Département
de Constanta
www.primaria-constanta.ro
The Department of Constanta is situatied
in the south of the historical province of Dobroudja
(Between the Danube and the Black Sea). The first traces of
civilization go back to the Paleolithic. Cut and polished
stone tools were found as well ad ceramic artifacts. These
artifacts are testimonies of the existence of Hamergia and
Guemeinitza cultures.
It is only in 2400-1200 before C., that the great Tracs
ethnos group (Scandinavian connects of Traco-gets) settled
from the Carpates to the Balcans. It is the time of the
great Indo-European ethnic reorganizations.
From 8th to 6th century before C. the Traco-gets people
established important commercial links with Greek
merchants. Apokania de Histia, Couatis (today Mangalia) and
Tomis (today Constanza) get born. While in the same time,
(6th century before C.), Axiopolis (today Cemavoda) was
intensely developing commerce with the géto-dacs of the
Romanian plain.
In 260, the war against the colony of Histria and Callatis
begins. Tomis is victorious and the commercial links with
the big centers of the antiquity are reinforced. At the
same period, Tomis produces its own currency. The Greek
world is more and more influent, Greek gods are venerated
(Appollo, Poseidon…) as well as local divinities
(Derzeiasand the Trac knight). In 106 before C. the Dacic
war ends and the province is abandoned to the roman.
This Roman influence plays an educational and organizing
part. Symbiosis daco-Roman will constitute the genetic base
of the Rumanian people.
However Tomis remained under the influence of the Trojan
emperor, and is forced to pay taxes. Hadrian emperor,
releases it from this influence and Antonin, makes it a
metropolis of the Greek part of the province.
It is thought that the remaining walls of the city, found
out after diggings, date from the 2nd century. Numerous
artifacts were found on Histria, which was benefiting from
a preferential legal environment. Vestiges of walls and the
remaining of two buildings, which probably were roman
baths, were found out too. These made archaeologists think
that there would have been a 2nd foundation of the city.
The peace ensured by Trojan lasted under the reign of
Hadrian and Antonin the Piles. But the attacks of the great
barbarian coalition shake the Roman empire of Marcus
Aurelius. These invasions of the Castaboques, Germanic
bastames people, invade many localities.
During the 6th century the Province of Dobroudja is envaded
by Turkish and Tartares. The Province of Dobroudja becomes
Turkish from 1476 to 1484. The black sea becomes Kara
Deniz, and Constanza becomes Kustendjch. It is only after
the independence war between 1877-1878 and the settlement
of borders of Rumania that Dobroudja and its capital
Constanza bagin their modern development.
