The Evolution of Towns in Transylvania. Geographical and Historical Review Based on the Correlation: Age – Genetic Type

Raisa ȚĂRUȘ1, Vasile SURD1
1 Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Geography, Centre for Research on Settlements and Urbanism, Cluj-Napoca, ROMANIA
E-mail: raisa_tarus@yahoo.com, vsurd@geografie.ubbcluj.ro
Pages: 193-204

Abstract. The evolution of towns in Transylvania is studied along time relying on the historical documents of the region, the geographical space framing of the towns and the proofs of humanity influence over years. These geographical - historical characteristics of the Transylvanian region have generated through the historical periods the existence of a land with comprehensive meaning of the geographical space. In this context, the topic of our study discovers the birth of each town and his evolution over the years, its importance and functions in each historical period. In order to achieve a better knowledge about the geographical-historical evolution of towns in Transylvania we have identified and analyzed the differences between the ages of different towns referring to their first documentary attestation. Then, we deduced the three genetic types of towns in Transylvania region that can be divided into three categories: fortress and citadel, fair and primary resource town. The correlation between the ages of towns and their genetic type is performed, resulting in a novel approach for the geographical - historical research in the evolution of a town from the Transylvania region.

K e y w o r d s: Transylvania region, genetic type of town, urban settlement, historical period, documentary attestation