Abstract

The present paper represents an attempt to identify and decipher the identitarian dynamics of two of the oldest ethnic communities in Romania, the Turkish and the Tatar. As a context, the study presents the historical and demographic evolution of the Turks and Tatars from Dobrogea until the 19th century. From a chronological point of view, the medieval period is focused on, with the purpose of identifying the way in which the political, economic and social changes of that time were reflected on the ethnic and religious identitarian structure, on the Turks and Tatars in Dobrogea, then the research gradually extending on the identitarian evolutions in modern history period. Corroborating archival research with text analysis, the study identifies the types of relationships and attitudes created in relation to the regimes of the time, together with the evolution of Turkish / Tatar self-representation and hetero representation generated by the main identitarian reference points: ethnicity, religion, origins, mother tongue and traditions, both in within the medieval period, as well as after the decay of Ottoman rule.