Bukovyna local lore studies during the stay of the territory as a part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Volodymeria (1786-1849)

Abstract

Bukovyna was part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Volodymeria since 1786 to 1849. This time became important for the further development of local lore studies of Bukovyna. Professors of Lviv University, B. Hacquet, J. Rohrer, M. Stöger, A. Zawadzki played a significant role in the development of research. Considerable attention was paid in their works to geography, demographic features, socio-economic development, and the introduction of changes in the management of the region. There were also works in which flora and fauna, features of geology, etc. were studied.
The Ukrainian local lore studies of Bukovyna started in the early 19th century. Thanks to the efforts of the figures of the «Rus Trinity», the first descriptions of folklore, life, and social status of the Ukrainians of the region appeared. A number of local lore studies works were written at the beginning of the 19th century, but they were made public only in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Nevertheless, they were naturally assigned to this period. In particular, this is the work of I. Вudai-Deleanu and an unknown author, who for the first time prepared the local lore guide «Bukovyna in 1801». The work of T. Bendella in which for the first time tourist routes were proposed to the sights of Bukovyna was an important phenomenon in the development of Bukovyna.
Research about Bukovyna at that time was published in well-known European scientific journals, which was of great importance for awakening interest in the region.
It is noted that local history of Bukovyna at that time was only making its first steps. The local authorities didn’t care. However, there have been some achievements. They were the significant foundation for the development of Bukovynian studies in the following decades.