THE CITY OF PEĆ IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN THE TWO WORLD WARS

Abstract

In the period between the two world wars, Peć was one of the few cities in Kosovo and Metohija (the others were Prizren, Priština and Kosovska Mitrovica). This city was a combination of modern and traditional, it had new, beautiful buildings but also classic minarets, ancient churches, the sevdah of Sarajevo and the Bey’s residences, towers like the castles of the counts, and streams ran through every courtyard in Peć. Muslims, who were the main bearers of the Turkish-Eastern culture, were of the greatest importance for the appearance of Peć, the way of life and work of the population. Later, the town began to be arranged under the influence of European culture. Peć was famous for goldsmithing, especially for the production of filigree works from gold and silver, the production of beautiful silk fabrics and carpets, which have been compared to Pirot carpets. Local merchants exported livestock, livestock products, and imported manufactured goods and colonial goods. The railroad was of inestimable economic importance. In my paper, I will review the history of the city of Peć in the period between the two world wars with the help of historical sources, literature and the press. For the history of the Serbs, the city of Peć is very important as the seat of patriarchs and medieval Serbian culture, a mirror of architectural art and the cradle of the Serbian empire.