Romania: A Crossroads of Europe

The Romanian lands have traditionally been a crossroads of Europe, a land and people influenced by contacts with various peoples and cultures, a land traditionally on the border of vast and mighty empires which have influenced its destiny. For this reason, the seventh international conference of the Center for Romanian Studies held in Iasi, Romania, on 4-5 July 2001 focused on the theme: „Romania: A Crossroads of Europe." This volume is a selectiom of papers presented at this major international conference focusing on cultural, literary, political, commercial, diplomatic, military, and historical contacts between Romania and the wider world. Articles include: Joan Heifner, Geography: Destiny and Identity; Alexandru Husar, Spre noua Europa; Lilia Zabolotnaia, Situatia femeilor din Moldova in evul mediu (sec. al XVI-lea mijlocul sec. al XVII-lea) (Imaginea, statutul social, drepturile si obligatiunile); Veniamin Ciobanu, Problema poloneza in propaganda misiunii diplomatice a Frantei la Istambul (1794-1795); Dumitru Ivanescu, Cronica de razboi. Anul 1877 in paginile „Curierului de Iasi"; Paul Blokker, Romania's First Experience with Modernization: The Liberal Attempt and Its Adversaries; Jean Nouzille, Les Problemes consecutifs au rattachement de la Bessarebie a la Roumanie; Jason Tavares, Rudolph Brandsch and the European Minorities Mouvement: 1922-1927; Dumitru Sandru, Populatia Romaniei dupa cesiunile teritoriale din 1940; Dorin Dobrincu, Legionarii si guvernarea Ion Antonescu (1941-1944); Dennis Deletant, Transnistria 1942: A Memoir of George Tomaziu. An Eyewitness Account of the Shooting of a Column of Jews Near the Rov River in 1942; Florian Banu, Foametea din 46 si cresterea antisemitismului in Moldova; Liviu Taranu, Romania in Tratatul de la Varsovia: 1955-1965; Constantin Hlihor, Evolutia Romaniei in Tratatul de la Varsovia, pana la criza cehoslovaca; Norel Rosner, Romanian Law vis-a-vis International and European law; Liviu Groza,