greek War of Independence prompted the vast majority of Miskolc's Greek traders to return to their homeland. Their place and their businesses on the Miskolc's main and side streets were taken over by Jewish traders. From the beginning of the 19th century one sees the emergence of a unique Jewish culture, which helped make Miskolc the most important town in the region. By examining the goods on offer in the shops, and the credit relationships at the time, it becomes clear how Miskolc, as a new commercial centre, opened its doors to new arrivals, There is still evidence of the one-time presence of Greek and Jewish traders in the town, something also apparent in the history of clothing and costume. 90