Ivana Pantović
mr Dragan Jovanović
Miodrag Aralica
Quest for knowledge about ourselves, about our history, grips us to the same extent as the need to find out our future. Archeology is the detective work, an attempt of the "evidence" to "crime scene" determine who are the participants, how they think, what they did and why it all happened - how it happened. It's like a jigsaw puzzle. At the beginning of the hundreds of pieces of various shapes and colors, which each for itself be imagination, but from which no real sense of sight. And then, with a lot of effort and patience, slowly begin to enter into the picture. Picture of us, of human civilization. About who we are, and how we became what we are.
Older Stone Age / Paleolithic
Prehistory of civilization is divided into periods, which were given the name of the raw materials that were used for making tools and weapons. The oldest period of the older Stone Age (Paleolithic) and it lasts very long. Start the Paleolithic is determined by the appearance of the oldest tools of man which is processed and the current data are from the time before 1800 000 years ago. It is a time of one's ancestors, whose gradual evolution formed the modern man. It is believed that the Paleolithic ended before more than 11,000 years, or when people stop just to collect food and first began to use wild varieties of cereals, and then gradually to grow.
Younger Stone Age / Neolithic
Sometime during the 9th millennium BC, the Middle East begins under the Stone Age (Neolithic). In the history of human civilization, the period known as the "Neolithic Revolution." The most important feature is the appearance of permanent human settlement, domestication and breeding of domestic animals and crops. Was discovered in clay and how to make a bowl of it. The spiritual life is reflected in the emergence of numerous cult objects - figures and vessels in the form of human or animal present, vessels that served as a kind of altar, and so on.
In the area of present-day Serbia, Neolithic begins later, in VII millennium BC and ends in the first half of the V millennium BC. The remains of settlements, container, various tools, cult objects and others. attributed to the so-called. »Starčevačkoj culture." Human innovation and imagination, and its eternal need to improve living conditions, water, constant progress and development. The beginning of the sixth millennium, but observed significant changes that lead to the formation of one of the most important Neolithic cultures of Europe - "Vinca culture." The earliest exploitation and use of copper in the "old continent", has just started in the "Vinca culture" marking the beginning of a new era in which the metal becomes the main raw material for making tools and weapons.
Copper Age / Copper Age
Following the initial impulse from the Balkans, where the VII millennium BC, Neolithic cultures appear first, farming is slowly expanding Europe, radically changing the way of life until then. During V millennium BC, in some parts of Europe is still expanding wave neolitizacije, while in the territory of present-day Serbia and Bulgaria began the exploitation and processing of copper ore.
Eneolithic period runs from 4500 to 2300 years before our era. Earlier phase characterized by the relative isolation of cultural groups, while after the 3500th BC forming a larger community in which agriculture and animal husbandry have a very important role. The discovery of the wheel and use the car for transportation, are one of the most important inventions crucial for the development of civilization.
During Eneolithic caused significant stratification in the social status and financial status within the community, which is best reflected in the changes in funeral customs. Wealth or poverty grave reveals to us that the community is shared not only by sex and age, but also by social status.
In Western Europe appear first Megalithic buildings, a phenomenon that grips the imagination of people today. Breakthrough "steppe people" from the east was the beginning of the great migrations, which continued into the Bronze Age. The main features that were left behind these steppe peoples are nameless tumuli, tombs under huge earth mounds that can be over 50 meters in diameter.
Copper Age in spite of significant and radical changes that have taken place, is only a prelude to much burniji and dynamic range, which was designed and set guidelines for further development ciilizacije what we know today.
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age in Europe takes approximately 2300th to 800th years BC This period was marked by the use of new raw materials that are received by mixing copper with other metals, but it is certainly the most important bronze alloy, which is created by mixing tin and copper. Although it can be considered over-simplification when the main criterion for the observation period, take one type of metal is used, it should be noted that during the Bronze Age metallurgy has experienced enormous progress. From the time when the metal represented a relatively rare material - and the time when huge amounts of metals, especially bronze, were in daily circulation. Social stratification began in the copper age, becoming more pronounced. Based on data obtained from cemeteries and villages whose number and size increased continuously, established a significant population growth throughout Europe. The exchange of goods between distant fields of the development of means of transportation, whether by land - either water, was also on the rise. In particular, trade developed a rare and precious commodities such as amber, gold, spices, salt, and fur. The importance and scope of social change is reflected in the established settlements appear, which are usually located on high places, and surrounded by palisades. Keeping Wars first appeared as a lucrative industry, which soon led to the creation of a new social class - the military aristocracy. Changes occur on a religious level, especially at the end of the Bronze Age, which is the most impact on funeral customs, the introduction of cremation as a primary method of burial. Such a radical and sudden changes in beliefs, especially in the afterlife, to explain the population changes that occurred in late bonzanog time.
This is the time Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, a time when gods walked the earth side by side with the mythical heroes. Age of the great heroes and great discoveries, which ends the use of new raw materials as iron.
Iron Age
Development, initiated the era of the discovery of copper metal, and reached the millennium BC full climax. By the end of the Iron Age most of Europe was inhabited by communities who have used the alphabet, using the money, lived in cities and have a high degree of political centralization. Europe began to be divided into two worlds - a civilized society and barbarians. General opinion is that it is far superior to iron as the material of bronze, entered into wide use once mastered the technology for its processing. The question is however much more complex, since the iron was known for almost a thousand years before its wider use, and when it was never completely replaced bronze. One of the main reasons for the massive use of iron for 8 century BC could be a matter of prestige, which has provided its application for making swords and equipment of the car. Objects made of iron appeared in a number only in the IV century BC arrival of the Celts that marked the whole period and significantly influenced the whole barbarian world.
I - III century • ROMAN PERIOD
During the first century of our era are disappearing prehistoric civilization, as everywhere, and in areas of the southeast of Banat. The powerful Roman state, in their aspirations conquest of the Balkans, came to the Danube. On the territory of Vrsac and the surrounding indigenous population caught is probably basically Celtic Dacko as part of Dacia. Rome conquering aspirations are much larger and more powerful realm of conflict with the Dacians. Period dačkih wars ended with the victory at the beginning of the second century AD Rome. Then create a new province of Dacia. At that time, probably the South Banat under Roman rule, at least some 150 years, until mid-third century, when there is a weakening of the Roman Empire because of more intensive dissemination of new barbarian tribes, and our territory is no longer so interesting for the Roman Empire.
III - IV century • Amphitheatre PERIOD
Events that took place in the second half of the third century are very significant for the area Vrsac. Moving to new people, and leads to intensive settlement of the South Banat by the Sarmatians, a tribe belonging to the great family of the Iranian people. Never united in constant conflict as nomads and horsemen from prapostojbine the shores of the Black Sea, reaching the borders of the Roman Empire, carrying in its material culture srednjoazijske different influences, and influences of the Greek colony of Pont.
There are two moments in this region is very important. Sarmatians certainly finds Dacko indigenous Celtic population, who obey and which continue living together. The archaeological findings testify, because in many localities Sarmatians Dacko observed a strong cultural influence. The second element is certainly respect Sarmatians and Rome, from arrival at the frontier of the Roman Empire, to their disappearance from the historical scene. It is not known as first past conflicts, but the further course of history known to have been very variable, of alliances and najamništva to bitter hostility. Wars with Rome Sarmatians probably lead to the end of the fourth century when the political scene in Rome and a new enemy appears Sarmatians Huns, who at the time of Attila porobljavaju Pannonian plains, and charm.
V - VI century • The Migrations
Great migration Sarmatians disappear from the historical-political scene. With the arrival of the Huns is created at the time of Attila (434-453) Hunnish strong state, and enters into its box and Banat. However, the events that then took place on this territory, so far little archaeological registered, although the South Banat area is certainly not spared stormy weather beginning of the process called the Great Migrations of Peoples. The defeat of the Huns 451st years of the Roman army, as well as creating antihunske coalition after Attila's death 453rd year, led by Gepidaes, Huns removed from historical-political stage. Hunnish destruction of the state, coming to the southeast of Banat, and patterns, to significant territorial and political changes. Namely, in the Banat Gepids now, as most people in the coalition antihunske organize their country. Al remains in the hands of Gepidaes effect until the state of their 567th year. Time of migration is, otherwise, the time of turmoil and conflict, and therefore the movement of many tribes across the territory of South Banat. In addition to these ground Gepidaes passed the more the Goths, Vandals, Heru et al.
VI - XI century • Arrival of the Slavs
Though Europe, with falling somewhere Gepidic States, 568 The process ends with the Great Migration, initiated 375th The passage of Hunnic tribe through the "gate of the people." In our country this process has not yet been completed. Namely, the 558th in front of the Emperor Justinian (527-567) in Constantinople, an Avar first mission, offering his alliance against all enemies of the empire. However, the biggest aspiration Avar kaganata very quickly become a Roman province in the Danube region: Moesia, Thrace, Pannonia. Avar in the territory of South Banat are now very rare but are important areas of our city since the arrival of the Avars of the Danube, which were composed of conglomerates of Turkish and Mongol tribes, come and Slavs.
Other Avar kaganat certainly finds the Slavs in this region as a nation that is free of Avar influence and probably in the formation of the early forms of the state. The fall of the Avar kaganata II comes in our area until the "great migration".
The fall of the Avar state of our neighborhoods heavily populated by Slavic tribes, again change masters, they are now the Bulgarians. Creates a strong Bulgarian state was created a large expansion in the ninth century at the expense of the Byzantine-Frankish supremacy. Any conclusion of an alliance with the Slavs were imposing their authority, under this new state appears just Slavic population. Bulgaria achieves peak power at the end of IX and X at the beginning of the century, when Simeon was a significant part of the Balkan Peninsula under its rule. At the same time to leave the nomadic way of life of Hungarians, who at the end of IX century arrived in the Pannonian Plain, at the beginning of the tenth century formed their own state. Hungarians soon after, becoming a dominant political factor in our region and replaced the Bulgarian domination.
The situation changed only slightly in the XV century, when as a vassal of Hungary possessions in this territory gets a despot Đurađ Brankovic
