Education and Politics. The Role of School in the Struggle for Macedonia in the Second Half of the 19th Century

Bulgarian Historical Review, 53 (2025), No. 4, pp. 121-150
DOI: https://doi.org/10.71069/BHR4.25.AZ05

Аngel Zlatkov

Аngel Zlatkov, Ph.D. - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Balkan Studies & Center of Tracology, 45 Moskovska Str., Sofia 1000, Bulgaria, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1956-7755, E-mail: аngel.k.zlatkov@gmail.com

Abstract: The article highlights education as a key instrument in the struggle between the Ottoman Empire and the Balkan Christian states for the region of Macedonia in the second half of the 19th century. The author argues that the educational policy of the Sublime Porte was influenced by the efforts of Constantinople to preserve the territorial integrity of the state. On the contrary, behind the publicly presented ideas for enlightenment in the spirit of the European civilization lurked the intention of Bulgarians, Serbs, Greeks and Romanians to secure better positions before the final phase in the development of the Macedonian Question. The documents and memories from the period present schools in Macedonia as centers for propaganda in which the main task of the teachers was to turn their students into fighters for the national cause.

Keywords: Ottoman Empire; Macedonian Question; Educational Policy; Eastern Question; Balkan Studies.

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